Hey all,

I've heard your feedback that progression in the game can become stale when failing multiple runs in a row. While at it's core, the main progression in all roguelikes is the collection of game knowledge, I do wholeheartedly agree the additional heroes should be introduced to the player sooner than they are currently.

I've added an additional way to unlock each hero. The tasks can be seen by hovering over the locked hero, and don't require you to be victorious in the run to complete. These tasks have also been added as achievements. They can still be completed if you already have the heroes unlocked.

The new achievements won't appear in the tavern challenges (they may be added later), so you will need to refer to the achievement list in the Steam application in future.

Patch 1.2.0

New hero unlock methods:

• Alchemist - Use 3 potions in one combat.
• Outlaw - Defeat an act without visiting a merchant.
• Brawler - Emerge victorious in 10 combats during a single act.
• Druid - Sell 10 items or potions to the same merchant and then defeat the act.
• Bard - Defeat all 3 elites during a single act.
• Bloodmage - Sell an ability orb and 2 potions to the same merchant.
• Ranger - Defeat an act after visiting at least 7 events.
• Fiend - Defeat a boss with 1 hero remaining.
• Illusionist - Equip 3 of the same item to a hero.

General Changes:

• When unlocking a new corruption, it will automatically be selected the next time you see the tavern.
• Water of Life (potion) will no longer activate without a knocked out hero, and readying the potion will cause it to activate as soon as a hero is knocked out without them being untargeted by enemies. This item also now grants you back the morale for the knocked out hero (if it's not the fiend).

Hero Changes:

• Heroes now snap to tiles when being moved much more easily and consistently.
• The Gladiator's active ability cost - 68 > 64.
• The Gladiator's active ability - Double damage when target is at or below 25% Max HP > 35% Max HP.
• The Warlock's active ability no longer requires adjacency to heal allies, but can only heal 1 ally until upgraded.

Item Changes:

Buffs
• Forgotten Idol has changed from ancient to rare, now gives 50 HP, and is no longer unique.
• Odd Bean (ancient) - Instead of being knocked out, heal 25%/50%/75% Max HP and remove all negative effects > 30%/60%/90% Max HP.
• Crown of the Banshee (ancient) - When you are knocked out, you continue fighting for 4/8/12 seconds > 5/10/15 seconds.
• Helm of the Mad King (ancient) - Attackers increase your Attack by 3/6/9 and Speed by 3%/6%/9% > 4/8/12 Attack and 4%/8%/12% Speed.
• Reverberating Bulwark (ancient) - Attackers deal 15%/30%/45% Attack Damage to themselves > 30%/60%/90%.
• Life-giving Chamber now grants Protected Max HP instead of Shield. Nerfs
• Witch Stick has changed from common to rare and is now unique.
• Lover's Safeguard has changed from common to rare, is now unique, and requires 1 or less adjacent allies to work. It now gives 12/24/36 Shield per second instead of 10/20/30.
• Yuki's Hurricane (ancient) - Duration 6/7/8 seconds > 5/6/7 seconds.

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed a bug causing tooltips to disappear when heroes and enemies attack.
• Fixed a rare crash caused by Feral Witchdoctor and Bat Eye.
• Heroes were harder to drop on tiles in the tavern.
• Grammar fixes.

I couldn't resist also sharing this awesome fan art of the Warlock from Damon, the first piece of fan art I've ever received!
~ Dale