(Showcase of the current state of the game)
Hi and welcome to the 22nd development blog post for Unleash!
Over the course of the past two weeks, we took a few days’ vacation in conjunction with the Easter holidays here in Denmark. However, there has still been plenty of developments on the game. Of the larger topics, we have been testing a new balancing model without any armor, we have been working on trading card assets, implemented real offline gameplay as a possibility and added new visual effects for selling structures in Unleash.
No More Armor… Maybe?
We are currently testing yet another new balancing model for structures and monsters. Up until now, all structures and monsters have had: Shield, armor, resistance/vulnerability and health. When an entity received damage, first its shield would absorb as much damage as possible. Afterwards, the armor would soak a flat amount of damage. Armor penetration would effectively reduce the armor of the damage receiver. Afterwards, damage is multiplied by a resistance/vulnerability factor - either increasing or decreasing the damage. Finally, the damage was subtracted from the entity’s health.
Currently, we are testing a new balancing model which does not include armor and therefore no armor penetration either. This makes for a simpler damage and balancing model. Shield will still absorb whatever damage it can, afterwards resistance/vulnerability multiplies the damage and then health is decreased by the resulting amount of damage. This should be simpler to understand, easier to convey in the UI and simpler to balance moving forward.
We have not decided yet whether we want to keep this new balancing model, but the first playtests have been encouraging.
Trading Cards, Badges, Emoticons and Profile Backgrounds
When Unleash is released in Early Access on April 17th, the game will include Steam trading cards. This means that we have made artwork not only for the trading cards themselves, but also for the badges, emoticons and profile backgrounds that players can get through collecting the cards.
(The badges feature the ‘Dreamer helmets’ in different progression variants)
(The emoticons feature monsters and towers from the game, as well as the ‘Dreamer helmet’ - these are just a few examples)
(The profile backgrounds feature monsters, champions and Dreamers - these are two examples overlayed)
(The trading cards feature monsters, a champion and a Dreamer - here are two examples)
Real Offline Singleplayer
While Unleash has been playable in singleplayer for a long time, we have recently made it possible to play while offline - without any Internet connection. Previously, players were required to be connected to the Internet to be able to play any Unleash, even if playing alone or versus bots. Now, it will be possible to play Tower Defense, Line Tower Wars against bots and the tutorials and sandbox modes without any Internet connection. Only actual multiplayer gaming will require players to be online. Thus, you will be able to play Unleash on airplanes, trains, remote cabins in the woods or anywhere else where Internet is poor or non-existent. You will however still need an Internet connection and a Steam account to actually download Unleash.
Sell Structure VFX
Selling structures has become more visually pleasing to look at. Previously we had a very simple ‘gold coins’ effect on the structure, and it would use the same ‘smoke cloud’ as when destroyed. Now, structures sold will be dissolved nicely together with a floating VFX above the structure. The sell icon is shown instantly, while the rest of the sell VFX happens when the sell is confirmed over the network.
(Selling structures in Unleash has never been prettier)
Closing Remarks
The past two weeks has seen several improvements to the game and the features it offers, including a possible new balancing model without any armor, which may prove to be easier to understand and simpler to balance. We have drawn, tweaked and discussed trading cards and their associated assets. Unleash can now be played under ‘real’ offline conditions - without any Internet connection at all, and last but not least, a new selling visual effect has been implemented for all structures in the game.
Get in contact with us through Discord, or any of our other social media channels. You can find all of them through our website. Also, you can watch our internal gameplay sessions over at Twitch.
And remember… Monsters never come alone.