Journey to the West News

Updates of 4/17/2022

This week, as we are focusing on developing endless mode and the final chapter, major updates are:

• Endless Mode: We finished the endless algorithm design and implementation, and will start massive internal testing, polishing and tuning next week.
  
• Chapter 4: We finished implementing combat logic of NPCs in Chapter 4, and map scene design and character design are currently on track too.
  
• We published the Android version on TapTap.io, which is fully in sync with our Steam version (with 1-2 days lag due to possible audit when publishing updates). Please note that the current experience is optimized for PC, not for mobile. We plan to optimize the mobile version after full release！
  
• Cloud save now available. Make sure to turn on the cloud save support for our game and you can sync progress across PC and Mac.
  

[h2]Optimization[/h2]

• Optimize effect pooling assets to improve loading speed
  
• Adjust saturation for cards to improve user experience
  
• Improved statistics tracking and analytics, track start event and talent nodes
  

[h2]Enhancement and Balancing[/h2]
Game Logic

• Add hide button for card picker to optimize usability
  
• Allow use of potions when in the reward menu
  
• Add additional info for enhanced Spirit Pact Card
  
• The Memory Keeper won't reduce max hand size if she is on player’s side
  
• The Bull King: adjusted Bull King’s AI when he is on player’s side
  

[h2]Bug Fixes[/h2]

Game logic bug fixes

• Fix companion upgrade events
  
• Fix potion picker
  
• Analytics bug fixes
  
• Fix a bug when pilgrim duplicates consumable causes freeze
  
• Fix intent change issue after Flying is removed
  
• Fix a bug where status might still run after the character is defeated
  
• Fix a bug that Double Down on Silver Horn will make Dare You to crash
  
• Fix hide button scale bug
  

Localization and text bug fixes

• Fix card description bugs
  

Other Bug Fixes

• Other small adjustments
  

Thank you everyone for very insightful feedback! This week we made a lot of progress on game performance optimization and are on track to develop the final chapter. Major updates:

• Optimize art assets and reduce the overall package size by 30% and improve loading speed
  
• Enable the functionality of skip dialogs by long pressing blank space key for better user experiences
  
• Further enhance Holy Monk’s Spirit Pack Card - now Spirit Pack can capture Bosses after upgrading twice (enhanced), and one of the talents now grants an enhanced Spirit Pack card.
  

Try to team up with the bosses and turn these powerful characters against each other!



[h2]Optimization[/h2]

• Optimize audio assets to improve loading speed
  
• Update all event images to jpg and optimize combat background assets to reduce size and loading speed
  
• Remove unused assets to reduce size and memory use
  
• Now player can skip dialogues if long press bottom or space key for better user experience
  

[h2]Enhancement and Balancing[/h2]
Game Logic

• Spirit pact can be upgraded twice to capture bosses
  
• Allow Holy Monk to capture the Bull King during his Bull phase
  
• Allow the player to summon multiple nightmares on the enemy side
  
• Poison less than 5 will not remove 1 Burning during explosion
  

Wukong

• Like a Fortress: Common ->uncommon, add “Retain” keyword, adds 16 block-> 24 Block
  
• Shadow Dancer: Retains 1 card -> 2 cards
  
• Fishing the moon: Energy cost 1->0, gain 1 Evasion when receiving HP damage before next turn -> choose 3 cards from Draw pile and put on top of the Draw pile
  

White Dragon

• Reset and Restart: base version gives 1 Energy and Draw 1 card. Upgrade version: Energy cost -1
  

Holy Monk

• Holy Monk's talent: Infinity Sutra Vol.1 gives an enhanced Spirit Pact card instead of an upgraded card
  
• Change forgiveness: Add “Exhaust” keyword, convert all debuff to Good -> all buff and debuffs
  
• All in One Go: Energy Cost 0->1
  

Neutral Card

• Time Bomb: Deal 30 damage to all targets at the end of turn -> attack all targets with 30 damage at end of turn. Attack 1 more time each use.
  
• Judge's Ink Brush: Energy cost 1->0.
  
• Puppeteer: Summons 1 elite skeleton -> 2 elite skeletons
  Never Give Up: Energy cost 2->1
  
• Block Not Included: “Exhaust” -> “Retain”, Energy cost 0->1, remove up to 30 Blocks from one enemy-> all enemies
  
• Absorb Block: Add “Retain” keyword, Energy cost 1->0
  

NPC

• Celestial of Wishes:
  • Phantom Menace cannot affect Elite or Boss
    
  • Mirrors can only deal 50% damage by default
• Lady Green:Tail Lash requires HP damage to apply Entangled.
  
• God of Agriculture: Root of Nature loses 4 HP to apply Entangled.
  
• The Fallen Phoenix: Rebirth in Darkness requires Phoenix status to unleash full power.
  
• Master Zenith: Adjust wolf form: Attack damage 15->6, Bleeding Count 2->1
  

Companion

• Haunting Beauty: Confusing Spell cannot affect Elite or Boss.
  

Relics

• Seven Star Whip: deal 7 damage to all enemies for every 3 skill cards played -> deal 7 damage to all enemies for every 3 skill cards played, increases damage by 1 in this combat after each damage
  
• Cracked Diamond Bracelet: gain block next turn equal to HP damage received this turn -> 50% HP damage received
  

Consumables

• No balance patch.
  

[h2]Bug Fixes[/h2]

Game logic bug fixes

• Fix remove exhaust keyword does not work in Spirit Shifted card after reloading the game
  
• Fix a bug where super body slam crashes after use
  
• Fix sprite freeze after a failed flying
  
• Fix a bug when drinking soup of forgotten and max HP is below limit
  
• Fix a bug where you can dig multiple relics with space
  
• Fix a bug where Poisoned Weapon does not stack correctly
  
• Fix a bug where Guardian‘s Courage does not stack correctly
  
• Fix a bug where confused is not modifying energy cost correctly
  
• Fix a list of potential crashes
  
• Fix invisible on player causing enemy to lose target for an additional turn
  
• Fix a bug of second Best Practice will cause the game to freeze
  
• Fix Half Moon Shovel animation for Holy Monk
  

Localization and text bug fixes

• Simplified card description and additional info for White Dragon and Neutral cards
  
• Fix card description bugs
  
• Fix additional info for Sword Breaker
  
• Fix English typos
  

Other Bug Fixes

• Fix some warning info
  
• Other small adjustments
  

Update of 4/10/2022

This week, we added a new feature to allow Holy Monk to capture bosses. We continue enhancing Heroes, NPCs, and Companions, and improving optimization and fixing bugs.

[h2]Major Updates[/h2]

Now Holy Monk can upgrade 1 Spirit Pact card to capture Boss in the Event of “Corvus Kingdom”! Remember that you will need to get the “Gold Jade Bar” from the Dead King in a previous event “An ask from the Dead King” to enable this choice.




[h2]Optimization[/h2]

[h3]Performance[/h3]

• Unify image loading to enhance loading performance
  
• Clean up assets and Cache relic image to reduce memory consumption
  
• Preload card and status effects for combat for better loading speed
  

[h3]UI Improvement[/h3]

• Show tooltip when using a consumable to improve the usability
  

[h2]Enhancement and Balancing[/h2]
Game Logic

• Change event of Corvus Kingdom to allow 1 Spirit Pact card to capture Boss NPC.
  
• Preach: cannot preach for duplicated NPC
  

Wukong

• Starting HP: 70 HP -> 75 HP
  
• Little Monkeys: deal 2 base damage -> 3 base damage.
  
• Tiger Inside: only Wukong cards counts -> all cards
  
• Igniting Strike: applies 1 burning -> 2 burning
  
• Fishing the Moon: Before next turn, gain 1 Evasion when receiving HP damage.
  
• Secret Power: Loss 2 HP, gain 2 energy -> Loss 3 HP, gain 1 energy and draw 2 cards
  
• Conserve Strength: 5 block -> 7 block; upgraded: 8 block -> 11 block
  
• Expose Weakness: Applies Vulnerable -> applies Weak, and does not require HP damage.
  
• Like a fortress: Uncommon -> Common, 18 block -> 16 block.
  
• Last Resort: Energy cost 1-> 0.
  
• Break the Soul: Move card from discard pile back to hand ->gain block equal to 3 times of target's burning count.
  
• Ashen Hair: Energy cost 2->1
  

White Dragon

• Starting HP: 75 HP -> 70 HP
  
• Angry Dragon: Add wet and freezing requirement
  
• Dragon Shout: now 1 of 6 cards available to choose in the initial event
  
• Swift Thrust: 8 damage -> 14 damage, applies 2 Weak; Energy cost 1->2
  

Holy Monk

• Avici: Add “Exhaust” keyword. Uncommon -> Rare.
  
• Fearless: energy cost 1->0
  
• Absorb Strength: energy cost 1->2. Damage 6->16.
  
• Sinful: applies to all teammates -> applies to only Holy Monk.
  
• Absorb Life: Add “Retain” keyword. Absorb Current HP -> Absorb Max HP
  
• Sermon: now causes the target to lose 5% HP each turn.
  
• Double Down: Add “Exhaust” keyword. Energy cost 2->1; Upgraded version: Energy cost -1 -> Add “Retain” keywords.
  
• The Good Within: Add “Retain” keyword. Energy Cost 2->1
  

Neutral Card

• Magic Shield: Add “Retain” and “Exhaust” keywords.
  
• Divine Beads: 3 Curse or 3 Bless -> 5 Curse or 5 Bless
  
• Regret: Add “Exhaust” keyword
  

NPC

• Fire Spider: Angry will be triggered by any HP damage, not only Attack damage.
  
• Yellow Phantom: Add WindShield to AI when he is a minion.
  
• Master Zenith: MAX HP: 80-80 -> 75-80
  
• Black Hurricane:
  • Base damage 9 -> 8
  • MAX HP: 90-100 -> 85->95
• Skeleton Queen: Needs only 1 soul essence to revive all bone piles
  
• Spider Queen:
  • Spider form lasts 4 turns -> 5 turns.
    
  • Spider offspring count 2 -> 3
• Son of Fire:
  • Max HP: 220-210 -> 220-230
    
  • increase Block of Necrofire Shield
• The Centipede Monarch: Eye count 7 -> 8 (Trial level 18: eye count 10->12)
  
• Voodoo Elder: base damage 30->25
  
• Voodoo Witch: base damage 30->27
  
• Voodoo Worm: Max HP 200->150
  
• Rodent Duchess:
  • Increase Rodent Duchess's escape requirement to 10.
    
  • Demonic Siren: AOE -> single target.
• Carp King: summons 1 guardian -> 2 guardians
  

Companion

• Vanquisher of Evil:
  • Passive: when an ally is defeated, gain 1 strength -> gain 1 energy and draw 1 card.
    
  • Sword Breaker: Applies 1 rupture -> applies 1 cursed
• Shadow Fairy: now heal 4/7/10 HP to the team after each combat.
  
• Haunting Beauty: Beautiful Kisses: remove “Exhaust” keywords
  
• Dark Unicorn:
  • Passive skill: team immune to bleeding.
    
  • Lunar Eclipse: energy cost =0, applies 1 Blind to all enemies.
    
  • Soul Ritual: available at level 2.
    
  • Soul Transfer: Energy cost 2->1
    
  • Soul Absorption: absorb 6% -> 8%
• Breeze the Apprentice: Holy Spell: Add “Retain” keyword.
  
• Pine Fairy: The Winter Lady: Add “Retain” keyword. Applies 2 Freezing.
  

Relics

• Fortification scroll: now gives invincibility at start of turn
  
• Tiger Vest: now gives Block at start of turn
  
• Miracle silk wrap: gain 2 block for each teammate -> 3 block
  

Consumables

• No balance patch.
  

[h2]Bug Fixes[/h2]
Game logic bug fixes

• Only track journal when create new story or load a story to improve the accuracy of statistics
  
• Fix a bug where the second time you use “Resurrection” Card will trigger a crash
  
• Fix a bug when wolf cub is using Need Milk on wolf mother and they are both on the player's side
  
• Fix a few buffs and debuffs that should be cleaned up but weren't
  
• Fix a few companion cards that do not get learned correctly by Dragon Princess
  
• Fix a bug when Confused is applied to a Shape Shifting card and the Energy cost will become random
  
• Fix a bug when Confused is applied to a Spirit Shifting card and the Energy cost will become random
  
• Fix a bug when Crystal Dice is applied to a Spirit Shifting card and the Energy cost will become random
  
• Fix a bug that Demonic Parasol triggers Nine Headed Phoenix's poisons
  
• Fix a bug that Forgotten exhausts companion curse cards
  
• Fix a bug when shapeshifting an attack card will stop leveraging strength from dealing damage
  

Localization and text bug fixes

• Achievement description bug fix
  
• Card description bug fixes and adjustments
  
• Fix some English typos
  

Other Bug Fixes

• Fix highlight effects for status UI
  
• Fix couple of Card Icons
  
• Fix some status card background
  
• Fix some assets
  
• Fix Step by Step animation