Hey all, it's be a little while since there's been updates or news! I apologize for the radio silence but outside circumstances got in the way of me working on AetherShot for a good while. In any case, I have a new update! It's mostly backend stuff for a larger update I want to do soon, but there's still a couple new things to play around with in the meantime!
Research
Crafting runes has instead been replaced by research! The process of spending resources to unlock runes is the same, but this streamlines it. Instead of needing to craft every single rune, you simply need to research tiers of the different runes. Once researched, any rune belonging to that tier will be freely accessible outside of the trials, and can be added to your loadouts.
No longer do you need to perform upgrade chains or make 5 of the same rune to have enough for all your spells! However, once in a trial, you will only have access to the runes you brought with you, and any you may find while exploring, so choose what you bring wisely!
(Excess runes will be refunded in a later patch)
Aetherboosted Enemies
You're not the only one capable of utilizing the plentiful aether in the trials! Recognizable by the flames emanating from them, enemies that are aetherboosted have greater stats, and drop extra resources when defeated. All aetherboosted enemies have an elemental affinity which dictates which stats get boosted, as well as giving extra resistance to that element.
Other Changes
Added a portable toolkit! Crafting it allows you to edit your spells within the trials (while not in active combat). Crafting additional sets allows for editing your vessel and gear as well. Use by pressing "X" on m&k or "Select" on controller
Combination runes have been removed from loot pools and research. They generally cluttered loot pools and didn't add much that other runes couldn't solve. These runes will be refunded in a later patch, but can still be used if owned.
Loot from clearing rooms is now twice as likely to offer more runes per run.
Several behind the scenes updates to prep for trials being revamped
Fixed a few bugs where spells were incorrectly colored or displayed
Upcoming
The trials will be revamped! Instead of distinct large floors, they will be broken up a bit more, and based on their difficulty will send you different amounts deeper into the trials. Upon reaching certain depths, a boss will need to be fought like normal to proceed.
Hazards! Oil spills! Spikes! Some interactable, others just there to get in your (and the enemy's) way! These were meant to come out in this update, but unfortunately I was having a few issues that I could not solve in time for this patch.
Aetherboosted enemies will be granted unique abilities in addition to the stat boosts
General rune and enemy rebalancing pass