The Kramora Times # 1 – Ananias 1.72 released, plans for the future

20160127_152146Wow, it’s been almost two months! I was finally able to finish some projects I was working on, and work back on this.

This version is still missing the unique active skills per class. I have also been thinking on some other facets I will be working on for the 2.0 version:

Adding more items

The lack of graphics for the detailed views of all items has prevent me from adding all of them. I have decided I won’t let that stop me, so for the items for which I don’t have a zoomed graphic, I’ll just use the normal “paperdoll” graphic. It may be won’t look very professional at first, but in time I might get the resources to add these missing graphics.

Having said that, the new items would be:

  • Armor and Clothing: These are super important for both the user experience and to allow more variations in combat.
  • Weapons: Yes, I have a lot of new different weapons I’d like to add. (Including claws. whips and giant hammers.)
  • Shields: I’ll add them as items you can pick up and wear, some classes will be able to use them more effectively.
  • Boots and Gloves: Maybe, I’m still not sure if they can add enough to the gameplay (without me having to implement lots of changes to support them).

Plot

I have been thinking on adding a bit more to the plot / story. Still haven’t thought on the details. I’ve made up some sparse bits of lore, so may be I can use that as a starting point for the world. As for the player experience inside the game, I may include some recurring characters with semi-random events. Again, still haven’t thought it out.

Much better support for Keyboard

The game is clearly not meant to be played using the keyboard now. There’s a rudimentary support for movement but it’s pretty slow. Also, there are no keyboard shortcuts neither support for the menus or inventory. (Don’t worry, all keyboard shortcuts will be optional and there won’t be many)

Some other small but important things

  • Allow sneaking past enemies if you are stealthy: Monsters won’t always notice you when you step into the room.
  • Allow changing tactics (Defensive / Balanced / Offensive / Berserk)
  • Shareable character dead page including conducts
  • Enhance the crafting system

In other news, I’ve been working with my sister in some art-related stuff, mainly in the production of the Dumeril Sage statue along with Gio.ram, the sculptor (I’m thinking on carrying some of them to the U.S. on a trip next week, so if you want them this may be your chance :)). But she’s also done a bit of work on redesigning the logo.

ANANIAS LOGO

I still gotta do the pixel art version of it, but I really like it.

I have also been talking with someone who may work in the translation to Russian, that may open the gates for translations to other languages.. let’s see how it goes!

Not completely Ananias related, but I just did an interview for “elbinario”, where I talk a bit about roguelikes and the history of roguetemple and roguebasin. It’s in Spanish tho so good luck!

Now, let’s go back to the new version! it comes with lots of gameplay changes, check it out! Details are below

queen

Gameplay

  • Use Magic Power (separate from Combat skill) to calculate the effects of magic spells and the chance of failing casting them
    • Recover health
    • Repair armor
    • Repair weapons
    • Increase HP
    • Invisibility
    • Summon monsters
    • Elemental attacks
    • Sensorial mapping (all kinds)
  • Add different levels of power for the scrolls (Dim, Plain, Blessed and Ancient)
  • Add heavenly patron to upgrade magic power
  • Allow throwing items at close range
  • Balance starting equipment, add bandages for survival and throwing daggers for more tactical choices.
  • Reduce chance and strength of self attack when confused
  • Only provide Colbi heavenly patron when carrying capacity not maxed out
  • Prevent wands from ever missing if fired by a wand expert
  • Fix issue with humanoid check for monsters, preventing player from scoring critical hits
  • Nerf neck hits on player
  • Tune item generation chances for armor, headgear and scrolls
  • Fix super broken monk unarmed bonus
  • Allow ranged attacks over some small obstacles.
  • Make combat stat reduce evade chance of monsters.
  • Fix issue with skull helm not preventing fear.
  • Reduce parry chance to 10% for enemies.
  • Add back holy power and dark power evolution scrolls.
  • Strengthen weapons and armor by 150%
  • Weaken some enemies specially post level 16
  • Allow recovering from Fear when hit
  • Remove fixed wizard’s 1D3 damage, they can now use any weapon!
  • Prevent pet from fleeing from room if covered by player

UX

  • Show name of the item on the HUD when walking over it
  • Add tombstones for the contributors to the latest IndieGoGo campaign
  • Add acid, holy and ice explosions for thrown potions and spells
  • Add big dialog for character info and prompts on Tablets and Desktop
  • Allow showing transparent map on the HUD on phones
  • Show damage roll for attack spell scrolls
  • Enhance double tap to prevent misusing it.
  • Add warning when leaving pet behind.
  • Changes on settings menu, use popup instead
  • Enable sound by default on mobile and web

Technical

  • Fix potential issues with interrupted movement tweens when doing quick movement
  • Show hit location before damage
  • Prevent blue blink (paralysis) from stopping before time
  • Change mapping spell descriptions based on limitations
  • Fixes on error management
  • Multiplatform fullscreen support and ignore if unavailable
  • Add “please wait” modal window to be used with online operations
  • Reorder monsters when an enemy steps into the room

Ananias 2015 downloads

Here are some rough approximate numbers for the downloads and sales for Ananias on 2015.

Storefront Platforms Downloads Sales Earnings
itch.io Desktop 2,272 36 $169.85
indiegamestand Desktop 157 10 $34.04
gamejolt Desktop 6,074 0 $2.64
indiedb Desktop 12 0 $0.00
Play Store Android 17,213 489 $987.47
Total 25,728 535 $1,194.00

Ananias Wear is available!

Now you can get all sort of cool Ananias stuff!

Support the development of the game and spread the word about it 🙂

This first collection is dubbed Heroes of Ananias, and was illustrated by Laura Espinosa. It features characters from all eight player classes in a cute chibi-anime style.

You can get several styles of T-Shirts, tank-tops, hoodies and more wearable stuff here.

tshirts

But that’s not all! there’s a lot of other cool stuff you can get, including stickers, smartphone/tablet/laptop cases, all types of prints, pillows, mugs and bags. Just pick your favourite character here, and then select the product you want 🙂

ananiasWear

Thank you for your support!

Ananias 1.71 released

Happy new year!

Won’t be able to work in the game in a while (back to work… yay.) so I decided to release this version. I’m trying to make each release about 20 hours of development.

I’ve already laid out the plans to add at least two unique active skills for each player class. They are likely to be available on 1.72

This version comes with a lot of Gameplay and User Experience changes. Check it out!

Gameplay

  • Brew methil potion with Arsenic + Borax.
  • Increase starting MP.
  • Increase MP bonus on Level Up.
  • Reduce spell costs.
  • Implement Magic effects for Tiaras.
  • Reduce boosted elemental magic modifier from 4 to 2.
  • Add pumped magic modifier x3.
  • Add evading melee attacks.
  • Recover 20% of total HP on level up.
  • Remove Level 0 Level Up.
  • Make monster summons ephemeral, they die within some turns.
  • Make monster’s status be updated when in other rooms.
  • Make partial healing spells and items based on rolls.
  • (1.71.1) Give Arcane a bandage for survival.

User Experience

  • Add confirmation to kill character.
  • Show player info on new game.
  • Show player and pet info on a new scrollable popup.
  • Show player passive skills on player info popup.
  • Add damage roll to spell description.
  • Add prompt to select action when there’s a conflict on interacting with self (Pass turn / Pick Item / Use Pond / Use stairs).
  • Add custom alert/prompt dialog.
  • Show item summary on Chibi inventory panel.
  • Don’t stop quick movement because of friendlies.
  • Make inspector pop up on gameover on mobile.
  • Show more messages on the HUD message.
  • (1.71.1) Disable combat messages temporary

Graphics / Sound

  • Change fountain animation cycle.
  • Change sword SFX.
  • Add remnants of an adventurer on item locations.

Technical

  • Upgrade to Phaser 2.4.4.
  • (1.71.1) Downgrade back to phaser 2.3.0, performance issues
  • (1.71.1) Fix issue with validation message for ammo
  • (1.71.1) Fix issue with action validation for scrolls using the item as source instead of the spell
  • (1.71.1) Fixes to prevent infinite cyclying tweens for player and pet due to tweening inaccuracies
  • (1.71.1) Init audio objects only after files loaded (Fix issue on phaser 2.4.4)
  • (1.71.2) Send crash reports to the devteam
  • (1.71.2) Prevent game from hanging on critical errors.

Bugfixes

  • Fix issues with player and pet status not updating after Paral and on recovery.
  • Only show critical hit messages if hit.
  • Sort by zIndex when entering room.
  • Sort monsters whenever position changes.

Some stuff coming for Ananias in 2016

In addition to the Steam and iOS releases of Ananias 2.0, which I hope we’ll be doing on January (or February at most), there’s a couple other nifty stuff coming for Ananias in 2016.

Ananias Wear

pohna-the-barbarian-tank-tops

Not to be confused with Ananias for Android Wear, we are going to be selling T-Shirts and other apparel with awesome brand new Chibi art for all player classes, illustrated by Laura Espinosa Art (A local artist from Medellin, Colombia).

Heroes of Ananias Miniature Collection

DumerilPreview

I’ve also been working with a friend on a physical set of miniatures we will be selling initially in my country (Colombia). If all goes well we might start doing international shipments but we’ll see.

More info about all this coming soon 🙂

 

Ananias 1.70 released

It’s been more than 2 months since last version, I’ve been REALLY busy but finally managed to scrap some time. The new version is HOT, read below for details!

Play now!

New Magic System!

There are 41 spells distributed in 4 schools of magic with 8 circles of power each. You player class determines the maximum circle of power you can reach for each school.

Powerful Magic

In order to cast spells you need to spend your Magic Points, your class determines your starting MP and you can extend them within the game as a stat upgrade. Ethyl and Methyl potions allow recovering MP. You also recover half your spent MP on level up.

Spells
Spells

Every time you level up you can either learn a new spell (from your current circle or power or the next one) or get a stat upgrade.

Learning Spells
Learning Spells

The wiki has been updated with the list of spells.

New equipment class: Headgear!

You can now equip helmets, hats and other kinds of headgear.

Headgear protects you from Head, Neck and Face hits which can be lethal. It can also enhance your stats or provide special effects like scaring your enemies or protecting you from diseases.

You can also wear it just to look cool in the dungeon.

New User Experience: Tablet

For Android (and iOS, in the future), you can now pick between the phone optimised version (a.k.a. the Chibi UI) or the more complete tablet experience which includes the map and the inspector. I prefer the Chibi one, but now you can choose 🙂

Ananias in a Phone
Ananias in a Phone
Ananias in a Tablet
Ananias in a Tablet

Gameplay

  • Generate potions in the map
  • Add weakness vs light and darkness for some monsters
  • Allow selecting an upgrade on first level
  • Increase initial carry to 19
  • Prevent warping when panicked

User Experience

  • Show game messages inside the game window (useful specially for Phone UI)
  • Request full screen on web version

Bugfixing

  • Issues with music loading/decoding and cache handling
  • Issues with game level vs player level consistency
  • Add back music to silent level 1
  • Fix beard and head sprite handling
  • Fix issue with clicking behind Help panel and others
  • Prevent friendlies from using their skills against the player
  • Fix angelus potion
  • ChibiUI Adjust Promo Panel
  • Restore lifebar status on load game
  • Adjust columns on graveyard

Ananias 1.69 – ChibiUI for Mobile!

At long last, this new version implements huge changes on the UX for mobile devices. It’s now much easier and fun to play, take a look!

Screenshot_2015-10-17-22-19-18 Screenshot_2015-10-17-22-19-27 Screenshot_2015-10-17-22-19-50 Screenshot_2015-10-17-22-20-11

User Experience

  • ChibiUI: A complete new user interface optimized for mobile devices
  • Add random tips on Help screen
  • Add overlays to buttons
  • (1.68.3) Add life bars

Fixes

  • Prevent warping when panicked
  • (1.68.3) Make enemies fly lower and center their sprites
  • (1.68.3) Prevent critical issue with Parry and Block enemy skills crashing the app
  • (1.68.3) Allow using targetted items when only friendlies in room (from ground and inventory)
  • (1.68.3) Prevent duplicate end of turn when brewing potions

No release for Desktop now, iOS still pending. Development continues, someday I’ll manage to hit the humble store and steam. The time hasn’t come yet, the game must be more complete!

Ananias 1.68 – Monsters assaulting rooms – 2015 ARRP

Just in time for 2015 AARP… new version is on and is a great game changer! rooms are no longer safe as monsters will now follow you or assault you from other rooms if you make a lot of noise! There’s also a bunch of new spells including panic and charm, and effects on all enemies in the room.

Take a look! Current version is only available online, will be deployed soon on Android and Desktop.

fearMyPower panick

Gameplay

  • Make monsters notice the player based on the noise he makes and chase him from other rooms.
  • Dungeon Sound: Alert nearby monsters when parrying or blocking.
  • Dungeon Sound: Make explosion spells generate a lot of noise alerting enemies in all the dungeon.
  • Add spells to cause blindness, panic, confusion and charm to one or all enemies.
  • Add spells to detect items and monsters in all the level,
  • Panic: Some enemies will flee from player (and into other rooms) when low on HP or under the influence of fear spells.
  • Player Panic: Fear skill may cause you to lose control and try to flee in panic.
  • Make some monster inmune to blindness (no eyes).
  • Make some monsters yell to call for nearby support.
  • Telepathy skill for monsters: Allows feeling the presence of the player and chasing him.
  • Make friendly monsters follow player on safe rooms.
  • Changes on ranged attacks AI to retreat into attacking range.

User Experience

  • Added different languages and make enemies yell when attacking or fleeing
  • Remove music from first level
  • Animation for floating enemies
  • Don’t unequip ranged weapon if spent to allow quicker reloading
  • Fix status ailments cluttering the inventory panel

Technical

  • Save statues collection on online account
  • Sort monster sprites by depth.

Ananias 1.67 – More stable!

Two critical crash bugs were introduced on v1.66 due to two new features: Smarter pets which won’t get in your way for ranged attacks, and fish adornments for the underground lagoon. Had to release quicker than expected in order to fix these, sorry about that.

Level generation has also been reworked and should be much lighter now, which may help the game work better on low end devices.

Assorted News:

  • The campaign to fund cool new features has stalled…. please share it to make it happen!
  • iOS version is still on testflight, I think I’ll release along with the Steam release so it might take a bit but it’ll be much better.

 

The cave leading to the entrance of the crypts
The cave leading to the entrance of the crypts

Get the new version!

UX

  • Make first level a cave
  • Auto select target when using items on ground

Tech

  • Optimize level generation time greatly!
  • Remove autosave on cocoon

Bugfixes

  • Crash when pet wont get on the way of a ranged attack but has nowhere to go
  • 2 Crashes for fish adornments on Lagoon
  • Status not updated immediately on HUD
  • Friend count on title screen not being refreshed after adding
  • Player stats not being refreshed on level up
  • Throw button hidden after unsuccessful throw
  • Prevent using items when dead by double clicking

Ananias 1.66 released – Confusion, Hallucination, Smarter Monsters, back to CocoonJS

Remember: We have a new crowdfunding campaign to build a lot of features! Please contribute and share!

A first batch of gameplay changes, including three new statuses (Confused, Hallucinating and Blind) to give more variety to the game. I have also increased the quantity of healing items, to give you more chances to survive.

I’ve switched back to cocoonJS, but now using the new cocoon.io, which is built on top of Cordova so most cordova plugins work (yay!).

Pros

  • Better performance on Android <4.4
  • Better performance on iOS
  • Unified execution environment for Android means I don’t have to fiddle with differences between Android versions (in theory)

Cons

  • No CLI means much slower deployment cycles (The current CLI is deprecated and will be phased out soon)
  • Cloud based means I can’t fiddle with Cordova source and tweak things, I have to do with what they have (so I find something not supported by them, I’m screwed)
  • I depend again on the Ludei team and their pace of development which varies a lot (but they are working better now from what I see). In any case if all fails I can go back to cordova anytime now that the game has been conditioned for it.

There are some issues for the iOS version tho, I hope to have them solved soon (else I’ll have to go back to cordova for iOS). Once they are solved I’ll ping all of you who have offered to test the game via testflight, please be patient!

Get the new version!

Gameplay

  • New status: Confused: May attack friendly monsters or stumble in an unwanted direction. Accuracy with ranged weapons and thrown items greatly reduced. Cannot read spells.
  • New status: Hallucinating: Monster and item appearances may change, making the subject unable to identify them. As such may attack friendly monsters. Cannot read spells.
  • New status: Blind: Can’t see the rooms. Cannot read spells
  • Add skills for monsters to cause confusion, blindness and hallucination.
  • Increase quantity of healing items
  • Increase power of healing items
  • Add bonus against undead enemies for certain weapons.

AI

  • Prevent friendly monsters from getting on the way of player attacks
  • Make monster pick from nearby enemies when several are at attack range.

UX

  • Show status modifications on the HUD
  • Use same graphics for running indicators on zoomed and quick mode.
  • Double click on item on inventory to use it
  • Add fishes to the lagoon

Bugfixes

  • Prevent creation of extremely big rooms
  • Fix issue trying to move off the room

Technical

  • Use new cocoon.io cloud service for Android and iOS instead of Apache Cordova
  • Support separate version for ARM and x86 android architectures
  • Allow moving game to SD card