Hello again everyone and happy to have you with us again!
This week has been yet another strong week for the Hammer & Ravens team, as we have been working with - once again - everything and all at once. Before you say anything, we promise, there's a plan and a schedule and we're nailing it so far ;)
Today's Something's Brewing is mostly about caring for your Nuns and Monks. These little brewers will need to get some rest and sustenance; beer alone will not suffice. We will therefore be returning to the Dormitory and the Refectory with some extra work on the available equipment and furniture. Other than that we will also be presenting you with what we believe is the best version for the Monastery's roof tiling and not only in terms of color which had been the thorn in our side so far...
Read on!
-- The Refectory's Cauldron
It's been quite some time since we last worked on the Refectory. This time we returned to this R&R room for the sake of the Monks' and Nuns' sustenance working on the room's cauldron. The cauldron will be found under the room's furniture and equipment tab and will be used to feed your brewers and the poor alike, both seeking a moment of respite and a warm meal!
And it wouldn't be Raimo's work if it wasn't already animated:
-- Getting in and out of bed
Caring about the well-being of our monks and trying to avoid scenes like the ones below (when you haven't yet built a Dormitory or haven't equipped it with beds), is a hard task, but not for the reasons you might think of.
We are right now experimenting with the best way to get the Monastery's Monks and Nuns to their beds. The real problem is not the production of art and animation, but trying to avoid all the unnecessary back and forth that would need to be added to and calculated in their everyday activities; as they would have to make their way to the Dormitory from whichever room they might find themselves in. Because of the decisions that we've made for the passing of time and day/night cycles in Ale Abbey, your brewers will have to be put into bed ASAP, and that means almost instantly.
So, the one way that has proven to be quite efficient so far, is instantly "teleporting" them to their assigned beds with a puff of smoke to add to the effect.
We're still working extensively on the effect so if you have any ideas or feedback, do let us know in the comments!
-- Rooftop's about done!
Finally, one of the things that we had to return to since a while back, was the Monastery's roof tiling. This would be multiple decisions about its color, overall looks, and some details for starters. The entire team believes that the selected color below best matches the colors found around the Monastery with a bonus of contrast that makes sure it's a noticeable part of the building.
Adding to that, you can also see that we are already "playing" with tile shading to make them appear more realistic, as well as adding frills (in the form of skylights in the following screenshot):
Although still WIP, we are finally very happy with what the roof looks like right now.
-- What can you tell by a beer's color?
There are times when your prowess and understanding of beer will be challenged. A frosty glass will be presented to you and you will be asked to discern what's in the glass. We're of course here to make you look cool when this opportunity arises!
Before you even touch that glass you can already prepare yourself for what's coming, in terms of flavor, texture, and even alcohol content. Unless your friends throw a curve ball at you, the beer's color alone should help you deduct what you're about to drink. If you're experienced enough you could potentially go all the way down to the brand, but figuring out the style and listing flavors and ingredients should be enough to make them think twice before challenging you again!
- Beer Style: Different beer styles have specific color ranges. For example, light lagers are usually pale golden or straw-colored, while stouts and porters tend to be dark brown or black. When you see the color of a beer, you can often guess its style as well.
- Ingredients: The types of malts and grains used in the brewing process directly impact the color of beer. Pale malts produce lighter-colored beers, while roasted malts or dark grains result in darker hues. You see the color and hue, you make an educated guess about what types of ingredients were used, and you can already infer some of the flavors and aromas that might be present in the beer.
- Flavor and Aroma: While the color alone doesn't reveal everything about a beer's flavor and aroma, it can give you some hints. Lighter beers are generally crisper and may have more delicate, grainy flavors, while darker beers can feature richer, roasted, and caramelized notes.
- Sweetness: In general, darker beers tend to be perceived as sweeter due to the caramelization of sugars during the malt roasting process. Lighter beers are often drier and have a cleaner finish.
- Alcohol Content: Darker beers, especially strong ales and stouts, may indicate a higher alcohol content, although this is not always the case. It's essential to check the label for specific alcohol by volume (ABV) information.
- Clarity: The color can also reveal information about a beer's clarity. Hazy or cloudy beers often have a distinct appearance, and the haze can be a result of unfiltered or dry-hopped brewing processes. Major dead giveaway!
Go forth and be challenged... You now have the tools to defend your beer-drinking honor!
Tune in next week for more of Ale Abbey's news! For now, enjoy your weekend responsibly ;)
-- Hammer & Ravens
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