(Dev Scroll XIII) — Foundations
Chapter 3.6 enters its final stretch.
A new and improved Orphan is approaching, soon to be unveiled. My one and only desire is that it serves as a strong, lasting foundation for the future of the game. Tons of new visuals, new content and revamped routes await.
The biggest technical change is that Chapter 3.6 will introduce a more unified save structure across the different versions of Orphan — Free, Uncut, and Kultist+. Because of that, older saves won't carry forward into this release. Therefore, ideally this will be our final 'Fresh Start' update, built around making a fresh playthrough feel worthwhile (cleaner, richer, more illustrated and stable) while ensuring that all playthroughs and saves from this point forward will always be compatible and transferable between future versions of the game.
Gladiator Route: My focus has been the early Private Audience / Banquet sequence before the Auction. This section is getting a major visual and structural pass, with the goal of making it feel more like a true early route hub: more atmospheric, more dangerous, more erotic.
Academy Route: Chapter 3.6 will introduce a new pre-Harrowing freeroam sequence called *Before the Descent*; a rare leave from Highrock before the MC is drawn into the Harrowing. This is your final chance to step back into Cradle and revisit old ties, seek dangerous answers, or choose what matters before the Academy closes its hand. The choices that follow will change you forever.
The main story continuation for the Academy route will be the first six Bells of the Harrowing. The weeks that follow will introduce you to magick, runes and rituals as you undertake Highrock's most brutal competitive rite.
Visually, Chapter 3.6 is already one of the largest upgrades Orphan has had. I currently have around 25 images prepared, along with 3 videos. These will be the first video scenes ever included in Orphan, and I’m excited to finally begin experimenting with this medium of presentation.
It really is an experiment, as I can't think of many other games/IF in Orphan's medium where I've seen videos done well. My goal is to only include content that I think serves the game... whether it makes things more atmospheric, lewd or just plain fun. Of course, these videos will only be available in the Uncut and Kultist+ version of the game.
The current target remains very close, so the next stretch is going to be focused heavily on writing, implementation, testing, and polish.
I know I've been quiet since the last release - but I usually prefer silence over putting out half-baked update posts. That being said, the next Velvet Visions entry has been a long-time coming, along with another Cradle Codex lore drop.
What do you think? I'm always open to ideas.
Is it time for another poll? Perhaps an extended Q&A where I go in-depth? Lemme know; I wanna hear from you on here, or in the Exalted Text discord. Keep your eyes peeled as the Patreon and Discord start to grow more active in the build-up the next update. Until then...
Thank you, as always, for supporting the vision.
🩸 Onward.
— Truth @ Exalted Text
Comments (2)
There were no videos, but there were animations of the moon and stars in the introduction that showed the deep space 😁👍. I'm glad the foundation will finally be finished, so we won't have any more problems with saves. Have a good rest of the week 🫡👋!
I think another poll would be a great idea to gauge where perhaps orphan can go to next. As for the gladiator route i wonder if during the banquet if you fail to escape instead of getting a game over perhaps you get captured and maybed even maimed or punished severely to remind you of your status. Not sure how that can carry on tho story wise