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As kingdoms reeling from a brutal war recover, the world and its denizens try to continue through gripping fear of more conflict. Lands teem with wild monsters that grew rampant with nations too focused on preserving their peace and waging their battles. Mercenaries have grown into their own place of power amongst the once great kingdoms, restoring safety to the people of the world one mission at a time. In the midst of all the betrayals and tragedies that took place during the Presean War, it was a single atrocity that caused the opposing blades to be stayed. Under the command of a heretic general, a nation was infected with a crippling plague. Women and children, the old and the weak, soldiers and kings... All fell victim as it spread. The guilty and the innocent no longer mattered, but in the presence of such suffering the world once again regained peace with its wrath being focused on the man who caused the calamity.
Ark: Of Light and Darkness aims to both be a traditional RPG with an emphasis on familiar features with unique mechanics, and tell an immersing story which focuses on the duality of events as they unfold. War to some is justice for others, as a man who is King to his people can be seen as a monster by the world. Focusing on the morality of your actions will undoubtedly shape the experience, while recognizing even subtler things may actually massively alter the storyline. As paths diverge the people of the world and their motivations, as well as those of your allies, become clearer while others become sullied.
Latest Blog
jedahxii
- Production
- jedahxii
RPG Maker VX Ace- RPG
- 05/30/2013 05:22 AM
- 11/11/2017 08:19 AM
- 08/08/2015
- 98080
- 40
- 810
Posts 
bicfarmer
3601
View playlists
CloseDemo rpg. Good mapping, and you said you already fixed the overworld lag. The forest was really big! I liked how big it was and chests were hidden all over the place. The mapping was really pleasant as well. This game loves hiding secret bonuses all over the place. It's swell.
And that's the end of the good news. Gameplay is pretty unbalanced. I think I know why you are constantly reminding the player to stock up items, but there are so many useless status-curing items in the beginning of the game. Grinding in this game is a must, since 1 single stat point is a huge advantage (even reducing enemy attacks to zero damage). Enemy difficulty can also widely waver, you could be eating slimes for breakfast then suddenly this huge snake slaps you for 20+ damage, all happening right in the begginer forest. Not using bait on the forest boss is just begging to get killed, since he respawns his helpers immediately after they die and gains an attack bonus for doing so, and they can hit you harder than your little plants can heal. But that's only the beginning of the horrific balance in this game.
It REALLY starts to pick up after the forest. You're locked out of the forest after beating the boss, so you're stuck trying to get thru the second dungeon, a cave. And wow wee the difficulty jump is gigantic. I'm at level 4, beating slimes and goblins just minutes ago who did like zero damage, and now in the cave the first enemy throws out 30 damage lightning magic. And auto-regens HP. There were several times where they kill 1 of my guys before I kill 1 of theirs, in the first random encounter, forcing me out of the area immediately. No idea how you'd get thru this cave, and I cant grind out of level 4 when the first random battle is this brutal. So after a while I thought, screw it, I'm beelining for the exit. And if it's anything like the forest, this place is enormous. So I was going along hoping 7 potions should be enough, (it wasn't). But I never get to find out because the pink gremelins or whatever, they tried to cast fire, but that animation wasn't in the game installation so the game crashed. GG
P.S. The miss rate of physical attacks is appalling. I'm guessing this is a consequence of the battle script you used, so too bad. No excuse for the useless party member skillsets in the game, though.
EDIT: It's a rant post, but some of the points above are valid. You can alleviate the difficulty problem by running from the deadly mobs, and try to grind off the weaker ones. Managed to get to level 5 doing this, and it helps.
That said, the cave boss is pretty hard. He hits about as hard as the potion can heal, so you better sit there chewing on weeds till you get lucky and dodge a hit. It's more or less an RNG battle, if you get lucky crits or dodges you have a chance. I needed 10+ potions to survive this guy. And here's where those status curing items come into assistance as well. Demo ends right after beating him.
And that's the end of the good news. Gameplay is pretty unbalanced. I think I know why you are constantly reminding the player to stock up items, but there are so many useless status-curing items in the beginning of the game. Grinding in this game is a must, since 1 single stat point is a huge advantage (even reducing enemy attacks to zero damage). Enemy difficulty can also widely waver, you could be eating slimes for breakfast then suddenly this huge snake slaps you for 20+ damage, all happening right in the begginer forest. Not using bait on the forest boss is just begging to get killed, since he respawns his helpers immediately after they die and gains an attack bonus for doing so, and they can hit you harder than your little plants can heal. But that's only the beginning of the horrific balance in this game.
It REALLY starts to pick up after the forest. You're locked out of the forest after beating the boss, so you're stuck trying to get thru the second dungeon, a cave. And wow wee the difficulty jump is gigantic. I'm at level 4, beating slimes and goblins just minutes ago who did like zero damage, and now in the cave the first enemy throws out 30 damage lightning magic. And auto-regens HP. There were several times where they kill 1 of my guys before I kill 1 of theirs, in the first random encounter, forcing me out of the area immediately. No idea how you'd get thru this cave, and I cant grind out of level 4 when the first random battle is this brutal. So after a while I thought, screw it, I'm beelining for the exit. And if it's anything like the forest, this place is enormous. So I was going along hoping 7 potions should be enough, (it wasn't). But I never get to find out because the pink gremelins or whatever, they tried to cast fire, but that animation wasn't in the game installation so the game crashed. GG
P.S. The miss rate of physical attacks is appalling. I'm guessing this is a consequence of the battle script you used, so too bad. No excuse for the useless party member skillsets in the game, though.
EDIT: It's a rant post, but some of the points above are valid. You can alleviate the difficulty problem by running from the deadly mobs, and try to grind off the weaker ones. Managed to get to level 5 doing this, and it helps.
That said, the cave boss is pretty hard. He hits about as hard as the potion can heal, so you better sit there chewing on weeds till you get lucky and dodge a hit. It's more or less an RNG battle, if you get lucky crits or dodges you have a chance. I needed 10+ potions to survive this guy. And here's where those status curing items come into assistance as well. Demo ends right after beating him.
jedahxii
246
author=nhubi
Any idea when the next demo, or gasp, the actual game will be completed? You know since the TCD is past and all.
The next demo should be along shortly, actually. The thing is I don't want to release something I haven't thoroughly worked through, especially with all of the things that I have re-tooled. I'll upload some screenshots here shortly to show the newer tile sets that I've been working with and the content. The most grueling part is learning the scripting to make all of the parts function appropriately. The majority of the game is actually done, but with the intricacies that I have in place I can only release it when all off the path diversions are accounted for. The next demo, as it is now, will include the initial two dungeons, an additional optional dungeon, three more dungeons and two more towns. All in all, including the content, my play time through them is about 8 hours or so.
Appreciate the interest.
Any idea when the next demo, or gasp, the actual game will be completed? You know since the TCD is past and all.
jedahxii
246
author=juliab
OK, thoughts from the start. You overpopulated your maps to the point that it's hard to move and somewhat laggish. Sometimes less is more. As usual I start at the easy mode if it's available. Well I'm struggling in easy mode. You have to think about casual players, if you make an easy mode. I found it a bit frustrating and not easy at all. And that is just in the beginning of the game. Casual player would find it frustrating and just quit. I will continue to see how I can handle further into the game on easy. But... I'm being whipped by the monsters that have a blue!.., in easy??? Really!!!! Not gonna try any higher difficulty, for sure. It looks like a very good, well thought out game, but you should think about your audience. If you aiming for stalwarts, than you are good, if you're aiming for larger audience, than you should balance battles (more exp, and certainly more $), especially in easy, mode. When the monster hit you for 15 - 20 HP each, and your healing item cures you for about the same amount, and you only have the max of 15 to carry on you, that is not an easy mode.
I'll see how it is going to be further on. Might quit the game for the difficulty. Unfortunatelly had to do it in some very good games.
I appreciate your input. I've actually changed a bit of the battle system. Initially I had designed it to be a bit more strategic, as you had to use your skills effectively and as a bit of a counter to the lack of income. Judah's pilfer, for instance, almost guarantees you a healing item when used on early enemies. The new combat mechanics are a bit different, as it isn't so much management of your EP. The new system is called 'Stress' and it builds as you take damage and deal damage, and is reduced when you are healed and defeat an enemy. It makes the battle a bit more strategic and the skills a bit less of a difficult decision. When I release the second demo it will be integrated. It's taking me a while as I had to re-balance a lot of the skills, enemies, and items with the change.
And, of course, thank you for playing!
juliab
0
OK, thoughts from the start. You overpopulated your maps to the point that it's hard to move and somewhat laggish. Sometimes less is more. As usual I start at the easy mode if it's available. Well I'm struggling in easy mode. You have to think about casual players, if you make an easy mode. I found it a bit frustrating and not easy at all. And that is just in the beginning of the game. Casual player would find it frustrating and just quit. I will continue to see how I can handle further into the game on easy. But... I'm being whipped by the monsters that have a blue!.., in easy??? Really!!!! Not gonna try any higher difficulty, for sure. It looks like a very good, well thought out game, but you should think about your audience. If you aiming for stalwarts, than you are good, if you're aiming for larger audience, than you should balance battles (more exp, and certainly more $), especially in easy, mode. When the monster hit you for 15 - 20 HP each, and your healing item cures you for about the same amount, and you only have the max of 15 to carry on you, that is not an easy mode.
I'll see how it is going to be further on. Might quit the game for the difficulty. Unfortunatelly had to do it in some very good games.
I'll see how it is going to be further on. Might quit the game for the difficulty. Unfortunatelly had to do it in some very good games.
longshot
0
author=jedahxiiauthor=longshotThe blue encounter mark will always occur if the party's level is high enough to eliminate the encounter. Level 4 is high enough to skip all encounters, 3 for the weaker ones.
ok have a few questions
1) how often does the blue ! comeout instead of the red one because my characters are losing battle of attrition because of the herb limit of 15
2) i think the lily puzzle is bugged a bit because my character got stuck after one of the jumps
3)where do we go exactly in the liet forest since the lily got me stuck i went through the north east route with the dead wolf cub and couldn't find and exit
The puzzle shouldn't ever completely make you stuck, pressing the action key a second time should return you to a movable position. I'll look into fine tuning though.
As for the direction, head north. It may be covered by an overlapping tree but it is most certainly that way.
ok thank you
jedahxii
246
author=longshot
ok have a few questions
1) how often does the blue ! comeout instead of the red one because my characters are losing battle of attrition because of the herb limit of 15
2) i think the lily puzzle is bugged a bit because my character got stuck after one of the jumps
3)where do we go exactly in the liet forest since the lily got me stuck i went through the north east route with the dead wolf cub and couldn't find and exit
The blue encounter mark will always occur if the party's level is high enough to eliminate the encounter. Level 4 is high enough to skip all encounters, 3 for the weaker ones.
The puzzle shouldn't ever completely make you stuck, pressing the action key a second time should return you to a movable position. I'll look into fine tuning though.
As for the direction, head north. It may be covered by an overlapping tree but it is most certainly that way.
longshot
0
ok have a few questions
1) how often does the blue ! comeout instead of the red one because my characters are losing battle of attrition because of the herb limit of 15
2) i think the lily puzzle is bugged a bit because my character got stuck after one of the jumps
3)where do we go exactly in the liet forest since the lily got me stuck i went through the north east route with the dead wolf cub and couldn't find and exit
1) how often does the blue ! comeout instead of the red one because my characters are losing battle of attrition because of the herb limit of 15
2) i think the lily puzzle is bugged a bit because my character got stuck after one of the jumps
3)where do we go exactly in the liet forest since the lily got me stuck i went through the north east route with the dead wolf cub and couldn't find and exit
Wyrmnus
0
Looks interesting from the Screenshots. Hope to see a full version so I can download soon.
jedahxii
246
author=DominatedMind
This looks awesome; I agree about the amazing mapping too. Thanks for making it and putting the time into something for others to enjoy.
Thank you, I appreciate that very much. The best part about mapping is that you get better over time, so all your previous work in a game ends up looking like crap compared to the ones you just did. This, ironically, has led to me redoing like the entire beginning of the game ha ha.
This looks awesome; I agree about the amazing mapping too. Thanks for making it and putting the time into something for others to enjoy.
jedahxii
246
author=Tom_Bombadil_
This looks like a great game I will have to check back on this one.
Thank you, I appreciate both your comment and sentiment.
jedahxii
246
author=shun
Generally do not give due credit to do. There is to provide a demo so that the played may indicate what they liked or give suggestions for improvement.
Making sense of your post, I can generally agree with that statement. I am working on putting out the demo but as I have said, I do not want to put something out that I am not happy with. I understand that revisions are always possible, but I feel I owe it to the community to put forth my best effort. If that means remapping a remap, then free time be damned I'll do it ha ha.
shun
0
Generally do not give due credit to do. There is to provide a demo so that the played may indicate what they liked or give suggestions for improvement.
jedahxii
246
author=Noel_Kreissauthor=jedahxiiAsk what?
Great news for you, I never quit anything until it's finished. Just ask my work. Thank you, though. I appreciate it.
Wife, but she's the same thing virtually.
Noel_Kreiss
332
author=jedahxiiAsk what?
Great news for you, I never quit anything until it's finished. Just ask my work. Thank you, though. I appreciate it.
jedahxii
246
author=Linkis
So, I've just subbed what looks to be a beautiful game...
I know nothing about game making, wish I did :) but I do know what I see is very good to my eyes.
Don't let your perfectionism get in the way of completing your game.
I don't want to see a "hiatus" or "cancelled" notice on this game so get back to work. :)
Great news for you, I never quit anything until it's finished. Just ask my wife. ZING. Thank you, though. I appreciate it.
So, I've just subbed what looks to be a beautiful game...
I know nothing about game making, wish I did :) but I do know what I see is very good to my eyes.
Don't let your perfectionism get in the way of completing your game.
I don't want to see a "hiatus" or "cancelled" notice on this game so get back to work. :)
I know nothing about game making, wish I did :) but I do know what I see is very good to my eyes.
Don't let your perfectionism get in the way of completing your game.
I don't want to see a "hiatus" or "cancelled" notice on this game so get back to work. :)
jedahxii
246
author=urano23
Awesome mapping dude, when will you release a demo?
Thanks! I do my best, even though a couple of those are going to be redone ha ha. I think that's the problem with working on something for a while, you get better with the tools and when you look back at your earlier work you're like "WTF IS THIS GARBAGE."
As for your question on a demo, I'm currently ironing out all of the eventing and transitions, making sure there aren't any glaring holes etc. I would say give me roughly a month or so and I'll have the first planned release uploaded. In terms of size, it will include probably four or five dungeons and three or four cities. I'm not sure what that equates to in terms of game play but I'd give it maybe ~3 hours on the long side?
