Patch 0.20 brings with it a whole new way to play called Arena. This mode is heavily inspired by my last game, Gunlocked, so if you came to Boons & Burdens looking for more of that action, this is the update for you! Turn on auto-aim in the options, and you almost wouldn't know the difference (almost, lol).
If you've been waiting to grab a copy until more content and features were in, now's the time! I'm currently re-running the previous launch week sale for all of my games, including the bonus discounts on the bundles. With last week's Rings of Power and this Arena update, there's plenty of bang for your buck (shameless promotion over).
As always, if you're enjoying the game, and want to see it grow into something even greater, please leave a positive review. It's a big help!
The next several patches will be smaller, and more regularly spaced, as I work through polishing up the content in the game with new and improved visuals and sounds, some optimization, balance changes, and bug fixes. Then it will be back to adding more big stuff.
Here's a bit of what you can expect in upcoming patches, in roughly this order:
- Polish patches: updated visual and sound effects, optimization, balance changes
- New boons, and cursed boons
- Difficulty 2 of Arena
- A new playable class: With alternate equipment, unique boons, achievements, etc.
- Difficulty 3 for Classic and Arena
Oh, and a "Confirm Surrender" pop-up will be coming in the next patch too (this was delayed 1 patch).
Key Features of patch 0.20
- New Game Mode: Arena
- 6 Potion Powerups
- 11 Achievements
- Balance Changes
- Bug Fixes
Arena Mode
- Survive for 15 minutes in a single arena
- No burdens, sacrifices, portals, or bosses.
- 6 new potion powerups can show up in chests (see GIF above)
- Special combat events can trigger periodically, spawning unique enemy configurations and special hazards
- Collecting gems levels you up, allowing you to pick one new upgrade each time
- You get 1 reroll per level up, but the Ring of Rerolls can extend this
- Upgrade beacons appear, and allow you to choose boons when charged up. These favor upgrades for abilities you already own when possible.
- Enemies do not drop Infernicite in this mode, instead you're awarded Infernicite based on every minute you survive, with a +10 bonus for victory.
- Certain rings behave differently in Arena. You can toggle between arena/classic descriptions in the equipment menu.
Achievements
- Survivalist: Choose the Burden of Survival at least twice in a single game
- Unconstrained: After stage 4, spend 20+ seconds outside the safe area in the Burden of Constraint and complete the stage.
- Ring Bearer: Achieve victory with only 1 ring equipped.
- Ring Wraith: Achieve victory with 5 rings equipped.
- Craftsmen: Unlock 15 rings.
- Master Craftsmen: Upgrade 15+ rings
- 2 Booned 2 Burden: Achieve victory in difficulty level 2 of classic mode
- Lord of the Arena: Achieve victory in Arena mode.
- Cold Clock: Damage 150 enemies with Cold Shoulder in a single game
- Potion Master: Drink 5 different potions in a single Arena game.
- Updog: Fully charge 5 upgrade beacons in a single Arena game.
Balance
- Phantoms are no longer invincible, but are still extremely hard to kill.
- Snow Guard now has a maximum limit of 2 on screen at a time
- The Snow Clone boon now increases max Snow Guards by 2 in addition to its other effect
- Crystal Construct now has a maximum limit of 2 on screen at a time
- The Carbon Copy boon now increases max Crystal Constructs by 2 in addition to its other effect
- Blowback triggers after 30 enemies are burned, up from 25.
- Heat Wave has a 0.33 second recharge timer after triggering
- Hitbox for Cold Shoulder has been increased. Will now trigger if any part of your character touches an enemy instead of using the smaller hitbox for detecting if you're damaged.
- Zapyrs (red crystal enemies) collect gems faster
QoL
- Totem Radius effects now dim when the totem is not active. Autonomous totem radius effects are now always dim. Note: Summons that are also totems are autonomous, and attack regardless of your whereabouts.
- Frost Bomb has a much smaller sprite and effect trail, making it less obtrusive when 3+ of them are triggering at any given moment. The area of effect is unchanged.
- Divine Quiver beams are now much smaller and less obtrusive. The area of effect is unchanged.
- The Snow Cone innate effect now fades to transparent as it travels
Bugs
- Enemies should no longer get stuck on the bottom edge of the battleground when pinned between a wall and another unit
- Neutral units such as chests and chickens will no longer heal from the Winter's Curse Boon
- Ring of Rerolls should no longer grant infinite free rerolls if you skip rerolling in a round while the free reroll is active
- Ring of Time will now properly give +30% charge time when directly on the portal if upgraded. Was previously only giveing +15% at both levels.
- Ring of Recovery will no longer recharge the shield while in boon/burden menus or during pause
- The invincibility counter will no longer remain visible, and stuck in place at round's end in Classic.
- Zapyrs (red crystal enemies) should hopefully not get stuck on screen when they should have died now