The Blacksmith's Apprentice - Version 1.5 released

[Juno]

"The Blacksmith's Apprentice"

Remember to download BOTH the Game and Audio files. See "Notes" for instructions.
Download Game (version 1.51, 45MB): http://www.mediafire.com/?zmvtn04g0yw
Download Audio (91MB): http://www.mediafire.com/?tgngjtmwmmn
Game uses "OldTypefaces" font, included with game download; place font file in "C:\Windows\Fonts"

Story

At one time, the powerful mage Torbulus was regarded with great respect, awarded the highest honors throughout the kingdoms for his valiant fight in the war against the Orcs.  Now, fifteen years later, all magic has been outlawed - and the once proud Torbulus lies imprisoned and shamed by the very people he helped protect.  Stripped of his magical abilities by the collar bound around his neck, Torbulus seeks to escape and bring swift vengeance against those who locked him away.  Fearing a similar fate as that of Torbulus, mages from every corner of the land have abandoned their talents in favor of simpler, safer lives - lived out in harmless anonymity...

You are William, the son and apprentice of the local blacksmith in Willow Glen.  Your quest begins with a simple request by your father - to travel north to the Dwarven Mines and bring back your father's yearly supply of coal. 

The story begins when William is given a dire warning, in the form of a letter written in his own handwriting.  As William's journey unfolds, a dangerous and violent world of ancient magic opens up around him.  His first adventure away from home will soon reveal that he is the unwitting center of an unimaginable plot...

Spoiler: Main Characters

William

William has been eagerly anticipating the trip to the Dwarves for as long as he can remember.  He spends his days working with his father in the smithy, learning the tricks of the trade.  When he's not working, he spends as much time as he can with Charis Bloomfield, the farmer's daughter whom he hopes to marry one day.

Skylark

Skylark is William's younger sister.  She is very jealous that William gets to go on a long trip to see the Dwarves, and she's not afraid to say so.  She also has a crush on William's friend Arthur, but about that - she IS afraid to say so.  Whereas William is the serious one in the family, Skylark is the joker.  While he's away on his quest, she plans on learning everything she can from the local cleric, Belarus.

Arthur Grey

Arthur has lost two mothers... first the one who gave birth to him, and more recently his father's second wife, the woman he has called mother for most of his life.  He is learning to be a hunter, and can't wait to leave the safety and tranquility of Willow Glen.  He hopes to join William on his journey to see the Dwarves.

Charis Bloomfield

Charis is the farmer's daughter, a hard-working girl with a simple dream - she would like to be a midwife someday.  Of course, it wouldn't bother her if William were a part of that dream, but she would never tell HIM that.  Even though Charis knows how much William has been looking forward to the trip to see the Dwarves, she will be sad to see him leave.

Belarus

Belarus is the cleric in Willow Glen.  His healing powers are renowned across the kingdoms, but he must be careful when using them, now that magic has been outlawed.  He has been a close friend to William's parents for many years, and would do anything to protect them and their children.

Sir Carrock

A loathesome and depraved man with an insatiable lust.  Once a war hero for King Garin, now he serves a new master: anyone willing to pay enough gold.  He travels alone, and he carouses alone, relying only on his sword and wits for protection.

Spoiler: Features

Quest Menu keeps track of your quests automatically
Seasons - The world changes to reflect Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter as time passes
Animal Mounts & Vehicles - Travel faster and farther by horse, ship, and flying creatures
Custom Forging - Use William's blacksmithing ability to forge unique weapons and armor
Dozens of sub-plots and optional side quests
Rank Improvement - Main characters can train at guilds to increase in class and unlock more advanced items

Spoiler: Screenshots

Title Screen

Scene from Prologue

William talking to his father

William riding his horse, Thistle

William at the Forge - use these anvils to make custom weapons and armor

A New Puzzle

Quest Menu - keeps track of primary and secondary quests

Traveling in an underwater cave - when the timer runs out, you run out of air!

Mysterious Travelers

Wanted Poster outside the Garrison

Picking a Lock - stop the pins from hitting the tumblers

Feasting with the Dwarves

Going Sailing

War Memories

Spoiler: Notes and Credits

Download instructions
1. Download both Game and Audio files
2. Run the self-extracting file "The Blacksmith's Apprentice.exe"
3. Extract BS-Audio folder to the desktop
4. Move the "Audio" folder to folder that was created from step 2. (Place it in the same folder with the game.exe file)

The following SIDE quests have not been finished in the demo, so they cannot be completed during play, but you can still finish the demo without completing them:

• Angus' Ring (His ring doesn't exist)
• Quelion's Quest (Galeara cannot be found yet)
• Balin's Boat (Pitch doesn't exist)
• Ten Golden Mushrooms (Nothing happens if you have 10 mushrooms)
• Avelina's Animal Pelts (Pelts cannot be obtained during play)
• The Schooner (large boat) does not work yet, so you shouldn't buy it
• Thornbury Mountain Summit (with the Harpies) - Don't venture too far past the sign, you might get stuck
• There is no rope ladder yet

Credits
Various graphics by Breadfan, Inquisitor, LoS, Venetia
Facesets and some Battlers by Naramura
Quest Menu by SirSK8ATON (using modified version - by me)
She-Who-Must-Not-be-Named's Weather Script
Cogwheel Bars by DerVVulfman
Orchestral RTP music by SnowWolf, DJ
Title Screen by Lasaine
I downloaded a bunch of graphics resources before starting this project, much of which I don't remember the source, so if you recognize something you've done, let me know and I'll include you here

Spoiler: Summary of Changes

New in Version 1.5

• Choice and consequence - some quests can be finished in a variety of ways, and the choices you make will have lasting repercussions
• Improved outdoor appearance on most maps
• Locked Chests now opened using a puzzle-style pin & tumbler system
• Modified Enemy Encounters - defeated enemies replenish less
• Added new music to some outdoor maps
• More item drops (chests, bags, buried treasures)
• Character Stats impact game outside of battle - Strength determines duration of breathing underwater, dexterity determines lock-picking, etc.

Previous changes - since original version

• New Title Screen/Music
• Added underwater section to Quill's Island
• Blacksmithing System - make custom weapons and armor by gathering components
• Added the Pick Axe, which allows access to caved-in areas
• Added puzzle-style gameplay to the Thieves' Caves, Gloomy Forest, Ancient Ruins
• Added Thistle - rideable animal mount
• Decreased enemy difficulty, increased gold and experience drops

This game is my own personal project, approximately 30% complete, and the demo has around 10 hours+ of play time.  I would like to get feedback on what you liked, didn't like, bugs, play balance, etc.  Enjoy!

 

[Link in Pink]

This looks good. I'm gonna try it out

 

[Mustardy85]

kool - MAP BUG ON 1ST SCREENSHOT...

Looks pretty awsome... I'll try it.

 

[Rubicant]

It might be wise to include the fonts you used in the game. I'm one of those people who fall under the category of "not having it so I can't see any text."

 

[Juno]

It might be wise to include the fonts you used in the game. I'm one of those people who fall under the category of "not having it so I can't see any text."

Sorry, Rubicant... I updated the main post to include the font needed.

 

[Rubicant]

Excellent. Gonna play now, be back with impressions.

EDIT
OK, the good: the music, the dialogue, and the attention to detail (birds randomly flying in and out of the screen, nests in trees, butterflies, sound effects of waterfalls, blacksmith shop, etc)

The bad: FETCH QUEST CENTRAL in the beginning, so much so, that I got bored and exited the game for the moment. In a little while I'll continue it.

 

[Juno]

I've posted an updated version, with a slight modification.  I streamlined the first part, removing one of the more "fetchy" quests.  The first 10-15 minutes is still deliberately slower than the rest, as its purpose is to introduce a story that will take place over several years.

 

[Tansred]

Well, honestly rubicant. Fetch Quests and chores are generally what protagonists are capable of in the beginning of the game.
I mean, If your father just jogged up to and commanded you to destroy the goblin war band, "I'm sure you can handle it", would not be very realistic.
On the other hand, there really isn't to much reason to waste players time with ridiculous chores when you can deliver the same message with dialog,
or a series of events. Chores are fine, but not to many.

 

[Deranous]

I agree. Having the player collect eggs or something would be very boring o.o

But the game looks awesome alrogether.
And its taking its time to download too xD

 

[Rubicant]

Well, honestly rubicant. Fetch Quests and chores are generally what protagonists are capable of in the beginning of the game.
I mean, If your father just jogged up to and commanded you to destroy the goblin war band, "I'm sure you can handle it", would not be very realistic.
On the other hand, there really isn't to much reason to waste players time with ridiculous chores when you can deliver the same message with dialog,
or a series of events. Chores are fine, but not to many.

I do not believe that at all. There is no reason that any game cannot start out without boring, tedious fetch quests. It doesn't matter if the character is meant to be living a "boring" life in the country working for his father at the local smithery. Having several fetch quests in a row is simply bad design, in my opinion. But as I said, barring that small, easily-fixed problem, the game interests me and clearly the creator pays attention to the small things.

 

[miss matcha]

Your story sounds interesting to me; I also like how you've got those green goblins riding on bulls

 

[diannew]

I must be pretty dull but I cannot find a rope ladder.  Help please.

Thanks

 

[Diedrupo]

Wow a 10 hour+ demo? I must DL this.

 

[Juno]

I must be pretty dull but I cannot find a rope ladder.  Help please.

Thanks

You're not dull diannew... There's no rope ladder in the demo, because I haven't defined the area to the East of that bridge yet.  I hope you're enjoying it otherwise!

 

[Cardinal Ximenez]

Why make a demo when your game is already 10 hours long? How long exactly are you planning to make this game?

 

[diannew]

Thanks for the info.  Finished the demo and look forward to the full game.  How much longer until it's released?

I must be pretty dull but I cannot find a rope ladder.  Help please.

Thanks

You're not dull diannew... There's no rope ladder in the demo, because I haven't defined the area to the East of that bridge yet.  I hope you're enjoying it otherwise!

 

[blakependragon]

sounds interesting.. i too am a fan of a deep twisting plot. and i'm glad someone else is trying to make a long game. downloading it now. let us know how long you plan on making it.

 

[Juno]

Thanks for the info.  Finished the demo and look forward to the full game.  How much longer until it's released?

The first portion of this game (which I'm calling "Book I") took me almost 2 years to make, and the game will probably contain 3 (maybe 4) books.  Granted, this was my first project so I had the RMXP learning curve to deal with when I first started.  Development has gotten a lot faster, and I have the entire plot defined from start to finish, but it's just me so I don't know when it will be finished.  I will post each book as I complete it, but I can't give anyone a real good ETA.  (That's one way I'm like Blizzard).  As for game length, probably around 30 hours, based on what I've got mapped out.

@Diannew (and anyone else who's finished the demo): I'm really glad you finished it! Wow!  I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.  What did you like or dislike?  Did the plot move at a good pace?  How was the play balance?

 

[Juno]

(5/10/08)
I've made a minor update by adding "Thistle", the family horse to the game.  During the first day, William will get to ride Thistle as he completes his various errands.  If you've already played through the game and you want to try it out, you'll get to ride Thistle within the first two minutes of play.  Otherwise, you haven't missed anything.

This will probably be the last update for a while.  I wanted to post what I have now to get feedback, and to make the game better.  I'll be focusing on developing new areas and furthering the plot, and I don't want to post an update unless I've made significant progress.  I will be checking this thread often for play bugs, balance issues, and to respond to feedback, though.  Thanks a bunch to those who have played! :wink:

 

[miss matcha]

Adding Thistle to help you with errands sounds like a nice touch.  Getting to ride a horse is a nice bit of icing for those early quests.