The second playtest for Attack of the Astrals begins now! New and returning players can download and hop into turn-based tactical combat improved by the feedback we received last time.
We have lots of updates to share, and more to come!
If you want to see all of this in action, watch Hari narrate some playtest gameplay here:
Update Notes
Gameplay
Astrals: Several enemies have visual and mechanical changes. For example, Ogre (above) is now a reliable multi-striker.
Reduced run length: Each run lasts 9 battles, instead of 12. We're still figuring out the ideal run length, and we're testing this pacing to lead us into a final, boss-like region in the complete game.
Difficulty: We've reduced difficulty by lowering minion counts in certain battles and adjusting maps. It will still be a challenge to win, but players should be able to more reliably beat the playtest.
Fatigue: Champions that die in battle now start the next with Fatigue, a debuff that reduces their movement range. You may still decide to kill an ally to win a fight, but it now has a cost.
Champions: Ranger now starts with Chariot as his Summon, synergizing with his primary skill and making him a more powerful starting pick.
Summons: Many Summon skills have been rebalanced or reworded for clarity, especially Reaper.
Scrolls: All scrolls you're rewarded will have a clear and simple purpose. We will be adding many more scrolls in the future as unlocks. For now, the more advanced or situational scrolls have been removed.
Input: The previous "Spell Mode" has been removed, and scrolls are available to be selected at any time. Champion skills are now cycled, instead of selected with the 4-direction wheel like scrolls.
Controller: The left stick and d-pad now both control movement in menus and on the map. The right stick selects scrolls. Skills are cycled with X by default.
Keyboard/mouse: You can now hover skills to inspect them without selecting them with the mouse. Clicking selects a skill, or F cycles through them. WASD always selects a Scroll.
Visuals and Sound
Minions: All minions have updated visuals to make their importance and effects more clear. Astrals buffed by Fire or Earth Wisps have an orbiting effect, making their increased strength visible at a glance.
Defeat music: A preview of our defeat track will mourn your loss when your final Champion dies.
User interface: Almost all UI elements have been updated with new art, icons, and fonts.
and much more...
New Player Experience
Tutorials: We've added contextual tutorial prompts in the first few fights and when you encounter new mechanics, featuring animated guides explaining key concepts.
Unlocks: Ranger, Butcher, and Bastion must now be unlocked.
Jump into battle: Until you complete a region, the champion select screen and world map screen are skipped, reducing the number of decisions needed to start playing.
World map: We've added more explanation to explain the tradeoff of each region.
Future Updates
This will lead us into our public demo, and we'll be watching feedback closely. Expect an update to the playtest at least weekly in March.
We are looking for internal playtesters! We know that variety is what will make this game fun and replayable beyond the first several hours, and we are in development on the full scope of the game:
12 Champions and 12 Summons, plus more Scrolls to unlock
6 regions, including a final boss-like region
Additional common enemies that appear in all regions
Difficulty levels
If you're interested in signing up for private access to future builds, check out our Discord for information. We will be playtesting the new Champions Pirate, Witch, and Druid in April, along with boss mechanics and a poisonous swamp region.
What else is new?
We were recently invited to showcase Attack of the Astrals at an event by Waypoint in Sydney! We had a great night with lots of great players and great feedback. We hope to show the game in public like this again soon.
