Hi everyone,
The next big update is ready to be rolled out!
Besides new items, the main focus is on the new modes: Unranked with custom rules and lobbies!
Behind this, there are currently two things:
- Custom unranked games that allow you to queue against a ranking bracket of your choosing and select custom rules.
- The option to create or join lobbies.
Of course, this is also a nice place where more custom modes could find their home in the future.
What Lobbies Are
Lobbies are designed as a mode to play with a friend or many friends at a time!
You open a lobby by selecting “Host lobby” which will generate a 6-letter lobby code.
Your friends can then join by pressing “Join Lobby” and entering that code.
All players will play at the same time, with a timer (configurable at the start) ending the shop phase. You will then be matched against one of the other lobby members. Your goal is to win as many rounds out of 18 as possible.
What Lobbies Are Not
Lobbies are not planned to become a public mode where anybody can join, this also means it will not be ranked.
The Future
Currently, there are 3 types of custom rules that can be enabled for unranked games - there are lots of opportunities to expand on that. We would love to hear your ideas for interesting custom rules as well.
A Look Behind The Scenes
We have been working on the lobbies behind the scenes for about a year now and for us, finally being able to show them is a huge milestone towards the game's full release.
When we started developing Backpack Battles, it was planned to become a tiny experimental side project.
Since then, the game’s popularity exploded, and even though we decided to keep developing as a two-person team, we were able to commit to the project full-time.
We never considered adding a synchronous mode to this asynchronous game, but with the decision to make it our main project, we had the resources to consider the massive undertaking of adding a synchronous mode.
We are so hyped to finally get this feature out to you, and hope you have fun playing with a buddy or two! :)
Changelog for 0.9.28
- NEW MODE: Custom Rules Unranked
- NEW MODE: Lobbies where you can fight your friends!
- Overhauled item activation animations: They now jump, swing, wave, squish etc depending on their type when they activate!
- NEW RECIPE: Shelly
- NEW RECIPE: Poison Spear
- NEW RECIPE: Holdall
- NEW TREASURE ITEM: Lil Chestnut
- NEW SKILL: Dig Deeper
- NEW SKILL: Knife to Meet You
Balancing
Neutral
- Falcon Blade: Speed bonus 30% -> 35%
- Lightsaber: Cost 12 -> 11
- Amulet of Darkness: Damage needed per debuff: 20 -> 22
- Prismatic Sword: Debuff chance 12% -> 10%, damage +2
- Frozen Buckler: Stamina removal 0.6 -> 0.7
- Stone Shoes: Block 35 -> 40
- Crossblades: Speed bonus 60% -> 75%
- Vampiric Gloves: Vampirism 5 -> 6
- Vampiric Armor: Health convert: 30 health to 75 Block -> 45 health to 100 Block
- Bagtacular: Fanny Pack speed bonus 6% -> 5%, Stamina Sack stamina regen 6% -> 5%
- Blood Manipulation: Cooldown 3.5s -> 4.0s
- Girl Power: Cooldown 5.5s -> 6.2s
- Smithing For Dummies: Stamina reduction 15% -> 18%
- Power of the Moon: Now gains maximum health instead of healing, amount 50% -> 60%
- Hardwood: Block 14 -> 15
- Stoned: Block 60% -> 70%
- Cubert: Chances 40% -> 50%
Pyromancer
- Solaris: Chance to gain Heat 30% -> 40%, Block gain 10 -> 13
- Everburning: Stamina reduction 40% -> 60%
- Frozen Flame: Block 8 -> 12
Berserker
- Deerwood Guardian: Heal 9 -> 12
Ranger
- Piercing Arrow: Luck generation chance 55% -> 65%
Reaper
- The Lovers: Damage 8 -> 7, healing increase 8% -> 6%
- Mushroom Farm: Mushroom requirement 3 -> 2