Development Journal - Details on the Hamor Update

[p]Hi folks,[/p][p]The upcoming update, codenamed Hamor, is well underway. As always, you can try the latest beta build (0.7.62) by switching to our beta branch. Our 9th major update will take us beyond the wall, into the wastelands and the desert city of Hamor.[/p][p]The new region is roughly larger than Llanford, Oxgate, Taymoor, and Heygrove combined.[/p][p]Here’s a bird’s-eye view of our playable map as of the next update.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]When it comes to worldbuilding, there are two main approaches. The first is a top-down method, where you start with a broad concept or overarching lore and gradually work your way down to the details. This might include nations, cities, cultures, and eventually specific characters or quests. It helps with consistency and a clear thematic vision throughout the world.[/p][p]The second is a bottom-up approach, where you begin with specific, grounded elements such as a village, a single character, or a small region, and then expand outward. This often creates rich, lived-in environments with strong local flavor, though it can take more effort to maintain coherence as the world grows.[/p][p]My own approach is to iterate between these two, shaping the big picture while allowing smaller, grounded pieces to evolve and influence the larger structure. Pretty much what we've been doing since the start of Early Access.[/p][p]With this latest region in place, we have essentially completed our zones progression from low to epic levels, as well as the core geography of the continent, and we'll be fleshing out all these areas more leading up to version 1.0. But let's talk a bit more about Hamor and the Wastelands and what else is in this update.[/p][p][/p][p]The wall itself was built in 301 EC, which places it about 1,062 years before the present day. It was originally constructed to contain a deadly plague that wiped out a large portion of the population. Over time, it became a common destination for exile, sometimes for political reasons, sometimes simply out of necessity.[/p][p]In 1350, the region became a warzone between the knights of Doven and the undead legions of Hlorfen, who was the last known avatar of Morheliss. The war lasted ten years and ended when Sir Gregory allegedly defeated Morheliss herself. Whether or not that actually happened, the wall still stands as a dividing line between the kingdom of Doven and whatever remains in the waste. Even though all of this is ancient history, dating back two centuries before the current timeline, no one is allowed to pass through the wall.[/p][p]The gates are locked, heavily fortified, and guarded. Picture something even grander than the Sinic Wall. Aside from being exiled, the only way in and out of the wastelands is by sea, through a small port just north of the city of Hamor.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]In addition to expanding the world, this update also brings new discoveries in desert and arid terrains, which come alongside new contracts, new mounts, and new battle maps. Rewards from all contracts have been improved to make them more worthwhile.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The wastelands around Hamor are the highest-level zone in the game as we speak, and they are extremely dangerous. It’s recommended that you head there after reaching level 20. If you’re heading into the desert, a camel mount will make travel much easier by reducing the fatigue penalty across the desert terrain.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The increased variety in biomes means that it no longer makes sense to always be camping in a forest setting. That’s why this update also includes 9 new camping maps. Each one is tied to the terrain you’re currently in, so you’ll not only see more fitting backdrops while resting, but also gain access to different resource nodes depending on the location.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]To help manage your gear, I’ve also added a persistent storage container called "My Stash" that will appear in your camps. Anything you place there will remain accessible during future camp downtimes, which should help free up your inventory.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Aside from the camping maps, there are also 10 new battle maps for both new and existing environments. Whether you're fighting in the deserts or revisiting old regions, these should provide a fresher tactical experience.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Finally, I've worked on a number of optimizations for players using a Steam Deck. These include a separate configuration file tailored for Deck-specific settings, a pop-up keyboard for easier text input when using the gamepad, and improved UI legibility across the board. To help boost performance, you’ll also have the option to load a smaller world map graphic or disable the fog of war entirely.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That’s all for now, folks. But that is not all there is to the upcoming update. Everything mentioned here is already available in the beta branch, so feel free to dive in and explore. Have fun, and let me know if you come across any issues.[/p][p][/p]