New Caverns Mode (Patch Notes 7)

Hi everyone! We have an exciting new update for you today; a new game-mode, loads of new content and improvements!

New Features:

1. Caverns Mode - A new mode in which the environment will generate and develop around you! You have a basic starting cave with a few random resources, and as you mine out you'll discover more random caves. There are currently over 30 different types of cave to discover; some are brimming with resources, some hold other clans, others feature dangerous new enemies. Give this mode a try, and see what you can find!
2. Minimap - The minimap now shows what part of the map you're currently looking at, with a rectangle. It also now features exclamation marks where your objectives are located.
3. Damage Counters - When any unit or building is damaged, hit counters will now appear as small numbers above their head, indicating the amount of damage dealt. The hit counter appears red for regular damage, yellow for critical hits, and green for healing.
4. End of Level Statistics - When playing the campaign, at the end of each level, you'll now be presented with a window showing statistics. This includes: time in map, dwarf count, goblins defeated, and some teaser information like schematics collected 0/2, indicating whether or not you've missed some. We'll be adding to this list in future updates.
5. Spiders - Currently only featured in the new Caverns mode, we talked briefly about them in our last progress report. There are still a few features to add, like the knock-out effect, but they already have a neat spawning ecosystem. All I'm going to say is, I'm really happy with how the eggs have turned out.
6. Cobblestone - A new buildable floor which gives units a small movement speed boost (found on the second page of infrastructure).
7. Wooden Doors - A new rotatable building that allows you to block most enemies from entering, while allowing allies through. Wooden doors can however be broken down, like any other building.
8. Coal - New mineral used to fuel forges, craft lamp posts and used as fertiliser for saplings. The sprite will be updated in a later patch.
9. Iron Roots - Similar to regular roots which also produce wood, however iron roots can only be harvested using an iron sickle.
10. Spawning Mist - Areas of high moisture will now randomly spawn mist. If you didn't already know, mushrooms and saplings grow quicker in areas of high moisture.
11. Storage Full Notification - Replaced a rarely-used storage counter with a 'storage full' notification, indicating when your units can no longer find room in storage.
12. New Sound FX - Ballistas now have loading & firing SFX. Goblins will voice more often during combat.
13. Various New Items - Including potions that heal, tomes that level up your dwarves when activated and small artefacts used as currency with Clan Kindlewick (currently only found in Caverns mode). Also features the iron sickle, which is a new tool craftable after unlocking the Smithing tech.
14. Forager Crafting - Previously, the engineer would craft and build mobbit traps and saplings. This is now the work of the Forager.
15. Storage Configuration - Now features an 'All' checkbox, making it easier to restrict storage areas to specific items.

Fixes & Improvements:

1. AI Performance - We've made some major improvements to the performance of AI, and pathfinding. Before this update, there were points where an AI unit would get stuck and cause a drop to performance as a result. Now however, getting stuck is no longer an issue for the engine.
2. In-game Dialog - The appearance of in-game dialog has been refined. The name of the unit talking is separated from their dialog, and colour-coordinated based on clan.
3. Dwarf Classes - Small balance improvement to damage dealt by each class. Also any dwarf trying to change class that is obstructed will now give up, instead of spamming the player with voice-cues.
4. Campaign Improvements - Various levels in chapter 1 of the campaign have undergone improvements. We've introduced granite and coal, and many of the idle Fishbeard dwarves that you encounter will now be mining and foraging. We've also made the last enemy in chapter 1 a little harder to beat.
5. Tutorial Improvements - Improved clarity in places and made some dialog more concise.
6. Main Menu - Maps that you haven't played yet will now appear with a '(New)' next to them. This data hasn't been logged until now, so as of this update, everything will have a (New) next to it until you play it.
7. Unit Cap UI - The UI in the top left now better explains how the unit cap works when you hover over it.
8. Structure & Moisture Indicators - No longer prevent placing buildings.
9. Various Sprite Updates - Moderate meals, minecarts and a few other entities have undergone improvements to their graphic.
10. Many smaller refinements, such as a bolder bevel for buttons and headings.

Once again, please let us know if you run into any issues. Also, if you have a play of caverns mode, please consider sharing your experience of it with us, either in the forums or through the feedback form. What you like or don't like, what you think we should work on next; any feedback you give is gold!

That's all for now, enjoy the rest of your weekend!