E5-6 updates (Patreon)

these posts are probably quickly going to start covering more and more ground (in terms of # of episodes) as updates get lighter

the usual drill-- up top is general changes and below is changes to the story content.  also with the general changes is a list of some of the bugs i've fixed recently-- not all of these are particularly notable, but most of them fell outside the 'quick fix' category and some of them have just been pushed back or consistent problem children for multiple releases.
and, well, i wrote them down. therefore, they get posted.

• fixed a bug where the exclaim! animation played too high during cutscenes
• added a check when donating whiscash + other pokemon to nadira to return your exp sh-- i mean, held item, if any
• perry has added the same check to trades, both in game and out. thanks perry!!!
• due to generally being a bit of a slog, a flat IV nerf has been applied to the entire battle pavillion for now.
• the correct rocks to smash in order to drain each floor of pyrous mountain now glow
• fixed the eternally-standing bug with the jasper water treatment center room causing softlock after whiting out to the grunts. i think. i hope.
• tried once again to fix the eternally-standing bug with trainer karus in charlotte's gym causing softlocks when he doesn't move back into place mrmggrgrgrgrgrrgr.... 
• it's okay, maybe he's getting all of his game-breakingness out of the way so he'll behave in starlight?
• fixed a bug where escape-roping from the WTC after taka would cause the story to not progress
• fixed a bug where tauros could be taken into iolia valley via rock climb
• removed some vestigal gender specific text color on the load menu. gross.
• fixed a bug where the wasteland wall checkerboard strength puzzle wouldn't reset properly if you used the escape rope. 
• fixed a bug where whiting out and then catching a salandit could softlocke the game if you don't have surf yet
• fixed a bug where... checks notes... holding up, while activating a crustle or salandit, repeatedly, could phase you upwards and eventually softlocke the game
• replaced incineroar's overworld sprite with a better one
• sweethearts and exp candy can now be purchased from the candy store at various points throughout the game. feedback on timing and pricing will be appreciated. 
• fixed a couple land-surfing bugs on azurine island
• fixed a bug where you couldn't ride a tauros up a certain ladder in byxbysion like you obviously should be able to
• added a missing egg sprite for mr.mime

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Story updates below! They are not numerous or detailed, but if you wish to be completely surprised by changes, feel free to skip

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• most of e5 has been smashed into like two scenes instead of making you run all over the city
• the orphanage has generally been streamlined and made less linear
• notes on each client can now be found in the orphanage
• sigmund will now be fought at the end of the orphanage segment
• most of e6 has also been smashed into like two scenes instead of making you run all over the city....
• visting cal before kiki is now optional, as is victoria's apophyll battle-- you choose one of them.
• you can also go visit pyrous and battle cal even before ever meeting kiki. since everyone seems to forget to start the quest dialogue before going to pyrous there.
• kiki is now no longer a gym leader.

ok that's it that's the show

EDIT: 

WAIT THAT's NOT the SHOW i forgot to mention cass and has just spent a lot of time looking over the distribution of move tutors in the game and has scooted many of them up! You can start getting move tutors as early as onyx school now!!!! And also!!! She has made it so if you buy a move once, it is free for you forever!! do cass and appreciate, okay thanks !!!!

-- end of edit

like it's still the same story, it's just done a little cleaner now i think.  as i've said before, the main goals of early game updates are to generally streamline things and replace some of the awkward railroading with more player freedom.

with this segment in particular we also had to solve the fact that apophyll is kind of an awkward fetch quest for strength, and i think i've succeeded in that. only because, i got to rewriting the apophyll scenes and suddenly realized i now that the opposite problem
instead of going there being all about strength, i'm like
wait i forgot to mention that the player needs strength at all, how do i shoehorn this hm in now lol
it's fine, i added in a slightly earlier mention, it's easily covered, but i think that is (at least to me personally) reassuring that i've done a good job of making it not about that. 

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spare thoughts i had while writing this
there's a growing number of you over time, hi! thank you, ily!!!
i appreciate you all very much and i'm so glad that we've been able to take the time to make this game as good as i can stand to take the time to make it!!!!!
but!
i realize i don't actually have any kind of a sense of how long many of you have been here!
i would like Information!

so poll question-- how long have you personally been around this patreon?
if you've liked dropped and come back multiple times or something idk pick whatever answer feels right to you.
and you know what, if you haven't dropped and come back, you can still pick whatever answer feels right to you, feel like you've been here two years but it was only two months? pick two years, idk, there are no wrong answers, even when the answer is objectively wrong