NecroDancer SYNCHRONY DLC Available Now! - Update v3.1.0

[h2]RE-ANIMATE!!![/h2]

The Crypt has been silent for 5 years, but now the NecroDancer is back from the dead with a huge new DLC! SYNCHRONY adds online multiplayer (co-op and vs), three new characters, full mod support (& built-in mod portal), new items, enemies, & more! Let's take a look!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2094810/Crypt_of_the_NecroDancer_SYNCHRONY/

New DLC - Crypt of the NecroDancer: SYNCHRONY!

[h2]New Characters[/h2]
[h3]Klarinetta[/h3]

Wields the Zweihänder, a heavy sword that occupies a tile diagonally adjacent to her.
The Zweihänder follows Klarinetta's movement, striking any enemies in its way.
Diagonal movement buttons swing the Zweihänder around in a quarter-circle or half-circle, attacking enemies on several tiles at once.
- Rotating the sword takes a full beat and causes Klarinetta to stand still momentarily.
When held in place, the Zweihänder acts as a barrier against enemies, preventing them from walking into the tile it occupies.

[h3]Chaunter[/h3]

A frail, ghostly being who with only half a heart, which cannot be increased by any means.
Wields the Lantern, which has the range of a dagger and provides a small amount of light.
Striking enemies with the Lantern gradually takes over their soul, allowing Chaunter to possess them after dealing enough damage!
Possessing an enemy lets Chaunter take full control, copying their health, damage and abilities
All enemy abilities are mapped to the action and spell slots.
- For example, a possessed Red Dragon breathes fire using the two spell buttons.
Slow enemies such as Skeletons or Golems can move quickly while possessed.
- Unlike fast enemies or Chaunter itself, slow enemies are allowed to wield weapons, overriding their usual attack!
- Attacking, digging or using items forces them to stand still for a few beats.
When losing all hearts while transformed into an enemy, Chaunter reverts back to its usual form.
Control of an enemy cannot be kept indefinitely - a countdown of 24 beats starts ticking as soon as Chaunter takes possession.
- Once the timer runs out, the possessed enemy starts taking damage, eventually forcing Chaunter back into its base form.
- This can also be done manually by performing the 'Eject' action (Left+Right).

[h3]Suzu[/h3]

Wields the Lance of Courage, a melee weapon that unleashes a rapid, powerful dash when killing an enemy!
- All enemies in a straight line are killed instantly as Suzu dashes through them.
- The dash attack is only stopped by walls and shielded enemies, letting Suzu travel many tiles in an instant.
- Bounce traps redirect her dash, altering her attack trajectory and final position!
- Suzu is fully invincible during her dash, protecting her from any enemies waiting at her destiation.

[h2]Online Multiplayer[/h2]
Play with up to 8 players at once in online co-op and versus modes!

[h3]Rollback Multiplayer Architecture[/h3]

Play with friends from around the world without perceptible input/audio/visual lag!
High-latency support: two-player sessions are playable up to 300 milliseconds of latency.

[h3]In-game lobby browser and lobby visibility settings[/h3]

Includes public, friends-only, and private lobbies
Steam multiplayer integration for creating and joining lobbies - no port forwarding needed.
Optional support for direct IP connections and LAN play.
Headless dedicated server to allow hosting persistent lobbies and tournament matches.

[h3]Spectator Mode[/h3]

Spectate any individual player, changing targets at any time.
'Spectate everyone' mode, splitting the HUD and zooming out the game view to see all players at once.
Automatic spectator view upon death or after entering stairs while waiting for other players to finish the level.
Ability to return to the level after entering the stairs to rejoin players instead of waiting.

[h3]Late joining and rejoining support for online sessions[/h3]

Disconnecting automatically enters spectator mode, allowing the player to jump back into the game after reconnecting.
Health bars and name plates for other players in online sessions and spectator mode.
In-game text chat with various scaling and visibility options.
Seamless hosting: an ongoing run can be opened up into a multiplayer session at any time via the 'Host online game' menu option.
- Multiplayer save & quit restored sessions can be re-opened to the network, allowing other players to rejoin.
Replays and cutscenes can be watched together online, with the host player having access to the playback controls.
Per-player resource packs (Workshop mods):
- Each player can load their own individual set of resource packs, independently of the host or other players.
- The player character's appearance can be customized freely by choosing skins from any installed mod.
- Support for custom beatmaps can be enabled by the host player, allowing players to move at different speeds.

[h3]Hybrid online and local co-op support[/h3]

Up to 4 local players can play together, including in online sessions.

[h3]DLC Cross-Play Support[/h3]

DLC-only modes, characters, items, enemies and Zone 5 are disabled while the DLC is inactive.
Players without the AMPLIFIED DLC can connect to lobbies hosted in non-AMPLIFIED mode.
AMPLIFIED players can join non-AMPLIFIED lobbies, automatically turning off DLC content in the process.
Online multiplayer is available to all owners of the Synchrony DLC, even if the new gameplay content is disabled.
Cross-platform multiplayer between Windows, macOS and Linux.
Networking performance features:
- Desync detection, automatically resynchronizing players in case of a game state difference.
- Dynamic input reprioritization, limiting the impact of any one player's lag spikes on other players in the session.
- Hybrid peer-to-peer and server-client network code, reducing latency in cross-region multiplayer sessions.
- Noise control system to gradually lower the volume of any repetitive player-made sounds.

[h2]New Items[/h2]
[h3]Shield Slot[/h3]

Faces in the wielder's movement direction and protects them against damage from that direction.
Wooden Shield: Protects against one hit before breaking.
Titanium Shield: Protects against two hits before breaking.
Heavy Shield: Protects against three hits before breaking, and also grants knockback immunity while active.
Obsidian Shield: Shields 1, 2 or 3 hits depending on the wielder's coin multiplier.
Shield of Strength: Protects against one hit before breaking. Grants +1 damage while unbroken!
Reflective Shield: Protects against one hit before breaking, deflecting damage back to the enemy in the process.
Shield of Shove: Protects against one hit before breaking, and allows the wielder to shove adjacent enemies.

[h3]Onyx Weapons[/h3]

Deals greatly increased damage on consecutive hits, but loses the damage bonus upon moving.
Most effective on weapons that hit a broad range of tiles, less so on weapons with dash attacks

[h3]Trident[/h3]

Attacks like a broadsword at a higher range, hitting a row of three tiles, or like a dagger at close range.
Comes in all common weapon flavors: Basic, Blood, Gold, Titanium, Glass, Obsidian and Onyx!
Throwable! When thrown, three lanes are hit at once instead of just one, clearing out a much wider area!

[h3]Throwing Charm[/h3]

Allows any weapon to be thrown like a Dagger!
Once per level: throwing a weapon causes it to return to the wielder, dealing damage on the way back.
Stepping sideways after throwing slants the return trajectory, allowing different tiles to be hit!

[h3]Berserk Spell[/h3]

Starts a berserking charge on the next move, killing any enemies unfortunate enough to stand in the way!
Stops upon colliding with a wall or any other obstacle.
The Berserk state grants immunity to incoming attacks, but removes the ability to change directions until it ends.
Greater Berserk fills the caster with even more blind rage, additionally killing enemies on adjacent tiles!

[h3]Dash Spell[/h3]

Turns the next move into a long-range dashing attack, dealing 4 hearts of damage to any enemies along its path!
If an enemy is killed by the dash, the caster will pass right through.
Greater Dash increases the range and damage of the dashing attack!

[h3]Charm Spell[/h3]

Charm nearby monsters to turn them into temporary allies!
Allied monsters will seek out and attack other enemies until the effect wears off.
Bumping into an allied monster pushes it out of the way, dealing damage when squished against an obstacle.
Greater Charm's effect does not wear off, turning monsters into allies for the entire duration of the floor!

[h3]Scroll of Duplication[/h3]

Drops from an activated Shrine of Duplication.
Duplicates all items, enemies, crates and chests in 3x3 range around the user.
Enemies, crates and chests are only duplicated if there is space behind them.
Shop items retain their price tags when duplicated.
The Scroll of Duplication itself cannot be duplicated.

[h2]New Enemies[/h2]
[h3]Thief[/h3]

Runs towards the player and tries to steal their items! Weapons and items in locked slots are not stolen.
In co-op mode, the Thief takes turns trying to rob different players, and will dodge attacks from any player other than its target.
When two items are stolen successfully, the Thief laughs at their victims and quickly disappears.
When killed, it drops a random uncommon item, along with any potentially stolen goods.
The Thief has a low chance of spawning on any level but is slightly more common in co-op mode

[h3]Mannequin[/h3]

Created by the Shrine of Duplication - copies all equipment of the player who activates the shrine.
Mirrors the actions the player closest to it - movement, attacks, digging and even using items and spells!
Can pick up items and gold from the ground, which are dropped upon death.

[h3]Shock Monkey[/h3]

While grabbed, deals half a heart of damage to its struggling victim per hit!
Each hit also starts an electric arc that damages nearby enemies.
Stay away from water!

Stay tuned for more enemies to come during Early Access!
[h2]New Traps[/h2]
[h3]Dice Trap[/h3]

When stepped on, the Dice Trap spawns a number of completely random enemies from any zone, then disappears.

[h3]Automatic Spike Trap[/h3]

Alternates between extending and retracting each beat. Inflicts damage only while extended.

[h3]Floor Crack[/h3]

Guaranteed to spawn exactly once per zone, somewhere on a random level.
Creates a trapdoor upon being destroyed by a bomb.

[h3]Spiked Wall[/h3]

Inflicts damage to the player when dug with a shovel.
Spikes are only visible if the corresponding side of the wall is adjacent to a floor tile.
Revealed enemies take damage when moving into spiked wall tiles.

[h2]New Shrines[/h2]
[h3]Shrine of Duplication[/h3]

Spawns a Mannequin wielding copies of all items worn by the player who triggered the shrine.
The Mannequin mirrors all actions of the closest player!
Defeating the Mannequin will drop its items on the ground, granting a duplicate set of items for other players to pick up.
Can only be found in co-op mode.

[h3]Shrine of Binding[/h3]

When touched by two players at once, their souls are linked together for the rest of the run.
Linked players share one and the same inventory, health bar and coin multiplier.
If one player takes damage or dies, both players are affected!
In online multiplayer, linked players can always see each other, with the view expanding as needed to fit both players.
Can only be found in co-op mode.

[h3]Shrine of the Feast[/h3]

Activates upon eating two food items adjacent to the shrine, granting a choice between three items.
Cannot be interacted with directly.

[h3]Shrine of Fire[/h3]

Activates upon inflicting fire-type damage to the shrine, granting a choice between three items.
Cannot be interacted with directly.

[h2]Other Gameplay Features[/h2]
[h3]Pawnbroker Rework[/h3]

After two items have been sold to him, the Pawnbroker will present a selection of his finest wares at great prices!
He offers a choice between three items at a discount, of which only one can be chosen.
Selling more items causes him to re-roll his shop's contents, presenting a different choice of three items.
After purchasing an item, selling more equipment will not cause the shop items to reappear.
Selling enough items causes the Pawnbroker to present his Special Offer!

[h3]Equipment Sprites[/h3]

Displays all held and equipped items on the player character's sprite.
The visibility of equipment sprites can be controlled in the 'Change Skin' menu.
By default, equipment sprites are only visible on the default skin, and hidden when selecting a custom skin.

[h2]New Game Modes[/h2]
[h3]Versus Modes[/h3]

Engage in combat with other players in Player versus Player modes!

Instead of going through the floors of the crypt together, use various items and strategies to defeat your opponents!
Arenas are procedurally generated, combining 2 zones into 1 floor!
As the game progresses, various events can happen on the arena. This includes shop travel runes spawning, everyone becoming confused, and... telemonkeys?!

[h3]Versus mode: Deathmatch (default)[/h3]

In this mode, the winner is the player who manages to get the most points, which are earned by defeating others.
Getting defeated by taking damage from enemies or floor hazards results is penalized by losing one point.
However, if the above happens shortly after taking damage from a player, that player will be considered the killer. In this case, there's no penalty and the other player gains a point normally.
Players respawn shortly after being defeated, so you can get back to the action quickly!
To view the list of players and their points, use the 'Toggle player list' hotkey ('Tab' by default, configurable in menu controls).
By default, a deathmatch consists of 3 rounds on different floors. However, this (and many other things) can be changed in the 'Custom rules' menu after entering Versus Mode!

[h3]Versus mode: Last One Dancing[/h3]

The winner is simply the player who manages to survive the longest - no complicated rules here!
To enable this mode, change the game mode in the 'Custom rules' menu.

[h3]Team Up With Other Players[/h3]

The modes above can also be played in teams, which can be enabled within 'Custom rules'!
Players can either be assigned to teams automatically or choose their teams manually.

[h3]Use never-before-seen items, which appear exclusively in Versus[/h3]

Wind Tomes: push away nearby enemies and players! It may also be used to surprise your opponents with bombs...
Goblin Bomber Charm: makes you drop a lit bomb when defeated.
Ring of Gluttony: makes food heal you a bit more.
Ring of Whirlwind: casts a greater wind spell which pushes enemies away when you get hit and also prevents the damage, then shatters.
Essences: these mysterious items allow you to enchant your weapon to a specific material!
Electricity Tomes: temporarily grants electric attack powers (note: this item will only appear if the AMPLIFIED DLC is enabled)

[h3]Versus-Specific Item Tweaks[/h3]