0.17.3 | Wizardry in progress: Updates, Bug fixes, and Building Contest extended

Welcome back to another Wizdom Academy devblog! We’ve got exciting news—our Building Contest is still running, and the deadline for submissions has been extended to October 5th!

Not only can you showcase your architectural talents, but you could also win Steam gift cards worth up to $100.

For full contest details, join us on Discord and take part in the magic!

Now, let's dive into the latest updates, including gameplay improvements, bug fixes, and system upgrades to enhance your experience at Wizdom Academy.

[h2]Gameplay adjustments[/h2]

Shorter drought timers: We’ve shortened the time between droughts to intensify the challenge until you complete the "Survive a Drought" quest.
Fountain collider fixed: NPCs will no longer get stuck in the fountain. The collider has been adjusted to keep things running smoothly.
Professors’ pathfinding fixed: Professors are back in class! We’ve addressed an issue that prevented them from attending, even with stairs and doors available.
Improved pathfinding on lower levels: NPCs will now complete their tasks without straying to unintended lower levels.
Professor's room access: The pathfinding in the professor's room on the upper floor has been improved for better accessibility.
Trial room entrance: We’ve added a new navigable area to make getting into the trial room easier.

[h2]Bug fixes[/h2]

UI button errors fixed: Switching between alerts with broken, out-of-memory, or disconnected room buttons no longer causes an "index out of range" error.
Smoother prestige progression: The new prestige system is live! Progression is smoother, and no more downgrading.
Trial room rewards display: The inspection panel now correctly shows the reward for the current trial.
Councillor’s will updates: LP rewards now update correctly based on the councillor's will, even without reopening the recruitment panel.
Correct mana tooltip: The "mana in stock" tooltip now accurately displays the remaining cycles for stored mana.
Character targeting: Selecting characters from alerts or avatars works correctly—highlighting and selecting them as expected.
Building alerts cleared: Destroying buildings now removes related alerts, avoiding null reference errors.
Councillor’s will & mana buildings: When mana-storing buildings are destroyed or deactivated, the Councillor’s Will updates properly.
Selection highlight fixed: Deselecting characters now properly removes the highlight, cleaning up your UI interactions.
Caretaker office renamed: Based on community feedback, the "Caretaker Office" is now the "Caretaker Cottage." Thank you for the suggestion!
Quest bug resolved: The quest requiring active buildings on a specific floor has been fixed.
Council quest implementation: The unconfigured quest for council members, "have one room of type X," is now active.
Graduate NPC pathing: Graduates now use alternate paths instead of heading directly to the mana wellspring.

[h2]User interface enhancements[/h2]

Toggle all buildings button: A "Toggle all buildings" button has been added in the academy manager for easier control.
Sound effects for council members & floors: We’ve added sound effects when selecting council members and changing floors to enhance the audio feedback.
Mana tree sound added: The missing sound for the mana tree building has been added, making it feel even more alive.
Unique professor animations: Professors now have distinct animations for each classroom, giving each room a bit more character.
Additional sound effects: You’ll hear sound effects when toggling roofs, closing windows, or naming your school.
Diploma selection sound: Selecting diplomas during student recruitment now plays a sound, adding a satisfying click to the process.

[h2]System improvements[/h2]

Council menu shortcut: Clicking "Regain the council’s trust at all cost" now directly opens the council menu.
Mana storage reactivation: Mana storage buildings can now be reactivated even if mana is depleted, as long as the storage isn’t empty.
Council member unlocks patched: Obtaining the first, second, and third council members has been patched for smoother progression.
Outline system overhaul: We’ve completely redesigned the outline system using a new framework for better visuals.
Council wills unlock: Wills for council members now unlock at each new tier.
Floating students: Students now float again after being pranked, adding a fun touch to your academy.
Pranked professors’ animation: The pranked animation for professors has been revamped.
Trees are now hidden where you want to place your building.

[h2]Visual & feedback enhancements[/h2]

Groportor animation: Groportor is now animated when you start the game, bringing even more life to the opening moments.
Professor room texture fixed: The missing texture in the professor room, caused by shader issues, has been fixed.
Enhanced trial effects: New visual effects make the completion of trials by students even more satisfying.
Diploma delay: Students now remain for an additional cycle after earning their diploma before leaving the academy.
Fewer council alerts: We’ve reduced the number of text alerts from council members (with plans for even further reductions!).

That’s all for this update! We’re excited to see your entries in the building contest, so get creative and aim for those Steam gift cards!

Keep the feedback coming, and see you in the academy!

- Kipwak Studio Team