Cross of Auria News

It's been less than 48 hours since CoA went free to download and already an additional 14,000 people have added it to their library! Thank you all for giving the game a chance! I hope you're enjoying your time on it so far.

A few things to keep in mind before we get started here:
• I am currently developing a new version of the game which will expand the intro and some other parts of the current story. Because of this, a new save file will be required once 5.0 releases. If you choose to keep your previous save file from before 5.0, things are going to break!
• I originally intended to make the 5.0 branch an opt-in only, but with so many new people downloading the game, I feel it would be best to get everyone on the same version ASAP. Because of this, once I am ready to start redistributing the game with the new intro, 5.0 will be the only available version. Other branches will be disabled.

Moving on, the reason I'm writing this is to invite you all to a live stream in about 5 hours from now, at 3:00 PM EST. Today, I'll be spending the day preparing the Veil and Lvell area for immediate release. Additionally, I'll be preparing a new character to join the party with their own questline as a thank you people who bought the game before I changed the price to free. This character and questline will be exclusive to those players until Jan 1st, 2022. At that point, the area with the new character will be added to the primary game files. However, the other thank-you goodies will remain in the paid-only branch which is no longer available. Thank you to the hundreds of people who supported this project since it's release in 2018!
Please feel free to join me @ 3pm EST today here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

If there are any changes to the stream time, the title of the stream will reflect that & an update will be posted on my discord (https://discord.gg/bMS9ktw)

See you there!

Good evening everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to let you all know that as of a few minutes ago, Cross of Auria is officially free to download the entire base game on the Steam Store! For those of you who have already purchased the game, I will be including something with the 5.0 update for you exclusively - the details of which I'm not entirely sure yet. When that exclusive content becomes available for download, you'll the details posted in the corresponding patch notes and it will probably be in huge letters and in the title.

Anyway, if you're wondering why I decided to make the base game free to download... well, it's simple really. I originally was going to do the game as a series with episodes, with each game being about 6 hours of play time and costing $0.99 to buy. After much research, I finally came up with a way to expand the back-end limitations of the engine so I no longer have to worry about things like amount of enemies, amount of battlegroups, items, events, etc. Basically, there was a hard cap of things I could make, but now there's not. Between my cap being lifted and me already passing where the original story ended, I want to put the game in as many hands as would be willing to play it. That's what is most important to me. I want you all to play and enjoy what I've made.

For those of you who have supported me so far by purchasing the game when it still had a price tag, you will not be forgotten. I have made this poll for you & others to decide what you should get: https://www.youtube.com/post/UgzPSFxLHyRjAtiPj-Z4AaABCQ


A quick note about the 5.0 development before I go -
It's coming along just fine. I'm going to begin deploying the first builds in the next week or two once the back systems are completely finalized. Once a forced new save file will no longer be necessary (relative to other 5.0 files), I'll make the process to getting on this version of the game clear. Once this version catches up to the current public version, it will take the place of the current public version. Keep in mind that if you do not opt into the 5.0 version now, you will still have to replace your save file with a 5.0 new game later. Better to do it sooner so that your progress between now and public launch isn't lost!

Happy gaming everyone. Goodnight :)

As some of you may know, I've been working on the 5.0 structures for a few months now, admittedly on and off, and I wanted to gauge interest on something: How would you feel about a separate app branch for 5.0 Alpha/Beta testing? Short explanation - you'd opt into the new branch using the same method we use to change game versions, make a new save, and play through what is currently available while reporting back and bugs or gamebreaking issues you may find. Save files will more than likely not be able to be preserved due to how some bugs require fixing, so using multiple save files and saving often would be advised. For instance: a save file just before talking to an NPC who bugged out would be safe after the bug fix, but a save file from after that same NPC would not. Basically, I won't add debugs the way I did with the meeting hall chest and the Delivery Boy, but instead would focus on hard fixes for when 5.0 releases publicly.

If you're interested in following 5.0 as it's being developed and participating in the Alpha & Beta testing of it, please join my Discord @ https://discord.gg/bMS9ktw. Cross of Auria channels are just after the specific game channels. Keep in mind that I use this discord for my youtube & stream adventure, so that's the bulk of the channels and discussions.

Some more specifics for this 5.0 development test:
• Areas and quests would be drip released in order of the in-game timeline / playability.
- Example drop order: The Veil (new intro) -> Lvell day 1 -> Lvell day 2 w/ Jack -> An'ura & return -> Scarlet & Black Forest -> Auria & Hell's Gate -> Auria main -> Rabbit's foot functionality -> Frost Forest -> Agartha functionality -> Orc war zones -> Release to public/main branch
• If a bug required the NPC to be replaced in order to be fixed, anyone with a save file after the bug was found would have to restart the file or revert to a previous save before the bug was encountered.
• If you manage to not keep saves past where bugs occur and only progress and save as they are resolved, you'll be able to keep this save file moving forward into the public version.
• The initial drop for the new veil intro will take the longest, since all of the back end structures have to be in place to prevent more forced game restarts. I currently have no timeframe for this, but the expected time to complete the entire 5.0 process is why I wanted to give everyone something to do in the meantime.

On top of all of this, I am still taking art submissions provided they fit the style of the game. If you or someone you know works with pixel art and you want to make something for CoA, stop by and talk to the two artists already working on the game! Artists who submit quality work get to work with me on adding their own questline to the game, provided it still falls under Revan's specific fantasy theme. For a frame of reference, the questline with Adrian, Ana, Ryan & Maya was created by one artist, and the battles for Headless Horseman and soul/void based enemies (Those Who Watch, Wretch) were created in part by the other.

Let me know what you think. It's likely that I will proceed with this method of 5.0 testing even if nobody openly says they're participating since it will be easier for me to manage.

One final note, there will be no more updates to the retail branch of the game until 5.0 is complete and goes live. I've tried to fix some issues with various game branches but the only true fix is to take them out and redo them altogether which will affect all current save files. In essence, this is the reason for the new save file requirement once 5.0 goes live.

Do not leave your game on 4.1.4.5.
- Fixes from 4.1.4.4 are also available with this build.

This unstable fix should resolve an issue where players who have the Missive I quest from the Rabbit's Foot are unable to progress the Hephaes, Lord of Flame quest from Ewynn. However, it may not resolve it in all cases until the 5.0 version is live.

To progress past this point naturally, complete the Hephaes, Lord of Flame library sidequest before accepting any Rabbit's Foot quests.

Bug details: Self switches were used to progress Ewynn's dialogue. Page 2 & 4 refer to the same self switch, with a difference of the Missive I global switch. With Missive I active, page 2 doesn't active which prevents self switch C from activating. Without switch C, the event's don't progress as intended. However, self switches can not be adjusted through outside methods. Since the event (Ewynn himself) is entangled with multiple questlines, it isn't possible to simply remove and replace him, which is the only way to reset self switches. This will be the method used for the full fix in 5.0. As of this update, page 4 looks for self switch C being off, then turns it on, which should allow the quests to progress as normal. However, if the book has been given away at this point back at the Rabbit's Foot, you won't have it with you to give to him, resulting in the same issue on your end that existed before.

Once again, this entire debacle will be resolved in 5.0 due to the requirement of new game files.

4.1.4.5 [Build #94-C, Release Date: March 19, 2021] Notice: Some structure has been implemented for the 5.0 update but is yet unfinished and therefore undocumented with this update. If you encounter any bugs, please report them ASAP using the Discord link above or via a post on the Steam Discussion tab. This build should be treated as unstable and used only to fix the specified issue. After resolving the issue, revert back to the default version of the game to avoid other issues.
Fixes:
- Created a branch in dialogue for Ewynn for players who acquired the Missive I quest from the Rabbit's Foot before turning in the Hephaes, Lord of Flame book to him. Please not that this will only fix some instances of the issue depending on how far the quest was taken before this resolve was attempted. The 5.0 update will prevent this issue from occurring again regardless of the order in which events are done.

4.1.4.4 [Build #94-B, Release Date: February 24, 2021] Notice: Some structure has been implemented for the 5.0 update but is yet unfinished and therefore undocumented with this update. If you encounter any bugs, please report them ASAP using the Discord link above or via a post on the Steam Discussion tab.
Fixes:
- Minor Revives now drop from overworld battles early in the game.
- The Elcott Mansion item pickups have been fixed. Players can re-loot the area if already looted.
Warning: This version of the game is unstable and should only be accessed to collect a minor revive for the early game Lvell quest. After giving the Revive to the fallen NPC, I strongly recommend saving and then reverting back to 4.1.4.3. The reason for this is there is a massive update going on with structures and systems within the game for 5.0 which is not yet ready. 4.1.4.4 will not be stable the further into the game you get.


4.1.4.5 update is only accessible via the following method:
Save on the world map.
Right click Cross of Auria in your steam library.
Open Properties, navigate to the Betas tab.
Enter beta access code: version4145C
Then in the drop down above, select the "version4145-c" and press x out that menu. That version should download very fast.
Try to complete the Ewynn questline, then revert back immediately. Please note that this fix may not work for players who have not progressed far enough or have progressed too far in his questline with the bug active. A complete fix will be released in 5.0.
To revert back to 4.1.4.3 Stable, select "Default" instead of version4144.



Using this version to fix these issues is optional and does not add anything for players who have already progressed past this point.

Do not leave your game on 4.1.4.4

Quick fix for those noticing the issue at the Elcott Mansion where items are inappropriately labeled. Right now, it says found Minor Elixir, but then gives a Mega Magick Potion instead for all instances of pickups. This update will allow players who have already looted the Elcott Mansion to go in and pick up the new items.

Additionally, this update changes the drop from worldspawn units from Revive to Minor Revives to help complete the Lvell Shoreline quest. Minor Revives can also be purchased from the item shop in Cafe Lvellan in this version of the game.

Please keep in mind that you should not stay on this version of the game after reviving the NPC with a minor revive. At that point, you should save, then revert back to 4.1.4.3 which is stable. 4.1.4.4 contains structure changes for the upcoming 5.0 update and will likely cause significant issues if you try to continue forward. Because of this, the 4.1.4.4 update is only accessible via the following method:

Save on the world map.
Right click Cross of Auria in your steam library.
Open Properties, navigate to the Betas tab.
Enter beta access code: version4144B
Then in the drop down above, select the "version4144" and press x out that menu. That version should download very fast.
Revive the NPC in game, then save either there or on the world map.
To revert back to 4.1.4.3 Stable, select "Default" instead of version4144.



Using this version to fix these issues is optional and does not add anything for players who have already progressed past this point. This fix will be included within the 5.0 public release.