itch.io

I have a version with the RTP included now, just so we can see if that's actually the problem:

https://mega.nz/file/MBxgHISb#95KWsDk6cr4S2d5pBrwd2TbeN_TL3g3oYPGPip29cP8

Just in case, could you try this version which includes the RTP?

https://mega.nz/file/MBxgHISb#95KWsDk6cr4S2d5pBrwd2TbeN_TL3g3oYPGPip29cP8

Which version did you download? The installer or the .7z file?

Edit: just to be sure, I downloaded and tried both version, so at the very least this isn't an issue inherent with the build or the downloads.

For the RTP, you extracted it from the archive and then ran the setup, right? Did you try to change the installation folder, by any chance?

Do you get any specific error message with the crash? Also, I am not sure it would work if you copied the RTP files in the folder.

You need to also install the RTP. It's linked at the bottom of the page, but here it is, just in case:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/degica-downloads/RPGVXAce_RTP.zip

In theory, you just need to check a box to add the RTP files when you run the program to "package" a release, but in practice it takes time to package and upload the version (and then to extract it from the exe and then back into an archive to have that version also available). It's not a huge amount of time, but since I still want the version that doesn't include the RTP, I'd be doubling the time needed, and that adds up.

Plus, there is always the chance that a bug exists in one version but not the other (from random stuff like a corrupted file or error when creating the package, to some mistake when I copy rename the files or an issue with the upload). Even if it's a low chance, I really don't want to bother with the extra hassle, until I am sure it won't be a recurring commitment.

That's true, although I don't think it's a very high barrier to entry. Now that the game isn't in active development anymore, I could probably put out a "full" version. I still want to wait a while in case there are some other bugs to fix (I don't want to fiddle with two versions while there are still things to address), but if there are no other reports, I might upload the version without requirements.

In theory I could, but in practice it would be a hassle, since the game would exceed 1Gb in size, which is usually the limit for what itch allows. I could ask itch to consider granting me the ability to go over that size, or I could host that version externally (which is probably the easiest thing to do).

Is there any reason in particular that makes the RTP a problem for you?

Edit: wait, I just saw your other message. XD

Did you install the RTP?
https://s3.amazonaws.com/degica-downloads/RPGVXAce_RTP.zip

Did you check the walkthrough (linked in the game's folder)? CTRL+F for "temple 1" (or whatever temple you are in), and you should be able to find the section you need.

If it's something more specific, I'll need some extra details, though.

Did you check out this video, by any chance?

Don't worry, it's actually me who's being unhelpful, since it's been quite a while and I don't remember all the details. >_<

I'll need to update the walkthrough, since it's not very clear and it was actually confusing me as well. If you have progressed too far into Kira's relationship, you ARE forced to go along with her and the vampire doesn't show up at night. More precisely, the vampire only ever shows up if you don't agree to help Kira, so it's actually impossible to "cross the wires".

Looks like you can't get the vampire path for this quest with your save (short of editing the variables), sorry for all the confusion. 

Mmmh, let me think: Did you meet Kira AFTER encountering the vampire? I guess it's theoretically possible in that case to have your priorities "overwritten" that way. The normal sequence in the military outpost should see you encounter Kira first and then the vampire at night, and I think I didn't account for the reverse happening.

Sorry for the late reply, itch didn't notify me. >_<

There isn't a "proper" way to remove Kira's influence, I am afraid. If I remember right during that quest, the vampire's influence should "override" the one from Kira, am I misremembering?

Glad you are enjoying the game! ^_^

Sorry, I didn't get a notification from itch for this post. >_<

I never got reports of the music stuttering before, what are you running the game on? Do you have the possibility to try it on another PC, just to see if it's a problem with the one you are currently using?

If you do something, it's better to put some effort into it, right? I enjoy making games, and while I am not a perfectionist, I would feel bad knowing I wasted my chances to have something memorable for the players.
The demo for the next game should be coming soon, so hopefully you'll enjoy that one as well.

There is some of that in the sense that the players' choices define who the protagonist is, so whenever she falls for an easy trap, she might want to fall for it, deep down (not many events are forced, and she is not stupid). If we are talking canonically, Erica is a bit of a sub, but probably not as "self-destructive" as wanting to go full bimbo/cowgirl, so her tendencies lead her that way and then the mind control pushes it to the limit.

Thanks for playing it! I hope you'll keep having fun. ^_^

It's all good, better safe than sorry.
In theory, you can have 3 bishops if your pawn gets promoted and for some reason you decide to turn it into a bishop instead of a queen. You are right that it does look weird, but I'll leave it like that for now (it's been like this for a while). If a new bugfix update is needed, maybe I can change this as well at that point.

If you move the Queen from H3 to H4, it attacks the king. The king can't move to E7 or G7 (because there are black pieces), can't move to E6 or F7 (bishop attacks those tiles), can't take the knight on G6 (defended by a pawn), can't move to E5 (attacked by the knight), can't take the pawn on F5 (defended by another pawn), can't move to G5 (also under the attack of the Queen). The king is under attack, can't move in any of the 8 directions and nobody can take or block the Queen in H4.

Now, I haven't double checked if there is another solution in quite some time, but the one proposed in the walkthrough is absolutely correct.

I kept updating the game every month for 10 years (XD), so yeah, this is it for Caliross. There is a chance patrons show interest for a 1.1 update a few years down the line and I pick this back up, which I don't think it's very likely, and I might not even want to do anymore by that point, but if something happens, it won't happen for the next 3-4 years at the very least (unless I manage to clone myself).

I am focusing on my next game now, which will hopefully have a public demo soon.

Equipment doesn't appear in your regular inventory, but it should appear in the "charms" sub-section. Anyway, if you did everything right you should be able to equip it in the "accessory" section of your equipment page. If you checked already, maybe send me a link to your savefile, and I can try to figure out what went wrong.

Even when I started making games as a hobby, I kept making sure to complete my games, specifically because I was so disappointed whenever I'd find a project and it would get abandoned (or was already dead when I found it).

I also dislike bugs, so I try to leave things in a reasonable state before moving on (and if I get a report some time down the line, I'll try to release an update even if the game isn't in active development).

Not saying there aren't good reasons why certain games get abandoned, but usually it's just that the dev underestimated what it takes and doesn't want to keep it going, or they expected more money when what they are doing doesn't quite have that potential.

The game has a hidden character (a dragon named Baal) and he can undo some of the paths, including the cowgirl path. There is a limit to the amount of times you can use his powers, and while I mainly added him so that players can explore some mutually exclusive content, it should still work in your case.

More than 10 at this point, since I didn't start posting it here right away, if I remember correctly, The last few months have been bugfixes and small adjustments, though, since I am shifting to my next game.

Solo dev can take a lot of time, plus I wasn't working full time on this right away, and there were a couple of years during which my health was lousy, those things can pile up at times.

T_T
Even I gotta be formal every now and then. XD

Maybe I can have fake releases once I finish the real updates, for old times sake. :^

Wait, did you equip the ritual gemstone? The steps are as follow: you find the magical gemstone in the first temple, find the secret room in the second temple to turn it into a ritual gemstone and then you equip the new stone when you want to use the spell.

No problem, fixing bugs is part of the process. It would have been better if I hadn't caused it to begin with, but mistakes happen. :)

Okay, I think I know what's going on. I think this eluded detection before because usually if people are involved with the LoM they usually are also involved with Kira, and that path doesn't have the bug. Should be an easy fix, although it might be a week or two before I update the game again.

In the dialogue, do you receive a letter from the League of Merchants?

The game uses an old version of RPG Maker, and resolution is fairly low. You can use F5/F6 to cycle through a few display options, if those are better for you.

No, if you have the ritual spell, and you cast it in front of the temple inside the forest near Tarkas during a full moon, you should get the door to open (you can tell there is a full moon because a symbol above the door appears). I just tested it and it worked, so I am not sure what could be the problem.

I should do some work on it in the coming months. Since I am working on the next game, time is limited, but it's something I have to do, plus it's good to show I am still alive in the meantime. XD

I have plenty of ideas for different/more content or to fix/improve mistakes I made, so I get the desire for more, but at some point I had to call it a day, so the game will stay as is, at least for a while (unless patrons really clamor for a 1.1 update later down the line). I get your point about the demon realm, though, even if it was going to be hard to make it much longer without losing momentum, I feel like.

My new game will definitely get uploaded here when it's ready to go, and I'll make an announcement for it, and probably add a link as well, so keep an eye out. The title is Tales of the Drunken Cowboy 2, in case you aren't aware, and it will be a sci-fi adventure game with RPG elements running on Ren'Py.

Great to know you enjoyed the game! ^_^

What did you feel was anticlimactic about the ending, if you don't mind me asking?

It's another game I am currently making. It's a sequel to my previous game (Tales of the Drunken Cowboy). It has a sci-fi setting. If you are interested, you can find the links in my blog (which is on Google's Blogger, so it unfortunately needs an account nowadays, since I marked it NSFW), but note that the original TOTDC was made in RAGS, and although there is an HTML conversion, it's a bit clunky regardless (also, it uses images from the internet, since I wasn't doing this as a job, back then).

TOTDC 2 will use Ren'py and 2D art.

You can make it go fullscreen, but be warned that since the resolution is so low, it's going to be very blocky. You can use F5 and F6 to cycle through a few options or press ALT+Enter to toggle fullscreen.

Don't worry, I understand the game isn't for everyone. Yeah, the whole day cycle can feel repetitive, making progress in certain paths slow. I do have some ideas for how to better handle routines if I ever make a similar game, but I can't really change Caliross at this point, so it is what it is.

It doesn't have body swap exactly, but you can transform into other people, at times. It's not used very commonly, though.