A Big One (Mostly Because There's a Lot of It)
Hey everyone,
This update is large, not because any single change is massive, but because there's a lot packed in here. New relic, nameplates, item rarity rework, and a long list of smaller fixes and improvements. This one's a bit of a crazy update behind the scenes too: 24 bugs and features shipped, and at least two nights where the team was up until 4am to get it all done. Let's get into it.
A New Relic: the Storm Globe
There's a new relic in the dungeon: the Storm Globe. It gives the boss a unique ranged ability, and if you manage to find and pick it up, that power becomes yours too. As long as you're holding it, you're immune to that attack and you'll wreak havoc on anyone near you. Just be careful, because holding it also makes you a target.
As part of this change, we've renamed what used to be called "Treasures" to "Relics." They're now extremely visible on the map, on the mini map, and in your inventory, so you'll always know when one is nearby.
Oh, and one more thing: If no one's holding the Storm Globe things get bad fast. An unclaimed globe will target everyone on the map, and there's nowhere to hide from it. Your only options are to find it, escape, or... perish.
Nameplates
This is the first iteration of what we're calling "nameplates": quick info shown next to a character's name so you can tell who they are at a glance. Right now, nameplates show a player's level, whether they're a bot, and whether they're currently holding a key. No more trying to figure out who has that last key.
Higher Tier Items Are Harder to Find
We've reworked item rarity distribution. Higher tier items are now noticeably harder to come by. You'll need to push into the inner dungeon to find epic items, and legendary items now only drop from the boss.
Other notable Updates
When your inventory is full, picking up an item no longer automatically swaps it with what's on the ground. Instead, you'll get a message and need to discard something first.
When you're at full health, you'll now get a message letting you know you can't heal any further. This wasn't obvious before.
XP levels and values have been rescaled, so leveling up now grants noticeably more health than before. You earn XP from killing enemies, exploring the map, and completing objectives.
Rarity beams on weapons now use more vibrant colors.
Dead players and bots are now shown differently from living ones on the mini map. If you spot a tombstone, there might be loot waiting there.
A small visual touch: characters now briefly flash red when taking damage.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue where chests could appear closed when actually open, with bots repeatedly opening and closing them.
Fixed popup messages, like level up and health gain notifications, sometimes getting stuck behind geometry.
Fixed an issue where shooting with Gambler's Folly would shake the screen for every client instead of just the player who fired.
Steam Deck and controller: selecting the last item in the roster inventory now keeps focus instead of losing it.
Fixed a dead spot in the boss room where the boss couldn't reach.
As always, please share your thoughts on Discord and follow us on social media:
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-- The Ballard Games Team