Progress Update for 0.3.0

I wanted to drop a more insightful post about content upcoming in 0.3.0.

Currently planned for the next release are the typical additions (more combat, more writing (probably around 10-15k more words), etc.) but I'm also introducing the relationship system. This update will give the player the chance to start earning relationship points with a few key characters, and will include at least one "spend time" event with one in particular.

I've also got art commissioned for this update! We'll get an in-game look at a full body Luca in the sweats outfit. This means a redesign of the pause menu that can show off larger images, and hopefully full body art for the other Luca outfits, Sarah, and more down the line. Also on the docket is a new cover art icon for Itch.io and other places Thread can be found.

Another part of this update will be some graphical enhancements for some of the outdoor maps using the parallax mapping technique. I've posted a few mock-ups done by Izumi in the art channel on the Discord server already, and although it won't look EXACTLY like those once in engine, I'll be able to do a lot of the enhancements.

Finally, I've decided to add FULLY OPTIONAL adult content to the game. I've already written one scene, with another on the way.

Given all of that, this is a pretty large update. The commissioned art probably won't be ready for about another 2 weeks, and I will also need about that long to get things done. I will also probably have to break existing saves to get this all to work, but I'm hoping you'll agree that it will be worth it. I MIGHT be able to avoid the save-breaking with some modifications, but I can't promise anything one way or the other yet. We'll see when I get close to release.

As always, thanks for playing and feel free to leave me some feedback about this post or anything else in the suggestions channel on the Discord server.