Against the Storm News

[h3]Greetings, Viceroys![/h3]
I'm your host Pervun Runebeak and in today's update notes, we're covering all the exciting new content that we added to the game in the Modifiers Update. So sit back, grab some Pickled Goods, and let's get started!

Here's what's new:

• 8 new Modifiers
  
• Trade Routes interface improvements
  
• Effect previews for retroactive Cornerstones

Stay with us for the full changelog and the developer notes, where we'll give you the inside scoop on all the design changes.
[hr][/hr]
[h2]DEVELOPER NOTES[/h2]
This update’s highlight, as the name suggests, are new World Map Modifiers. A few weeks back, we asked you to share your ideas for new effects in the Community Brainstorm. We were flooded with hundreds of great suggestions and had a hard time picking a handful that we'd be able to deliver in this update. We finally settled on 8 new Modifiers, and we hope they will provide you with fresh challenges and spice up your runs.

Petrified Necropolis Modifier

While not all ideas from the brainstorm made it into the game this time, don’t be discouraged - this doesn’t mean we will just toss aside the impressive list of potential new effects you came up with. Some of the proposals are already present in a different form (as perks for example), and even more of them will eventually end up being implemented in some way (as they might be more suited for something else than a modifier, or require some additional groundwork).

But modifiers are not the only thing coming in this update. We also introduce some very useful UI features that were highly requested over the last couple of months.

• Improvements to the trade route panel - a “show only available” checkbox, an option to get alerts when auto collect is on, number of available trade routes on the HUD icon, and more.
  
• A bonus preview when choosing retroactive Cornerstones or buying retroactive perks and building upgrades.
  
• Changes to the way the destruction tool works. It will now always ask for confirmation when trying to remove a building, but holding Shift will automatically skip the confirmation popup.
  
• And multiple other, smaller improvements.

We also took a closer look at Order balance in this update. While there are a lot of different objectives to go for in the game, some of them are a bit problematic (be it too difficult, too unrewarding, or too homogeneous), so rather than adding new ones, we decided to clean this system up a bit. Our main goals were twofold - to try and remove duplicates (Orders with very similar objectives), and to widen the pool of meaningful choices (by boosting rarely picked Orders and nerfing some of the most trivial ones). As always, the balance of this system is never really “done”, and we will return to Orders in the future, once we see the effects of today’s changes.

Lastly, some of you might be happy to hear that we added another two new music tracks to the Scarlet Orchard, and revamped a lot of ambient sounds in the game. We also fixed multiple bugs and slightly improved the game’s performance. We are planning a more thorough performance pass in the near future, but we first want to release an experimental update with some of the changes, to see if we are able to address the most prevalent issues without breaking anything else (as this is mostly an engine-level upgrade, not fully in our control).

Thank you for providing us with feedback and suggestions for the new update. If you’d like to share your ideas for upcoming updates, here are some useful links:

• Steam Discussions, Discord, Reddit - discuss the game with the community and share your impressions
  
• Feature Request Tool - suggest specific new features

[hr][/hr]
[h2]CHANGELOG[/h2]
Number of changes: 104
Inspired by community: 49%

Changes marked with ⚡ were inspired by the community.

[h3]New content and features[/h3]

• ⚡ Added 8 new World Map Modifiers (inspired by a recent Community Brainstorm).
  • Frosts - A bizarre cold rises from below and engulfs the Sacred Flame. All Hearths have a smaller radius.
    
  • Abandoned Settlement - Some other Viceroy tried to settle this area, but unfortunately failed... You start with a small destroyed settlement in your initial glade.
    
  • Untamed Wilds - Nobody settled in this region for multiple Cycles. Every Dangerous and Forbidden Glade contains two threats instead of one (except glades with Archaeological Discoveries in the Scarlet Orchard).
    
  • Land of Greed - The strange totem doesn't allow you to share your wealth with anyone... Choosing the "send to Citadel" option in Glade Events no longer awards Reputation Points.
    
  • Petrified Necropolis - Rocks in this region have a very peculiar shape… Dead villagers turn to stone. Gain Meat for every Stone and Clay produced.
    
  • Gathering Storm - A mysterious force is drawing in heavy clouds. Every year, the storm lasts longer.
    
  • Overgrown Library - A remnant of a bygone era, when Royal Archivists themselves ventured out into the wilderness in search of knowledge. One of your starting blueprint choices is replaced by a Wildcard (you can choose one blueprint from all unlocked blueprints).
    
  • Ominous Presence - Something strange is trapped beneath the ground. Gain double the amount of Hostility for each year, but every time a villager dies, Hostility is decreased.
    
  • All new modifiers were added to the Daily Expedition pool and can also be selected in Training Expeditions.

[h3]Balance[/h3]

• ⚡ Increased the total number of modifiers spawned on the World Map. You should see a higher density of points of interest on the map, and this change should also make it a bit easier to find certain Modifiers required by Deeds.
  
• ⚡ Rebalanced Modifier spawn rates - they are now more equally distributed.
  
• Rebalanced multiple orders in the game.
  • Advanced District
    
    • Rewards: removed Simple Tools, added 20 Crystalized Dew.
  • Aid For the Beaver Clan
    • Objectives: added a new objective to produce Wood in the Woodcutters’ Camp.
  • Aid for the Human Clan
    • Objectives: added a new objective to build Comfort decorations.
  • Basic Packages (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: replaced Packs of Building Materials with Packs of Trade Goods in the Order’s objective.
  • Beer Snacks (Timed Order)
    • Rewards: removed Amber, added the Tavern blueprint.
  • Bling-Bling (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: decreased the amount of Amber required.
      
    • Rewards: increased the number of Parts.
  • Building Rush (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: replaced the requirement for delivering Packs of Building Materials with two objectives to build Aesthetic and Harmony decorations.
  • Chest Chaser (Timed Order)
    • Rewards: increased the number of Simple Tools.
  • Cleanliness
    • Objectives: decreased the number of times the need for Cleanliness has to be fulfilled.
  • Construction Work (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: replaced the requirement for delivering Packs of Building Materials with the objective to deliver Pipes.
  • Delivery
    • Objectives: replaced the requirement to deliver Packs of Provisions with the objective to complete Trade Routes.
  • Devilish Curiosity (Timed Order)
    • Time: lowered the time limit by 1 minute.
  • Fearless (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: decreased the number of Forbidden Glades needed.
  • Firestarter
    • Objectives: decreased the number of burned Blightrot Cysts on lower difficulties.
  • Food Provision (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: increased the numbers of required Packs of Provisions
      
    • Time: lowered the time limit by 30s.
  • Funding the Expedition
    • Rewards: removed Planks and added Parts instead.
  • Happy Beavers
    • Objectives: added a new objective to sell goods to traders or via trade routes.
  • Happy Harpies
    • Objectives: added a new objective to build Aesthetic decorations.
  • Happy Humans
    • Objectives: added a new objective to deliver Grain.
  • Happy Lizards
    • Objectives: added a new objective to discover glades.
  • Harpy Resolve
    • Objectives: added a new objective to fulfill the need for Jerky.
  • Housing Estate (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: increased the number of required Shelters.
  • Human Resolve
    • Objectives: added a new objective to fulfill the need for Clothing.
  • Hunters
    • Objectives: increased the amount of required Meat.
  • Into the Ruins
    • Rewards: removed the Egg Containers perk from rewards, added the Reinforced Saw Blades Perk instead.
  • Into the Wilds
    • Rewards: removed Parts, added Insects instead.
  • Joyful Harpies (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: slightly increased the amount of required Resolve.
  • Joyful Lizards (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: slightly increased the amount of required Resolve.
  • Large Parcel (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: Increased the number of required Packs of Building Materials.
    • Rewards: Removed the Mortar and Pestle perk and Bath House blueprint, added the Explorer’s Lodge blueprint and the Scout’s Pack perk.
  • Luxury
    • Rewards: removed Incense, added Biscuits instead.
  • Magical Rainwater (Timed Order)
    • Time: increased the time limit by 1 minute.
  • Outpost (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: added a new objective to deliver Amber.
  • Outposts
    • Rewards: increased the number of Simple Tools given as a reward.
  • Pottery and Wine
    • Rewards: removed the Big Phials perk, added the Advanced Filters perk. Increased the amount of Reeds.
  • Pyromancer
    • Objectives: decreased the number of burned Blightrot Cysts required. Added an easier objective version for lower difficulties.
  • Pyromania
    • Objectives: decreased the number of burned Blightrot Cysts required. Added an easier objective version for lower difficulties.
  • Quick Packaging (Timed Order)
    • Rewards: Removed Amber, added Villagers instead.
  • Rainpunk Enthusiast
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of Rainwater required.
  • Ravenous Axes (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: increased the amount of Wood required.
  • Reckless Viceroy (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: Increased the number of completed events required.
  • Speedy Real Estate (Timed Order)
    • Time: lowered the time limit by 30s.
  • The Forum
    • Objectives: removed the requirement to build a Forum.
      
    • Rewards: removed the Bigger Barrels perk, added the Forum blueprint instead.
  • Thirsty Trader (Timed Order)
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Crystalized Dew. Removed the Advanced Leatherworking perk, added Amber instead.
  • Tooled Up (Timed Order)
    • Time: lowered the time limit by 30s.
  • Trading Master (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: decreased the number of required Packs of Trade Goods and Packs of Luxury Goods.
  • Ultimate Challenge (Timed Order)
    • Time: lowered the time limit by 30s.
  • Urgent Shipment (Timed Order)
    • Rewards: removed Pickled Goods, added Amber instead.
  • Wealthy Trader (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: increased the value of sold goods requirement.
  • Work Break (Timed Order)
    • Objectives: slightly increased the time requirement for not cutting down trees.
      
    • Time: lowered the time limit by 20s.
• Removed two Orders from the game.
  • Allies
    
  • Storekeeper

[h3]UX/UI improvements[/h3]

• ⚡ Improved the Trade Route UI.
  • Changed the way the list of offers works. Now all offers are displayed at once (with small dividers for town names). You no longer have to click on towns to see their offers.
    
  • Moved the buy button for new offer slots from the main offer list to the side list of towns.
    
  • Removed the biome name from the town slot to make more space for the town name. The biome name can still be seen in the town tooltip.
    
  • Added a “show only available” checkbox above the offer list. Checking it will hide offers you can’t afford.
    
  • Added a checkbox to the options menu (in the “Alerts” tab) to enable trade route completion notifications even if auto collect is on (this option is off by default).
    
  • The Trade Route button on the HUD will now show two numbers: trade routes ready to be collected (on the left), and trade routes that can be started right away (on the right). This should make it easier to make decisions at a glance without needing to open the trade route UI.
    
  • Slightly rearranged the Trade Route panel (mostly the checkboxes and the headers).
• ⚡ Added an effect preview in the description of retroactive perks. Now before buying or picking a retroactive perk, you will be able to see the expected bonus from it.
  
• ⚡ Changed the way removing buildings works. Now all buildings (aside from roads and decorations) will always ask for confirmation. You can skip the confirmation pop-up by holding Shift when destroying buildings.
  
• ⚡ Added an explanation to timed Resolve penalties that were started by Forest Mysteries during the Storm (such as Cloudburst and Creeping Shadows). The tooltip now reads “Timed Resolve effects expire only after the timer reaches 0, even if they were started by a Forest Mystery during the Storm.” to avoid confusion.
  
• ⚡ Changed the wording on progress previews in effects that are only active during one season (like Cricket Mating Grounds, Woodpecker Technique, and Improvised Tools).
  
• ⚡ Added a new setting in the options menu - UI scroll sensitivity. It affects all scroll bars in the game’s UI.
  
• ⚡ Updated the description of the Earthquake effect (Drainage Mole) to also include information about nearby glade events being destroyed by it.
  
• ⚡ Improved the wording in the Awakening effect’s description (Infected Drainage Mole) to make it clear that Cysts remain active even after solving the corresponding glade event.
  
• ⚡ Changed the wording in the Silent Looting perk description to make it more consistent with other text in the game.
  
• Added information about the radius to some explosion effects (like in the Noxious Machinery glade event).
  
• Added a new graphic setting in the options menu - shadow fade distance. You can now control the distance at which shadows are disabled (to lower the strain on your GPU or increase the graphical fidelity of the game).
  
• Changed the name of the “Modifiers” tab in the Embark View to “Conditions”, to better describe the information that is available after clicking it.
  
• Changed the name and description of the Ruined Settlement modifier to avoid confusion with the new Abandoned Settlement modifier. It’s now called Ruins, and the description states that there is a higher chance of finding ruined buildings in the forest.
  

[h3]Bug fixes[/h3]

• ⚡ Fixed a bug with Automatons not being affected by production boosting perks.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with removed perks (Religious Settlement and Cosmetic Specialization) still being given as rewards for completing Orders.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the removed Chicken or Egg Cornerstone still being given as a level up reward.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with building categories not lighting up on the bottom HUD after receiving a new blueprint.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with the Dangerous Lands Modifier spawning a Forbidden Glade in the forest.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with failed timed orders preventing players from completing certain deeds (like Defying the Crown).
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with incorrect upgrade cost tooltips in the Mine, Archaeologist’s Office, and Geyser Pump.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the game setting up a low resolution when launched for the first time.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with Geyser Pumps being moveable in settlements with the Levitating Monument modifier.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug that made it possible to place an invisible building.
  
• ⚡ Changed the description of the Friend or Foe effect to take Prestige difficulty modifiers into account.
  
• ⚡ Fixed incorrectly switched values in the Prosperous Archaeology perk description in Traditional Chinese.
  
• ⚡ Fixed multiple incorrect Korean translations for tooltips and building descriptions (for example Embark Bonuses, Essential Blueprint upgrades, and production building descriptions).
  
• ⚡ Fixed incorrect Korean translations for Embark Bonuses and Essential Blueprint upgrades in the Smoldering City.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an incorrect translation of the Into the Forest deed description.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with overlays scaling incorrectly with the UI size setting in the options menu.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a display bug with resource counters on the HUD having an initial value of 99999.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with steam particles not being stopped when the game is paused.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the UI being inactive after typing in a value into the limit text field and hitting Enter.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with trader arrival icons covering worker slots.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with locked perks being available in the Forsaken Altar.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with the intro cutscene having a white frame in ultrawide resolutions.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with the Rotten Rain Forest Mystery being drawn in maps without Fertile Soil.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with some big UI windows not closing when clicking on the background behind them.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with two Encyclopedia entries being locked even if a player has unlocked everything in the game.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the Gathering Knowledge effect (Marshlands biome modifier) affecting Woodcutters.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with logistics lines being visible even after closing the building UI.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a typo in the Blightrot Cauldron working effect description in English.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a typo in the Russian translation of the Firekeeper’s Prayer perk.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a typo in the tree marking tooltip in the japanese version of the game.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a typo in the Spices perk description in English.
  
• ⚡ Removed an unnecessary plus sign from the Survivor Bonding description in French.
  
• ⚡ Removed an unnecessary minus sign from the Infamous Viceroy modifier description.
  
• Fixed a bug with “mark trees” and “unmark trees” shortcuts being available in the tutorial even before building the first Woodcutters’ Camp.

[h3]Other[/h3]

• ⚡ Improved the overall performance of the game.
  • After the last update, we received some reports about the game running slower. Most of them should be addressed now.
    
  • We will release an experimental update in the near future with more fixes and improved performance, and move it over to the main branch once it is stable.
• ⚡ Added two new music tracks to the Scarlet Orchard (Drizzle and Clearance).
  
• Reworked all ambient sounds for the Cursed Royal Woodlands (all 3 seasons).
  
• Added new ambient sound to the Scarlet Orchard (Clearance).
  
• Added new ambient sounds to the Marshlands (Storm).
  
• Tweaked the volume levels of all ambient sounds in the game.

[hr][/hr]
[h2]COMMUNITY CORNER[/h2]
Click to unfold:
[expand]
Today's Community Corner shines the spotlight on the brilliant sketches created by mcnostril. They’ll make you laugh and they’ll make you think.



Whining by mcnostril (source: Twitter)

Viceroy concept by mcnostril (source: Twitter)

Let’s move on to the memes:

To each their own by Quavinir (source: Discord)

Now kiss by yeo (source: Discord)

Still better love story than Twilight.

I was able to turn the whole forest into a parking lot by u/Tomsomad99 (source: Reddit)

Now you understand why the Forest is hostile.

Zhorg by u/funjordan (source: Reddit)

Just Scarlet Orchard things by Isseus (source: Discord)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2938148305
[/expand]
For more artwork and memes, visit Steam, Discord, and Reddit.

As always, we wish you an awesome weekend and hope to see you again in two weeks!

[hr][/hr]
[h2]PREVIOUS UPDATES[/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3659774324617359177
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3659773057719588996
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3640631489831270819
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3650762049192609142

[h3]Greetings, Viceroys![/h3]
We prepared a little hotfix to tackle some overlooked issues:

• Fixed an issue with Cysts removed by destroying buildings not lowering Hostility (when solving the Infected Mole event).
  
• Fixed a bug with incorrect consequences being applied when attacking Sahilda.
  
• Fixed a bug with the Stormforged version of the Improvised Tools Cornerstone not working when bought during the Storm.
  
• Fixed an issue with some buttons in the Training Expedition panel not being translated into languages other than English.
  
• Fixed multiple typos (incorrectly interpreted "\n" marklings) in the Simplified Chinese version of the game.

We're as always grateful for all your reports and wish you a fantastic weekend!

May the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games

[h3]Greetings, Viceroys![/h3]
Today, as we reflect on the past and look into the future of Against the Storm, please allow us to be a bit sentimental and dedicate this intro to each of you who joined us on this wondrous adventure. Thank you, Viceroys, for helping us shape this game!

And how here's what's new:

• New logistics functionality
  
• Lighter Treatment cooldown
  
• Altar of Decay event
  
• 5 new Cornerstones
  
• and more!

Let's delve into the changelog and the results of the 5th Species Community Vote.

But before, if you're not tired of surveys yet, please let us know what characters from the game you'd like to see turned into merchandise!

TAKE THE SURVEY

We'd love to create physical items from the world of Against the Storm one day and we're curious to know who are your favorites!

[h2]COMMUNITY VOTE - RESULTS[/h2]
The time has come for the big reveal! The 5th species in Against the Storm will be...

Foxes!

With 11,197 votes (~57% of total votes), Foxes won against Frogs (~31%) and Bats (~12%). We will dedicate the upcoming weeks to working on the new species while delivering the usual (although a bit smaller) bi-weekly updates. Below, you can find the first concept art of some of the building modules.

We plan to add the 5th species to the game sometime in April this year. Keep your eyes open for sneak peeks!

[h2]DEVELOPER NOTES[/h2]
In today’s update, we bring you a small yet significant change to the favoring mechanic, some improvements to logistics, a new event, new perks, the reworked Noxious Machinery event, and quite a lot of balance. Let’s get straight into it.

[h3]Favoring (Lighter Treatment)[/h3]
First of all, let’s talk about favoring. We decided to take a closer look at it in this update because it started to become problematic for the balance and long-term health of the game. It was one of the first mechanics introduced to the game around 3 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUcQEgPktXA
Favoring in Against the Storm's 2020 demo

At that time there weren’t really any other tools to combat Resolve drops. It was added for two main reasons:

• As a way of dealing with low Resolve values near the leaving threshold (as there were no other mechanisms to help with that outside of perks and complex needs).
  
• As a tool for boosting a given species’ Resolve in situations of bad resource/recipe RNG (when players weren’t able to support one of their species in any other way).

Favoring served these purposes for a long time, but as the game evolved and changed, it started to stick out more and more. Several problems became apparent:

• Favoring had no consequences, it could be turned on and off without any implications.
  
• There were no bad decisions when interacting with this mechanic. It could simply be turned off or redirected to another species in a split second. And there not being bad decisions meant there weren’t any good ones either.
  
• Favoring obstructed other mechanics (clothing, complex food, rain engines, specializations, hubs) and made them less significant (because it was easier to press one button without consequences).
  
• It allowed “juggling” (quick switching between species favoring to prevent them from leaving).
  
• It didn’t make much sense in terms of flavor (every 10 seconds a different species could be favored).

For a long time now, we kept all these problems in mind and tried to figure out a way to fix them. At the same time, we tried to lay the groundwork for a potential favoring nerf, by gradually introducing new tools that would help players manage Resolve drops and alleviate some problems with the RNG (for example: sacrificing, resolve bonuses in rain engines, consumption control and the ability to stockpile goods, essential camps, specializations, hubs, etc.). And with this update, we finally feel confident that there are enough alternatives to make a favoring change less painful than it would otherwise be.
After a long design process and multiple discussions, we arrived at a set of criteria the new favoring mechanic had to meet:

• It should add a consequence to the mechanic (even if it’s a minor one).
  
• It should remove juggling.
  
• It should keep the mechanic simple and understandable at a glance.
  
• It shouldn’t disrupt other systems.

Based on that, and with the help of the community, we came up with a few possible solutions, from which we then tested two on the experimental branch. One of them was a 60-second cooldown for favoring, and the other was a change to how Resolve regenerates after it dropped (basically equalizing the rate at which Resolve falls and rises). After some extensive rounds of testing and discussion (for which we are very grateful to all the players who tried this change on the experimental branch), we finally decided to go with the 60-second cooldown, because it fits all the criteria, and didn’t require a big rework and/or rebalance of core systems (as opposed to the other idea with equalizing Resolve rates).

We hope that the change to favoring will shift the meta into a more healthy place in the long run, and allow us to introduce new mechanics and challenges that won’t easily be invalidated. And of course, as always - nothing is final. We will keep an eye on the game’s balance after this change and adjust if needed.

[h3]Logistics[/h3]
Logistics range

Now let's move on to the second big change coming in this update - logistics improvements. From now on, workers in production buildings will be able to get ingredients from other nearby buildings (in a limited range), instead of having to go all the way back to a warehouse. There is also a handy visualization of connections when selecting a building. The main goal of this change is to support the fantasy of placing certain types of structures next to each other because they are linked thematically and/or production-wise (like a mill next to a bakery). It should also provide a slight efficiency boost to players for constructing specialized production zones.

[h3]Other additions and the new species[/h3]
Altar of Decay

Logistics and favoring aren’t the only things coming in this update. There are also multiple smaller additions in this update - a new glade event that can be converted into a decoration (Altar of Decay), 5 new Cornerstones, UX improvements to the hub system, some event and perk balance (Living Matter nerf, yay!), numerous bug fixes, and a new music track in the Scarlet Orchard.
Lastly, we wanted to briefly talk a bit about the progress we’ve made on the new species. We are hard at work behind the scenes, mostly focusing on the art style and characteristics of Foxes, and how they fit into the overall structure of the game. We are happy to share that we already have a visual style for their architecture, as well as an early version of needs and buildings in place. In the coming weeks, we will focus on specializations, perks, orders, final assets, and a lot of testing.

Foxes building modules concept art

Unfortunately, this means that some of the updates in the near future will be less packed with content and focused more on quality of life, balance, optimization, and smaller features (but they will still come every two weeks!). We hope that you'll enjoy what we have in store for you, even if its scope is somewhat reduced, and that the next species will be worth the wait.
Thank you for providing us with feedback and suggestions for the new update. If you’d like to share your ideas for upcoming updates, here are some useful links:

• Steam Discussions, Discord, Reddit - discuss the game with the community and share your impressions
  
• Feature Request Tool - suggest specific new features

May the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games

[h2]CHANGELOG[/h2]
Number of changes: 64
Inspired by community: 53%

Changes marked with ⚡ were inspired by the community.

[h3]New content and features[/h3]

• ⚡ Added new logistics functionality to the game.
  • Workers in production buildings can now take resources directly from internal storages of other nearby buildings.
    
  • Workers will take resources only from buildings in a small radius around the workshop.
    
  • When placing or selecting a building, animated lines will appear on the screen, showing connections to buildings that are in range. Only buildings capable of producing goods used in active recipes are marked. The nearest warehouse is also marked.
    
  • Workers will still take resources from warehouses if there are no resources in nearby internal storages.
• ⚡ Changed the way Favoring (Lighter Treatment) works.
  • When you stop favoring a species, a 60-second cooldown will prevent you from favoring another species right away.
    
  • When hovering over the favoring button, the Resolve values near the species portraits will change, giving you a preview of the effect before clicking.
• Added 1 new Glade Event.
  • Altar of Decay - A sinister stone structure created to worship the Blightrot. Cultists have engraved the inscription: "Nothing escapes death".
• The Noxious Machinery Glade Event has been reworked.
  • It now no longer pumps rainwater into the settlement's tanks and kills villagers when the limit is reached. Instead, it now “steals” rainwater and generates a small number of Cysts every 120 seconds.
• Added 5 new Cornerstones.
  • Alarm Bells - The Brass Order's newest invention - an intricate system of sensors that can detect Corruption before it spreads too much. Workers have a 15% higher chance of producing double yields when Hearth's Expected Corruption Rate is 200% or higher.
    
  • Royal Guard Training - The Crown sends two Royal Guards to your village. Instead of simply brawling, villagers will now train under them. Fulfilling the need for Brawling grants an additional +5 to Resolve, but attacking a trader will result in you getting 2 extra Impatience Points.
    
  • Industrialized Agriculture - +50% to the number of goods produced in the Forester's Hut.
    
  • Advanced Herbalism - +50% to the number of goods produced in the Herb Garden.
    
  • Large Baskets - +50% to the number of goods produced in the Plantation.

[h3]Balance[/h3]

• ⚡ Rebalanced the Sacred Flame Rituals Forest Mystery and changed its description to avoid confusion. Previously, it was worded as if every villager that wasn’t paid for, would die (but in fact, only one would be killed per year). Now it clearly states that the consequence for not paying only applies once per year, and the number of victims was increased from 1 to 2.
  
• ⚡ Moved the Field Kitchen unlock from the Dim Square Level 8 upgrade to Level 7. The Packs of Provisions Embark Bonus from Level 7 was moved up to Level 8.
  
• ⚡ Rebalanced the Living Matter Glade Event. The working effect (Decaying Food) should now consume less food (around 17% less on lower difficulties, and 33% less on Viceroy).
  
• Rebalanced the Petrified Tree Glade Event. It now has an additional working effect (fewer spots in every house), but the woodcutting speed penalty was nerfed.
  
• Slightly increased the spawn rate of the Petrified Tree Glade Event.
  
• Cysts can now spawn on warehouses. The Main Warehouse can have 6 cysts, and the small Warehouse can have 3.
  
• Lowered the carrying capacity boost from the Ancient Strength upgrade in the Archaeologist’s Office from 10 to 5.
  
• Rebalanced multiple Cornerstones.
  • Safe Haven - changed the rarity of this perk from Epic to Legendary.
    
  • Woodpecker Technique - no longer gives 1 Insect for every 2 trees. Now gives 2 Insects for every tree cut during the Storm.
    
  • Reinforced Axes - lowered the woodcutting speed bonus from 40% to 35%.
    
  • Worker's Rations - lowered the chance of double food consumption from 25% to 20%.
    
  • Counterfeit Amber - now requires 75 water used instead of 100.
    
  • Urban Planning - removed the downside (construction time increase).
    
  • Improvised Tools - now gives 10 Simple Tools (instead of 5) per glade and no longer decreases woodcutter Resolve. But glades must be discovered during the Storm.
    
  • Force of Nature - now gives a +1 bonus to Storm Water production every 2 woodcutters (instead of every 3).
    
  • Overexploitation - lowered the amount of Hostility given by this perk by 33%.
    
  • Overexploitation (Stormforged) - increased the bonus to newly discovered glades. It now adds 15 charges to small nodes and 50 charges to big nodes.
• Removed 5 Cornerstones
  • Advanced Fuel - removed from yearly rewards, only available in orders/from traders.
    
  • Religious Settlement - removed completely.
    
  • Cosmetic Specialization - removed completely
    
  • Chicken or Egg? - removed completely.
    
  • Exploration Training - removed completely.

[h3]UX/UI improvements[/h3]

• ⚡ Added all three levels (Encampment, Neighborhood, District) to the Hearth UI, to make it easier to know where the player currently is.
  
• ⚡ Changed the wording of multiple UI elements referring to hubs. Most of them now simply refer to “Hearth levels” and “upgrading the Hearth” to make it easier to understand and not feel lost when orders are asking for “advancing hubs”.
  
• ⚡ Added a “(Level X)” text to every Hearth stage, to make it easier to identify the different upgrade levels at a glance.
  
• ⚡ Updated the “Shortcuts” entry in the in-game Encyclopedia with new keybinds.
  
• ⚡ Added a tooltip trigger (“i” icon) to the UI panel of all unconstructed buildings, explaining how construction priority works.
  
• ⚡ Added information about Reputation Points lowering Impatience to all Reputation tooltips (rewards, the Reputation bar).
  
• ⚡ Added an error message with instructions on how to proceed when an autosave fails.
  
• Changed the description of the Prestige 10 modifier (Sinister Blight) to also include information about increased Blightrot Cysts spawns from sources like glade events, etc.
  
• Updated Prestige names in the difficulty tooltip to use Roman and Arabic numerals based on the language selected in the options menu.
  
• Rainwater tanks are now visible on the HUD before unlocking Rainpunk Technology in the Smoldering City.

[h3]Bug fixes[/h3]

• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the Living Matter Farmer Deed not completing after meeting its requirements.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the penalty from the Ghost of a Scared Firekeeper not applying correctly.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with mines being impossible to destroy.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with some glades having two dangerous events instead of one.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with Favoring still being active after two species left the settlement/died.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with production boosting effects (like Force of Nature) not applying to Geyser Pumps.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with Wildcard search boxes not accepting special/non-latin characters.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with Wildcard effect being available in the tutorial.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with incorrect consequences being applied after attacking Sahilda.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with resources vanishing when a worker is interrupted before starting a production cycle.
  
• ⚡ Fixed a bug with the Rainpunk Panel not refreshing when installing a Rain Engine through the Rainpunk Overlay.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with the Rainpunk Overlay being active for players who haven’t unlocked Rainpunk yet.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with some converted structures (from glade events) displaying construction costs in their tooltip.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with tooltips of restored Haunted Ruins missing information about rainwater.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with the internal storage UI in some buildings not having enough room for all produced/gathered resources (like the Woodcutters’ Camp in the Coral Forest).
  
• ⚡ Changed the layout of Blightrot Cysts on Shelters to make it easier to see them at a glance (especially when placing Shelters right next to each other).
  
• ⚡ Fixed numerous translation errors, and improved the overall quality and clarity of the Simplified Chinese localization of the game.
  
• ⚡ Fixed an issue with some Japanese characters having an incorrect typeface.
  
• Fixed a bug with Resolve tooltips still displaying “time to leave” when hovering over a Species that is already gone from the settlement.
  
• Fixed a bug with Prestige descriptions being scaled incorrectly on the difficulty tooltip in the Embark View
  
• Fixed an issue with the Archaeologist’s Office sound effects not stopping when the game is paused.

[h3]Other [/h3]

• ⚡ Added a new music track to the Scarlet Orchard (Clearance).
  
• Added new unique sound effects for traders arriving and leaving. These should help you identify who is currently visiting your settlement.
  
• Improved the overall performance of the game (especially when rendering a lot of complicated UI elements).
  
• Changed the entrance icon when placing a building.

[h2]COMMUNITY CORNER[/h2]
Click to unfold:

[expand]We can’t imagine beginning this Community Corner with anything other than u/oWispYo’s stunning wooden magnets. We’re impressed by the attention to detail and the exceptional quality. Simply amazing!

Wooden magnets by u/oWispYo (source: Reddit - open for more photos)

Another shoutout goes to this lovely Harpy fan art. What an awesome job!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2922440573
We had no doubt the new species choice would be a difficult one to make…
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2927499960
… although we imagined them slightly differently than some of you.

Choose your fighter by Isseus (source: Discord)

And this leads us to more memes:

Day in the life of a true Beaver geezer by tomato (source: Discord)


Beaver’s purpose by (source: Reddit)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2923518719

The Queen’s Impatience by u/DontKillTheWarCrier (source: Reddit)

For more artwork and memes, visit Steam, Discord, and Reddit.
[/expand]

As always, we wish you an awesome weekend and hope to see you again in two weeks!

[h2]PREVIOUS UPDATES[/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3659773057719588996
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3640631489831270819
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3650762049192609142
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3650762049141623983
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3602347155558454392
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3489755739074348647
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/5024356235717954632

[h3][February 9] EXPERIMENTAL UPDATE 0.44.3E[/h3]
We just released a small update to the experimental branch (to test out some favoring alternatives).

Changelog:

• From now on, favoring no longer has a cooldown, but the rate at which Resolve bounces back is a lot slower (it's now the same as the rate at which Resolve falls).
  
• Added a temporary buff to all villagers at the start of every Drizzle. It increases the rate at which Resolve rises, to help with its recovery after the Storm.
  
• Fixed a bug with some workers being stuck in the idle state.

If you get a chance to play with this new iteration, please let us know what you think!

[h3][February 8] EXPERIMENTAL HOTFIX 0.44.02E[/h3]
Hello! We just released a small hotfix for the experimental branch. Workers should no longer carry 0 resources.

[h3][February 7] EXPERIMENTAL UPDATE 0.44.1E[/h3]


Greetings, Viceroys!
In the new Experimental Update, we address two systems that are regularly discussed on our forums:

• Species favoring
  
• Logistics

The changes we propose, while small in their nature, may have a grand impact on the game’s balance and gameplay. We’d love to hear what you think before we roll them out to the main branch.

[h2]What did we change?[/h2]
To prevent abusing the Species favoring system, we’re adding a 60-second cooldown. You will need to wait a full minute after you stop favoring one species before you’ll be able to turn on favoring for another.

We’re also making it possible for production building workers to take resources from other nearby buildings’ internal storages (within a limited range). When placing a building (or opening its Storage tab) you will be able to see connections to other buildings from which workers can get resources.

Workers will always go to the nearest Warehouse if there are no resources in nearby buildings.



[h2]How to test it?[/h2]
In order to test the new mechanic, you need to play on the Experimental Branch (click here to learn how to switch to the Experimental Branch).

[h2]What are we interested in?[/h2]
If you decide to play the Experimental Update, please share your thoughts with us!

Primarily, we are interested in your answers to the following questions:

• How do the new Favoring and logistics changes affect your runs?
  
• Is there anything about these new mechanics that makes the gameplay feel worse (especially more repetitive) or better (especially more diverse)?
  
• Have you experienced any significant change in the game’s difficulty?

We can’t wait to hear your impressions once you give the new Experimental Update a try!

May the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games


[h2]Previous Updates[/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3659773057719588996
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3640631489831270819
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1336490/view/3650762049192609142

[h3]Greetings, Viceroys![/h3]
The "cursed week" (as we internally call it) ends soon, but our efforts to make Against the Storm as enjoyable as possible continue. While we experienced some setbacks with the recent Rainpunk Update (Part 2), we're grateful for your support in helping us resolve these issues.

Changelog:

• Fixed a bug with the Friend or Foe effect (Corrupted Caravan) staying active even after completing the event.
  
• Fixed a bug with the Blightrot Spawn Rate and Corruption Rate being too high on difficulty levels below Prestige 10.
  
• Fixed a bug with some Dangerous Glades being incorrectly marked as Forbidden in the Marshlands and Coral Forest.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Engine Blight Rate effect being reversed.
  
• Temporarily disabled Noxious Machinery from spawning (in settlements started after the hotfix). This event had several issues with the working effect and an unclear description. It will come back in the next update, after being rebalanced and polished.
  
• Lowered the number of cysts spawned from the Blight from the Sky Forest Mystery from 2 to 1 on difficulty levels below Prestige 10.
  
• Additionally, this mystery will now activate at a higher Hostility level.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Advanced Rain Collector having a capacity of 50 water units instead of 100.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Force of Nature Cornerstone not taking existing woodcutters into account (and going below 0 if said woodcutters were unassigned).
  
• Fixed an issue with the Blightrot Cauldron spawning for players without Rainpunk unlocked.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Friend or Foe effect spawning Blightrot Cysts when the Hostility level changed (regardless of the timer).
  
• Fixed an issue with Blightrot spawn effects not scaling with the Prestige 10 modifier.
  
• Fixed an issue with double-star indicators for all recipes in the Recipe Panel.
  
• Increased the requirement for spawning Blightrot Cysts in the Growth Medium working effect (Blightrot Cauldron) from 10 units of food produced to 20.
  
• Increased the time interval for Blightrot Cysts spawns in the Voice of the Forest effect (Withered Tree) from 90 seconds to 120 seconds.
  
• Decreased the number of Cysts spawned by the Voice of the Forest effect from 2 to 1 on difficulties lower than Prestige 10.

We're sorry for any inconvenience and hope that with this hotfix you'll be able to properly enjoy the new features of the Rainpunk Update (Part 2).

May the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games

[h2]Previous Updates[/h2]
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1336490/announcements/detail/3659773057721382983
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1336490/announcements/detail/3659773057719588997
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1336490/announcements/detail/3640631489831270820