Greetings, Void Hunters!
The whispers of the Void have grown into a roar—Devlog #16 is here, and it’s packed with cool new things! The enigmatic Shaman is right around the corner, alongside some spicy new skill tree news. Let’s get into it!
The Shaman: Master of Totems
The moment you’ve been waiting for is here. The shadowy figure teased in Devlog #15 has stepped into the light, and oh boy, does he bring the storm... and poison... and.. you get the idea... Let’s break down his otherworldly-totemic toolkit!
New Skills: Total Totem Madness
The Shaman’s abilities are all about totems and what they can do to help in the battlefield. We’ve cranked the totem usage this time around and we even have a new trait called: Ancestry which will consume stacks to summon totems for you! We really did go all in on it and it is reaching some ludicrous levels of totemic madness. Behold! As The Shaman summons a variety of them to absolutely decimate the void.
Shaman’s Ascension: From Sketch to Spectacle
As always the Ascension is the second thing we decided after deciding on the character, and we wanted to reinforce the ritualistic nature of the character in his ascension. After many many many hours of discussion, trying to figure out how to be thematic, simple to interact with but different at the same time… this is what we defined:
Doesn't look like much hahaha, but we were excited! We thought “what if the Shaman danced around a ritual pyre to invoke ancestral spirits, maybe even gods… to fight for him?” and at that point we were all convinced! But would it be fun? Only one way to find out! Here’s a rare glimpse at the very first prototype of his ascension, where we experimented with his ritual circle:
This was an very early version focused on the testing of its functionality alone, it required so many spins around the pyre that you might become a Shaman yourself after performing a ritual this long… so we tweaked here and there… made a few new visuals… replaced a thing or two… and…
Behold—the final form.
When the Shaman’s ascension triggers, otherworldly beings come to assist the Shaman. They surge into the battlefield, amplifying his powers into a cataclysmic crescendo. The screen gets filled with these ancient beings and the Shaman becomes a conduit for them. It’s equal parts terrifying and glorious. (And yes, that is indeed a gigantic and ancient fire-bird-god thing.)
Beyond the Shaman: Skill Tree Secrets in the Static
After many iterations to this system we are finally able to see it completed. Here’s a sneak peek—but don’t squint too hard, we’ve blurred the juiciest bits:
New branches, synergies, and mystery nodes await. What’s hidden in the fog and blurriness? You’ll find out… soon.
Closing Thoughts: The Void Grows Hungrier
The Shaman is coming soon, being followed close after by his two… mysterious friends… but this is still just a prelude to something even bigger lurking in the shadows…
Sound off in the comments:
- Are you looking forward for the Shaman’s totem-summoning madness?
- What do you think the blurred Skill Tree nodes hide?
- You all know we are working on a new game mode, with new bosses and maps… but there is something else… another HUGE feature in development… what do you think it could be? PS: its not coop, not yet =(
Your theories (and screams of joy/terror) fuel our development. Keep ‘em coming!
As always, thank you for your relentless support. The Void may be endless, but so is our hype.
~ The Soulstone Team