We wanted to let you know about some of the Ortus Regni projects that are in the works.
1) Server side update.
We are aware that there are some stability issues in the current Ortus Regni server. Over the last year we kept adding new features to our original code base, and some of those implementations did not “work and play” will with each other.
The main bug is one that can freeze up asynchronous Challenge Friends games. This is very frustrating for players, of course, since these games might run over a week and then suddenly be frozen when you are already invested in your game. We knew that had be to fixed fast, but were not able to easily do that with the current server. So we changed tack (see below).
The second, and slightly related, bug involves timed games and hits (more rarely than the above issue) in Find A Match games. It looks like a freeze, and you may be waiting for the other player to complete their turn without realizing the game has actually proceeded, but you don’t see it. If spotted, you can quickly try leaving the game and returning (by going back to Find A Match, and being reconnected).
The good news is that we have been hard at work on a complete server code rewrite for some time. Yup, a clean slate, accounting for all the features now implemented in Ortus Regni. With this new server we aim to eliminated all the above known issues. That new server is in testing now - it’s the server so we have to be careful of course - and this will hopefully launch around the end of this month or soon after :)
2) App update.
We have also been plugging away on some small updates to the app itself. This should have a bit more love for a couple of the already existing features. We'll remain mum on those until we officially announce its launch and the items that made it into the build. This may also land around the end of this month, or soon after.
3) Tabletop (original) Ortus Regni variants in the works.
In the world of tabletop Ortus Regni we will be posting several quite dramatic variant rule sets - on ortusregni.com - in the coming month. There are three new tabletop play modes being developed. Like all the variants that we have posted previously they use the heart of Ortus Regni's rules, so they still feel like Ortus Regni, but explore new game spaces in the system. And, as always, are playable simply with the original game boxes, no added purchases required.
We’ll tease a little about those: One is much more deterministic (chess or Stratego like) and you make no decks; another is a hybrid of a more traditional board based strategic war-game & normal Ortus Regni simultaneously; the third is a system that allows you to play Ortus Regni with poker chips and betting, approaching the game more like it's a poker night (it’s always fun to bust out the poker chips).
The last two of the new rules above will have custom variant play mats available in our online store, but as has always been the case with our options and expansions for the tabletop game there will also be free PDFs for you to use. Even if we think the mats are really nice to use :)
These new rule sets really up the level of thinking required - strategically and tactically - and are thus meant for moderately advanced players of Ortus Regni. But they also maintain most of the existing core rules of the game, and maintain the feeling that you are indeed playing Ortus Regni, but with new horizons.
And for those who might only know that we are on STEAM, I should note that we also have the free Ortus Regni app available for iPads and Android tablets from the Apple App store and Googleplay :)
And *all* of our available platforms interact and play with each other. And your Ortus Regni account will log you in on any of them. Plus, if you "star favorite" your main 5 decks those will be in the cloud and available to you on any platform.
Thanks for visiting a corner of the Middle Ages with us (!)