Hello all,
The team is hard at working on player found issues and developing the 1.5 patch. We'll most likely push another experimental build some time next week so get ready for more testing. If you’d like to help find bugs and tweak 1.5 features, jump on our experimental branch and check out the 1.4.22 patch that will eventually become the next stable update. Check out our changelog and feel free to join our discord. We will have another devblog out shortly showcasing some more 1.5 features :)
Free Placed Fortifications
Along with hordes, free placed fortifications will really change the gameplay. Zombies actively hunting the player each night will create reason to fortify a structure and free placed fortifications will greatly increase your chances of surviving the horde. The mechanics behind them are rather challenging and interesting. Zombies have to be aware of placed fortifications, they have to attack fortifications, they have to avoid them when possible, receive damage from them and they have to stop attacking them when you're no longer behind them. The mechanics are coming along quite nicely with the visual aspects (something we'll showcase next week). You should be able to place them in the upcoming experimental patch, we'd like to get that to you early next week. Below is a video showcasing some of the AI logic, registering and attacking a placed fortification also being damage by the barricade. They also stop attacking and attack the player when he moves to the opposite side of the barricade. Below that you'll see a gif showcasing the logic rotating toward a fortification.
Video Showcasing AI Attacking Barricade and Player In Game
AI Logic Mock-up
Rotation Logic Mock-up
New Life Splash, Hordes and Gameplay Changes
With hordes, a basic XP and leveling system in the works we've introduced a new life Splash Screen (skippable and only for new players). This will give a bit of depth and explanation to what's going on. We'll expand on character backstory and lore in the future. This sets a basic tone for anyone just picking the project up. You'll know by reading it that days should be spent gathering supplies, building fortifications and setting traps. The night will bring the dead and you should be ready for them. Players will be notified of approaching hordes and you'll have the option to fight or flee. Fleeing might get you through another night but you'll miss out on the XP provided from killing zeds and completing hordes and increasing their horde difficulty.
New Life Splash
Thanks for the continued support and continued issue/suggestion reporting. We'll have another devblog out next week with more updates on 1.5 and hopefully a new experimental build. Below are some helpful links to anyone new and interested in the game. If you'd like to follow a bit closer, please consider joining our Discord. We're here, we're listening! Enjoy your weekend :)
Links
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights
Forum: https://community.survivethenights.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive
Website: https://www.survivethenights.net