Having Tried the Patreon Version, and been here for a few updates, and asked for feedback, i will say this.
Spoilers Below for thoose who have not played
Part 1: what exists so far:
For frame of reference i typically play a defensive, Pommel Strike and Drowsing Dart Defensive, while typically having my backline guarded. This is very effective in this patch and I typically have to choose the dumb event options to try make game over a possiblity in battle. Which i Typically do to challenge myself.
The Penetentiary as is, is mostly fine for a stage 1. I even prefer it's cyber aesthetic to stage 2 as i feel it gives the game more of an identity than generic fantasy that is stage 2. The boss feels manageable/ challenging in a gratifying way.
The main issue it shares with stage 2 is that Elite combat, is the more risky pick than miniboss. With Executionar and Royal Champion+friend, you know what your picking. If you get Overseer or Ravager on stage 1/2 respectively, they're typically more punishing than just picking the miniboss. Honestly Ravager is the hardest foe in the game, she typically puts 400 weight on sakura on average whenever i see her, even while i try to blitz through the fight. I typically play on hard mode, never recharge energy, i'm fine with that level of difficulty, but i understand it might not be intended for Ravager to make the Sovereign look like a joke.
The Soveriegn feels easier than Reaper's Rest, The Warden, Ravager, Royal Champion and even executioner. Even before i understood you didn't even need to beat her minions to win. I think she's the enemy who needs a tone up the most.
My Favorite Event in the Game is Gourmand, it's not even close. I am trying to make it more challenging, but I always ask for Possesion. She also is an amazing tool to explain why the party will blitz through battle, and then proceed to get fattened beyond belief despite any good judgement. If i would make two changes with her they would be this. First,she should give Crit+ not barrier, She should encourage high risk aggressive plays and should never prevent the party from not getting fatter. Ideally this Crit+ should be given to a random party member to make her extremely powerful but unreliable. Two I wish I could always receive Gourmand at the start of the run on a random party member as a run starting option, available from whenever she first leaves the party. Did i mention i really love Gourmand.
My major complaint is that it needs more content, which is a much better problem than a major structural gameplay fault. Give yourself a pat on the back.
I know game design is really hard, and i appreciate all the work that has gone in so far.
Part two: Future Content?
A fix for some of these issues is alternate minibosses and bosses.
Here's some concepts, Please steal or discard as needed/wanted:
Miniboss dialogue for characterization, keep it short keep it sweet.
Now for a probably too long list i made for new enemies to fight the party. They are designed to not step on the niches of existing units with the mechanics so far implemented.
Alternate bosses should require beating the regular boss first and should acknowledge their previous defeat, with the current fight being the result of the previous defeat.
New Stage 1 Enforcers:
Technician, throws out weak plasma burns with a blowtorch and a zero damage stun with a taser. More about disrupting the party and being annoying then a threat. The enforcers who keep the prison functioning, not beating prisoners and is unhappy that they're asked to fight the party. Strong against Plasma burns, but weak to Physical. The goomba of the roster.
Watchwoman, has two actions like the captain, along with the same pistol, but instead of throwing enemy party wide buffs, throws party wide debuffs on the party. Exposing guarded members(remove guard buff and give vulnerable), destroying dodge tokens and making coming out a fight unscathed a pain, punishing defensive play. Strong against Ion, weak against Kinetic.
Interrogator: These all blackclad skullmasked Enforcers extract compliance through sheer fear and brutality. Weakening a party member with intimidating threats, and dealing lowish hemorphage with wicked knives. Weak agaisnt Plasma, strong against Laser
Stage 1: Minibosses;
Prison Riot Control: An unrelenting wave of Enforcers descend upon the party, It's three at a time but they replace any fallen with a backup enforcer instantly,with their three reserve troops. for balancing/Speed reasons you might give them reduced health to make the game faster.
The Infernal barrister, The Demonic Jailhouse Lawyer who is willing to give prisoners a lighter,( joke intended) sentence, with some service to a certain Goddess corrupting demon as a fee. An Early stage three demoness, who is weak to Lumionous, and strong agaisnt Infernal. More of a stage 3 teaser enemy who never Buffs themself, but attacks primarily through a dizzying array of debuffs. Beware the fine print.
Stage one alternate boss:
Prison Inspector:
While the party confronts the warden, a demonic prison inspector sent by Xylana is aghast with the sorry mess the party leaves in their wake. She dismisses the Warden due to her failure to keep order in her own prison and confronts the party. As opposed to to the warden who is a single target monster. The Inspector spends her 4 ations preparing for their aoe fiery Infernal sentence as their final action. Either Disarming with a physical tail strike, Giving an Evasive dodge+ to themselves, preparing judgement with two crit tokens, or toxic touch of her claws. She's strong agaisnt Lawer, but Weak to Ion. Essentially a remix of the Warden who switches up every mechanic for a different one.
Stage 2:
New Keepers:
Palace Guards: These Gleaming Guardswomen raise their halberds to defend their large liege. Guarding the other keepers with while giving themself 2 counter attacks, as thier first move, and striking for physical prefering to target the backline with physical which also gives them another counter token. Strong against Physical, and weak agaisnt Laser. They are designed so that Astrid and Estelle don't want to target the enemy themselves, lest the squisher party members take the counterblow.
Bards: two turned hobbit like Musicians who buff their fellow keepers with their enchanted flutes. Giving tokens typically with block and strength, or dodge+ and taunt .They'll also play pied piper handing out a disarming tune to the opposition. If all else fails they'll try tempting the party with some pocket candy for pitiful feeding damage. Weak to Kinetic and Plasma, and resistant to Toxic.
Monks: Yes really, these monastic disciples practice brawling techniques that would put their stage 1 equivalents to shame.
Stage 1 Minibosses:
Court Jester: The Support Equivalent to the Champion Duelist, comes with either a ravager or diabloist bodyguard. Don't know the mechanics, but it should be a chaotic fight. If her backup goes down, she should also enter a beserek aggressive state like the Duelist if she is alone. Like her counterpart she has two turns. Weak to Kinetic and Physical, strong agiasnt... I assume the champion Duelist is weak against Toxic, but can't use it, so she has that Unlike her her Smiling and Confident sister, the Court Jester is a sad clown dressed mostly in black.
Bosses:
Dragoness: This giant Dragon Girl sits atop a hoard of food that used to be this Palace's 5th Kitchen(it has alot of those), shares plenty of her delicious hoard to the party. She come with no backup unlike the other minibosses and bosses on this stage and really doesn't need it. Will burn the entire party with her breath which starts out pitiful, but will double in potency every round, which can quickly spiral out of control. Completely Immune to Stuns and Disarms. The sovereign Sics her on the party on a whim instead of fighting them herself, the Dragoness responds to this insulting command by instantly defeating the Sovereign in a single flaming and fattening breath before she turns upon the party. Notably her breath needs a little time to recharge, giving the party a chance. Weak agaisnt Luminous, strong against Laser and Ion.
Twin Champions: The Jester and the Champion Duelist Team up, despite hating each other on orders of their sovereign. Who is notably absent as she is busy eating comfort food to soothe her wounded pride from her previous defeats. She ordered these two to bar your path in her stead. They both have two turns and are identical from their previous fights, beyond the fact that they are each other's backup now.
Part three: In a future Far Far away... (Stuff i hope, but don't expect to see soon.)
So Currently while i like the cast I have a probably too hard request. More Player characters, I like the balanced roster of four, but would like to switch them out with more party members that can be rescued/ unlocked within the expanse.
Lucille would be the first, coming in with a Luminous/ physical Kit, she would likely be a somewhat different take on Sakura and Estelle. Coming with Guards/ Heals/ and moderate damage one would expect from a paladin. She would join the cathedral should the party see her event after beating the Sovereign for the first time. Seeing that unless something is done about the Soveriegn's Patron she would request to follow them to the cathedral so she can join them on expeditions to strike the heart of the problem. As to be expected If she's in the party, you can't get her event in the palace.
Other possible future party members could include, A spy/potioner coming with cloak and toxins, . An out of place Chef who specializes in Feeding the enemy, and clears bad tokens on the party at the cost of . A turncoat demon who hates Xylana more than words can describe, has a very aggressive playstyle that gives herself bad tokens for big damage now,(would ship with the paladin). Maybe Mara and Kassandra could be secret characters? Probably not.
I understand every new character would require writing them in, and writing the current characters out of so many events. I don't know If it's feasible or not, but being able to run with different parties each run would add incredible replay value.
Thanks for asking For Feedback, and I hope this is the help you were asking for, feel free to use or not at your own discretion.
And everyone Jupitarian or not who reads this, i hope you have a fulfilling day.