The Reisewood Release - v1.14

 

Hello everyone!

It's that time again--release day--just in time for Easter. (We recommend not playing AW during any Easter family gatherings...) We've got some new cool stuff for you this release, the key items being the addition of the Reisewood to the game, and the introduction of (some) new AI NPC portraits. We've also got a spiffy new look to the opening, and a big reduction in bugs.

The Reisewood was a planned activity area that never quite made it in. It seemed like a good project for this transitory period, especially with Anenn leaving us (details below) and our schedule/plans getting shaken up a bit. It also let us finally finish the vaginal parasite storyline that starts in the Pleasure Buzzer arcade in the mall. Finally, I was able to use the parasite to plan out a new methodology to use with more complex or long-lasting transformatives (such as the hucow implant and reworked hucow/breast drugs).

One thing to note is that we're going to do the change log a little different this time, because I don't want to spoil the surprise/mystery of Reisewood before you actually get to play. So I'll have a safe section and a spoiler section... hopefully it'll work out!

Plans for 1.15+

For 1.15 we're planning on doing a bit of a roundup release. The idea will be to do a lot of playtesting and then fix the problems we find and make improvements to areas where things work but the UI or UX could be better. For example, we're going to simplify the cleaning mechanic so that there is no micromanaging how much cleaning effort goes to what cleaning aspect. Some things we know about, some things we'll find. Please tell us about your ideas on improving the user experience (UX) in our Discord! (idea-hole channel) Even if you don't know how to fix it, if you think something is really clunky or bad, let us know!

After that we're going to get started on the Hucow Expansion in our 1.16 cycle, including some prep for it in the 1.15 cycle. We'll also be adding more and more NPC portraits over the following releases until we can move on to creating AI body portraits (exciting stuff!)

Team Changes

Anenn has decided to leave the Arcanist team, he did a no-notice quit a little over a week into the 1.14 dev cycle. It shook up our plans, but we're still fond of the little capybara. I think his decision is going to work out in the long run. Anenn's work quality/effort had been slowly dropping for the last 2 years--requiring a lot more oversight and fixing--and none of the efforts we tried to help him reverse the trend seemed to work. It turned out that he had started developing his own game at that time, and increasingly spending his time on it and then using his extra time to meet his AW workload. With time, this became "only barely doing the minimum things we asked for." This was partly just a matter of health and endurance. He tried to work full time on both, and this increasingly took a toll on him, leaving less and less energy to finish his AW work after completing the goals for his project.

This inspires a lot of mixed feelings for me personally. On one hand, as someone who spent a lot of time teaching and guiding him, it's nice to see the effort actually doing some good when I previously thought much of the effort was wasted. I do want to see him do well, and it's nice that there's more porn games in the world. On the other, it's just plain infuriating to be paying someone well and putting so much work into them, just to be taken advantage of.

We'll probably look for a replacement, though it's a lot easier said than done. We're going to keep our options open, so maybe we'll go with a writer? For now we'll likely use the extra funds on freelance writers like the lovely Leilanz. If you're interested in working on AW, let us know on Discord! I do my best to pay a very good salary for the area each team member lives in, including profit sharing so that you grow with us. That said... If you live in an area with a higher cost of living... we may not be able to afford you.

Change Log (safe)

Words: 3,122,813 (21,293,555 characters)

Code: 156,143 lines of TypeScript

AI Portraits: 664

• A new AI portrait selection function was created.
• Includes anti-duplication function to use a second portrait with the same traits, if another NPC is already using the first. (plan is for two portraits for each possible trait combination, though this number is expandable.)
• SVG portrait generation was streamlined to use NPCID instead of prebuilt values, optimizing memory use and allowing dual portrait configuration.
• Slightly slower portrait load is visually indistinguishable on test machines. 
• NPC Main class altered to automatically supply:
• A fixed image (permanent NPCs like Lily or Daisy)
• An AI portrait image pre-selected using a reverse-compatible method at generation, if the portrait has been added to the game already.
• The older SVG portrait if prior two options are unavailable.
• 664 AI portraits have been added to the game, created by the awesome Cowbot.
• The process has been partially automated and streamlined to improve the speed of adding more, so expect a lot more in 1.15.
• Current portraits represent female characters with pale skin.
• Current compression scheme reduces file size by 91%
• New tool in devtools menu for elite build players: NPC portrait viewer. Will allow you to see the portraits of all the currently existing NPCs.
• Skill Schools now grant an automatic 3 skill points instead of 1.
• Original rate was meant to be more realistic in terms of how fast a person learns and improves, but this didn't fit in well with the timeframe of the game.
• Performance/skill check-based skill growth in classes can still happen.
• Character description will no longer claim that a wet pussy could be because of a low libido.
• Character description will now include mention of parasites.
• Loading pages have been changed to be more similar to start page for a more consistent look/feel.
• New additional kink texts for CoerceMe app interactions.
• Lots of fixes to Tingler and CoerceMe.
• Default speed of NPC texts has been sped up dramatically.
• While having slightly more realistic times for the texting interface can look/feel nice, this gets old pretty quick when you're waiting for the NPC to respond... sorry.
• The Pleasure Buzzer arcade in the mall has some changes.
• New better text.
• The "look around" action (performed by clicking the location image at the top of the screen) has been totally redone.
• If already infected with a C-39 parasite, will show the college retro gaming club posing for a group photo.
• If not infected... all sorts of things happen with different variations depending on your clothing and choice. 
• The resulting infection still doesn't stick.
• You can now get parasites removed as part of the regular checkup scene at Dr Weiner's clinic. Some unique text there describing what does/doesn't happen.
• Sex action selection popup has a new minimum height, making it easier to avoid the mouse leaving the popup and closing it.
• When using the kink override setting in sex scenes, there are no longer popups informing you that your chosen kink text doesn't exist for some actions/text.
• Several bugs were fixed!
• If you report a bug on our bug tracker, please pay attention to information requests! Most of the bugs we have there are now awaiting a response because the report was unclear or we couldn't replicate the issue. 
• Please report bugs! you can report them here: https://www.aw-wiki.com/mbt/
• Some fundamental changes to the game data system.
• Should prevent the sporadic occurrence of "value rollback", which could then lead to a bug (or just be annoying).
• FAP MODE
• Womb burst and miscarriage were removed from the list of excepted bad ends.
• The bad end exceptions are intended only for status-management bad ends like depression or mind-break.
• The Reisewood is now a visitable area in the game!
• It's the map area to the NW of Appletree!
• Go explore!
• Includes two activities (hiking + stream) that are superior to other status control methods like meditation.
• There is a ton of new content attached to this area. 
• Not all content is immediately available (chain for repeat visits/requirements from other areas)
• Not all content is available at all times of the day.
• Some content is random, and may only happen after actively spending enough time in the area unless the RNG likes you.
• Mystery! Adventure! Sex!

Change Log (spoilers)

You may want to visit and spend some time exploring the Reisewood before reading this...

• The Reisewood Campground has been opened for visitors!
• Actually, it is technically closed to visitors due to wildlife.
• Includes 6 sub locations
• Parking Lot & Trailhead
• Campground Office
• Camp Restrooms
• Camp Pavilion
• Campsites
• Reisestream
• Go hiking down the various trails threading through the Reisewood
• Numerous events can happen!
• Find lost items or discover magic mushrooms.
• Eight unique scenarios can happen, with some variations in many.
• Also includes a chance to discover why the Reisewood Campground is closed...
• One scenario is an encounter with one of two different different creatures that escaped from the Institute, each with its own scene.
• Activity is very rewarding, but it comes with the slight danger of encountering a sexbeast.
• The pavilion sometimes has people there using it as a nice place to have outdoors sex.
• Have fun with Mike and Judy and take part in their sex game that probably involves a remote control.
• There is multiple stuffs here.
• Enjoy the Reisestream, a tranquil stream that eventually drains into the Sahne River. 
• Enjoy a relaxing time playing in the shallow stream.
• Encounter some other women enjoying the stream.
• Discover what they're really doing.
• Six unique scenes, plus extras.
• Decide if what they're doing is a good idea, and if so, take advantage of your new knowledge
• Basically, catch a vaginal symbiote if you want.
• Eventually catch a vaginal symbiote if you don't want.
• Playing in the stream is relaxing and improves most mental stats.
• Very strong positive effect
• Enjoyment of the stream will eventually fade, but will still be beneficial.
• Get infected by a vaginal symbiote! (vaginal parasite C-39)
• Can be removed at Dr. Weiner's clinic within 7 days of bonding.
• Two different scenes of getting infected (willing, unwilling)
• Bonding event that prompts you to look the guy up and see what it does.
• Several static effects while infected:
• Minimum arousal is set to 2 instead of 0.
• Vaginal Hostility fertility factor is improved slightly beyond divine level, and can not go below this. (vaginal hostility will remain at this level even after removal, but can decrease from that point)
• Semen will no longer drip out of you after a creampie. All semen is captured and moved to the cervix/womb with peristaltic motion.
• Pleasure from vaginal sex will be increased by 20% in addition to other bonuses, increasing your odds of orgasming successfully.
• Several events can occur at a rate of once per day as long as you meet the requirements. Events have a mini scene and usually an image.
• If no requirements for a new effect are met, no event will occur.
• If no elastic mutation: gain elastic mutation.
• If no risky sex kink: gain risky sex kink.
• If wetness is below 5: gain 1 additional wetness
• if Libido is less than 7: gain 1 additional libido
• if creampie addiction is not maxed, gain 15 addiction
• if does not have vaginal enzymes mutation: gain mutation (no scene, it's a surprise!)
• Some stuff I forgot, find it on your own :P