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Backpack Battles News

Custom Games & Lobbies Now Live! (Backpack Battles Patch 0.9.28)

[h2]Hi everyone,[/h2]

The next big update is ready to be rolled out!
Besides new items, the main focus is on the new modes: Unranked with custom rules and lobbies!





Behind this, there are currently two things:

  1. Custom unranked games that allow you to queue against a ranking bracket of your choosing and select custom rules.

  2. The option to create or join lobbies.

Of course, this is also a nice place where more custom modes could find their home in the future.

[h3]What Lobbies Are[/h3]

Lobbies are designed as a mode to play with a friend or many friends at a time!

You open a lobby by selecting “Host lobby” which will generate a 6-letter lobby code.

Your friends can then join by pressing “Join Lobby” and entering that code.

All players will play at the same time, with a timer (configurable at the start) ending the shop phase. You will then be matched against one of the other lobby members. Your goal is to win as many rounds out of 18 as possible.



[h3]What Lobbies Are Not[/h3]

Lobbies are not planned to become a public mode where anybody can join, this also means it will not be ranked.


[h3]The Future[/h3]

Currently, there are 3 types of custom rules that can be enabled for unranked games - there are lots of opportunities to expand on that. We would love to hear your ideas for interesting custom rules as well.



[h2]A Look Behind The Scenes[/h2]
We have been working on the lobbies behind the scenes for about a year now and for us, finally being able to show them is a huge milestone towards the game's full release.
When we started developing Backpack Battles, it was planned to become a tiny experimental side project.

Since then, the game’s popularity exploded, and even though we decided to keep developing as a two-person team, we were able to commit to the project full-time.

We never considered adding a synchronous mode to this asynchronous game, but with the decision to make it our main project, we had the resources to consider the massive undertaking of adding a synchronous mode.

We are so hyped to finally get this feature out to you, and hope you have fun playing with a buddy or two! :)

[h2]Changelog for 0.9.28[/h2]
  • NEW MODE: Custom Rules Unranked
  • NEW MODE: Lobbies where you can fight your friends!
  • Overhauled item activation animations: They now jump, swing, wave, squish etc depending on their type when they activate!
  • NEW RECIPE: Shelly
  • NEW RECIPE: Poison Spear
  • NEW RECIPE: Holdall
  • NEW TREASURE ITEM: Lil Chestnut
  • NEW SKILL: Dig Deeper
  • NEW SKILL: Knife to Meet You

[h3]Balancing[/h3]
Neutral
  • Falcon Blade: Speed bonus 30% -> 35%
  • Lightsaber: Cost 12 -> 11
  • Amulet of Darkness: Damage needed per debuff: 20 -> 22
  • Prismatic Sword: Debuff chance 12% -> 10%, damage +2
  • Frozen Buckler: Stamina removal 0.6 -> 0.7
  • Stone Shoes: Block 35 -> 40
  • Crossblades: Speed bonus 60% -> 75%
  • Vampiric Gloves: Vampirism 5 -> 6
  • Vampiric Armor: Health convert: 30 health to 75 Block -> 45 health to 100 Block
  • Bagtacular: Fanny Pack speed bonus 6% -> 5%, Stamina Sack stamina regen 6% -> 5%
  • Blood Manipulation: Cooldown 3.5s -> 4.0s
  • Girl Power: Cooldown 5.5s -> 6.2s
  • Smithing For Dummies: Stamina reduction 15% -> 18%
  • Power of the Moon: Now gains maximum health instead of healing, amount 50% -> 60%
  • Hardwood: Block 14 -> 15
  • Stoned: Block 60% -> 70%
  • Cubert: Chances 40% -> 50%
Pyromancer
  • Solaris: Chance to gain Heat 30% -> 40%, Block gain 10 -> 13
  • Everburning: Stamina reduction 40% -> 60%
  • Frozen Flame: Block 8 -> 12
Berserker
  • Deerwood Guardian: Heal 9 -> 12
Ranger
  • Piercing Arrow: Luck generation chance 55% -> 65%
Reaper
  • The Lovers: Damage 8 -> 7, healing increase 8% -> 6%
  • Mushroom Farm: Mushroom requirement 3 -> 2

Custom Games Update Hits Beta Branch!

[h3]Hi everyone, we have another update for the beta branch today, but this time it's a little different!
[/h3]



There are of course new recipes, skills, etc., but the focus is on the Other game modes tab.




Behind this, there are currently two things:

  1. Custom unranked games that allow you to queue against a ranking bracket of your choosing and select custom rules.

  2. The option to create or join lobbies.

Of course, this is also a nice place where more custom modes could find their home in the future.

[h3]What lobbies are[/h3]
Lobbies are designed as a mode to play with a friend or many friends at a time!

You open a lobby by selecting “Host lobby” which will generate a 6-letter lobby code.

Your friends can then join by pressing “Join Lobby” and entering that code.

All players will play at the same time, with a timer (configurable at the start) ending the shop phase. You will then be matched against one of the other lobby members. Your goal is to win as many rounds out of 18 as possible.



[h3]What lobbies are not[/h3]
Lobbies are not planned to become a public mode where anybody can join, this also means it will not be ranked.

[h3]The future[/h3]
Currently there are 3 types of custom rules that can be enabled for unranked games - there are lots of opportunities to expand on that. We would love to hear your ideas for interesting custom rules as well.
We also work on making custom rules possible in lobbies soon!



[h2]The Beta Branch[/h2]

We have instructions on how to join the branch on our Discord server.
Please keep in mind that the goal of the beta branch is to find bugs and issues! (And this is a huge feature, so expect many hotfixes!)
The update is planned to go live on December 20th, coming with balancing changes.

[h2]A look behind the scenes[/h2]
We have been working on the lobbies behind the scenes for about a year now and for us, finally being able to show them is a huge milestone towards the game's full release.
When we started developing Backpack Battles, it was planned to become a tiny experimental side project.

Since then, the game’s popularity exploded, and even though we decided to keep developing as a two-person team, we were able to commit to the project full-time.

We never considered adding a synchronous mode to this asynchronous game, but with the decision to make it our main project, we had the resources to consider the massive undertaking of adding a synchronous mode.

We are so hyped to finally get this feature out to you, and hope you have fun playing with a buddy or two! :)

- Mario and Doro

P.S.: We know many of you are hyped for achievements, and they are certainly coming with the full release!

Nominate Backpack Battles for the Steam Awards!

Hi everyone,

We want to thank all of you for your support - and for playing our game! We are working hard on the next update, and we're making great progress with our roadmap.

We're looking forward to our full release next year coming with two new classes, achievements, and more!

If you had fun with Backpack Battles so far, it would be awesome if you would nominate it for the 2024 Steam Awards! ❤

And if you haven't bought the game yet, now's a great time: We have a 20% discount active until December 4th!

- Doro and Mario

Backpack Battles Patch 0.9.27

[h3]Hi everyone,[/h3]

There is a beta branch with new stuff coming up soon!
Here is a little item teaser – but this time, the focus will be on something else (I won’t spoil what the surprise will be).



Until then, we continue with balancing right where we left off last week: The last patch clearly moved us in the direction we wanted to move, but we would like to go a little further.
Unless something unexpected happens, we intend to let the meta settle for a bit until the next content patch.

[h3]New Bundle: Cobalt Core[/h3]
We just released a bundle with an awesome roguelike deckbuilder: Cobalt Core! Get both games or complete your set with an extra discount now!

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/45354/



[h2]Changelog for 0.9.27[/h2]

  • Thornburst: Trigger limit 3 -> 5, Spikes 3 -> 2, stun duration 0.5s -> 0.3s, cooldown 10s -> 6.5s
  • Bagtacular: Fanny Pack bonus speed 8% -> 6%, Stamina Sack bonus stamina regen 8% -> 6%
  • Blood Manipulation: Cooldown 3.2s -> 3.5s
  • Girl Power: Cooldown 4.7s -> 5.5s
  • Heavy Drinking: Cooldown 7s -> 8.5s. Speed bonus 35% -> 40%
  • Hardwood: Block Bonus 12 -> 14
  • Stoned: Block bonus 50% -> 60%
  • It’s Slime Time!: Cooldown 2.5s -> 2.2s
  • Wolf Badge: Speed bonus 20% -> 25%
  • Cubert: Chances 35% -> 40%
Pyromancer
  • Ice Dragon: Cost 15g -> 14g
Berserker
  • Deerwood Guardian: Heal 7 -> 9
Ranger
  • Markswoman: Attack speed bonus 15% -> 25%
  • Carrot: Cooldown 2.9s -> 2.7s
Reaper
  • Cauldron: Cooldown 3.3s -> 3.5s
  • Reverse!: Reflects 4 -> 3
  • The Lovers: Heal amplification 10% -> 8%
  • Death Scythe: Poison threshold for crit rate: 35 -> 25

Backpack Battles Patch 0.9.26

[h3]Hi everyone,[/h3]

Our friends at Stray Fawn Studio just released Dungeon Clawler, a roguelike deckbuilder where you play on a claw machine, into Early Access! And we have bundled up with them, so you can get it with an extra discount if you already own Backpack Battles:

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/47524/Backpack_Battles__Dungeon_Clawler/


We are working on big things in the background that are not quite ready to reveal just yet.

Until then, here are some more adjustments that bring the new content in line.

There will probably be more adjustments next week to iterate on changes that went to far or not far enough.


[h2]Changelog for 0.9.26[/h2]
[h3]Balancing[/h3]
Neutral
  • Girl Power: Cooldown 4s -> 4.7s
  • Blood Manipulation: Cooldown 3s -> 3.2s
  • Bagtacular: Fanny Pack bonus speed 10% -> 8%, Stamina Sack stamina bonus 10% -> 8%
  • Heavy Drinking: Cooldown 5s -> 7s, speed bonus per distinct Potion 25% -> 35%
  • Just Stats / More Stats: Health gain 12% -> 10%
  • Shielded: Block chance bonus 25% -> 30%
  • Mana Mastery: Cooldown 5.5s -> 5s
  • Vampiric Armor: Start of battle Block 65 -> 75
  • Shell Totem: Cooldown 3.4s -> 3.6s
  • Amulet of Darkness: Damage needed for debuff 14 -> 20
  • Frostbite: Cooldown 1.6s -> 1.7s
  • Ice Armor: Start of battle Block 45 -> 60
  • Frozen Buckler: Stamina removal 0.5 -> 0.6
  • Snow Stick: Cooldown 1.8s -> 1.9s
  • Shepherd's Crook: Blind/Cold resist chance 35% -> 40%
  • Stone Shoes: Block 30 -> 35, damage reduction duration 6 -> 7
  • Light Goobert: Blind 6 -> 7
  • Thornbloom: Max health gain 10 -> 11
Pyromancer
  • Friendly Fire is now a Magic item and a Pet
Ranger
  • Carrot: Cooldown 3.2s -> 2.9s
  • Carrot Goobert: Empower duration 6s -> 8s
  • Hedgehog: Block 15 -> 25
  • Vineweave Basket: Heal amplification per Nature item 4% -> 5%
Reaper
  • The Lovers: Damage 10 -> 8
  • Cauldron: Cooldown 3s -> 3.3s