Sunday, October 6, 2019

Feature improvement release 1.133 now live!

Hey guys,

I've just released the newest TLS version.  The focus of this release is improving the randomized equipment feature, now that we know a bit more about its abilities and limitations.  I had to hack the game to make it more flexible than it was, but I think it was worth it!  Equipment should start giving the player more compelling choices even in the early game, while still progressing to better gear in the late game.

Also included are a couple hacks that are looking forward to the next big TLS feature: randomized dungeon layouts.  That will only come out once v1.140 is ready, and we are still about a month away from that, in my current estimate.  However, some groundwork is already being laid for code I'll need to make that work.

One final teaser before I just list the change log: once I finish randomized dungeon layouts, I intend to make an "Ancient Cave" style game mode where the player traverses through a long chain of random dungeons until they defeat a final boss!  The Lunarian Shuffle has always had a problem that it takes too long to complete in a single sitting, but a game mode like this could make a shorter, more streamer or racer friendly experience.

Enjoy!

[EDIT: This post originally indicated the Windows version only was released; since then the Android build has been added as well!]


Change log:
  • Implemented various improvements and bugfixes to the randomized equipment generation routine. In general, early game equipment should be more interesting, while still leaving room for mid and late game gear to be better as well.
  • Relatedly, added a patch, active when randomized equipment is on, that allows equipment more flexibility in what sorts of stat bonuses and penalties they give.
    • This does, unfortunately, require expanding the ROM.
  • Turning on debug / spoiler output will no longer disable specifying or identifying the RNG’s seed. Instead, turning on that output will change the results of randomization, such that someone can’t pretend to be playing blind when they did gain access to that information.
  • When Hard Mode is off, the randomizer will now check whether it thinks you have access to the Life spell for Valvalis and the end game, as well as whether it thinks you have a way to heal your characters in between battles for Rubicante and the end game, and will add Life and Cure2 potions to shops as necessary if not.
  • Added a patch by Aexoden that fixes the glitch that prevented characters from learning spells from different schools of magic in the same level up. This gives FuSoYa especially a little more flexibility in which levels his spells can be learned.
  • Added a patch to mitigate the 64-floor glitch. Now, if you go more than 64 floors deep, the game will forget the oldest non-overworld destination in the “return stack” but otherwise proceed normally.
    • TL;DR: Warp does what it’s supposed to, unless you cast it 63 times, then it leaves the dungeon, no matter what.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Bugfix release v1.132 now out

Another bugfix release is now out.  v1.132 resolves two issues that affected adult Rydias in non-rejoining character positions.  It also fixes a textbox mix-up between the Pale Dim and Plague rewards.

In other news, if you haven't already voted in this straw poll regarding possible new features for The Lunarian Shuffle going forward, please do!  Not everything can get in, and it's not a strict democracy (some features require a lot more work than others), but I value knowing which things people are more interested in me trying to get working.

Have fun,
Crow!

Monday, May 6, 2019

Bugfix release: TLS version 1.131 is now current

There was a somewhat serious bug that affected yesterday's release which gave all returning characters the Dark Knight ability set upon returning if the Ability Shuffle feature was not activated.  Version 1.131, now available, fixes that bug.

Enjoy,
Crow!

Saturday, May 4, 2019

Randomized equipment is here! The Lunarian Shuffle v1.130 is live!

Hello, FFIV fans.  The wait is over - the first official release of The Lunarian Shuffle that has randomized equipment is here!


The Lunarian Shuffle v1.130 has a feature that, when selected, creates brand new equipment for the game!  TLS will also attempt to give the new equipment reasonable names - in the above picture, for example, the Cure2 staff will definitely cast Cure2 when used as an item in the battle, and the Headband must be an item that provides a strength boost and charm immunity.  When it cannot find, or just chooses not to use, an appropriate name in its database, it will mash together some random letters, like the Sgehqif ring above.

The focus of The Lunarian Shuffle is to make sure that, with each playthrough of the game, the player has to devise brand new strategies to handle each dungeon and boss.  With this new feature, the player gets to make complicated decisions about every single treasure found.  Do you want to use the robe that boosts your healing, or the one that has high defense?  Is it worth it to keep your otherwise outdated sword that inflicts 4x damage to Dragons?  Does that Power headband give enough extra strength to justify switching your FuSoYa out of his mage-y equipment to go berserk in the front lines?


There are some bug fixes and improvements, as well - the Ability Shuffle handles child Rydia better, the Yang and Edge equipment style characters are more likely to be ambidextrous in the Equipment Shuffle, and the names for party members showing up on the opposing side of the battlefield are randomly selected.

As always, get the new version from the Google Drive:

And if you have any questions, suggestions (especially for new names in the naming database!), or just want to chat, join our Discord server here:

Have fun,
- Crow!