Synist

I finally broke down and opened Figma to design cards, and spent a good fifteen minutes frowning and yelling at things. This is what happens when I go so long between game dev projects. I forget where everything is and how it works. #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

For some reason, I got it in my head that I shouldn't open Figma because I lose track of time. So instead, I've been wireframing UI in Clip Studio Paint like a crazy person. I mean, at least it lets me sketch out ideas for backgrounds. But the guides, though... #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

I made a list of things that I absolutely need to do in order to start coding the prototype for the game. And if I can get it done before Godot 4.8 gets a stable release, I will be super thrilled. Of course, I have no idea when that will happen. Still gonna try, though. #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

I think, in addition to new nibs, I might also need a new drawing glove. Poor thing is barely hanging on at this point.

Omigod, Bluesky. I already said that.

I wrote out the actual list of things I want to have done before I'm allowed to start writing code for this project. By my calculations, I will not be able to touch Godot again until I'm 50. This might be a problem... #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

Omigod. This is going to save me so many minutes and useless commits from setting up new projects. I'm almost upset I didn't learn about it sooner. youtu.be/fOubfzgnz1w?... #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

Reorganizing my Pinterest boards is such a productive way to procrastinate. I mean, I'm not working on these designs like I should be. But I am refilling my visual library with cool things and getting ideas. That's gotta count for something.

Finally gave up on trying to figure out everything all at once and opened Blender. I'm sure it's very apparent that I am not good at Blender. Also, I can not stop laughing at these mannequins. But at least now I have something to work with for future art. #gamedev #solodev #indiedev #Blender

I'm itching to open Godot and start coding. But I really want to get at least some placeholder art and the card database done first. Ugh! But I wanna code so bad... #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

Tried redesigning the main setting for the game, and I've only made things worse and frustrated myself. It's very clear that I have no idea what I'm doing, yet I keep headbutting this wall. I really want to figure out how to do this without breaking my own brain. #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

I would absolutely love to get better at making concept art. But that is literally a whole entire field, and I'm already doing way too much as it is.

This took a while, but I have the setting of the game in a form that I can actually look at now. Who doesn't love a good map? I couldn't quite get the stone to look the way it's supposed to, but I know what I meant so it's fine. Now, on to design some props. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev

I'm learning that I have a lot more fun designing when I have a clear goal -- and a lot of reference to pull from. The fact that I'm planning to use this in the game might be the biggest factor. But it's going on 24 hours since I woke up, and I am so very tired. #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

I decided to redesign Thaen's look to better fit the new art direction. Figured it be better to simplify things if I'm going to an animation feel. Plus, I just think he looks hotter. But maybe that's just me.

if you really want to know if you're on the right track or not, might I suggest writing out your game mechanics as if you're explaining them to someone else? Turned out to be super helpful for simplifying this mess that I'd made. #gamedev #solodev #indiedev

Now that I have a better sense of how I want the game to play and look, I spent the rest of the day wireframing. They look so different from last night's sketches that it's almost funny. But one gives me art, and the other function, so... Yeah. Let's go with that. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev

I started questioning my design choices for the game, and somehow ended up sketching out UI. Which led to me finally figuring out the art direction for the entire project. Great job, me. Looks like I'll be making a lot of changes this week.

Also, this took me nineteen fucking hours to do, and most of it was for the background that you can't even see. But I'm really proud of that background, so here we are.

Me: "I'm just going to draw something simple and fun." Me: *draws guidelines for three hours* Demon: *yawns while being summoned* "Are you going to draw me this time?" Me: "... Sure, why not?"

Last one for the night: outfits for Thaen and the new Synists. It's been a rather productive day. www.patreon.com/Synist/posts...

More clothing designs -- this time, for the citizens of Haenem. Now to bring the two together for my main characters. www.patreon.com/Synist/posts...

Most Artists: You don't need to learn anatomy to such an extreme, since most of the body will be covered with clothes. NSFW Artists:

Finally started designing clothing. First up is the Ancient Synists, which will be the basis for the game characters' designs. www.patreon.com/Synist/posts...

I have so many tabs open that there's a scroll bar. I'd hate to see what this looked like if I had my tabs across the top of the browser...

Yesterday I started out compiling lore in Obsidian. Then I got distracted, and ended up using @11ty.dev to build a whole website. So now Synist has a (SFW) wiki called The Synistverse. And it's only going to get bigger as I go. synistverse.com

I just remembered that, in the romance genre, Open and Closed Door is already a thing. And it's the complete opposite of how I was using it. Whoops.

I am trying new things with my art, and I am very happy with how this one turned out. Now I just need to draw him 1,000 more times. www.patreon.com/Synist/posts...

Decided to figure out a detail in my project that I'm going to be using a lot. There's also a bit of an update on my progress with Synist so far. Go check it out! www.patreon.com/Synist/posts...

I like everything about marshmallows except for actually eating them.

I've finally gone through all of the nibs that came with my tablet. Which is very apparent when I feel how scratched the screen is.

The fact that I have yet to make an interactive fantasy world map in Godot is honestly very weird to me. Definitely something I'll be doing for this project.

Worked on some visual development, because I got sick of struggling with trees. www.patreon.com/Synist/posts...

The fact that I work better when I have Mountain Dew is no longer an opinion. It's just part of my biology now.