FreeHolder Alpha 7 Hotfix 5
11.2.2017
Level 3 Fabrica and New Iron Items
I was all ready to start coding iron mining and smelting when I suddenly realized I had actually done it already. This virtually never happens. It was wonderful. So, straight on to the Fabrica.
***REMINDER: The Fabrica Upgrade button is placed obscurely, to the left of the open crafting ledger once you enter the Fabrica menu. Not sure where else to put it, but this is temporary.***
The Level 3 Fabrica upgrade which allows you to craft iron items is now available. Keep in mind that iron requires not merely firewood but CHARCOAL to smelt and smith with it, and right now the only truly reliable source of charcoal is slashing and burning areas with dense vegetation. I think it would be wise to add a workshop type that allows conversion of firewood into charcoal; such a "Charcoal Kiln" would be historically known and available, and it is a significant sacrifice to use up a workshop space just for charcoal production. However, if you are planning on making heavy use of iron ore, it would be well worth it. Plus charcoal would be relatively valuable to sell directly.
The five new items released with the L3 Fabrica are not exhaustive of what is ultimately coming. There are other planned items including Atlantean technology and adamantine metal for the endgame, but that will wait for some time.
L3 Fabrica Items:
HEAVY SHIELD. The best ordinary shield available, made from iron.
STORM QUIVER. The best quiver, holds 24 arrows of up to three different types.
SPLINTMAIL. Relatively simple iron-reinforced armor that can be worn by non-warriors.
BATTLEAXE. Excellent iron axe that wreaks severe havoc.
TRIDENT. Iron spear which pierces and causes bleeding.
IRON MAUL. Powerful two-handed blunt weapon which is not too heavy for non-warriors to wield.
Journeyman Smith and New Craftable Items
SCUTUM. An improved heavy shield that also slightly protects allies from ranged attacks.
CHAINMAIL. An intricate iron armor that is light enough for anyone to wear but still quite strong.
SPATHA. A longer and more deadly gladius made of iron.
LAJATANG. An exotic bladed staff for use by warriors only.
WARHAMMER. An iron hammer also capable of piercing through armor with its pointed spike.
Master Clothier and New Craftable Items
The Rancher's L2 upgrade of the Tailoring skill, Master Clothier, now is implemented and immediately unlocks the ability to craft 5 new items at the Fabrica regardless of its current upgrade level. (Generally forging of progressively better metal items is what is unlocked when upgrading it.) These include:
COZY HAT. Multipurpose weather resistance accessory.
WAYFARER BOOTS. Great fatigue reduction and slight wet resistance.
HEAVY GLOVES. Small roll boost whenever using tools or any weapon in combat.
ARMORCLOTH MANTLE. Gone for a bit, now back as a non-leather alternative light armor.
SPLENDID VESTMENTS. Big time Charisma boost, of limited use until mid-game is more implemented.
I have removed the skill reference to spinning Bolts of Silk twice as fast, as this is not currently possible. I will add that back to the skill when I add silk spinning to the game.
Dark Gadgetry and New Craftable Items
The Agent's L2 upgrade of the Thiefcraft skill, Dark Gadgetry, now is implemented and immediately unlocks the ability to craft 5 new items at the Fabrica dependent its current upgrade level, depending on whether iron or copper is required. I took two items away from the excessive number available for Thiefcraft and put them in Dark Gadgetry, RogueWear and Shade Raiment.
ROGUEWEAR. Espionage-action and charisma-boosting inner layer.
SHADE RAIMENT. Cloak with large stealth and evasion boost.
SMOKE BOMB. Provide one character with immediate stealth during combat. (Requires L2 Fabrica)
CALTROPS. Provide thorns effect for one character for an entire combat. (Requires L3 Fabrica)
CHAKRAM. Accurate iron throwing weapon that causes exceptional bleeding. (Requires L3 Fabrica)
Bugfixes
I keep putting off bugfixes unintentionally because of the limited time I have to accomplish things when I sit down to work. At my next not-insanely-short opportunity I will start cracking through the buglists and fixing stuff. Bugfixing is much less harder to predict in terms of how much time it will take than coding known and planned features. But it can't wait much longer. This next fix should be quite bugfix-oriented.
Upgrades
-L3 Fabrica Upgrade, Advanced Smithy (for smithing iron items) now available
-->Heavy Shield, Storm Quiver, Splintmail, Battleaxe, Trident, Iron Maul battle gear added to game
-Warrior's L2 skill Journeyman Smith now functional
-->Scutum, Spatha, Lajatang, Warhammer battle gear added to game
-Rancher's L2 skill Master Clothier now functional
-->Cozy Hat, Wayfarer Boots, Heavy Gloves, Splendid Vestments equipment added to game
-Agent's L2 skill Dark Gadgetry now functional
-->Chakram, Caltrops battle gear added to game
Upcoming Features
(! = Major feature)
Muse's Song skill for Guildmaster (requires addition of art objects)
More battle gear (battlecapes, battlepack, sling pouches and special ammo)
(!)Steam Achievements(!)
-----alpha 8 (tentative)--------
More advanced classes and class skills
Remove studio action
Second factorium size upgrade