Dryad 2.3.0 - Playtest will be available June 18, 10 AM PST

Dryad 2.3.0 - Playtest Update

Updated the Survey link for the playtest.

New Features

• Replaced Chapter Select Screen

• Added Ending Credits and Updated Main Menu Credits

• Added Game Over menu options

• Implemented Relic Favorites (Spacebar / X Button)

  • Favorite relics can be viewed in the Favorites tab of the Relic Window

• Added range indicators for Self Defense, Totem Flowers, Mending Flowers, Morning Flowers, and Earth Vacuum

• Added indicator when the final boss becomes attackable

Audio & Ambience

• Added unique ambience to each chapter:

  • Prologue – Dynamic ambience

  • Chapter A – High-top ambience

  • Chapter C – Indoor wind ambience

  • Chapter D – Sandy wind ambience

  • Chapter E – Fiery wind ambience

  • Chapter F – Rain ambience

  • Chapter G – Winter wind ambience

  • Chapter H – Volcanic ambience

• Adjusted default Sound and Music volume levels

• Added menu navigation sound effects

• Added sound previews while adjusting Sound Volume

• Added sound effect to Wisp's Hammer action

• Prevented identical sound effects from playing simultaneously to reduce volume spikes

• Added sound effects for the special Portal around Shadow Friend

• Added sound effects for objects shattering

• Adjusted volumes for numerous sound effects

Controls & Keybinds

• Added Cycle Items Backwards

  • Keyboard: Q

  • Controller: LT

• Changed View Details

  • Keyboard: F

  • Controller: LT → R3

• Changed Rotate Seed

  • Keyboard: Q → Down Arrow

  • Controller: LB

Balance Changes

• Bosses now release 100 Energy instead of 50, depending on level length

• Earth Vacuum now pulls enemy projectiles toward Overcharged Weight Flowers

• Increased default range of Morning Flowers to 2 (Overcharge: 3)

  • Reduced effectiveness to 1.25x

• Increased Production Rate penalty from Ruby Veil, Sapphire Veil, and Topaz Veil to 20%

• Earth Tribute now only applies to Front Tiles

  • Reduced requirement to 30 tiles per 1x speed bonus

• Bountiful Harvest now grants +2 Produce

• Added Greater Harvest (+1 Produce) to F4

• Increased final boss Phase 1 health

• Reduced final boss Phase 3 health

• Final boss Phase 3 becomes attackable sooner

• Reduced laser damage dealt to Wisp for improved reaction time

• Sniper now triggers Crystal Cycle on the first target hit by a Wisp projectile

• Sorceress now redirects player projectiles toward Meteors while her spell is active

• Reduced Prologue enemy spawns before Predator appears

• Doors now cost 1 Weight

Relics & Progression

• Adjusted H2, H6, and H7 Puzzles

• Added task in A2 to equip all newly unlocked relics

• Moved Terra Geodekeeper to F2

• Moved Stone Attunement to F3

• Moved Martyrdom to F4

• Moved Cozy Enclosure to F4

• Moved Refined Crystals to G4

• Moved Mansion to C3

• Moved Overflow to E1

• Removed Selfless Dryad from D4

• Removed Step Expansion from D5

• Moved Hoverbubbles to A1

• Added Backyard as a reward at the end of Chapter A

Renames

• Expanders → Growth

• Expansion Flower → Earth Flower

• Resurrection Flower → Revival Flower

Visual & UI Improvements

• Improved selected-category highlighting in the Relic Window

• Updated tutorial world-instruction font pass

• Improved fade transition after the Prologue ending

• Updated Elder Tree artwork, including its Body, Face, Arms, and Branches

• Opening the Save Menu now remembers the currently loaded save

• Immortal Harvest and Savior Eternal now update the graphics of affected plants

• Added sound effects for Predator when flying by

• Updated Select and Start key graphics for gamepad

Gameplay Improvements & Bug Fixes

• Added more opportunities to skip cinematics

• Fixed Respawn and Skip Cinematic pause menu options incorrectly displaying their availability

• Prevented Wisp from bashing tiles containing consumables

• Enemy Seeds can no longer be destroyed by the Wisp and now require a Crystal

  • Plants can still be stunned with Wisp Bash

• Prevented Cleansed Wall Huggers from dying to friendly fire

• Reduced pillar width in Chapter F to interfere less with rainfall

• Fixed numerous Shadow Friend sorting issues

• Fixed many level-transition sorting issues while flying between stages

• Fixed multiple cinematics where the Wisp faced the wrong direction

• Fixed end screen artwork dimming on subsequent viewings

• Fixed music and sound effects continuing to play after volume was muted

• Fixed items with long descriptions occasionally causing windows to extend off-screen

• Fixed pop-ups remaining visible while the game was paused

Thank you to everyone participating in the Steam Playtest and helping improve Dryad. We look forward to your feedback!