Hey everyone!
Just a quick heads-up: Update 0.2.1 is finished and ready to go live, but...
Unfortunately, I'm currently dealing with a Steamworks account verification issue that's preventing me from publishing the build. The update itself is done. I just need to get this verification issue sorted out.
While we wait, here are some of the highlights coming in 0.2.1:
Expanded character creation: your upbringing now matters. During character creation, your parents will ask about your interests growing up, allowing you to start with different advantages such as additional Attribute Points, extra gold, spells, or combinations of them.
Magic-focused characters can now start with spells: depending on your upbringing, you'll receive a magical budget that can be spent on one stronger spell or several cheaper ones. (This was suggested by user shadowspectre — thank you so much!)
Potions can now be assigned to hotkeys: making them much easier to use during combat and exploration. (This was also suggested by user shadowspectre — thank you!)
Quest improvements: several procedural quests have received better context, clearer investigation steps, more meaningful resolutions, and additional ways of dealing with certain characters instead of everything inevitably ending in combat.
Improved spell interactions: offensive magic has been revised to behave more consistently against different types of creatures, including wildlife.
Better open-world simulation: NPCs, animals, and other actors are handled more intelligently at long distances, while important characters are better preserved as you travel around the world.
Major performance improvements: particularly to open-world streaming, wildlife, and distant actors, alongside new settings that let you adjust how much of the world your PC simulates and renders.
Lots of smaller fixes and improvements: many of them based directly on your feedback and bug reports.
I have to admit, this one is a little frustrating for me. Today is Father's Day here in Brazil, and I spent a good part of my Sunday working to finish and test the update because I really wanted to get it into your hands today. Getting everything ready, uploading the build, and then running into an account verification issue right at the final step was... not exactly how I expected to end the day.
That said, nothing is wrong with the update itself. It's finished and uploaded. As soon as I get the Steamworks issue sorted out, I'll put it live.
A lot of what you'll find in 0.2.1 came directly from your suggestions and reports, so thank you again for all the feedback and for helping me improve the game.
Hopefully this won't take too long. Thank you for your patience, and Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!