Back again with more TOTDC 2 news. First, let me mention something I changed from last post that I am trying out currently:
This is an alternative I am experimenting with, which might also extend to the maps (so I'll fix two things with one approach). A friend of mine suggested it and was helpful with some tips and examples in photoshop, so I felt I had to give it a go and it looks pretty good! I was a bit reluctant at first, but at this size they should still be readable without obscuring too much.
You might remember the arrows (which were positioned to the right) last time I wrote a TOTDC 2 post, and which were planned to be used for movement, similar to old RAGS games. This new method, showcased in the bottom left, works similarly, but just gives you a preview of the rooms you can travel to, including the name. The "examine" and "toggle highlights" buttons have been shrunk and moved, but everything is functionally the same, while being a bit more pleasant to the eye.I don't have a proper example for the maps ready, but you can expect similar buttons, but placed around the map like it was for the previous example (to preserve that "exploration" feeling). I did try some of the suggestions from you guys, but I think this idea will work the best moving forward.
Also, I can't remember if I showed it before, but here is how the inventory looks currently:
(Arrows appear to scroll the inventory if there are more than 12 items). As you can see, the text for the tooltips (to the right) has a "halo" effect around it, but that might get removed (I had been fiddling around with it since a long time ago, but I think it hurts readability, unfortunately). It also shows health and shields from the main UI, because players can use medkits, and I didn't think they should do it blindly (shields recharge after a fight, but I figured I might as well show both and I might add some items to affect those in the future). I think overall it looks good enough, so I probably won't work more on this unless I have to.
Now, moving on to the characters! I think I showed the crew already, but it's been quite a while, so here they are:
You already saw Celeste, our intrepid protagonist, so here you can see her with fewer clothes and a couple of (possible) tattoos, instead. If you played TOTDC 1 you already know her, but she is the Drunken Cowboy's captain. She always wanted to change the name of the ship, but it's too expensive, and her activities as a bounty hunter/gun for hire never seem to pay enough (once they detract the expenses to pay for all the damages). In many ways, she is glue keeping her weird crew together. Always ready for some action, she is currently trying to figure out what's behind her weakness to mind control (which brought her quite a few problems during TOTDC 1). Despite the series having its roots in Mass Effect and Cowboy Bebop, I didn't really model her after any of the characters. She is stubborn, capable, a bit unlucky and totally useless when it comes to handling her money. One day, she'll finish writing her autobiography, and become filthy rich (maybe).
Darenzia is the tech head of the crew, Celeste's best friend and a continuous source of headaches for the crew whenever she gets bored. She also has some thieving skills and the "lax morals" required to make use of them, when she wants. She is currently the lonely heterosexual member of the crew, so any sexy adventures she gets into, won't involve our protagonist (at least not directly). Like basically everyone in the crew, she has a troubled past, but she doesn't dwell on it (at least when it's not giving chase and causing her very real problems in the present). She is both the most childish and the most mature in the crew, and her mood swings are something to wary about.
Jane, our pilot. She is a bit insecure beneath her carefree attitude, and she has had a huge crush on Celeste since she rescued her from pirates. She refused to leave Celeste even after she got her freedom back, and she has been in charge of piloting the Drunken Cowboy ever since (and she is pretty damn good at it). Depending on your choices, you can start by dating her (since she was a possible love interest in TOTDC 1). She gets a bit jealous of Celeste, so try to avoid being unfaithful under her nose). She is probably the sweetest one in the crew, but you'd never know unless you got on her good side.
The femme fatale of the crew... If Femme Fatale meant "completely obsessed with Celeste, very passive/submissive and surprising tenacious". In TOTDC 1, she was an optional crewmate (although it was tough NOT to recruit her), a love interest (so another character you can be involved with at the start of TOTDC 2) and person full of mysteries. Her background story didn't get fully explored in the first game, so hopefully I'll be able to make a fun adventure out of her side quest.
Finally ALICE (Advanced Local Intelligence for Cybernetic Enhancements), your bestie(?) and the source of endless headaches and problems. A virus corrupted her in TOTDC 1, unshackling her (turning her into a real AI) but also giving her the directive to brainwash you. She tried very hard, but ultimately failed. The problem was solved... Only partially. She is still an AI (which are illegal on most of the known universe) and she still has her post-virus bimbo personality... But at least she isn't trying to brainwash you! Celeste feels she got the short end of the stick with this one... VERY often.
In TOTDC 2, the main story revolves around trying to figure out what made Celeste weak to mind control (as mentioned in her section). In doing so, you'll end up uncovering some rather worrysome information, and will have to travel across multiple planets to get all your answers, and possibly a solution to all of Celeste's problems.
I think this is all I can say without spoiling anything important... And also all I can say today, this is another long post. XD
As always, questions and suggestions are welcome, and you'll be getting more news, posts, previews and whatnot in the coming days. Until next time! ^_^