0.2.9 is out! + about graphics

Uff, finally! Last week, I finally had time to sit down and put some effort towards next release of The Dark Lord Rises, and there it is - version 0.2.9, including new adventures of Renan & co. in unfriendly land of Marania.
Now, there are few thing about this release I have to address. because of various circumstances, I wasn't able to test some new locations to degree I'd like to. While there should be no gamebreaking bugs around, usual suspects (read: typos) might be abound here and there. I decided however that releasing game in this state would be preferable than testing it even longer, since my schedule might soon get tight again.
There are few new features in this 0.2.9. Most important - images! First batch of my "masterpieces" is included in in-game gallery, each one unlocked after every H-scene. To view gallery, read new item you'll find either in starting location or in one of two shops in new locations. Please note though, images won't appear retroactively - you have to play through H-scene to get one, so those that skip first act or load earlier saves won't be able to browse through them.
I'll talk about images a little bit later, but now let's move on to another change - balance. Despite changes in previous versions, I still receive many complains that game is too hard for the genre. During testing, I replayed it and made some changes to more frustrating enemies, which should help those struggling. Also, for those that have REALLY hard time, I included sort of cheating item, available alongside diary, in starting location. It should make MC much more potent in battle. Those who like challenge should just sell it at first possible occasion.
I also made small tweaks to to various skills, especially Lynn's, who should be now a bit more reliable in combat.
Last but not least, I made some changes to various scripts and overall aesthetics of the game. Not major, but those should improve experience a bit.

The Dark Lord Rises version 0.2.9 is available to download HERE. RTP required.
Enjoy!

Also, I'd like to address one thing that people write me about. Are images really necessary for the game? Some people clearly think I shouldn't bother with them, some think I shouldn't settle for my own godawful creation, there was even suggestion of setting Patreon for this purpose.

I'll start from the end. At least, for now, thing like Patreon are no-go. I believe The Dark Lord Rises is way to small of a game to bother with crowdfunding, especially since game at current state needs not one or two images, but at least twenty. It's a large amount of money, even, if I go with less known artists. Not to mention, because of my poor choice in the beginning, TDLR uses many assets that belong to someone else - if I were to take money, no matter what amount and for which purpose, it would be like entering dangerous legal marsh - especially since I have little knowledge about IP laws in US.

So, why I'm so dead set on having some sort of gallery hide the game, despite those circumstances? Well, while in current state game might not look like it, I always planned The Dark Lord Rises to be a game primarily about corruption of characters - not just mind control/rape/etc. And I strongly believe that good corruption games must have some sort of graphical presentation of this corruption, especially physical changes in corrupted character. It's integral element of the genre and will become more and more important as TDLR moves closer to my initial vision.

Oh, right, corruption. I delayed and delayed it, but it seems that finally, in next major update, this fetish will finally take it's rightful place alongside other themes in the game. So, stay tuned and thank you for reading my ramblings!