Hey folks!
There havn't been updates for quite some time however a lot of stuff is happening in the background right now. We have moved into the next phase of the project which is one of the most important milestones for the entire game and we are all very excited about the content we are about to release! As we had to add a lot of core features including Game UI elements, we couldn't release an update because with the changes we made and the features we added the game was literally not playable. Fortunately many things are now in the work that will improve gameplay in pretty much all aspects. Good news is those features and gameplay elements won't take much more time as we are nearing completion of it.
Listed below is the new content and features that you can expect with coming updates.
New Menu / Inventory!
It was announced a couple of times that there will be a new GUI which will not only be polished but also come with entirely new features, pages, detailled descriptions and other cool changes. Finally we can realize all of that which will increase fun gameplay and improve balancing as well due to the new Character Stats System.
(Some of the displayed images and numbers are just previews but not the final version.)
The Character page is the main space to equip your character and compare gear stats such as damage, defense, elemental effects and more.
On the Map page you can read about kingdoms and places you have travelled to. Each larger area such as Aclendi Woods has a lot of smaller areas to explore.
Improved Level Up Scaling
We have changed up some things regarding leveling the character. Points that you spend on Character Attributes such as Strength, Wisdom, Magic etc have now a more meaningful impact on your character as a whole. This will allow you to manage your character stats very well and slowly build up your own character class. Next to that we have lowered the Statpoints per level from 4 to 3 which is due to the coming Destinyboard feature that we will talk about it in this DevLog, too.
Everything has been redesigned allowing better navigation. With the new Statpoints page all previous bugs and issues will also be fixed.
Better Stats System
The system to show Weapon Stats, Character Attributes and compare equipment details was not completed and served as a placeholder for something better. Therefore we now realized a stats system which will give you a better overview. Additionally it offers you insight about the real damage and defense values which is a crucial feature for Apprentice Arriving.
First Destinyboard version is coming!
This is something we have been waiting for for a long time. With the new Game UI we are able to implement the Destinyboard! This is one of the core elements in the game that impacts gameplay and the character growth on a massive scale. The Destinyboard will track how you play and your skills improve passively by performing them. But that is by far not all about this feature. There is much more to it but it will stay a secret until it is actually released with an update.
Optimized Quest System
With the new UI, completed and accepted quests are saved and stored in a list whereas before, each completed quest disappeared which was a problem. The Quests page will give you a good overview about your accepted and completed quests while showing you all information about each quest.
Next Finished Area in Aclendi Woods Part III
While a lot of working hours are invested into UI and gameplay features we are also completing other level sections that come with Aclendi Woods Part III. Once vital core features and the UI is done those areas will be accessible to you.
Area: Charred Paths
This is a small area where brutal enemies are waiting for stumbling travellers. The area is for strong characters only so we do not recommend setting foot in it if your character is still on a low level.
Village, Buildings and Shops!
We have completed numerous houses, shops and other buildings. Currently we are also working on the NPCs and interior design. In Village Vesponet you will be able to buy items, weapons, potions and other useful stuff for the journey. The village is gonna serve as a hub from where you can enter the next area. After Vesponet has been completed Aclendi Woods Part III will be unlocked shortly after and the main story will continue. There is also a watermill next to Aldermans house now and some quests are slightly changed up.
Two Enemies in the Making!
One of the enemies is a very nasty tree that was already in the prototype but we have now a polished version. The attack pattern of the tree is also slightly balanced as the old one was a bit too frustrating for some. Don't get us wrong though, it's still a fearsome enemy. The other enemy will actually be a group of enemy types which will mainly appear in Aclendi Woods Part III however we won't reveal more about it.
New Quests
There are new quests that have been almost completed. You will meet new people and dive deeper into the story. Some quests will also be a bit more challenging preparing you for a dangerous territory and reward you with valuable items.
New Combos + Combo Window
We have been working on new combos and added a few more weapon types such as: Arcane Sword, Runesword and even Daggers for very fast combo movesets. Each weapon type has unique combo moves and slightly different combo sequences.
Additionally all combos are now named and can be viewed in the Menu making everything more user friendly than it was before.
That's it for DevLog 8. There is much more we have been working on over the months but these are the main features and the content that is definitely coming with the next updates. As soon as the Menu is fully completed the game will be playable again.
After a long phase of planning, optimizing and lots of coding the team is already excited to get back to the action stuff and offer you a great gaming experience!