SnowStorm - Weekly Status 2022 #01

Hello everyone! 

I hope you are all fine.

In 2022, every weekend, I'll give a Status report and I'll alternate between both games. 

This weekend, it's SnowStorm.

I believe the demo had good feedback overall, except for a few debatable historical stuff  (but don't expect this game to be a reference on the history of Vikings, it remains fiction in the Viking era with some fantasy and some Norse mythology)

I made the demo as if it were completely a new game, in order to present the casting, the setting, and the start of the story. However, there are two things the demo didn't cover. The past background, and the complete gameplay.

What's coming next, then? The real v0.1 with the complete gameplay and the full background.

In consequence, the saves from the demo won't be usable (and that will be the only time) on the v0.1. That's why I called it 'demo' to start with, to make it clear it does not represent the complete gameplay and the real start of the game. (otherwise, I would have called it v0.1 already). Afterward, from v0.1 to the end, the saves will be always compatible.

SnowStorm will be indeed a different game from SandStorm, which can be played as a standalone without the need to have played SandStorm before. That said, there is a link between both games, and playing SandStorm before will bring some additional stuff (I won't define yet what I am calling stuff, that will be the surprise) and a better understanding of the story and the events of SnowStorm. 

What are the differences between the demo and the v0.1 then? 

In the v0.1, when you start the game for the first time, you will be asked the following :

- Did you play the first episode "SandStorm"? YES/NO

If NO : The second episode can totally be enjoyed on its own, but having played SandStorm before will bring you a bit more context.

-> DOWNLOAD 1st EPISODE "SandStorm" and you will be redirected to a DL link

-> PROCEED with 2nd EPISODE "SnowStorm." and you will start the game as if you answered NONE in the question below.

If YES : Which girl/path did you follow in priority?  MADDIE/RION/NORA/EVIL/NONE

Then, the game will start like the demo: the MC is found by Astrja in the middle of a blizzard, and so on...

In the v0.1, you will have additional content from MC perspective in the first days of the game. Can be memories for example.

In the v0.1, you will have content for 2 more days of gameplay, in order to complete the week, it will mainly be the discovery of the village and the characters. After that, the game will work by weeks. 1 main update = 1 week of contents (i.e. the v0.2 will add the second week, and so on..."

In the v0.1, you will have the definitive structure of the gameplay. The MC will have 3 stats (INT, DEX, STR) and money. He will start with 10pts for each stat and 0 gold. It won't become a RPG, nor a grindy game, don't worry, I don't like grinding, so I'll certainly not do that on my games. Those stats will be acquired mainly because of your choices and will help build the MC profile and personality through the story. It has an impact on the way you can deal with situations, and some solutions you can get or not according to your profile, but you will never be blocked on your progression because you don't have the right stats. It just allows you more or different possibilities. Some bonus, or side story, or optional stuff might require such or such stat (for example, an arm-wrestling contest with the muscular Sonja, you will need some STR to enter it ;) but that's bonus stuff. On the main story, you will always be able to advance whatever the stats you have. Bloody Bears relies a bit more on Strength and Dexterity, so it can be useful to have some of those stats to enjoy or be more efficient with their events, but you won't be penalized on the main story because of that. You will also be able to earn $$, it will be a bit more important if you join White Wolves as that clan is more market-oriented ("capitalism"), or if you want to enjoy better service at the tavern (wink wink), but otherwise, it's not necessary to work like crazy to survive in the game, it's not the goal. 

In the v0.1 and even more in the v0.2, the progression structure will be introduced. In the demo, it was a 100% straightforward VN. But SnowStorm will be a Visual Novel at 90% and 10% of planning/roaming/choosing. It's not really free-roam, even less a sandbox structure. It's just that at the start of a week (except the first week, which is a big introduction), you will have the possibility to choose some events you want to live during the week. According to your clan, you won't have access to all events. The majority will be available but some will be exclusive to the clan you are part of or will need you to have enough relationship with girl A or B. 

More concretely, how does that work?

The week will be divided into 5 weekdays and the weekend. 

At the start of the week, according to your clan and the relationship advancement you have with the girls, you will have a list of events available. On each weekday, you can do one event/date of your choice. During that date/event, you can get more affinity with that girl, and/or stats, and/or money. To illustrate this, I'll give a few concrete examples:

- you can choose to go fishing with Candrid, if you are lucky enough to catch something, you can sell it and get some $$. This event is open to everyone and repeatable.

- you can choose to help Astrja at her blacksmith shop, this event is only possible for WW members, (otherwise Astrja won't trust you enough for that), and this will increase your affinity with her + some money). This event is not repeatable.

- you can look for Lizgard, she is training her combat skills on her own, you can decide to be her sparring partner, you will get some STR or DEX stats, and maybe an affinity point with her. This event is open to everyone, but being a DR makes it easier to get an affinity point with her. However, you could try to date Lizgard while being a WW or a BB. You will have to be a bit more convincing, but it can work out.

- you can explore some ruins with Yrsa, this will give you some more insight on the Lore, and increase your affinity with Yrsa if you behave well. This event is open whatever your clan, as Yrsa is not one of those who want to maintain this tripartite structure.

- you can spend some time at the Tavern, spend the money you got, drink some beers with the breasted maid, or get to meet some people there (random meeting feature, usually funny, can give some extras)

And so on... there are many others.

Events that don't involve affinity points are repeatable. 

Events that increase your affinity with a girl can only be done once. The following week, you will be able to progress further with that girl as you will be able to access the event that requires affinity 2 with her, and so on.

There will be a bit more than 5 events available per week, so you will have to sacrifice or postpone a few events with some girls (hey in real life, you can't do everything either ;) ). Those weekdays are the best way to progress on the romance with the different girls, the main girls (Astrja, Nox, Candrid) like the side girls (Yrsa, Mathilda, Lizgard and the rest...), which I think have all very interesting stories. Those girls will also be actors in the main story of course, but it will be too complicated if I make all their romance impact the main story. Therefore it's mainly your clan and your relation with the associated main girl, that impacts the main story evolution.

Then comes the weekend, and that will be the time for the main story progression. It will be the major and mandatory event of the week, involving all clans and the MC, and making the general story and mystery advance. Whatever the clan you are part of, you will live the same event, however not always in the same manner, as you could see BB, WW and DR have very different ways to deal with things. 

The gameplay can seem a bit complex at first, it might be some work to put it in place (but I almost coded half of it), but after that, it will be much easier and interesting to add diverse and original content without the headache to advance multiple paths on the same timeline, and make 6 times the same stuff with different behavior and etc. 

And for the player, I think it will be pretty quick to get how it works, and as I said, you won't be stuck because of the stats. Another advantage of this gameplay is that you can personalize your story pretty much, but still have access to the majority of the contents. So if you decide to do only one playthrough, I think you will still enjoy 70% of the content. But doing multiple playthroughs, (one per clan is advised), you have enough difference to enjoy a different story and progression. 

And finally in the v0.1, you will have 3 more features: music room, replay room, and bonus gallery (I'll explain this in a future status report, it's different from sandstorm)

The status report won't be always this long, this one was to introduce the complete structure of SnowStorm. I hope it was interesting and not too boring to read, and that it will give you some excitement to discover how SnowStorm will work out. ;-)

Next weekend, I'll talk about SandStorm's advancement.

Have a good weekend and take care!

GleenX