Gift Rebalance
In case you missed the last update, I decided to go through all the gifts and game modes and see what could be adjusted to improve the game overall. A lot of older gifts were designed years ago with a very different mindset, but there are so many gifts now. I wanted to make sure everything still works together nicely, given how much content exists now. Nearly half of all the gifts in the game were changed at least a little bit. There were also tweaks to all the game modes, especially endless stress. I had meant to do all this after I had finished all the tower bosses, but all these ideas and rebalancing math was keeping me up at night! You know how it is.
About 10% of active players opted into the beta branch which is a pretty good turnout! We caught all the bugs, so it's time to release this to everyone! Don't catch any more bugs and make me a liar now!
A minor spoiler warning, I have included a list of every gift that was changed down below and details of their effects. The list includes all the changes from last time too, but I'll be highlighting any new ones that changed during the beta.
Game Mode Changes
- Story Mode: Increased the chance to find challenges with higher goals on Torrent Rain difficulty, including the top ranked challenges previously only found through burden effects
- Story Mode: Bonus Gifts given in the True Panic event are not limited to panic gifts anymore, but all other gift types still are
- Quickplay: Earning all possible radiant medals on a single monster will replace their family icon with a heart icon
- Quickplay: Increased Alter Defect's power cost from 1 to 2 due to the way many of the new changes interact with her effects
- Freeplay: You can now equip up to 5 copies of each gift and the star limit is raised from 80 to 100
- The Towers: Karma scales your luck a little faster if the tower has less than 15 battles. This mostly affects Tiny Tower, but can also affect other towers if you have less monsters unlocked
- Endless Mode: Added new options and upgrades to the shop
- Endless Mode: The shop upgrades for reducing the cost of gifts were removed, and the levels you had in them are applied to new upgrades
- Endless Mode: Karma gained from the monster's level now diminishes after Lv20, this applies to the towers too, but is most notable in endless mode
- Endless mode: Completely changed the way karma costs rise as you buy gifts from the shop
- Endless mode: For you quitters out there, quitting a run of Endless mode using the "give up" option (after the first stage) will now take you to the medal results screen to make sure your scores are saved
Changes To Helpers
- Special helpers that are created during battle (mites, magnets, photo stones, etc) now have a hard limit on the amounts you can have of each type, but increasing your cap over that limit will instead increase all their damage proportionally
- When you have an extreme amount of helpers, all helper fire rates will reduce, while also increasing damage proportionally, keeping the same DPS
- All helpers now wrap around the screen with you when you have the Boundless effect active
- Blue Veyeral helpers will now appear with a 50% combo, but they still only stay if you achieve a full combo in the battle
- Added sounds for when Blue Veyerals and Misfit helpers appear and leave
- The All Stone helpers reach their max rate of fire at a 75% combo instead of 84%
Changes To Other Gift Effects
- Crit rates are no longer capped at 100% and you will create higher level crit bullets when rates go above 100%
- Changed the way critical shots are drawn to improve performance when there are a lot of them
- Panic Polyps will now stay dormant if you already have 5 or more panics available
- Any Panic polyps you are holding are now added to your total panics for the encounter chance of the True Panic event
- Holding a very high amount of panics and polyps will increase the chance of encountering a challenge for absorbing bullets with panics in all game modes
- Added visual effects for denial shields, revives, glass hearts, second form, and all burden heart types being activated or used
- Also added sound effects for all the above heart types that didn't have a sound before
- All gifts that only have successive effects with a cap (Like the Inspire quick gifts) will not appear after their effects are capped
Other Changes
- Your run score is now always shown during events that can give you tetrid bonus gifts
- Increased the bit rate quality of the music tracks
- You can unlock the ability to earn 1 extra karma per battle by absorbing 200 bullets with panics. The dream that unlocks this used to unlock the Single Polyp quick gift, but that gift is now unlocked by default.
- Optimized saving data when performing certain actions during events, and when radiating anything in the collection
- Reduced the duration of the high pitched feedback noise that glyph monsters make when they explode
- Added more info to the descriptions of the story mode difficulty levels
- Unlock progress is shown for locked game modes and characters that have a known dream unlock
Bug Fixes
- Slightly adjusted Ventra and Guardian Soul's obstacle generation to avoid a very rare impossible to dodge combination
- It was possible for Ventra's turrets to hit you before you could move during the monster intro
- Giving away the Second Form gift after activating its revive effect, and then getting it again later in the same run, will now actually give you another revive heart
- Your heart would not flash to show immunity if you had the Boundless effect active
- Challenge goals in ALL game modes were scaled with the last story mode difficulty you played during a session, with Light Rain as the default. Challenges in Endless and Towers are now set to a similar level as Heavy Rain difficulty.
- Karma gained within any event in any mode did not contribute to your grand total karma stats
- Fixed a crash caused by heartbreaking on the same frame that a helper is created. It turns out I had not actually fixed this in v8.7b, but I double checked this time.
The next update will be on October 25th, where I will hopefully finally get to the next heart boss.
Thank you for playing!
ːradiantheartː ːradiantheartː ːradiantheartː
Gift Changes
------------- Passive Boosts -------------
Small Mushroom: [All Dmg +6% → +8%]
Orb Mushroom: [Movement +0.3 → +0.5]
Flat Mushroom: [All Crit Rate +4% → +6%]
Fang: [All Dmg +9% → +12.5%] [Added Combo time +0.2s]
Glass Fang: [All Crit Rate +5% → +6%]
Star Flower: [All Dmg per Def unit +3% → +3.5%]
Crescent: [All Dmg per Def unit +3% → +3.5%]
Magma Worm: [All Dmg per Def unit +3% → +3.5%]
Sky Guardian: [All Dmg per Def unit +3% → +3.5%]
Hydra Plant: [All Dmg per Def unit +3% → +3.5%]
Self Glyph: [All Crit Rate +4% → +5%]
Quick Mite: [Added Shot speed for all shot types +15%]
Big Mushroom: [All Dmg +11% → +17%] [Shot Size +40% → +50%]
Thin Mushroom: [Combo time +0.25s → +0.3s]
Glass Petal: [Replaced +20% Dmg before being hit → +1% Dmg per HP unit (x1.5 at max hp)]
Saw Bloom: [All Dmg +16% → +25%] [Added Combo time +0.2s]
Determination: [All Dmg per Def unit +2.5% → +4%]
------------- Passive Effects -------------
Nothing: [Combo Time +0.25s → +0.33s]
The World: [Maximum heal from combos 4hp → 5hp]
Little Sister: [Added 1 chrome heart]
Revita Heart: [Power is now increased by hp lost in any way]
Anxiety: [Dmg from extra stacks +25% → +37.5%]
Insecurity: [All Dmg per stack +25% → +30%]
Self Portrait: [All Dmg +10% → +15%]
Second Form: [All Dmg +22.5% → +33%]
------------- Successive Gifts -------------
Dread: [Gives +1 panic polyp per battle instead of a panic attack]
------------- Fortifying Gifts -------------
Heart Candy: [Heal 40% → 75%]
Love Paint: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Dark Paint: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Warm Paint: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Bright Paint: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Murky Paint: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Lovely Art: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Dark Art: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Warm Art: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Bright Art: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Gloomy Art: [Added All Dmg +4%]
Transfusion: [Max Health +3 → +2] [Adds Reserve HP +8]
Heart Cookie: [Heal 40% → 75%]
Blot of Paint: [Added All Dmg +8%]
------------- Panic Gifts -------------
Light Glyph: [Def +1.5 → +2]
Void Glyph: [Def +1.5 → +2]
Fire Glyph: [Def +1.5 → +2]
Energy Glyph: [Def +1.5 → +2]
Natural Glyph: [Def +1.5 → +2]
Embrace: [Removed the size/duration reductions] [Panics +5 → Manic Panics +6] [Panic Dmg +60 → +90]
Phobia: [Panics +10 → Panics +4] [Added Manic Panics +4] [Added Panic Polyps +4]
------------- Charge Shots -------------
Pebble: [Charge Dmg +15% → +20%]
Energy Tank: [Energize Rate +10% → +12%]
Sweet Fruit: [Charge Dmg +7% → +10%]
Dry Fruit: [Charge Dmg +7% → +10%]
Spicy Fruit: [Energize Rate +10% → +12%]
Sour Fruit: [Energize Rate +10% → +12%]
Bitter Fruit: [Charge Dmg +7% → +10%]
Energy Zest: [Charge Dmg +12% → +15%]
Heartbeat: [Charging Time -20% → -33%]
------------- Heart Shots -------------
Blood Flow: [Heart Dmg +0.5 → +0.7]
Glowing: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Heart Crit Rate +5% → +6%]
Icy: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Heart Dmg +0.8 → +0.7]
Warmth: [Def +1 → +1.5]
Sparky: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Heart Rate +0.7 → +1]
Illness: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Heart Crit Rate +3% → +4%]
Acute Heart: [Crit Rate +6% → +7%]
Cracked Heart: [Heart Dmg +0.5 → +0.7]
Acute Shot: [Heart Crit Rate +13% → +15%]
Love Mite: [Heart Rate +2.5 → +3]
Ripple Effect: [Heart Dmg +1 → +0.7]
Another Heart: [Heart Rate penalty is reduced with when you have more hearts]
Pile of Hearts: [Heart Rate -30% → -40%] [Heart Rate penalty is reduced with when you have more hearts]
Mote Bulb: [Focus Shot Rate +8% → +12%]
Heat Coil: [Focus Shot Rate +10% → +15%]
Circuitry: [Focus Dmg +10% → +15%]
Chemical Light: [Focus Crit Rate +3% → +5%]
Love: [Heart Crit Rate +8% → +9%]
Apathy: [Heart Dmg +1.2 → +1.8]
Passion: [Heart Dmg +0.8 → +1] [Heart Rate +1 → +1.2]
Elation: [Heart Rate +2.5 → +3] [Shot Speed +2 → +3]
Desire: [Heart Crit Rate +10% → +11%] [Heart Crit Dmg +40% → +50%]
Everything: [Replaced Heart Dmg +1 → +1 All Stone]
------------- Feather Shots -------------
Glow Mite: [Range +40 → +50]
Tiny Feather: [Removed Shot Rate reduction]
Glow Wings: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Range +30 → + 40]
Wingless: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Feather Crit Rate +5% → +6%]
Webbed Wings: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Feather Dmg +0.5 → +0.6] [Added Movement +0.3]
Scale Wings: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Feather Rate +1 → +0.9]
Chitin Wings: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Feather Crit Rate +3% → +4%]
Friendship: [Removed Shot Rate reduction]
Perfect Feather: [Feather Crit Rate +12% → +13%]
Real Wing: [Removed Shot Rate reduction]
Photon Sword: [Focus Shot Dmg +10% → +15%]
Shade Pendant: [Replaced Range +25% → Crit Rate +6%]
Flame Lance: [Focus Range +10% → +25%] [Replaced Crit Rate +6% → Shot Dmg +12% and Shot Size +30%]
Spark Prism: [Focus Shot Rate +10% → +15%]
Poison Needle: [Focus Crit Rate +6% → +5%] [Added focus range +25%]
Rainbow: [Feather Crit Rate +8% → +11%]
Blizzard: [Feather Dmg +0.5 → +0.8]
Wildfire: [Feather Dmg +2 → +2.4]
Storm: [Replaced extra feather → Feather Rate +2]
Acid Rain: [Feather Crit Rate +12% → +15%]
Spectrum: [Feather Rate +2 → +2.5] [Replaced Feather Dmg +1 → +1 All Stone]
------------- Star Shots -------------
Shooting Star: [Max Rate +2.5 → +3]
Star Mite: [Rate Timer -15% → -20%]
Star Shower: [Max Rate +1.5 → +2.5]
Spectral Bloom: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Rate Timer -10% → -15%]
Night Bloom: [Def +1 → +1.5]
Day Bloom: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Star Crit Rate +3% → +4%]
Shock Bloom: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Max Rate +2 → +2.5]
Gloom Bloom: [Def +1 → +1.5] [Star Crit Rate +5% → +6%]
Arrow: [Star Crit Rate +6% → +5%] [Added Max Rate +1]
Photon Wave: [Star Dmg +0.5 → +0.7]
Barrage: [Star Crit Rate +10% → +11%]
Glow Candy: [Focus Star Rate +10% → +15%]
Void Candy: [Focus Star Dmg +10% → +15%]
Spicy Candy: [Focus Fill Rate +10% → +15%] [Added Focus Crit Rate +4%]
Pop Candy: [Focus Shot Size +40% → +50%]
Bitter Candy: [Focus Fill Rate +10% → +15%] [Added Focus Shot Dmg +10% and Size +25%]
Rainbow Star: [Min Rate +2.5 → +3] [Rate Timer -20% → -30%]
Shiver Star: [Max Rate +5 → +7]
Burning Star: [Star Crit Rate +10% → +11%] [Star Crit Dmg +40% → +50%]
Nova Star: [Max Rate +3 → +5] [Rate Timer -15% → -20%]
Protostar: [Star Dmg +1.2 → +1.8] [Star Shot Speed -1 → -1.5]
Wrath of Pride: [Added Min Rate +4] [Max Rate +6 → +8] [Replaced Star Dmg +1 → +1 All Stone]
------------- Quick Gifts -------------
Quicklove+: [Duration 1 → 3]
Quicklove++: [Duration 1 → 3]
Quicklove+++: [Duration 1 → 3]
Love Dye: [Duration 2 → 4]
Dark Dye: [Duration 2 → 4]
Warm Dye: [Duration 2 → 4]
Bright Dye: [Duration 2 → 4]
Murky Dye: [Duration 2 → 4]
Lovestruck: [Duration 1 → 3] [Panic Polyp +1 → Manic Panics +3]
Debris: [Duration 2 → 3]
Terror: [Rank 3 → 2]
Rage: [Duration 1 → 3]
Chaos Glyph: [Duration 3 → 4]
All Shard: [Rank 3 → 2]
Dark Photo: [Rank 3 → 2]
Heart Shard: [Duration 3 → 5]
Null Shard: [Duration 3 → 5]
Heat Shard: [Duration 3 → 5]
Spark Shard: [Duration 3 → 5]
Blight Shard: [Duration 3 → 5]
Dual Stones: [Duration 1 → 3]
Triple Stones: [Duration 1 → 3]
Pile of Stones: [Duration 1 → 3]
Security: [put rank back to 2] [Added effect: helper shots warp around]
------------- Bounties -------------
Green Ore: [Mote Bonus +21% → +18%] [Added Reserve hp +6]
Red Ore: [Mote Bonus +21% → +18%] [Added +2 chrome hearts] [Chrome hearts used in this battle are reset]
Yellow Ore: [Mote Bonus +21% → +18%] [Added +1 Stock Denial]
Blue Ore: [Mote Bonus +21% → +18%] [Added +1 Panic Polyp]
Orange Ore: [Mote Bonus +21% → +18%] [Added +2 Glass Hearts]
Purple Ore: [Mote Bonus +21% → +18%] [Added +1 Stock Revive]
------------- Blessings -------------
Knot Knott: [Heart Rate -20% → -25%] [Heart Rate penalty is reduced with when you have more hearts]
Shamra: [Duration 4 → 7]
Emerald: [Duration 4 → 7]
Hadesoh: [Panics +2 → +1]
Syncron: [Duration 6 → 4] [Added Helper Dmg +16%]
Shiny Syncron: [Duration 1 → 4] [Panics +4 → Manic Panics +4]
Glacia: [Glass Petal effect stacks 2 → 1.5 (of the new effect)]
Totaria: [All Dmg per Def unit +1.5% → +2%]
Shiny Joule: [Duration 3 → 6]
------------- Burdens -------------
Heliola: [Shot Speed +20% → -10%]
Amethyst: [Late Auto Panics] [Manic Panics +2] [Panic Bleed 4]
Forma: [Late Auto Panics] [Manic Panics +4] [Panic Bleed 4]