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A Disastrous First-Day At Work?!

A job surrounded by books should be a dream come true for the bookworm Tokiko, but... it's never going to be that easy, is it?

Patchouli's silly antics aside, the library came under attack by the all-too-familiar ordinary magician, with her sight firmly set at the secret Patchouli hides within a sealed chamber in the library. A grimoire radiating a mysterious power.

Perhaps blame it on fate or their own carelessness, but they accidentally released whatever it is sealed within the grimoire.

A huge stone castle, with its imposing walls and numerous towers, bigger than anything most Gensokyo's residents ever seen, appeared out of thin air on its soil. Its gates opened, and large figures with shining armor march out, heading directly toward the mansion...

... Yes, it's just another incident in the land of fantasy... isn't it?


Novice Incident Revolution Specialist, Take Flight!!

The perpetrator slipped away, and now, under the threat of Reimu's wrath descending upon her innocent life for the second time, Tokiko finds herself trying to stop this incident before everything goes out of hand.

Recruit new party members, gather equipment, and blitz through the dungeons, as Tokiko and her party unravel the truth, of the mastermind behind The Elemental Castle!

StatusReleased
Rating
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
(2 total ratings)
AuthorNanase
GenreRole Playing
TagsFangame, Fantasy, RPG Maker, Touhou, Turn-based

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Download
Grimoire of The Elemental Castle.rar 326 MB
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Update 2.00 463 kB

Development log

Comments

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Wow, a hidden gem indeed. This game is great, I wish all other Touhou RPG can be like yours. I also didn't expect the multiple endings from this game, which encouraged me replay many times.

Thank you for trying it out! Hidden gem though? That's a bit too much, haha.

Just like an epic, the game taught me what a ture touhou rpg should be like. Its content fitted well with "touhou 幼靈夢" (sorry but I couldn't find its official translated name) , which impressed me so much.

Anyhow, I play this game properly without any bug taking place (thanks once again for your effort), despite that I haven't made it to the end , I gotta say it's really a splendid one.

Also: the customed word uses in the game release my obstacle, even me, a senior high school student could play it fluently, constrast apparently with other touhou games.

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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After playing for more than 13 hours, I made it to the end eventually. When I played it at the first, I simply recognized the game as a liner one, nevertheless I found two branch point, satisfied my demand.

Thanks for all ur hard work, leaving me a unforgetful impression, and all its content is to my taste perfectly.

p.s. There exists a bug (a mini one even doesn't need to be revise) after each conservation during a battle, all the character card (or the panel? Dunno how to name it) at the bottom of the screen faded, and the resolution is to stick to "left" until the card reveal again. 

(Wondering whether there are any better solutions)

p.p.s. How excited was I when I found the character from th1-5 popped up, even including Rin the one who "never existed"(hope this wouldn't be deifned as spoiler🙏) 

Haha, don't mind the spoiler. It's an old game at this point. There are 3 branches. actually. The Rin/Koakuma ending, the Orange/Daiyousei ending, the Ruukoto/Reimu ending, and there's the true Reimu ending, which is the one I consider "canon" for this game. Though there was some comments made that the true ending violates Touhou lore because there was a cameo character from another franchise in it. My argument is that Gensokyo is where all things forgotten went and that character hasn't had any new project announced about her until pretty recently, so her winding up in Gensokyo should be possible.

Oh and there's also the default ending if you don't fulfill the requirement for any of the above.

That bug is known. Unfortunately, I can't pin down the cause (I'm not a programmer and it's  solo project too), so sadly it'll always be there. My apologies. I do want to once again thank you once again for trying the game out however! Thanks!

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It was when I review my comment again that I found I pressed the key 2 rather than 3 by mistake( when recovered in the guest room of the mansion I recognized the 3 branches for each routine, and I tried each one shortly for a while, yet I didn't predict they will lead to different ending).

However, during the process I hadn't found another choice which could influence the storyline, so the pre-condition of "the true Reimu ending" is to finish all the 3 endings? (After the final boss battle, Reimu and the other two went through a door, then fight with Tokiko for saving her, I do wonder is this part the true enging, or just a normal content of the whole game? If not, could u please provide some tip of the true ending?)

Thank you for your patient reply(゜▽゜*)♪

Oh, okay. it's only a short 2 scene extension to the Reimu ending though, revealing the "real" reason why Tokiko took up a job at the SDM in the first place. I originally planned it as a sequel hook but idk if I'll ever finish that project haha.

There are 2 requirements. If you haven't found the cameo character yet (instantly recognizable as she's not even part of ZUN's creation), then you've never even landed at Reimu's normal ending yet (Tokiko visiting her in the shrine after the event), as recruiting her is one of the event needed for Reimu and Tokiko to open up a bit more to each other.

Right, my memory is a bit fuzzy as it's been a good while, but here goes:

The first step is to go to the Metal Tower the first chance you get (around day 2 iirc). There's a split where you can go either with Mystia or Daiyousei there. While you can go with whichever, you can pick Mystia as she'll lead you to the tower immediately.

Entering the tower, make your way up to the 7th floor, where there are a bunch of crystals and two unbeatable knights guarding a passage further in. You'll need to "turn on" the crystals according to a pattern. You'll find the pattern by observing the crystals at floor 2-5. If you enter the pattern correctly, the two knights will disappear, allowing you to go further in. Now just interact with the object in there and Tokiko will get teleported away. Just complete the maze there and you'll get the new character.

Second step is just to recruit Ruukoto. That is, go to the shrine in the 2nd branching option.

Those are the two requirements for Reimu's ending. For the true ending however, you'll need to do the following;

- Once you get Reimu during the event in the Earth Tower, do not immediately go into the portal. Instead, go upstairs and go out. Head to Suzunaan for an event with Kosuzu.

- By the time you end the game, make sure you have at least 250000 yen in Tokiko's pocket. It's absurd, but not really unachievable.

And that's it. Hope you find it helpful. And no need to thank me. I'm always happy to answer! That means someone out there is also playing this unknown game and I'm really happy for it. So you're maybe tired of me saying this but THANK YOU for playing!

p.s. I have a playlist for the true ending on my channel. Maybe take a look there if you're stuck and I can't answer fast enough.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF6Ae3C6_fyiboHFjASTmm11PVB4unbJk

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Hello Nanase, I really like your game and I really appreciate it, actually I'm also making the same Touhou RPG Maker game but it's focused on the team Nineball only.
I also want to pick up some skill and spell cards from the characters from your game, So do you mind because I don't want to get a copyright strike?

and again, i'm indonesian

Finely tuned for a RPG Maker game, well done!

I really like it.

Okay so i just downloaded the game today and the popped up right as i was starting the game

Huh, okay. That's new. I can tell for sure that this file is there and it's not a bug or anything. Maybe the downloaded file got corrupted?

All I can advise you is to re- download the game, since there's no telling if this is the only file that got messed up. Sorry about this.

i tried that and it gave the same error at the same place, right after i chose the difficulty and started the prologue it crashed and flashed that message soon after the text ended

Okay, for a stopgap measure, here's the file that was missing according to the error:

https://mega.nz/file/LV0mEKrD#pv0cIc7vNyTqrh9AToCps_rhy01bfAm-lKWy4zn1-l8

However, maybe the problem is actually your system can't read the Japanese texts on some of the file. Maybe...

May I suggest you change your system's locale to Japanese first before anything? Go to Control Panel > Clock, language, region > Region > Administrative > Change system locale > Japanese.

That might help.

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it was working but now a different track is messed up,

okay, can you screenshot the error AND the content of the Audio/BGM folder?

This appear just before the final boss. As I couldn't save after exiting the SDM, I have to repeat the process of puzzles all over again. 

Fix please. 

Thank you.

Okay, this is odd, as I expected.

First, this track should've never been a thing. It was from a build before I released the game... The final boss theme was changed right before release, and this is probably the first complain I have for this specific error to appear. During that I've personally cleared the game twice without this glitch to appear, and no one, even those who I knew have completed the game ever met this glitch.

Second, you CAN save after leaving the SDM. Keine gave you an even more powerful scroll than what you've been using so far. Look for the Great Hakutaku Scroll in the inventory. You cannot start the final sortie unless you talk to Keine and get the scroll from her, so I believe it should be in the inventory.

Back to the track though, it's weird. It's like you somehow got the version that I have sitting on the Recycle Bin when I uploaded the game... a few months ago. The one that was NEVER uploaded... What is going on here?

I'm not joking, this is legit weird stuff...

Anyways, I would suggest downloading a fresh copy and transfer you save files there, but this might be worth a try first.

If it doesn't though, please screenshot the scene before the error pops up. That can narrow the problematic script a bit.

I won't update the official Bug Fixes just yet, because I really hope this is an isolated case. Good luck.

Same thing happened. BGM lost. I don't know what happened. Haven't take a pic, however.

At this point, try redownloading the game as well as the new update.

You can just drop the old save file there so that you don't lose progress.

Sorry that I took long to reply, but this is the error that was shown just as the battle started. 

And I'll try to re-download the game. Thanks for the reply.

That's ok. Try to redownload and apply the new patch.

Reimu can be dropped to 0 HP if you prevent her from acting on turn 1.

Well, I guess you can if you freeze her immediately...

Doesn't stop her from kicking your team's ass though. I'll consider this an exploit instead of an actual bug that needs fixing. Not that the outcome changes anyway.

Thanks for sticking around this long though. Really appreciate the help, man.

A couple more bugs.

The shrine route character shows up on the Sakuya boss cutscene for the lake and mansion routes. Didn't bother to test the other possible bosses for that room.

Prior to Castle V1, you can walk over the 2 pots in the SDM left side room.

Oh dear... Just when I thought I'm ready to move on to a new project... XD

Thanks, bug fixes updated. Can't seem to pinpoint the cause of problem for the pots though. Maybe it was a bug from the RPG Maker engine itself.

Gamebreaking bugs

-After Earth Tower V1, SDM basement event can be started more than once. It freezes if attempted with all party members.

-After Earth Tower V1, you can gained slowed overworld movement after Remilia pays you. Loading a save from the bedroom seems to cause it. Need to completely close & reopen the game then load a different save once it has happened at least once. The save after the Aya cutscene works fine if you reload the game first.

Minor bugs

-After Earth Tower V1, it's possible to retain the Covering Fire skill on all party members.

-Fairy in SDM can be damaged by Catastrophic Failure and G-1 Snipe and can even be dropped to 0 HP. Aya can also be hit by Catastrophic Failure. I didn't test other unwinnable fights.

-Mercenary Leader (inescapable encounter that drops Isher's Blade) can be encountered multiple times. Walking onto the map tile will trigger the encounter every time.

-Your party members are still on the pressure plates in the last area if you decide to go back and check those maps instead of moving forwards.

-One of the Youkai can't equip Malefic Crest. I'll just call her O since spoilers.

Ooookay... That's a lot...

I think I can fix the minor ones just fine. Except the covering fire one since I played through that character's route a few times and never get to keep that skill. I can't wrap my head around the second game breaking one though.  Might take some time to fix these ones.

I can't replicate the 2nd game breaker nor the 1st minor bugs.

All the other issues are fixed. However the fairies can now be defeated properly. They still won't let you through the front but now you get something for defeating them.

Updated the bug fixes, current version 1.08

Thanks again. I'll see if I can fix the last two.

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Same hard as the bullet hell game -w-b
Worth it X'D

(+1)

Haha! Thank you!

After recruiting the last party member and having Team Nineball rejoin, party member number 2 is locked and the next random encounter is inescapable. This is fixed after the battle finishes.

Happened on all routes.

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Right. This one is somewhat necessary.

The scripts used will crash the game if you recruit a new member and not use him/her at least once in a battle immediately.

For example, if you recruit Lily but not add her to formation and battle with her in the party in the very next battle encounter, the game will crash right after.

Some characters like Daiyousei joins right before a boss encounter, so you won't notice that she's actually also fixed in her position.

Unfortunately, I found this bug in the script late in development, so it's a bit too late to change everyone's first battle into a boss encounter of some sorts.

Since I am not skilled enough to alter the game scripts, and the one who originally wrote the scripts has left the RPG Maker community AFAIK, this is the only workaround I've discovered and can reasonably use.

Sorry for the inconvenience.



How I pass the puzzle of the song of the Bell?and I can't use Tokio Spell cards 

Each statue plays a different sound when you interact with it.  Keep interacting with them until all of them play the sound of a bell.

I'll need more detail on that spell card thing. But do note that some status/skill and equipment do prevent you from using spell cards.

thank you

Don't mention it! In fact, Thank YOU for playing the game!

A couple more bugs.

The scene where your party members rejoin you before the last boss can play multiple times. Last boss and true last boss can still be accessed fine as far as I can tell, and I didn't see any glitches on my party.

Metal Tower V1 can be skipped. Leaving immediately starts the Earth Tower V1 storyline and prevents you from going back to Metal Tower V1.

You can do weird things with Eirin's Shady Drug during some the scripted fights. I didn't manage to find anything gamebreaking during any of them though.

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I'll need more details on that repeatable event. Is it after the pressure plates on the crystal realm? Unfortunately I'm outside of town right now and didn't bring my laptop with me, but I can check once I'm back.

Eirin's Shady Drug... At first I intended it as a quick solution to both mind control and bind status, wile also actually giving the downed member some significant permanent stat boost (there's a reason why it cost quite a lot). Seems like there are also a couple of side effects huh... It lives up to its name...

 If it's not breaking anything then I'd rather not tinker with anything regarding this item though. It might break something else down the way.

Also, Metal Tower V1 is intentionally skippable, as its only reason is to recruit a secret cameo character, as well as triggering the first flag for the game's true ending. This one's not a bug.

Yes it's the pressure plate area with the fake fairy enemies.

After activating all 5, the scene where your party members rejoin will replay whenever you reach the tile that triggers the scene.

Got it.

I'll get to it once I'm back home.

Found another.

Fire Tower V2 breaks when entered from top. Character attempts to move up then gets stuck at the top of the screen when scene plays, so scene is frozen and boss fight never triggers.

I appreciate that you went out of your way to find these. Noted that one down. 

Should be home in a few hours, then I'll get into it ASAP.

New bug fixes are up, current version 1.07.

Though from the last few comments, it's obvious you've finished the game already.

Thanks for playing. And may I ask which ending you get? Just a bit curious, that's all.

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After finishing Earth Tower (EX-R), going back to the Water Tower (Tokiko Feathers) will soft lock the game.

Point of no return is 1 screen before Water Tower Area 1. Backtracking after this point or going all the way through the tower will revert the game to the Earth Tower storyline.

Game reverts to only Earth tower being accessible, and the human village event with Aya being inaccessible.

Game is now soft locked. No storyline can be completed. Trying to replay the Earth Tower storyline leads to a freeze before the boss fight.

The following may or may not be related to the cause. The game can't make up its mind about whether or not the treasure chests have already been opened: the 4 blue chests inside the Water Tower and 5 wooden chests outside the tower are unopened. They will all be open when backtracking. Additionally, there is a red chest outside of the tower that is missing. It will reappear and be open when backtracking.

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Thank you for posting!

The first issue was already addressed in the bug fix version 1.01. Current fixes are available for download at the page (Version 1.05 as of typing)

For the chests, non-traditional as it might be,  it was intentional, as it does tie into the story, somewhat.

Thanks, it indeed works with the fix. Or rather, it works when you go forwards through the dungeon. The game still breaks if you backtrack out right after the screen before Area 1.

Beat boss then go forwards - works

Go to screen after 5 wooden chests then backtrack to world map - breaks

Beat boss then backtrack - I didn't bother to test this.

Ah, I see, I see.

Never bothered to backtrack so this one kinda slipped under my radar.

I'll update the bug fixes in a few minutes. Again, thanks a ton.

Bug fixes updated, current version 1.06.

You're probably sick of me saying this already, but thank you.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the game!

Mhm, thanks for making this game!

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ok my game got stuck in one of the cutscenes and i dont know what to do, pls help 

Thank you for spotting that. It was an oversight when remaking the map.

I'll get to it ASAP.

your welcome , btw its a good game and the story is great for touhou fans imo. so I'm looking forward to it (after the bug already fixed ).

Thank you for your kind words.

Updated the game files. Unfortunately as far as I know, there's no way to patch RPG Maker games so you'll need to redownload the whole thing again. Just move your save files to the new game folder once extracted.

Do let me know if there are other bugs you found. I've tried to iron them out as best as I can but there will always be one or two that slipped by. But the game file is not encrypted this time, so I can fix it quickly using "pseudo-patches".

Again, thank you.

found another problem.
Deleted 4 years ago

Found it. Check the page for the fix. Thanks again.