Sandwalkers News

Hello everyone,

Welcome back for this brand new Devlog! In our previous update, we introduced you to the concept of caravan actives, and today we're excited to talk about our upcoming weather system!

But before we dive in, we have an important announcement to make.

We've chosen to push back the Early Access launch of Sandwalkers to the beginning of 2024. This extra time will give us the opportunity to fine-tune and perfect the game, so we can offer you the best possible experience. We're grateful for your patience and support throughout this project. In the meantime, please stay tuned for many more development updates and exciting surprises. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!



In the vast world of Uwando, you'll encounter weather phenomena that can make survival challenging for wandering caravans. This meteorological chaos is known as the Phithi.

During your travels, you may come across various weather types such as Sandstorms and Acid Downpours :





In each playthrough, you'll discover different weather phenomena depending on the regions you explore, which will significantly impact how you approach your journey on the world map. The choice is yours – whether to brave these challenges or take a more cautious path.





You might ask, why would you choose to go through this chaos?
Well, these weather phenomena seriously limit your visibility and, at the same time, present their own set of unique challenges and rewards!

In them, you will encounter some new types of enemies.




These elementals can only be found within the weather phenomena on the map, as they are a manifestation of the Phithi's unrest.





The weather you encounter can modify certain elements of the map, causing watchtowers to collapse and wells to become contaminated with acid.

In conclusion, as you start your adventure in Uwando, the chaotic weather can be both your greatest challenge and a source of unique rewards.

Thank you for following Sandwalkers’ development, stay tuned for more updates soon!


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1639080/Sandwalkers

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another Sandwalkers devlog! Today we're going to introduce you to two essential features of the game: Biomes and Active Caravan Capabilities.

In Sandwalkers, every expedition begins with the carefully designed placement of Biomes.





These unique regions define the terrain of your adventure and greatly influence your strategy. Our team has worked hard to create a diversity of Biomes, from welcoming territories to the most hostile lands.





One of our key goals is to ensure that no two runs in Sandwalkers are the same. To achieve this, we have implemented a dynamic weather system, which we'll discuss in detail in a future devlog. This system introduces variations between runs, making each playthrough a fresh and exciting experience.





Moving through these Biomes is a captivating experience, as their cost varies according to their nature. Some of the friendlier Biomes will only require 1 travel point, while others, such as the dangerous Sand Dunes, will cost up to 5, so choose your route wisely to bring your Caravan to its destination.





What's more, each Biome has a list of specific cells that can appear, each with its own probability of occurrence. For example, the Arid Biome is more likely to offer you dried-out cacti, while the Sand Dunes Biome may be home to grazing herds. Each Biome has its own character, making each exploration unique and exciting.





Your Caravan is made up of members specialized in different trades, and each has an Active Exploration Ability. These skills are essential for survival and prosperity in the world of Uwando.





Take, for example, the Hunter, whose active skill is tracking wild beasts. This skill can be used to obtain valuable resources or to escape perilous situations.





Some of these abilities allow you to influence the environment's Biomes, opening up exciting possibilities for shaping your adventure. For example, the Botanist possesses the power to rejuvenate the soil. On the other hand, the Hydromancer harnesses the elements to extract moisture, transforming it into precious drinking water. However, this process unintentionally causes the surrounding huts to become dry and arid, making the choice crucial.





It's important to note that each Active Ability can only be used once, before having to recharge when you rest in town. This adds a tactical dimension to your expedition, where you'll have to decide wisely when and where to use these skills to optimize your journey.

Thank you for taking the time to read this devlog update for Sandwalkers! We hope you enjoyed learning about the handcrafted Biomes and the exciting Active Abilities of the Caravan. See you in the next one!


[h2]Wishlist now:[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1639080/Sandwalkers/

Hi Sandwalkers,

First of all, we apologize for not bringing more news about Sandwalkers, but we certainly have made some progress on the game and as usual, we can’t wait to show you more.

As we’ve reorganized our marketing team, we’ll be able to bring more news about the development of the game through bi-monthly devlogs.

Anyway, let's dive into our fourth devlog!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1639080/Sandwalkers/

[h2]DEVLOG #4: IN-GAME ITEMS[/h2]

The caravan's survival outside of shelters is quite challenging.
But fear not, as new items have been introduced to make your journey less fatal!

[h2]Consumables[/h2]

[h3]Supplies[/h3]



No caravan can make headway without something to munch on.
Be sure to gather provisions before traveling through the arid lands of Uwando, where there's little to scavenge. Nothing like biting into a Termite Grub! Or perhaps a mushroom slice, if you prefer…

You can find these items while exploring, in most shops, or even sometimes during combat.

[h3]Exploration Consumables[/h3]



Need to break some rocks? A pickaxe will be your ally.
Want to rehydrate plants? Try the macerate.
And if you want to reveal an area on the map, use a Scouting Flare!

These items can be used on the map, in the inventory, or even during specific encounters and locations.

[h3]Combat Consumables[/h3]



Once equipped, they can be used by any member of the caravan in place of one of their specific skills.

Crystals to strengthen your allies, fruits to target a specific enemy, and even grenades to deal area damage – there's something for everyone!

[h3]Orb of Insight[/h3]



Rumor has it that it can make you stronger… Use it on a character to level them up and gain new stats!

You'll find one in every battle, sometimes even two if you face an elite enemy, as well as in certain events.

[h2]Equipment[/h2]

[h3]Accessories[/h3]



Accessories provide passive bonuses to the wearer, such as additional stats or unique effects.

Since the prologue, 36 new accessories have been added, which you can find at merchants, as combat rewards, or in certain events!

[h3]Fetishes[/h3]



As for fetishes, they grant their wearer a new active ability in combat. Although there are only 8 in the current version, you can find them in the same locations as accessories.

[h2]Tradeables[/h2]

[h3]Valuables[/h3]



Valuable items are essential for bartering and will allow you to acquire resources and equipment indispensable for your survival.
Whether it's breaking rocks, hunting animals, or deciphering clues during special encounters, you'll find plenty of opportunities to acquire these valuable items.

We now have 34 valuable items in game!

[h3]Containers[/h3]



You'll likely come across these on your journey, but be cautious, as they are often locked and require a lockpick to open.

Of course, you can sell them as is, but the price isn't really advantageous. Instead, open them and keep what's inside; it'll surely be worth it.

These chests can be quite bulky, so use your lockpicks wisely.

[h2]Quest items[/h2]

We've also added quest-specific items that are non-disposable and non-sellable. Keep them safe to continue your adventure.



We hope you enjoy these new additions and look forward to discovering them in-game. Thank you for your unwavering support, and stay tuned for exciting new updates and devlogs to come!

Hello everyone!

First of all, Goblinz Studio is wishing you all a wonderful year full of games and happy moments. Today, we decided to get into fresh new stuff we have been polishing for a while, and the start of 2023 is the perfect opportunity to show our progress!
Before we truly dive into the new stuff, we also want to thank you again for the amazing support as Sandwalkers recently passed the 100 000 wishlists milestone which we could not reach without your huge support
So, what’s new? Well, what about a spotlight on our new city and new biomes? That sounds always exciting, providing a good insight at what you’re going to find or even…fight!

[h3]Totong, the capital of Terracers[/h3]

Here’s the new city of Totong! It’s the capital of Terracers, and probably the biggest city in all of Uwando, where Sandwalkers takes place. It’s one of the rare cities close enough to look like ones of our world.



The city is carved into the cliffs around, providing shelter from the harsh temperatures. If you go deeper, air will be much more bearable and progress until you get to contemplate the Troglodyte Palace where only the richest people live. In opposition with the surface which is populated with the poorest.

Here, water is more precious than anything else and the inhabitants spend their time collecting it through a complex irrigation system and condensation tents. Be wary, it is criminal to waste water for the Totong inhabitants!

If you keep exploring, you will probably cross the road of surviving shepherds living in the arable land, watching and taking care of their livestock despite the meteorological conditions.

[h3]Arable land[/h3]

After a long day of travel, arriving in the arable land sounds like a blessing. Even though danger will always be around, this biome offers many resources from water wells to livestock. Along your travel, you will notice those big wooden watchtowers piercing the horizon, certainly very handy to scout your next destination!



Rest, gather resources and prepare your caravan to dive into the next biome that could be a lot less peaceful…

[h3]Nebulous highland[/h3]

This biome is bound to the Nebulous highland, which is a very difficult region to access since it’s placed at higher altitude. Of course, the weather and general living conditions are harder there where only dangerous foes and creatures live, making the exploration more challenging than usual. It’s also where you’ll find the most arid land in the game!



This is where you will find a very specific type of cities, but we want to keep the surprise on that one since it’s still a work in progress.

[h3]Saline creek[/h3]



Do you smell this salty-ish scent coming directly from the ocean, or even waves crashing on the shore? This is it, you just arrived in the Saline creek. Way less dangerous than the previous one, you will still have to look around, endemic predators can still ambush you at any moment. But imagine you gazing at the view, where the sunset meets the ocean horizon line, it’s a perfect land to explore!

[h3]Mangrove [/h3]

Mangroves develop these giant hivemind-style forests on stagnant water. It is a wild land filled with parasitic mushrooms and toxic succulent plants which are expanding their territory. Those are, well, a kind of rampant issue since this ecosystem retains a considerable amount of water. This is a worrying problem for the future…



Endemic species live there too, careful exploration and wise choices will be crucial in the Mangrove!

And that’s a wrap! We are having so much fun designing all those environments to make Sandwalkers exactly how we imagined it, and to give you the best experience possible with atmosphere and ambience identity. But before we go and because it’s never too much, here’s a sneak peak at the Bones biome early version!



We can’t wait to show you more of it!

As always, thank you for your endless support. We are still debating on what we will show next but we are just exicted as you are about it because there's plenty to talk about!

Goblinz Studio

Where to find us:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/studio_goblinz
Join the Sandwalkers community! https://discord.gg/BRQJDJrKAs