Dec 16, 2024
Author's Commentary #290:
Time to talk about Chapter 290: Wiesława's frustration.
The Japan vs Poland match is officially over. Japan has yet again extended their perfect victory streak and against another strong team nonetheless. Even if Jadwiga had sat out, the results would have been the same.
As for the game, it's another London System one. I really do like that opening, and since it's a viable one at the top levels, Mimoko has no problem making it one of her go-to openings.
And now that the women's match is over, it's back over to the men's side where a thrilling finish awaits. On a separate but somewhat related note, I've been very busy with the art for all the key teams. The women's teams are all done and total over 50 teams, including Japan, while the men are just slightly over 10 teams, though my creative juices are flowing, so it's possible the final count will be higher, though not as high as the number of women's teams I did art for.
I'd also like to explain a general consensus I have for each team. If this ever gets a video game adaptation, many of those characters will be DSPCMs or SPCMs and thus have their own little side story of sorts for players to play through in order to get some more background into the characters. Some would be locked behind story progression, but most would be available as soon as you unlock the ability to challenge them.
As such, I like to have backstories for the characters planned beforehand before I make the teams. They don't need to be fully written, but a rough idea is needed. For example, a DSPCM, who has yet to be revealed in the story, would have a side story focused on reigning in Allura, as she would be her agent.
Speaking of DSPCMs, I've been retroactively making some of the characters like Stressaður DSPCMs. Stressaður was originally planned to be a DSPCM, but not until after the Chess Olympics were over. I decided to make him one before that though, so that's now the new canon. However, there will still be some DSPCMs that get their position following the Chess Olympics. I'll also confirm that Hans-Ulrich, Magdalena, Gloria, Retskcirb, Julia, Maila, and Urzula are all DSPCMs. Jadwiga and Wiesława are also competing to get the DSPCM slot for Warsaw, though the loser will likely become DSPCM of Krakow so both could be considered future DSPCMs.
With all the new characters being introduced, it's naturally become a difficult juggling act as there are only 11 possible teams for each Japanese team to face, and I have way more than that. Some of the teams Japan won't face will also have characters that will play key roles later in the story. As such, you can expect me to try and squeeze in as many characters as I can in the downtime chapters in between rounds, as I want all these characters to get a spotlight.
That's all for this commentary. I hope you enjoyed it.
