Sientir's Blog

This week, I finally finish the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project by discussing lessons learned over the course of making it. I talk a lot about aspects related to making a game (or series of games) that have ideas similar to how Guild Wars 1 works. I continue working on Astral Collision in the second video, where I finish the first draft of the world map. Some stuff I know I'll need to tweak, and other stuff I may tweak (as playtesting reveals the need to do so), but I at least figure out where everything is gonna go and which world map regions originate from which hero's world. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Lessons Learned - https://youtu.be/E8WoY30Vtcc Making Astral Collision (An RPG Maker MV Project) Part 4 - https://youtu.be/NcwAKVseEKg

This week, I made my way into Taejin's Tower and began the process of ascending it. This results in a lot of battles, both as part of advancing, but also because my characters desperately need to be stronger, and getting CP from defeating enemies is an important part of that. I also find the balancing of this game to be very weird. Direct video links: Hunting CP—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 46 - https://youtu.be/-sJhwUFx6bU Into Taejin's Tower—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 47 - https://youtu.be/XfM2cYJapAw Giant Wheel Elevator Operator—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 48 - https://youtu.be/NSkMUWaWxWY What would the golems do were it not for that fire?—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 49 - https://youtu.be/x0VRYnvcwC8 Climbing Taejin's Tower—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 50 - https://youtu.be/1jvw0C0sGsk

For the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project this week, I cover the last of the actual skills! That's right, I talk about all of the Common Skills, which are skills that can be used by any profession. Next week, I plan to make a summary of lessons learned from this whole endeavor, then it'll be off to new territory! I also continue working on Astral Collision. I imagine I will be doing that for quite some time...anyway, this episode involves a lot of math, as I work on figuring out power formulas for a couple of the weapons. Of course, I talk a lot about what I'm wanting those formulas to do and why! Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Common Skills - https://youtu.be/j_UFmoIQskc Making Astral Collision (An RPG Maker MV Project) Part 3 - https://youtu.be/7_pzJEHFLY4

This week was all about exploring Gran Pulse, and getting familiar with it. A few new systems are introduced, I meet two Eidolons, and the difficulty curve feels out of control, with some enemies being very difficult and others being quite reasonable. Of course, we also get more backstory, especially about Vanille. Direct video links: Alexander—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 41 - https://youtu.be/QeoU0zTp5V4 Wandering the Archlyte Steppe—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 42 - https://youtu.be/sybwH3Icabw Box Phalanx—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 43 - https://youtu.be/wndNZzJ9JoU Hecatoncheir—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 44 - https://youtu.be/QAN7M13-yOs Journey to Taejin's Tower—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 45 - https://youtu.be/kqKwFXTt-ck

This week I reviewed the Paragon profession's skills for my Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. I talked about the design of the Paragon a lot in the introduction part. I also continued working on Astral Collision, and probably will for a while yet. I experimented around with some new (for me) editing techniques for this video, with a couple of sped-up sections! I also don't have a great idea for how to name individual episodes, so I think I'm going to use the very generic name scheme I've got going here. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Introduction - https://youtu.be/dvBayjLs46I Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Command - https://youtu.be/WmaW1lz6HjI Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Leadership - https://youtu.be/IQGiGZwrf0o Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Motivation - https://youtu.be/RRQk2KtuZkQ Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Spear Mastery - https://youtu.be/JtU-OHmM8dU Guild Wars 1—...

I spent a lot of time in the Fifth Ark this week, making my way through groups of enemies and looking for plot. I find some from Cid Raines, then a massive amount of progress happens when the group defeats the Eidolon Bahamut and leaves Cocoon for Gran Pulse. What a way to end the week! Direct video links: How do we know this is the Fifth Ark, anyway?—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 36 - https://youtu.be/anfAaqcTfvU Passing through the Hibernarium—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 37 - https://youtu.be/j50gWVoe_4s Loremaster Cid Raines—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 38 - https://youtu.be/CSGYWUOS5dU This Ark is built with Modular Design—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 39 - https://youtu.be/dgzRjinhLEA Emerging from the Cocoon—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 40 - https://youtu.be/XQPQzcrFGsM

This week I reviewed the Dervish skills for the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. That means next week is the Paragon, and the week after are the PvE-Only skills not associated with a profession (and also Resurrection Signet). I'm thinking I might do those all in one video... And this Sunday, I've started a new series where I make a game. I introduce it, and the game I've started making (Astral Collision) in this episode. Hopefully it's interesting to people! While this game is in RPG Maker MV, I'm planning on using Unity for future installments. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Introduction - https://youtu.be/vwNZC8ISWfg Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Earth Prayers, PvE-Only, & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/vJ3HKWw3CPA Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Mysticism - https://youtu.be/OBqcUEyTh-I Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Scythe Mastery - https://youtu.be/pqrpt6HMWoE Guild Wars 1—Ski...

The plot really ramped up this week, as the entire party finally got together (Fang, Snow, Sazh, Vanille, Lightning, and Hope) and the leader of Sanctum revealed himself to be a fal'Cie in disguise. He explains our heroes' focus to them, but not before beating them up a bit. The characters now have to figure out what to do with this information... Direct video links: The Captives Rescue Themselves!—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 31 - https://youtu.be/ywHwKihSUQE This calls for CODE WHITE!—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 32 - https://youtu.be/64Y-rlzOpYg Together again, at last!—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 33 - https://youtu.be/qaUAZWPdOjg Wait, I'm supposed to WIN this fight?!—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 34 - https://youtu.be/j0Z0mopLhlw Coming to Grips with Barthandelus's Lore Drop—Final Fantasy XIII First Playthrough Ep. 35 - https://youtu.be/8V_Bwij5wck