This update is mostly bug fixes and some tweaks to the battle/unit ability mechanics. It is a little smaller than the updates usually are, but there a lots of interesting things in the pipeline, and the next couple of updates should have a lot more 'meat'.
As mentioned, the graphical overhaul is being worked on in parallel. Here's a teaser of the new map graphics that the talented Max Heyder is currently working on:
The next update will focus on improving everything about the new combat resolution: graphics, army control, usability, and probably the first battle spells. There will also be the first steps towards localization (ie non-english languages), as there have been a lot of requests for this.
Battle Mechanics:
- Units with the tag Demon or Demonic Taint now have a 5% higher chance of being affected by Radiant-type attacks and a 10% lower chance of being affected by Dark-type attacks.
- Units with the tag Angel or Celestial now have a 5% higher chance of being affected by Dark-type attacks and a 10% lower chance of being affected by Radiant-type attacks.
- Units with the Semi-Corporeal ability now have a 5% increased chance of being affected by Arcane-type attacks.
- New Attack Modifier: Aura. These attacks always hit (but can be still be resisted). The skill attribute of the attacker does not affect the resolution and the attack cannot be a critical or glancing hit.
- The formula for resolving the chance for shields blocking ranged attacks has been changed from (25 + 5*Discipline)% to (2X + X*Discipline)%. X is based on the block value of the shield (normally in the range of 1 to 5). The Shield Wall ability will add an additional 10% of blocking. Retreating units have the chance reduced to (½x*Discipline)%. If the attack is physical and (base damage+break defense) is greater than block value + 4 (8 with shieldwall), the shield block is skipped.
- Undead/Construct/Demonic removed as special abilities. Tags and other special abilities are now used to handle all effects previously linked to these.
- New Unit Ability: Mindless. Such units are unaffected by (positive and negative) morale effects and all spells/effects relating to thought and/or emotion (charm, mind-control, hypnotism, frenzy, etc.). It also confers a 2% reduced chance of being affected by Radiant and Dark-type attacks.
- New Unit Ability: Limited Mind. Similar to mindless but reduces rather than eliminates the mentioned effects.
- New Unit Ability: Unfeeling. Confers immunity to (positive and negative) morale effects and emotion-related spells/effects (charm, frenzy, berserk, etc.) but not thought-related effects (mind-control, hypnotism, etc.).
Misc.:
- Unit special abilities and attack special effects now have tool tips.
- Added a few more variations to the unit name generator.
- Currency name is now listed under culture details.
- Unit Ability: Amphibious now allows movement in coastal water hexes at no movement penalty.
- Unit Ability: Aquatic now allows movement in all water hexes at no movement penalty.
- New Unit Type: Liches. Can be researched with Necromancy 6, Arcane 3, and either Frost 3, Darkness 3 or Arcane 6. Can also be used as a template for dungeon bosses. Default unit size is very low, they are slow, and very difficult to damage with physical/mundane attacks. They have powerful frost-based attacks at medium range, a drain-type attack at short range, and a decent, but low skill, melee attack. They also cause terror and are fearless.
- New Unit Type: Mummies. Can be researched with Necromancy 4, Death 2, and Darkness 2. Can also be used as a template for dungeon bosses. They are slow, strong, extremely tough, but very vulnerable to fire.
- Death Knights: Now have an Aura attack with Dark damage 4.
- Tower Shield renamed to Pavise.
Bug Fixes:
- Fixed the cursor being an X during battles taking place outside of the player's turn.
- Fixed wizard tower expansions under construction not being listed when clicking the "Demolish" button in the Wizard Tower window.
- Fixed issue with army general modifiers being applied multiple times.
- Fixed issue with shrines and temples causing the game to hang or end up in a corrupted state.
- Fixed issue with the "buy missing" toggle in the construction project window not working properly if the value was auto-filled and not set by the player.
- Fixed 'shore-only' units being able to venture anywhere. An army containing one or more of these units can no longer traverse fully land-locked terrain.
- Fixed issue with secondary damage not being applied properly during battle resolution.
- Fixed issue with armor penetration/resistance reduction not being applied properly in some cases during battle resolution.
- Fixed issue with line breaks in the text panels on the military window.
0.9.90.1 Additions:
- The battle window now has a legend showing which side has which color.
- The battle log now has colors on unit names (indicating side).
- During battles retreating units can now more consistently be hit in melee by pursuers.
- The reload delay has been changed from +100% of the melee attack interval to +50%.
- A reloading unit which is attacked in melee will have the attack delay reset, so they can fight immediately.
- Double-clicking a portrait in the Party panel on the Followers window is now a shortcut for removing characters from a party.
- When a failed sabotage missions, or other action, results in damage to diplomatic relations, it is no longer ignored if the factions had not yet encountered each other. An initial relation of "Wary/20" is now applied (pre-diplomatic damage) instead of "Neutral/35", which is the normal default relation when encountering a new faction.
- Made engaged units less likely to pivot oddly (still not fully fixed) and tweaked the rotation speed of engaged units to be slower, to make the pivot look less jarring when it does happen.
- Fixed sabotage missions staying as the active task for operatives even on completion or cancellation
- Fixed sabotage missions not always giving a result text describing the outcome.
- Fixed sabotage teams of a few individuals often killing hundreds of defenders.