Open Seas Update
Ahoy! The next big update to the game is called Open Seas and it is available right now! This update dramatically expands the exploration and sailing aspects of the game with a fully open world, there are no longer any boundaries between locations or loading screens. This also includes a big redesign to world map generation to further improve the exploration experience. If you’re returning to an old save, your progress will be retained but expect the map to look significantly different!
Sail Forth: Maelstrom Expansion
Additionally, we’re excited to announce the upcoming release of the expansion Sail Forth: Maelstrom! This is a paid expansion that adds new areas to explore, new enemies, exclusive Maelstrom cosmetics, and a new NPC + associated shop. This will be paired with another free update that adds the ship cosmetic system, a new Skull Clan encounter, and many other changes and fixes. Sail Forth: Maelstrom is targeted for release on January 11.
🌪️ Sail Forth: Maelstrom - Brave the Vortexes!
Dive headfirst into the heart of the storm with the Sail Forth Maelstrom expansion! A tempest has swept across the Deepblue, bringing forth colossal vortexes that promise unparalleled challenges and untold treasures. Are you ready to face the Maelstrom?
🌌Meet the Arcane Order
The Maelstrom is watched over by mysterious guardians who offer strange new rewards to sailors willing to risk charting the depths of the Underworld. In exchange for much-coveted Maelstrom Pearls, the Arcane Order is willing to offer everything from ancient weaponry to custom cosmetics.
⚔️ Beware the Wormkin
The Maelstrom introduces a host of menacing adversaries that will test your sailing prowess and combat skills. The Underworld does not easily tolerate interlopers. Do not linger, or the Wormkin may claim your fleet.
🎨 Expanded Vessel Customization
Express yourself with the brand new ship cosmetic system, adding dozens of decorative items that can be fitted to the vessels in your fleet.
⚓ Sail Forth into the Unknown
Continue your nautical adventure with Maelstrom, where the call of the vortexes beckons you to uncharted waters. Will you return to the light, or be swallowed by the abyss?
1.4.4 Changelog
Open World Exploration:
- Loading screens between areas are removed
- Can sail seamlessly between areas
- Added ‘Deepblue’ ocean biome between areas with its own soundtrack
- Island generation has been reworked a bit to give locations a bit more personality
World Map Rework:
- World Map generation has been redesigned with an open world in mind
- Can now freely explore the biomes in any order after Sandy Shores
- Difficulty is now scaled based on your overall progression in the game, rather than by which location you are in
- Depending on where you explore, you may still encounter some high-challenge enemies
- Player exact position is now saved instead of just current location
Content Updates:
- New boat: Kestrel, a mid sized schooner balancing armament and maneuverability
- Clams: New digging/surfacing behavior to make finding them more interesting
- Clams: New types of pearls are dropped by clams
- Clams: Moontide Shop uses Moon Pearls instead of normal pearls
- Ship Shape Shop: Shops now have intermittent sales depending on the calendar day, look for flashing lights!
- Ship Shape Shop: Can now sell boats that are stored in your dock without undocking them first
UI Updates:
- New combined Area Map + World Map with better visuals for nearby locations
- New design for wind indicator in the steering/compass display
- World Map shows real player position instead of anchoring to nearest location
- Label ‘key’ items in inventory
Misc:
- Crates and other small targets now always take 1 shot
- Perf improvements when many boats are visible
- Time passes during eclipse so you aren’t stuck on the same day forever
- Improved sinking physics for destroyed boats
- Improved sorting of crew inventory and cargo
Bug Fixes:
- Photo hunt encounter now properly progresses through the various ‘giant’ photo subjects, fixing cases where players were unable to complete their photo collection
- Boat AI now uses oars properly when necessary
- Fix case where player escorts might stop following player for no reason
- Fix cases where the wrong fleet boat could be selected after exiting the outfit or crew manage screen
- Fix many cases where NPCs could be covered by trees or rocks
- Adjust ice target course to be less insanely difficult
- Many fixes throughout the game to quest logic and cutscenes
A big thank you to everyone for continuing to play and support the game! This update was a huge endeavor and I'm looking forward to expanding on it further with the upcoming Maelstrom update. I'd also like to give a big thank you to everyone in the Discord who participated in the Open Beta and submitted feedback, it was incredibly helpful in making this update as smooth as possible!