A Valley Without Wind 2 - a full sequel free for existing customers - is coming.

[vordrax]

I don't want to get all sentimental on you, Chris, but it's things like this that make us indie game developers-in-training (hopeful, at least) really look up to you and hold you as an exemplar. You and Edmund McMillen are my two idols (again, not to get too sentimental.)

Also, I don't want to turn this thread in the wrong direction, but as an anecdote, Kerberos sold their loyal playerbase an alpha a year ago that they have not only left unfinished (but at least in development,) but are still looking at ways to monetize their work on it. Arcen Games made a full, as-promised game that received, as you state, "uneven reviews," and your response is to develop a free-to-early-adopters sequel that has tighter design and is closer to your original artistic vision. That is true integrity, both as an artist and as a businessman. You should open up a voluntary "Gift to the Developer" ticket box so that we can toss your team $5 for the sequel if you want, because you guys deserve it.

[chemical_art]

Storm Dash should only be used when you gotta go fast.

[Aklyon]

Kerberos was at the point of 'sell or be bankrupt' if I remember correctly, though. Not going to try to defend SOTSII more than that though, since I can't play it anyway (DX11 (or were they using 10?) is angryface at my laptop and leaves holes in the graphics everywhere)

[madcow]

Back on the topic of storm dash, I really hope there's a version of the spell (I would even use a class that has this as one of it's spells) that lets you use a more maneuverable version of this that lasts only a certain distance (though usable in all directions not just side to side). Either as an attack or a dodge move that would be nice, the version in AVWW isn't really great for dodging attacks and the like.

That said, I can save that idea for the inevitable suggest-a-class/spell thread that pops up once we reach beta. As I have a few in mind already!

[vordrax]

Kerberos was at the point of 'sell or be bankrupt' if I remember correctly, though. Not going to try to defend SOTSII more than that though, since I can't play it anyway (DX11 (or were they using 10?) is angryface at my laptop and leaves holes in the graphics everywhere)

Again, I don't really want to derail the topic, but my point was their dishonesty, lack of integrity, and generally negative behavior toward their consumers (edit: behavior after the release, on their forums, that has continued for nigh on a year.)

[LaughingThesaurus]

Maybe a storm dash that enables you to pass through enemies, but pulls in enemy projectile attacks, or some other kind of crazy disadvantage.
But I'm not outright against the standard issue storm dashing anyway. Makes backtracking work just fine without being horrible.

[madcow]

Maybe a storm dash that enables you to pass through enemies, but pulls in enemy projectile attacks, or some other kind of crazy disadvantage.
But I'm not outright against the standard issue storm dashing anyway. Makes backtracking work just fine without being horrible.

I would say a good disadvantage would be a cool down, making it the ammo-specific weapon on a given class, or making the other spells on the class relatively weak. As keep in mind all spells are built for classes, the disadvantage on a given spell doesn't need to be with that specific spell, but with a class. Though as I mentioned earlier, I'll save my class suggestions for when we can actually start playing!

[LaughingThesaurus]

Yeah there's just no way to tell a solid balance before the game's even out.
But yeah just saying, gotta have an illusion dash.

[yllamana]

This sounds really exciting and I look forwards to seeing it! It looks like it addresses loads of the issues I had with the first game.

I anticipate trying to get anyone who'll listen to try it out, again.

[Misery]

So the Storm Dash strategy is the 'cross your fingers' strategy, or the 'I'm really good at Sonic the Hedgehog and decided for some reason that I like Metroidvania games as a direct result' strategy. That explains why I don't like it.
It's still got its uses for me anyway, like for screens that I know won't spawn enemies and stuff. I remember that being at least part of why it's in the game.

Actually, if used right, it can very reliably allow you to ENTIRELY BYPASS a complete chunk.   Generally, this is most easy to do on surface chunks.   Get a character with a nice, high jumping ability, give them triple jump, maybe Ride the Lightning, and Storm Dash forward while making massive leaps with each jump in the air.  You can bypass EVERYTHING this way, when on the surface.   I only very, very rarely found exception to this.   It's SO abusable that I usually refuse to do it, actually, but that was what I found when I messed around with the idea.   It's even EASIER if you're using one of those characters that can see enemies on the minimap, but you dont have to be using them to abuse the hell outta it.

Storm dash is important, but in the first game I actually think it's TOO good.

[LaughingThesaurus]

I completely forgot that one character type can see stuff on the minimap and about the whole 'completely soar over everything' thing. Well, okay, I did some of the soaring over everything stuff, but I could never sustain it over a chunk. It was usually for like, a very small piece of a chunk, because I didn't want to take that double damage.

[x4000]

Cheers folks, thanks for the kind words in particular.

Re: storm dash, that isn't a spell in this game.  Rather, things of that sort are feats.  Things like enhanced jumping ability in general (jump height) are perks.  Double and triple jump are feats.

Also, just FYI, I don't anticipate adding more mage classes or spells between now and 1.0 at least.  As with bonus ships in AI War, most likely that would be reserved for expansions.  Feats and perks are more of a middle ground, probably.  And obviously the existing spells will need balance discussion, etc.  But with 200 spells out of the gate, we're already at such an enormously high volume compared to the first game that I think pre-1.0 Valley 2 work is best spent elsewhere.

[LaughingThesaurus]

I'm in favor of prioritizing a very finely polished initial release. I mean we can't exactly complain for content since this is like, beyond the scale of Terraria's 1.1 update, and it's still free. A fine degree of polish and balance and all of those wonderful things will likely make the game much more successful and pave the way for expansions so that we can get additional content. Part of why I say this is also because of how sorta loose AVWW1 feels, and that's just not as much fun as a very finely polished product in my opinion.

[x4000]

Agreed.  That's my motivation, also.

[goodgimp]

Again, I don't really want to derail the topic, but my point was their dishonesty, lack of integrity, and generally negative behavior toward their consumers (edit: behavior after the release, on their forums, that has continued for nigh on a year.)

Kerberos has a publisher and isn't able to set their release dates. For what it's worth, they've also been patching the game weekly for the past year without additional funding/DLCs (what DLCs they had, they gave for free), etc. So they seem to be doing the best they can to make the best out of a really crappy situation for everyone (dev studio and customers).

You can (rightfully) praise the hard work and ethics of Arcen without disparaging the integrity of others, especially when you obviously don't have a full perspective on the situation.