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Premise
Reniat returns to her home village after years away at boarding school to find that the village is nearly deserted. The mine that the village depended on heavily for boosting its economy and tourism has been overrun by monsters and no one has bothered doing anything about it. Having trained as an adventurer, she decides to see what she can do about reviving the town and making a name for herself in the world.

Homework Salesman is a life simulation game with an emphasis on dungeon exploration, completing quests, crafting new equipment and items, and befriending the people in town. The game takes inspiration from the Rune Factory and Atelier series.

Features
  • Befriend each villager by talking to them every day and giving them gifts. Higher friendship levels allow you to learn each NPC's personal story and can also gain you access to new shop items, skills, hidden goodies, and more.

  • Unique items means that each item in the game is treated as a separate object. You can rename equipment, find rare versions of them, upgrade and repair them (weapons have durability), and even enchant them. You can have several iron swords each with different enchantments on them.

  • Six unique crafts: Cooking, Smithing, Tailoring, Enchanting, Alchemy, and Construction.

  • Quests are divided into two categories: story quests that propel your adventure forward, and side quests that are procedurally generated.

  • Features a world encounter system where you can find random events in field maps or dungeons, such as traveling merchants or a bandit who'll offer to spare you for money (or you can kill him)

  • Enemy encounters and (most) treasure chests are randomly placed on maps. You typically won't find the same monster encounter in the same dungeon spot every time. Treasure chest contents are randomly drawn from a pool of items appropriate for the zone you're in. You can also find unique weapons with randomized names, stats, and enchantments.



Check out the official website for the game manual, credits, and more.

Check out the wiki here! http://homeworksalesman.wikia.com/wiki/Homework_Salesman_Wiki

Update Log:
1/27/14 - v1.2
- The last two bosses in the game will now put up an anti-frazzle shield if they get hit successfully by frazzle three times. This shield will dissipate after 2 turns. Note that it doesn't count just frazzling the boss, it will count if you frazzle any boss minions in the fight.
- The Treasure Hunter couple will now appear in the ending cut-scene if you saw their world event.
- Fixed bugs related to Liffely's cooking delivery service.
- Fixed bugs related to the 2nd Colorous Cave quest.
- Fixed a bug where if you somehow manage to defeat the 3rd floor bosses on the same day as defeating Plutonus, the magic shop NPCs would not move into town.
- Added several easter eggs, most of which are references to early testers and other people in the community.
- You now get a quest telling you what to do next if you defeat a certain field boss after defeating the last boss of the Caves for the first time.
- Fixed cut-scene bugs related to the Westerlys move in quest.
- Fixed the Beer recipe so that it tells you that you learned how to make Beer instead of Cheese.
- Fixed the case where using L/R would cause the game to crash when browsing recipes in the library.
- Other miscellaneous bug fixes that I don't recall at the moment.

1/25/14 - v1.1d
- Fixed treasure maps that would have a blank name
- Fixed situation where you were not able to trigger the event with Zathus to turn in the 2nd Colorous Cave quest.
- Fixed Manaleech.
- Fixed several spelling errors in the database.
- Updated the manual to include all equipment and skills.
1/12/14 - v1.1c
- Added Xebec's 2 star event
- Added Treasure Hunters world event
- Added post-chapter 1 optional boss (this boss will be refined/tweaked in the next update as well)
- Nerfed Captain Colorous and Robert slightly
- Fixed the cooking delivery quest bug where turning the quest into Qwilte would cause it to be stuck in the quest log
- Fixed weapon renaming
- Fixed a rare case where Autorevive would cause the game to crash
- Fixed a whole bunch of other bugs

6/18 - v1.0l Fixed the patch system so that it does not rerun patches. Fixed one hole in Colorous Cave F5 that could drop you into a dead end.
6/07 - v1.0k Massive balancing patch. Tweaks to crafting, skills, and more.
5/20 - v1.0j Fixed a bug that would cause Raimur to disappear if you ran away or died.
5/16 - v1.0i Fixed the Monster Hunt: Robert quest so that it can be turned in. Also, fixed the quest so that Robert spawns on save files that were created in version 1.0a. Fixed an issue that could cause the party to spawn with you if you respawn from running out of AP. Fixed an issue that could cause Zathus's character event to not be turned off after completion. Added Battle4 bgm file to the Audio\BGM folder. Life Essence and Ressurect now have animations when used on party members.
5/14 - v1.0h Fixed the Super Grind quest so that it can be turned in now.
5/12 - v1.0g Adjusted the difficulty of the last two bosses and fixed an issue where you could get stuck if you fell down certain holes on the 5th floor.
5/11 - v1.0f Fixed a passability issue on the 4th floor of the cave that occurred after defeating Langian. Fixed an issue that could cause Warp to stop working after seeing a world event on the 3rd floor of the cave.
5/08 - v1.0e Added all RTP audio SEs and a couple other files that the resource checker did not pick up. Fixed an issue that could cause a chapter 2 event to appear.
5/07 - v1.0d Fixed an issue where an npc could be stuck in cave walls. Fixed the skill Templar Strike so that it attacks enemies instead of the party. Added the sound effect Cat.ogg for non-rtp users.
5/06 - v1.0c Fixed an issue where Zathus would stop talking to you during the Plutonus quest.
5/06 - v1.0b Fixed an issue that would cause a boss to appear too early in the game
5/05 - v1.0a Initial Release

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Posts

author=gentlemanorcus
Operating System: Windows 8 64-bit
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 660
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2130 CPU @ 3.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.4GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6014MB RAM

My graphics are just the default that come with it, Intel HD Graphics. Don't know if you need more advanced info then this.


Not sure what to say, you should definitely be able to play the game. Can you try redownloading? Do you have any other computers you can try it on? Like a laptop?
Hm, I'm redownloading it right now. I tested that XPadder thing separately though, and it says it doesn't support Windows 8, which I'm using. Do you think that could be causing the problem? Is there a way to test the game without it (I have VX Ace so if I need to alter some code or something I can).
author=gentlemanorcus
Hm, I'm redownloading it right now. I tested that XPadder thing separately though, and it says it doesn't support Windows 8, which I'm using. Do you think that could be causing the problem? Is there a way to test the game without it (I have VX Ace so if I need to alter some code or something I can).


You only need to run XPadder if you're using an Xbox360 controller to play. You can play the game with the keyboard and ignore using it.
Yep, I deleted the XPadder folder and now its working. I think there are some comparability issues with Windows 8, you might want to look into that/note it so people won't get the same problem as me. I could possibly be a tester if you need one.
I'm having very bad lag issues with Homework Salesman, which saddens me because I really like the look of it. I greatly enjoyed Star Stealing Prince and so I looked forward to trying this game out.

It may have more to do with my computer than the game, but walking in town lags *very* badly. When trying to move, I have to hold a direction key down for *at least* 3 to 4 seconds before there was a response - and then the character would move 4 spaces (sometimes more) - or move until an obstacle was encountered. Movement amount doesn't appear correspond to how long the direction keys are held, as sometimes I would have to hold the key down a very long time and only get 4 spaces of movement. The lag stops when inside a building - so far, I have only managed to get to the Blacksmith, the Inn, and to re-enter Reniat's home. It resumes again after exiting a building. Furthermore, there's lag opening the main menu. Switching to full screen mode causes similar lag issues indoors and increases lag outdoors. Obviously, this makes advancing in the game rather difficult. I'm on a laptop and have not yet had a chance to try on another computer. I'm just... kind of pouting right now because this game looks wonderful and I want to play it.

I have had one other issue, which so far has not happened in a way as to make the game unplayable, but possibly could if it occurred elsewhere (such as trying to select an item in battle or something). In the Library>Help menu, selecting "The Menu" always forces the cursor to go to the bottom/top of the list. Aside from "Overview", "Keyboard", "Gamepad", and "NPC Bonding", this behavior has occurred on all menu selections, with only "The Menu" having consistent behavior of forcing the cursor to the bottom/top of the list. The rate at which the cursor is moved does not affect behavior with "The Menu", nor does it seem to be a cause of this behavior for the other selections. While the cursor is moving to the bottom/top of the list, keys for exiting menus do not respond. When the cursor has finished moving, there are a few seconds of unresponsiveness pass before control is regained - during this time, keys for exiting menus or to move the cursor do not respond. As a result of this issue, "The Menu" is the only Help Menu item that absolutely cannot be read in-game for me.

Computer Specs
OS: Windows XP Pro Service Pack 3
Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Model: Latitude D810
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.86 Ghz
RAM: 1.00 GB
author=Reilin
RAM: 1.00 GB


This is probably the issue, buy some more ram.
It could also be your graphics card though, not sure.
Hey Reilin, yeah I'm sorry dude, but your computer's too old to handle the game (I'm very familiar with Dell - I work for them). I don't think even adding more RAM would help to be honest.

Is there any chance you're thinking of buying a new computer in the future? Because you're likely not going to be able to play other games coming out in the future if your computer can't handle this one.
That's fine, and I was expecting that, since I saw no one else having issues like this. Replacing this poor old machine would be wonderful, but unlikely for the time being. I'll just look forward to playing when I get access to a better machine then, and miss out on all the actual bugs in the meantime. :)
Where can we post about bugs/errors/crashes that we have had?
author=Kormanire
Where can we post about bugs/errors/crashes that we have had?


You can PM me or just post them here.
edchuy
You the practice of self-promotion
1624
I have been playing the game and have enjoyed it quite a lot. It seems to have hit a crossroads, so I need help. I have just beaten the second boss in the mines:

and got the rope. I went to use the rope to access the new area and found a hole n the floor for which you need to get something to help you walk across it. Could somebody give a hint as to what I need to look for?


Thanks in advance!
There should be another boss on that floor that is hoarding a wooden bridge. That is the other piece you need to go to floor 4.
edchuy
You the practice of self-promotion
1624
Thanks! I suspected it ...
No problem. Just a heads up, the monsters and terrain get alot more irritating as you get deeper. Especially watch what you step in.
I've reached the 4th floor and so far I've been unable to find betram. The poison pools are making things difficult. Is there a way to decrease how much RP they drain?
author=Aurora_Paradox
I've reached the 4th floor and so far I've been unable to find betram. The poison pools are making things difficult. Is there a way to decrease how much RP they drain?

In order to get to the room where Bertram is you need to go to the far left room on the 4th floor. At the far left end of that room there is a path of nothing but poison. You have to trek through that in order to hit a switch to activate the bridge back at the beginning of the 4th floor. And sorry there isnt a way to reduce the AP drain that I know of. Just make sure you leave town with 100% and try to avoid fights during that particular section. That is the only spot in the entire dungeon where you are forced to walk through the poison. Other rooms have it but you can always path around it from thereon out.
J-L
"I cannot complain when your icon of choice is a penguin"
1791
I'm having a great time playing this game. I'm on my 13th day or so.

I'm sure it'll take me a while to be done with it, but a review is on its way. I've also kept a jounral with most of the bugs I encountered, etc...
edchuy
You the practice of self-promotion
1624
author=J-L
I'm having a great time playing this game. I'm on my 13th day or so.

I'm sure it'll take me a while to be done with it, but a review is on its way. I've also kept a jounral with most of the bugs I encountered, etc...

I'm glad you also accepted playing the game. I haven't quite finished writing my review yet ...
Hey guys, thanks for working on reviews. We have a new update coming in the next few days that rebalances a lot of skills and crafting and fixes a lot of bugs, so hopefully you guys can check that version out as well.
edchuy
You the practice of self-promotion
1624
Sorry, to ask, but when do you expect it to be out? BTW, I wouldn't mind replaying it!

EDIT: Also, that'll give me a chance to write a better review as well ... and actually take some screenshots this time around.