Here we are, the last update before full release! One year since my brain concocted the idea of a clicker game city builder, that is now a light strategy game with no clicking involved!
There are some major changes and small ones, and this list includes the mini-updates with essential bug fixes released earlier this week.
BIG CHANGES
- The map editor is almost finished. There are 5 presets added, as well as new graphics for a much nicer appearance.
- Map sizes are now available, so you can use a smaller map if you want to.
- Smeltries now make iron and gold! Seriously! You can place any amount of stone to be processed, and every 50 stone becomes iron or gold at random.
- At long last, the transfers feature has arrived! After extensive difficulties a few months ago, I revisited the idea and managed to create a UI system that allows settlements to exchange resources. Now you can dedicate settlements to resource types!
- When you are attacked, it will no longer be sudden. You can see the enemy icon travel towards you, and see the centre of their attack. This now means you can build defenses as needed.
- Attacking and exploring works the same way. Your troops and explorers must journey to their destination. Each tile costs time to move, so the further the destination, the longer it will take.
- The main menu is now fully completed (the update notes will be removed on the next update however).
SMALLER CHANGES
- The helper pop-up messages now stack behind any that are currently visible, meaning messages can be ordered and it no longer interrupts reading.
- Following from the above, there are now a series of tutorial messages about basic mechanics on the start of playing the game.
- Two settlements cannot have the same name- it would break idle workers and settlement transfers. As a result renaming settlements is no longer an option, but the game is far more stable.
- Removed the missions UI icon- which is now not needed.
- Protections for first settlements when you use the auto-place function in the map editor: -Settlements now should never place on the edge of the map, cutting access to tiles. -They also make sure no colony settles in an area the size of the biggest settlement, meaning you can make one big place to live as your capital without going to war.
- The ruins level 5 research upgrade has now changed due to changes in exploring wait times. It now means ruins give you 2 golden chests rather than 1 (and 2 keys).
- Idle workers can now be placed on fires to put fires out.
- The Town Hall menu can now be dragged around, in case you the top edge of the screen blocks the menu at all.
BUG FIXES
- The no worker symbol (red cross) now disappears when a worker is added straight away to buildings.
- You can now properly make a settlement where colonies are defeated, using the same campfire that is left.
- Idle worker is fixed but is limited now to settlement areas only.
It has been only 9 days since Update #11, and there are a lot of changes here that I am excited about. The next Update will be the FULL RELEASE of Spiritlands. For this reason, it will take closer to a month to complete as I want it to be as well tested, bug-free, and perfectly adjusted as possible and that will take time. That update likely will not include any new features but a long list of edits, fixes and small graphical changes.
If you are waiting for the full release to have a play of the game, please play it now and give us some forum feedback if you can spare the time, it would be massively appreciated. There is little worse than making full release and people reporting issues and grievances after! Also if you know any Youtubers who might want to play, please let them know you'd like them to have a go after the game is fully out.
Thank you to everyone for your support. Keep an eye out for updates as the full release date will be announced weeks before.
There is also the game Facebook page where all little announcements go:
Facebook page.
Hope to hear from you all soon!