Heyo! I just released the wood-cutting function on LevelUp, and it got me thinking about progression. In games, and in life, we all start inexperienced. That’s okay. As Captain Fuegoleon Vermillion says, “Being weak is nothing to be ashamed of. Staying weak is!” (Black Clover for the non-weebs out there 😉)
Progress takes time. Think of it like planting a tree: you don’t dig it up every time you water it to see if it’s grown. You nurture it a little each day, and gradually it grows. That’s how I see my journey. When I first learned Python in high school, I struggled and took an easier path with LAN networking in college. It taught me a lot, but I wanted more challenge. So I started self-learning Python and eventually moved into web development. Daily discipline, like watering that tree, helped me grow LevelUp.
Now, let’s talk daily progression in LevelUp. During my debug weeks, I noticed progression felt a lot like luck. Completing quests gave random loot, but after a week, I still didn’t have a weapon. How could I complete quests without a trusty weapon at my side? The answer: you couldn’t.
That’s where time-based actions come in. In Ironstead, the new Wood Cutter’s Station lets you set a designated time to cut wood. After that time, you receive wood—a key ingredient for many items. This evens out progression, so after a few days, you can craft full wooden gear. With a weapon in hand, you can start practicing and leveling up your character!
Of course, there’s a catch… bugs! I don’t mind them, but I want to be transparent. Obstacles are part of the journey—they don’t mean we should give up. The current bug? The timer stops when you close the browser. The fix is simple on paper: I’ll move the timer to the backend, save the start time in the database, and calculate the remaining time when you return. If it’s not done yet, it’ll tell you how much time is left. Action beats writing, so I’m off to the races, and remember keep leveling up, one day at a time. 💪