Greetings, Hero!
It has been quite a while since the release of the last free DLC for Windstop Strategy! During this time, we have been fully focused on developing the Sandbox Mode. Due to the addition of significantly more content than originally planned, the release date has been pushed back slightly. We sincerely apologize for the delay!
The development of Sandbox Mode is nearly complete, and we have already conducted internal testing for a week. To recive your feedback and ensure stability upon release, we have decided to invite more players to join the testing phase!
How to Join the Sandbox Beta?
RightClick game in your Library, select Property -> Betas, and Enter the access code : sandboxbeta123
Sandbox Mode Content Overview
12 Sects Available: Choose from 12 unique sects.
Difficulty System Overhaul: Brand-new custom difficulty options with adjustable parameters. All values can now be fine-tuned freely.
Landmark System: Construct landmarks on tiles to unlock special functions and buffs.
Random Event System: Various random events will trigger periodically throughout the game.
Enhanced Sect AI: Improved AI behavior patterns.
New Difficulty System
The difficulty system has been split into modular configurable options, with distinct settings available for Sandbox Mode and Story Mode respectively.
A dedicated difficulty settings entry has been added to the system menu, allowing players to adjust all specific custom difficulty parameters freely mid-game.
Simple Sect Management
In Sandbox Mode, each sect gains unique offensive and defensive buildings exclusive to its faction.
Sandbox Mode features a streamlined economic building system; players may construct structures that boost revenue and facilitate character recruitment.
Players can build Inns in Sandbox Mode to recruit generic minion characters. Recruited units incur upkeep costs, which can be disabled via difficulty settings.
Sandbox Mode removes exclusive story events for story characters, yet players may still upgrade their unique affixes. Luck items can be obtained to offset the additional Luck consumption incurred from this change.
AI Overhaul
Every AI-controlled sect autonomously conducts diplomacy with other factions, including improving or deteriorating relations, forming alliances, and declaring war.
AI sects automatically construct offensive, defensive, and economic buildings on their own.
AI sects independently recruit characters and assemble combat parties.
AI sects may join players in certain random world events.
Individual sects feature distinct AI behavioral dispositions and personalities.
New Martial Arts Skills
Dire Wolf Mantra: Automatically counterattacks when taking damage, inflicting Wound debuffs, amplifying damage against bleeding targets, and granting passive self-healing. Unlocking its passive further boosts defense and incoming healing effectiveness.
BloodHunt Archery: Centered around bleed mechanics; all attacks apply bleed damage and deal increased damage to bleeding targets.
Bloodthirst Mantra: Applies a lifesteal buff to allies, restoring HP proportional to damage dealt. A Fatigue debuff is inflicted once the buff expires as a penalty.
Savage Bone Staff : Attacks stack Fatigue stacks on targets; targets are stunned once stacks reach the cap.
New Enemies
New Barbarian and Bandit enemy units tied to regional invasion events have been added.
Unique NPC competitors exclusive to the Martial Arts Tournament have been implemented.
Map Random Event Mechanics
Martial Arts Tournament: Dungeon-style event. Players may register upon entry to compete against arena opponents across five successive battle rounds.
Wandering Jianghu Heroes: All recruitable overworld story NPCs spawn randomly across the map; multiple interaction methods are available to recruit them.
Northern Barbarian Raids: Barbarians periodically launch invasions on land plots, triggering defensive battles. Defeat reduces plot development level, deducts currency, and worsens relations with neighboring sects.
Rampaging Bandits: Locations face periodic bandit harassment. Players may either suppress bandits or offer amnesty. Completion yields rewards, and player choices alter diplomatic standing with other sects accordingly.
Ruin Excavation: Ruins occasionally spawn at locations for excavation. Treasures are unearthed after a fixed turn countdown, and all factions may contest ownership of the loot.
Wandering Merchant: Merchants host auctions for a randomized selection of treasures, with players and AI NPCs taking turns placing bids.
Night Crow Incursion: Night Crow Chieftains periodically launch assaults on random strongholds.
The initial Sandbox random event system includes over ten unique events, with additional events planned to be added to the spawn pool in future updates.
Fixes & Optimizations Relative to Version 1.1.0
Bug Fixes
Fixed incorrect icon display for Ink Step.
Fixed erroneous dialogue text for Lang Zigui and Sword Pavilion in the Sword Sect's story ending .
Fixed incorrect range description text for the Whale’s skill.
Fixed text errors in the final personal story for Brother Qi Liu in Story Mode.
Supplemented and fixed some missing untranslated story text segments in Story Mode.
Optimizations
Save file interface now displays corresponding scenario labels for better identification.
The Area's detail panels now show regional income values; hovering over income figures reveals a detailed breakdown of revenue sources.
Hovering over the currency counter on the world map displays a full income and expenditure summary.
Events such as [Develop the area] have been consolidated into the Errands panel.
Balance Adjustments
Dodge stacking cap increased from 80% to 95%.
Official Localization Repo Now Open!
We've open-sourced WindStop Strategy's localization data on GitHub.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/2646320/discussions/0/569290593938746485/
The translation workload is honestly more than I can keep up with solo, so if you're interested in any of the following, I'd genuinely appreciate the help:
Fixing awkward or inaccurate translations
Adding support for a new language
Reporting missing or untranslated text
📖 Full guide here: View on github
All contributors whose work gets merged will be credited in-game.
No pressure, no deadlines — just a chance to polish the JiangHu for players in your region.
Join the beta and let us know what you think! Your feedback is invaluable to us!
— Windstop Strategy team