Chapter Twenty-two (0.22.0) Update #1

All right, episode 22 is underway and there's a lot to it. Even just looking at the base plot outline. Not really kidding when I saw there is a lot of story left to tell and I'm having to move it around on the plot document for the rest of the game to fit it all in. 

With that said, there's a ton of work to be done for this chapter. A large portion of 22 is split among multiple paths, depending on previous choices. In fact, you could get largely different conversations/scenes based on where you're at. There is a lot of variation to manage before we return to the main story trunk. Hell, even the small transition scenes can have multiple versions. Luckily, by this time, we've started phasing out some of the earlier threads as they came to their inevitable end. Because of all this, I've had to sneak in a test menu(below, blurred for your safety) to change the story flags so I could properly test it without having to inject a bunch of code into Ren'py's developer screens.

So, recently I've been writing for chapter 22 and some of the game endings and it puts me in such a weird place, mentally. I've always felt that the best writing involves some personal attachment to your cast. Making yourself angry or hating someone when their actions deserve it. Or feeling empathy for someone who's had a hard go of it and knows they need help. With that said, the two separate batches of script (the endings and chapter 22) are in such very different places and it's doing a number on my head. On one end, we have tense conflict on multiple fronts. On the other, we're seeing the resolution to story arcs with people admitting or hinting at emotional revelations. 

But, really, if I don't get started now, it'll take me way too long to get the endings finished if I'm going to stay on schedule. So, it has to be done. 

Thanks for your interest,

-Kinderfeld