Thanks for all feedback that I get from Steam Next Fest! I put it into the plan that I will try to follow during the next development stage.
Customers
Random customers will have names
Two unique customers will be added (the Merchant will be changed because it is actually the Bartenders' image)
The town will have around 100 residents, who will be randomly generated as the new game starts
Customers will have a relationship with you, and completed orders will affect it (if you have a negative relationship with a customer, he will appear in your store rarely)
If you meet a customer for the first time, you will automatically put his portrait, name, profession, and relationship in the journal
Gameplay
Timings will be more casual
Delayed quests will be added (they can be done while you wait for customers). The Merchant will bring letters with a description of the problem and the time when the client will come for a solution
Delayed trade. You can order additional components for a potion from the Merchant (for example, more glass jars), but he will bring them the next morning.
If you have a good relationship with the Merchant, you can get a discount
Tutorial
An interactive form of the tutorial is planned
The Merchant will teach you how to interact with customers
The Goddess will teach you how to make potions
The Cat will probably help you too :)
The current text tutorial will remain as additional help and will be more detailed, especially in explaining the properties of the components
Addition
A bar of the bargain will be added, allowing you to set the cost of a potion (the cost will have an effect on the relationship)
When you put a potion on the counter, you will see the cost of its production
Bug fixes, dyslexia mode, more accurate sounds, maybe some music, UX and UI improvements
This is the plan, and it's hard to say how long it will take. Probably a few weeks, but I want this demo to be more presentable, playable, and less confusing.
Steam Next Fest - Demo Is Out!
The demo is finished! A lot of work has been done. And a lot of work is further after the festival. Finally, you can test the demo on your own.
There are several ways to play.
You don't have to follow the rules - you can just brew potions without paying attention to customer expectations:
Just not spend your money on expensive components
For players who are not afraid of difficulties, there are some challenges:
Brew effective potions, but not at a loss
Keep a book of recipes
Try to prepare potions with common properties among your customers in advance
Work out a tactic of arranging the components of the potions so that you can find them quickly
Buy only necessary components from the merchant
Pay attention to service - prepare tasty and non-toxic potions, and at the best time
The demo contains all the main mechanics and some additional stuff:
Сustomer service and quests of 1 and 2 difficulty levels (from 5)
Categories of components and their properties ( basic, additional, and special)
Component arrangement and usage
Brewing potions from components
Time, money, and reputation system (with some sort of balance)
Сustomer feedback in letters (overall, effect and service rating with rewards)
Potions are recorded in recipes, which can be renamed, anchored, and deleted
Buying components from a merchant
Unique characters and customer generator (with professions)
The usual text tutorial
Art, interface, sounds, effects, and touchable pet (very close to the final)
Localization system (you can choose English or Russian)
Balance for test
Main course after Next Fest:
A lot of work with quests (quest chains with unique characters, generated city population, and your effect on it, customer relation to you)
Shop customization to boost roleplay aspect (set up a natural, dark or holy design of the store)
It is also possible to add a witch's garden, as well as forays into the forest for components
More themed merchants
More unique characters
Interactive tutorial
Don’t miss The Witchmade Shop Demo at Steam Next Fest 21 - 28 February. I would love to get your feedback here, on social media, or by mail desarpair@gmail.com ! ːcozyhitman2ː