1.8.0 Release Notes and Date (Patreon)

Hello Everyone!

The time has come! We're pleased to announce that the release date for our backer build will be next Friday, May 7th. That makes our public release two weeks after as usual on Friday, May 21st.

We're incredibly excited for you all to get your hands on this one. In terms of the sheer number of systems touched, this has been our largest update. We took a look at our commit system (the system we use to pass game versions back and forth between Luciana and I). In this update alone, we've committed 100 different progressive versions back and forth. That's insane!

Patch notes can be found below. We may yet find a way to sneak in one or two more quality of life improvements, but this should be the bulk of what we're doing. If this seems crazy complicated, don't worry. On paper it's quite a lot to process, but in game I don't think it'll be nearly so hard to get a handle on.

See you in a week!

Patch Notes: 1.8.0 - Growth Potential

Note: Due to extensive changes, saves made prior to patch 1.8.0 will not be compatible moving forward. 

1.8.0 redesigns several of the core systems and adds numerous quality of life improvements to the game. Some of the highlights include:

Energy Redesign

Energy costs and daily gain have both been substantially reduced overall. This should keep energy reserves (and therefore costs) from peaking into truly ridiculous numbers so quickly.

Buildings and Management Redesign

The way that buildings function has been reworked. Buildings now have a level that determines their base energy output. They receive a certain number of visitors each day (which can be increased by working in that location) and will be ready to 'level up' after a number of visitors are banked. This upgrade has a small energy cost associated with it, and will increase the base energy and power of the building. 

Each building also now has three 'modes' of operation. By default, all buildings are placed in the 'basic management' mode, which increases energy per day from that location. Each of these modes becomes more powerful with every level that location has gained, and can be changed freely at any time.

Finally, each building now has a 'management modifier' that alters the amount of energy made each day. This modifier can be raised by working in a location, though it will decay back to its minimum value over time. Many abilities can affect the minimum and maximum modifier, as well as the rate at which it decays. Finally, recruiting an employee to a location via transformation will also raise the minimum and maximum values. 

This information can be reviewed for all locations at once by clicking on the PDA icon now found in the side bar.

Special Abilities

Starting a few days into Chapter 2, Lazren will dispatch a pair of trainers (Munokho and Kagar) to assist you in learning to harness your soulgems in order to obtain special powers. These special abilities are typically global in nature, affecting every currently-built location. Each ability will cost an amount of energy based on its tier, and you will also need to commit one of your soulgems to the ability (soulgems will still count for the purpose of passing end-of-chapter gates).

Special abilities are broken into three tiers and each tier requires two of the previous tier in order to buy. Thus, each Tier 3 ability requires that two Tier 2 abilities be purchased first, and each Tier 2 ability requires two Tier 1 abilities to be purchased first. With the current seven soul gems in the game, the player can make one complete pyramid of abilities (IE: one Tier 3 ability, two Tier 2 abilities, and four Tier 1 abilities). These purchases are permanent and, once bought, cannot be undone. 

The Vault

Energy reserves now have a maximum value, starting at 200 energy in Chapter 1. This is the capacity of your friendly Naga employee, Selene, who will also appear at the start of Chapter 1. Selene is a living storage unit for the tower's energy, and will be more than happy to discuss matters after the initial introduction to Mason at the start of the game.

The vault's capacity can be increased for an energy price. However, this does require expanding Selene to match. She is currently deciding between putting that extra mass into her chest, or preparing to mate by growing some traditionally male equipment. Each vault increase will make the chosen section a little bigger and greatly please your new Naga. Though you can enjoy her company whenever you expand her, please note there is currently no additional art associated with the action.

Achievements and Employee Files

Achievements have been added to the game for a variety of special actions. These can be found by clicking on the new trophy icon in the sidebar. In addition, each employee now has an employee file available in the side bar that will update throughout the game with their current status, as well as remind you of the details of their work with you.

Quality of Life Improvements

A number of quality of life improvements have been made to improve the aesthetics of the side bar. An icon with your picture and current necklace status has been updated and new sidebar buttons have been added for a variety of tasks.