The next large update to the game is just around the corner, arriving in the second week of September (if everything goes as planned). The new class is now finished and I’m currently testing and balancing it while also creating new artifacts, uniques and eldritch items to support a wide variety of builds centered around the class.
However it’s not the only new thing coming with the update. In this blog I want to introduce a new gameplay system called Runewords. As many of you can probably guess it takes heavy inspiration from Diablo 2’s runeword system while adding its own unique twist to it.
Placing three or five runes into an ability forms a runeword. There are over 100 million possible combinations and by default roughly fourth of them are valid runewords. Once the final rune of a valid runeword is placed, the runeword activates and grants the character a random global stat bonus.
These bonuses are not pre-designed and can vary wildly in both the number of stats they provide and the ranges of those stats. Runewords are deterministic, meaning the same runeword will provide the same effect for every player.
Runewords are not a grind-based power system, but a discovery-based one. Players are not expected to test every possible rune combination one by one in search of the best options (it would be impossible), but instead runewords are intended to be discovered naturally while playing and experimenting with different builds.
Runewords are meant to be a “lifetime” and community-based system. There is always a possibility that someone will discover a more powerful runeword and share it with the community (or keeps it to themselves), even years after the game has been released.
Alongside the runeword system comes a new stat called Runeword Discovery. This stat increases the number of valid runewords in the pool, causing previously inactive runewords to become active. It further expands the possibilities of discovering that truly powerful, game-breaking runeword.
With that it’s time for me to get back to work, as there’s still a lot to be done. Until next month.
- Irmstoi, Conquest Dark Solo Dev