Big game update v0.96

Based on the feedback we received during the Steam Next Fest, we have implemented a variety of changes, some small and some large. You can look forward to improved balance, new spells and blessings, as well as new units and buildings. The UI has also received some improvements. Check out the full list of changes below.

Before you do that, we invite you to join our Discord server where you can give us feedback or just ask questions. This stuff is still new to us, so please be patient while we figure it all out.

Join here: https://discord.gg/kyYPRA7hNx




[h2]Major bugs[/h2]

• fixed a bug where spells would retain upgrades between runs in some cases
  
• fixed incorrect resource cost of one of the machine residential buildings (was 4, should be 3)
  
• fixed a bug that allowed players to have more than 3 mana crystals even without Diamond Core Gaia power
  

[h2]Core[/h2]

• Spirit system has been overhauled to make it more viable and interesting - spirits now offer more consistent rewards, can join you in battle and don't disappear when you decline their help
  
• Improved pathing and targeting logic of units
  
• Reduced the time it takes for a spirit to spawn in the world by 15%
  

[h2]Balance[/h2]

• slightly increased the difficulty in level 7 and bellow
  
• increased the duration of Celestial Vengeance buff from 20 seconds to 30 seconds
  
• slightly increased amount of shards awarded for clearing a region
  
• slightly increased amount of shards offered as regular rewards at the start of the campaign
  
• decreased the cooldown of mana crystal attacks from 4 to 3 seconds
  
• starting from enemy level 15, players will have one mana crystal already active right at the start of the region
  
• reduced the resource cost of destroying residential buildings by 20% but also reduced the corruption output of terraformers by 20%
  
• reduced the resource cost of destroying specialized buildings by 10%
  
• increased hitpoints and attack power of mana crystals and greatly reduced its attack cooldown (30%)
  
• reduced hitpoints of enemy factories by 20%
  
• reduced hitpoints of enemy tanks of all kinds by 10-20%
  
• reduced the corruption resistance provided by mana crystals from 8% / 4% to 6% / 3%
  

[h2]Spells & Blessings[/h2]

• added a new temporary buff (given by Gaia when corruption spreads too much): Celestial Fury (reduced mana cost, cooldown and increased damage for 30 seconds)
  
• improved the description of several spells (Combustion, Fire Eater)
  
• reduced the number of ranks of the Puppet Master blessing from 5 to 3 and increased it's effect
  
• increased the range of Confusion spell from 25 to 30 and made it castable in antimagic zones but slightly reduced initial duration and increased cooldown
  
• added corruption removal capability to the Confusion spell
  
• increased the chance stronger spiders will be spawned by Gaia's power "Webbed Menace"
  
• increased the base range of Lava fissure from 300 to 500
  
• added AOE damage to Vacuum and Whirlpool spells (must be activated via an upgrade)
  
• added the ability for Storm Pillar to summon additional pillars (must be activated via an upgrade)
  
• added frequency improvement property to Builder's Hammer, allowing the players to improve attacking speed of Lava Fissure and Storm Pillar, healing speed of Tree of Life and spawning speed of Spirit Den
  
• most spirit related blessings have been updated to reflect the new spirit system
  
• added four new spells: Immortal Phoenix, Regrowth, Stormbreaker's hammer and Crystal cave
  
• added four new blessings: Swarming hive, Fleeing rats, Golden acorn, Unstable energy
  
• reduced the overall scaling of volcano because it was way too powerful at high upgrade levels
  
• reduced lifetime and damage scaling of Rock Giant in high levels
  
• reduced damage scaling of Tornado at higher levels but added it the ability to hit flying targets
  
• Void Beam can now hit also flying targets
  
• Howl of the Wolf gaia power now applies to units summoned when bellow 80% mana (was above 20% mana)
  

[h2]Units[/h2]

• Added a new machine unit: Mobile artillery, a large heavy vehicle capable of spreading corruption and long range attacks
  
• Slightly decreased the size of capital ships
  
• Addew two new units that can join the player: Wind and Earth spirit
  
• Decreased the corruption output of Corruption Satellite by 20%
  

[h2]Buildings[/h2]

• Added a new building: Crystal cave that summons Crystal golems when destroyed
  
• Decreased the corruption output bonus of large alien drill by 16%
  
• Increased the hitpoints of Tree of life by 30%
  

[h2]Campaign[/h2]

• increased the number of regions in the campaign from 30 to 35, reduced attack/hitpoints scaling for machines above level 30
  
• increased corruption cap from 7000 to 10000
  
• updated achievements for winning with fewest attacked regions from 10, 14, 18 to 12, 16, 20
  
• unlocking spells and blessings is now done after every region, not just at the end of a run, allowing for immediate appearance of unlocked spells and blessings as rewards
  
• at the end of the campaign, additional essences of nature are rewarded to the player regardless of whether they won or not - the amount is based on how far the player progressed
  

[h2]Other[/h2]

• cosmetic change: enemy tanks are now aiming their cannons at the target continuously, not just when they fire
  
• improved the description of several spell properties so that is easier to understand what they do
  
• added indicators of power, critical chance and corruption resistance to the main in-game UI (top panel)
  

We plan to update the demo frequently, so rest assured any bugs will be fixed eventually. In the meantime, we will continue to work hard on the game, taking all of your feedback to heart!

Thanks,
Peter