Content Update 1 - "Pints & Prayers"
The first major update to Dverghold is live. This update is mainly concerned with adding in missing parts that stuck out in the initial release, make the game feel overall more polished and complete and add in elements we had to cut originally for time constraints. Content update #2 is also already being worked on and will then continue the main campaign with a new dungeon level, new monsters and a new part of the main quest.
When we launched into Early Access, the priest stood in camp with not much to offer besides counsel, and the blacksmith could sell you equipment but not truly make it yours.
Blessings & Indulgences
The shrine can finally be visited. The priest can now grant you Blessings - straightforward boons that aid your party below - or allow you an Indulgence, a harder bargain that grants you some benefit at a cost. Both last for the duration of your next dungeon delve, and both let you bend the rules of the game to aid whicher party composition you picked.
Equipment Fitting
The blacksmith can now fit a piece of equipment to a specific character. A fitted item has better stats in that character's hands, but is worse in anyone else's. Specialise your veterans and they become even more formidable, but a fitted blade passed to someone else is a liability - and of course, if the owner of a fitted item dies, you will have to spend more money to re-fit it.
Custom Portraits & New Faces
Much requested feature: you can now import your own portraits for your mercenaries. We've also added a set of new character portraits to the roster - more variety for the company you assemble, and many more portraits still to come.
Sidequests & Consequences
Two sidequests that existed only in rudimentary form at launch are now completed
A new sidequest for Millie - help her set up a proper Inn for Inner Gravhollow one day
Faction reputation: your dialogue choices and quest outcomes now influence reputation with factions in Dverghold. This doesn't change much yet today, but it will absolutely matter as you descend deeper and even might influence how the game ends...
A note on the soundtrack
We had hoped to release the Dverghold soundtrack alongside this update, but unfortunately the review process at Steam takes a bit longer than we anticipated. It'll follow as soon as we're able to release it.
What's next
This is the first of our reclamation progress reports, and the mountain has a long way down yet. Act II - the flooded caverns beneath the living quarters - is in planning and the next dungeon level, which will arrive in content update #2 scheduled for November, is being worked on: The Sorgarn Mines.
As always: we read everything. Bring what you find to the Discord or the discussion boards. You're helping us forge the path!