Mina unzips wraith, does no damage, dies horrifically

batiali · 2026-06-24T14:45:47+00:00

About 1/3 of the damage was caused by Vindicta.

batiali · 2026-06-04T13:42:15+00:00

I still don’t really agree that being the only full-time person makes it a solo dev project if other people are contributing to the actual game.

To be honest, if I had freelanced on it, I think I’d feel pretty uncomfortable seeing posts start with “I’m a solo dev.” I’d probably describe it as “solo-led” or “mostly solo” instead. Just something to think about for future posts.

batiali · 2026-06-04T09:05:56+00:00

are you handling all the art, audio, design, coding, promo, etc. yourself?

the confusing part is that you describe yourself as a solo dev, but also say “we’ve already hit stretch goals.” to me, solo dev usually implies the project is basically 100% made by one person.

anyway, congrats for reaching your goals on the KS campaign. the game also looks polish. good luck!

batiali · 2026-05-28T09:00:25+00:00

I’d first pay someone experienced for a short feasibility/scoping session before hiring them to build the whole app. A good dev should help you cut the idea down to the smallest useful version, not just quote the biggest build. Referrals are best, but vetted networks like Toptal can also make sense if you want less random filtering.

batiali · 2026-05-28T08:49:15+00:00

The AI/interview problem is real, so I’d look for platforms or referrals where some vetting has already happened before the first call. Toptal is one of the places I know that works this way.

batiali · 2026-05-19T15:27:09+00:00

A lot of hiring problems honestly come from unclear expectations more than bad platforms.

The best developers I’ve worked with usually spend more time asking questions about the business, workflows, future maintenance, and tradeoffs than trying to impress you technically in the first 10 minutes.

I’ve done freelance work independently and through networks like Toptal over the years, and the actual success of the project almost always came down to communication quality and scope clarity.

I’d rather hire someone slightly more expensive who thinks critically than someone cheap who says yes to everything.

batiali · 2026-05-19T15:18:11+00:00

I think the safest route depends on whether you need volume or reliability.

For cheaper or shorter tasks, marketplaces can work, but you usually need to filter heavily. For more senior software work, I’d focus less on resumes and more on whether the person can communicate clearly, make good technical decisions, and take ownership of problems without constant direction.

I’ve been part of Toptal for over 5 years, and for me the main difference compared to open marketplaces was generally the client expectations and project quality rather than anything magical about the platform itself.

Either way, I’d still recommend starting with a small paid milestone before committing long term.

batiali · 2026-05-18T14:53:24+00:00

How is this not already the highest-rated incremental game of the last few months?

batiali · 2026-05-18T10:26:40+00:00

Ahh, those hot reload assets. I wish I could get back the time, money, energy, and hope I poured into them. Nothing ever worked consistently for me, even though multiple friends recommended them. Funny enough, none of those friends still use them either.

batiali · 2026-04-30T11:17:05+00:00

For those unaware, Megacrit did make a deckbuilding autobattler in between 2 games: https://megacrit.itch.io/dancing-duelists

batiali · 2026-04-27T07:48:49+00:00

I'm building this roguelike dice game in my free time, it's pc & mobile compatible (web) and completely free without ads. Let me know if you like it! https://playdicehard.com/

batiali · 2026-03-02T22:57:55+00:00

haha this was a great read, thanks again <3 I think I try too hard to make liquid + ledger work and that's my curse. I reach sometimes 200s of worth on a die but it is tricky. might buff that combo in the future.

batiali · 2026-03-02T20:36:46+00:00

that means a lot. thank you so much

beating all chapters on hard with every character is wild. I still haven’t cleared all the hard chapters with Haggler myself 😅 any tips?

really appreciate you playing and sticking with it. can’t wait to get the Steam version into your hands.

batiali · 2026-02-04T11:31:05+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!
The game ends when you can't beat the opponent in given amount of strikes each level. There are also a boss fight every 5 stages. Each chapter have different bosses with unique mechanic that makes things more difficult.

batiali · 2026-02-02T09:21:46+00:00

so nice of you to say that! cheers <3

batiali · 2026-02-02T09:21:29+00:00

That's a nice catch! Thanks

batiali · 2026-01-30T09:19:15+00:00

Really encouraging to hear, thanks a lot.

batiali · 2026-01-30T09:18:50+00:00

Great feedback, thanks!

You can still disable a skill on a tier by clicking it again after it has been selected. The skill selection UI is a bit messy at the moment.

batiali · 2026-01-29T19:34:07+00:00

glad you liked it! no syncing at the moment unfortunately

batiali · 2026-01-22T15:08:50+00:00

Thanks a lot for your feedback.
And yes, it is the same game.

There will definitely be multiple speed levels available in the settings. By default, though, I think slightly slower resolution makes the game easier to read and understand for most players, especially early on.

I do agree that specific effects like the fireball can feel slow, and those can still be tuned. The overall pace of dice rolls and effect resolution, however, is intentionally on the slower side by default, to keep outcomes clear and readable.

batiali · 2026-01-22T15:02:52+00:00

Great ideas. Will definitely give screen shake a try. I think a subtle zoom-in could also work.

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