Next Stop: Steam Next Fest!

Let’s start by saying this: …you all have the Amazing trait!

Since release, wishlists saw a big jump, and far more people played the demo than I expected!

I want to thank you for all the kind comments I received — these are what keep me going. It was great fun reading about your experiences with the game and all the crazy character and part concepts and feedback you sent me. All reported bugs have been squashed thanks to the list of hotfixes rolled out recently!

I don’t have quotes from big PC gaming sites, so instead here are some of my favorite comments from players who tried the demo:

"I LOVE the ‘imbecile’ mannerisms — they remind me of low-Intelligence playthroughs of Fallout 1 and 2. An absolutely hilarious way of shooting yourself in the foot!"

"I'm having lots of fun seeing how a ‘Lunatic’ behaves!"

"The core idea feels like a perfect blend of D&D and a simulation game."

"What I really liked were personality-based interactions between randomized characters. It made them feel more alive and made the game feel more like a real-life D&D session."

"Walks many extra miles to make the characters feel alive."

"I created a middle-aged warrior who gave me anxiety, paired with an eternal optimist with great charm, and the combo became interesting."

"I'm really intrigued by the level of depth in character creation — a wide blend of origins, skills, personality, traits, and motivations — and the concept of watching how the characters then interact with the world and each other based on your choices and party composition."

"You can see the work and creativity put into it."

"I love story generators, and this is a good one."

Questions You Asked

Do you plan to expand the story after the game’s eventual release?

Yes. It’s too early to say whether this will be extra chapters for the existing story or entirely new storylines, but I definitely plan to build upon the world and the ruleset. Many more stories exist in my head — and my notes are long enough to fill all four arms of a duvathar altogether!

How much story content does the demo have?

There are ~900 scenes written for Chapter 1, plus ~100 reusable ones. On top of that, to add even more variety and extra layers to the story, there are scripts that shape the core text based on hundreds of parameters tracked by the game. Common examples include scripts that adjust dialogue lines based on the speaking character’s speech patterns and mood, as well as others that add gestures based on personality, equipment, and environment.

Will characters made in the demo transfer to the full game?

I can’t promise that, but that’s what I’m aiming for.

How many chapters will the full release have?

I haven’t decided yet. I have ideas for 6+ chapters (and Chapters 2 and 3 are already in relatively good shape!), but first I want to see how many chapters per story or party this gameplay style can comfortably support. I don’t want to make it long just for the sake of it. If it starts to feel too long, I’d rather stop while it still works and continue building the world with a new storyline instead. Once I know more, I’ll let you know!

How can I report feedback or bugs?

There’s a pinned Feedback/Bug Report topic under Discussions, but you can also send an email to theguidingspiritgame@gmail.com. If a bug is easier to show than to explain, please include a screenshot. Context also helps a lot (e.g. “this doesn’t make sense because my character has the X trait”).

How can I support the dev?

If you’d like to support me, you can wishlist the game. If you enjoyed the demo and are looking forward to the full release, feel free to leave a review. That shall please the Spirit — and the algorithm gods!

Will there be rewards in the full release for completing achievements?

Yes! There will be extra content and features unlocked through achievements — think special personality traits, equipment, skills, and more!

Share Your Characters!

I’ve created a topic under Discussions where you can share your craziest character and party concepts, along with your experiences. It already has some very cool and unique entries! If you discover a unique combination of traits that isn’t covered—or have a wild concept for a character or party that you think would be a fun addition—let me know! I’ll definitely consider adding it and include your name in the game’s credits!

Another party, another story

The demo has received several reviews and articles recently (more to come!)—here are a few highlights:

Enjoy this bone-chilling narration from IndieGameiacs:

View store page Good fortune had it that one among the party was gifted with sharp Perception!

Dive into another story with a different party below:

View store page Everybody always blames the necromancer!

Huge thanks to the reviewers for checking out the demo! If you enjoyed their videos, I highly recommend checking out their channels for more awesome content.

What’s Next

Is it Good-Winds Day already?

I’m grateful to share the news: The demo will appear at the upcoming Steam Next Fest! I’m currently cooking up some extra content for this appearance, so stay tuned!

Steam post image It’s good to be back at the drawing board, sketching out stories for future chapters!

That’s all for today! Keep sharing your experiences, ideas, and feedback—my Motivation stat goes up every time I read your comments and reviews. Until next time, Dice