Deathless. Tales of Old Rus News

In this part of the diary, we will talk about how the first month after the game's Early Access release went and show some upcoming changes.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

In the comments, you can ask questions about the game, and we will answer the most interesting ones in the next issue.

The most curious players can expect a huge update in the beta!

You’ve been asking for Steam achievements, and we’ve heard you loud and clear. Have fun unlocking the 20 new achievements, with more to come!

[h3] Added four difficulty modes.[/h3]
Note that the difficulty you choose is active until the end of the run and cannot be changed during the playthrough.
On Easy mode, the deck and cards gained via relics, consumables, or other cards are shuffled with each replay.
The player receives the Honey Agate relic at the start of the playthrough. It grants Strength x1 and Fortitude x1.
On Normal difficulty, you will not notice any changes from the current difficulty as they are identical.
On Hard mode, everything remains the same, but you can no longer replay battles. A defeat ends the run.
On Heroic (a.k.a. Roguelike) mode, you’ll have to complete the run in one go without replaying any battles or quitting to the main menu. If you quit the game, the run ends.

[h3]New Hero[/h3]
Vasilisa the sorceress descends upon the open beta at last!
She can rely on the aid of her little helpers, the Nursemaids, or take any enemy on by herself — it all depends on how you decide to develop her abilities!Important!
To unlock Vasilisa, you need to play at least one battle as Varvara.

[h3]Improvements:[/h3]

• Beta saves and settings are now stored in a separate path
  
• Added a battlefield preview button on the card selection screen during battles
  
• Changed the depiction of relics that are activated during battles or in the field
  
• Revamped the icon for the “Move Card” battle modifier
  
• Revamped the icon for the “Move Card” reward
  
• Revamped the Kopitara’s animations and adjusted the foe’s size
  
• Added new icons to card and relic descriptions
  
• You can now fight more than one final boss
  
• Added a toggle to display the current Hero’s Path quest during battles
  
• You can no longer buy two identical consumables from the same merchant

[h3]Bug fixes:[/h3]

• The End Turn button is no longer outlined during the foe’s turn
  
• The Ukodlak no longer inflicts bleeding on itself
  
• When using the Willow Branch consumable, you can no longer leave the card selection screen using Esc
  
• The extra card gained via the Enchanted Quill relic takes the stats of the cards offered for selection into account
  
• The Vodyanoy icon that indicates a Strength gain when summoning a Rusalka no longer appears ahead of time
  
• Fixed the issue that prevented anti-aliasing on the book title on the main menu
  
• Fixed the animation delay when a foe enters the Dying state during a series of attacks
  
• Relics, consumables, and Boons can no longer grant base cards during battle. Boons can no longer grant copies of themselves
  
• The Lindenbloom consumable restores the same amount of health during battles and in the field
  
• Adjusted the location of the “The version of this save does not match the current version” warning text
  
• Fixed the camera behavior during short pauses between attack animations
  
• Fixed the directions given by the speaker in the after-battle dialogue in Varvara’s Path, Chapter 4
  
• Fixed the issue that prevented the player from completing a quest if the last foe was killed by Tactical Strike
  

"Deathless" has received its first major update since entering Early Access!
The patch includes numerous balance changes aimed at easing the experience for new players, along with several functional adjustments.

[h2]Patch 0.1.3 on production![/h2]

You can now select one of three rewards before a boss fight:
- Recover 50% of max. health
- Remove a card
- Upgrade a card
[h2]Rebalanced boss fights[/h2]
Act 1

• Heretnik: base Armor decreased from 2 to 1
  
• Leshy: health decreased from 20 to 18; base Armor increased from 1 to 2
  
• Triyuda: Dark Sorcery grants 2 Armor and Strength x2 instead of 3 Armor and Strength x3
  
• Veshtitsa: base damage increased from 3 to 4
  
• Vodyanoy: health increased from 22 to 26

Act 2

• Corrupted Sorcerer: health decreased from 48 to 42
  
• Heretnik: health decreased from 44 to 39; base Armor decreased from 4 to 3
  
• Replaced the Ukodlak with the Striga in the foe lineup of the Heretnik fight
  
• Leshy: health decreased from 40 to 32; base Armor increased from 3 to 4; removed the Oak Bark effect
  
• Triyuda: health decreased from 40 to 35; Dark Sorcery now grants 2 Armor and Strength x2 instead of 3 Armor and Strength x3
  
• Veshtitsa: health decreased from 40 to 35; base damage increased from 3 to 4; the use of the Summon Revenant ability is now limited
  
• Vodyanoy: health increased from 44 to 46
  
• Yaga Defiler: health decreased from 44 to 39; Poisonous Thorns replaced with Double Melee Attack

Act 3

• Heretnik: base Armor decreased from 6 to 5
  
• Replaced the first Two-Souled Bosorka with the Ukodlak and the second Ukodlak with the Sorcerer in the foe lineup of the Heretnik fight
  
• Leshy: health decreased from 60 to 54; base Armor increased from 5 to 6
  
• Triyuda: Dark Sorcery now grants 2 Armor and Strength x2 instead of 3 Armor and Strength x3
  
• Veshtitsa: base damage increased from 3 to 4
  
• Vodyanoy: health increased from 66 to 78
  
• Yaron the Calamitous: base damage decreased from 13 to 9

Rebalanced foes

• Ukodlak: health decreased from 18 to 16; base damage decreased from 8 to 7; the Slash attack now always inflicts Bleeding; the use of the Deafening Roar ability is now limited.
  
• Basilisk: after using the Don’t Blink ability, the Basilisk gains an effect by the same name (which grants the hero Distraction at the start of their turn).
  
• Distraction (2 AP): Spectral. Change the Basilisk’s intention to Toxic Breath. Forget this card.

An option to speed up gameplay is now available in the Settings:

• Regular speed
  
• x1.25
  
• x1.5
  
• Adjusted the VFX of the End Turn button

[h2]Rebalanced relics[/h2]
Relics obtained from bosses

• Rowan Necklace now grants Fortitude x2 instead of 1
  
• Witch’s Besom now removes 3 cards instead of 2
  
• Ornate Jewelry Box now restores 15 Health instead of 20
  
• Golden Ring now restores 9 Health instead of 15

Relics obtained from regular foes

• Seven-League Boots are now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Yaga’s Dagger now grants Vigor x2 instead of 3
  
• Tattered Pouch is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Ornate Mirror is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Enchanted Quill is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Juicy Apple now grants Vigor x2 instead of 3
  
• Aventurine Charm is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Self-Cooking Cauldron is now Epic instead of Uncommon
  
• Spiked Pauldrons now grant Thorns x3 instead of 4
  
• Snakeskin Cloak is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Pearl Charm is now Epic instead of Rare and restores 3 Health instead of 2
  
• Iron Horseshoe can now be bought at the merchant’s; it is now Rare instead of Epic and grants Vigor x3 instead of 2
  
• Cloth Doll now grants 1 AP instead of 2
  
• Carnelian Charm is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Runic Ward is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Guiding Ball of Yarn is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Many-Armed Doll is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Healer’s Belt is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Cursed Pendant is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Magic Tablecloth now restores 15 Health instead of 20
  
• Bogatyr’s Shirt is now Uncommon instead of Rare and grants 2 Armor instead of 3

Relics bought at the merchant’s

• Raven Claw is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Wooden Jewelry Box is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Malachite Cup is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Life Orb is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Bottomless Pot is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Pan Flute now grants Vigor x2 instead of 3

[h2]Rebalanced Varvara’s cards[/h2]

• Rejoice: cost decreased from 3 to 2 AP (both regular and upgraded)
  
• Free Will is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Opportunism is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Enchanted Armor now grants 3 Armor instead of 1 (5 instead of 2 when upgraded)
  
• Torment now inflicts Dizzy x5 instead of 3 (both regular and upgraded)
  
• Scavenged Armor+ now grants 5 Armor instead of 4
  
• Deadly Weapon: cost decreased from 3 to 2 AP (2 to 1 AP when upgraded)
  
• Enemy Headcount is now Uncommon instead of Rare and grants 2 Armor instead of 1 (3 instead of 2 when upgraded)
  
• Braid Swipe is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Braid Whip is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Thrashing now deals 3 damage instead of 2 (4 instead of 3 when upgraded)
  
• Buying Time is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Brain Training is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Initiative now deals 3 damage instead of 2 (4 instead of 3 when upgraded)
  
• Focus is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Tactician now moves two cards to the top of the Draw Deck instead of one (three instead of two when upgraded)
  
• Rupture now decreases the Armor of all foes by 2 instead of 1 (3 instead of 2 when upgraded)
  
• Sweeping Blow now deals 2 damage instead of 1 (3 instead of 2 when upgraded)
  
• Dual Strike is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Piercing Strike is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Lash Out: cost increased from 2 to 3 AP (3 to 4 AP when upgraded)
  
• Fair Share is now Rare instead of Uncommon, and its upgraded version now steals 3 Armor instead of 2
  
• Vulnerable is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Merciless is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Gut Punch is now Rare instead of Uncommon, and its damage is increased from 2 to 3 (3 to 4 when upgraded)
  
• Disarm is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Keep Your Cool is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Inhuman Shield is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Bestowal is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Delicate Balance is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Easy Target is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Pickaxe Fling is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Taunt: cost increased from 2 to 3 AP (1 to 2 AP when upgraded)
  
• Defend is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Maneuver is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Turmoil is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Gift of the Otherside is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Eye for an Eye! is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Balance of Power is now Epic instead of Rare; cost of its regular version increased from 1 to 2 AP
  
• Daze: cost increased from 1 to 2 AP (both regular and upgraded)
  [h2]Rebalanced regular encounters[/h2]
  
• Changed foe lineup
  
• Adjusted the positioning of foes in order to limit the number of attackers at the start of the battle
  
• A foe can no longer have an active intention to attack twice at the start of the battle. This change does not apply to blocked intentions (where the foe is not positioned first)
  
• Adjusted the nodes where certain encounters can spawn
  [h2]Rebalanced foes[/h2]
  
• Anchipir: health decreased from 18 to 14, base Armor decreased from 3 to 2
  
• Basilisk: after using the Don’t Blink ability, the Basilisk gains an effect of the same name that grants the hero the card “Distraction” at the start of their turn.
  
• Distraction (2 AP): Spectral. Change the Basilisk’s intention to Toxic Breath. Forget this card.
  
• Barker: improved behavior
  
• Swamper: health decreased from 5 to 4, base damage increased from 2 to 3
  
• Tekra #2: health decreased from 5 to 4, base Armor decreased from 5 to 4
  
• Ukodlak: health decreased from 18 to 16, base damage decreased from 8 to 7. The Slash attack now always inflicts Bleeding, and the use of the Deafening Roar ability is now limited
  
• Yaga Warrior: health decreased from 18 to 15, base Armor decreased from 3 to 2, base damage decreased from 4 to 3

[h2]Fixes: [/h2]

• Double Down! now enables you to play an Attack card even if the hero has the Disarmed debuff
  
• You can no longer receive an improved card of epic rarity as a reward for a battle
  
• Playing Tactical Strike via Double Down! no longer causes the battle to freeze
  
• Delicate Balance no longer remains on screen when it is dragged onto the battlefield immediately after drawing a card and before selecting a card to discard
  
• Fixed the description of Torment
  
• Shortened the description of Shelter
  
• The Red Handkerchief relic now works properly in the fight with Yaron
  
• The Golden Charm relic now triggers when buying relics at the merchant’s
  
• The description of the effect gained from the Wild Flax consumable now mentions that the effect is active until the end of the turn
  
• The description of the Fatigue debuff now mentions that its stacks are consumed when attacking
  
• Adjusted the description of the Disarmed debuff inflicted by the Rusalka to indicate that it disables the ability to play Attack cards from your hand only
  
• A pop-up containing the description of the Strength buff now appears when hovering over the Bebok’s Shoulder to Shoulder effect
  
• The battle modifier In Yaron’s Footsteps can no longer apply to a boss fight
  
• Fixed the issue where the battle modifier “Wandering Merchant” enabled the player to buy an item they couldn’t afford as their first purchase
  
• Fixed the issue that required the player to kill one extra foe in order to complete the Hero’s Path quests
  
• Previewing card upgrades on the 3-card selection screen during the battle no longer causes issues with game logic
  
• Fixed the issue that sometimes prevented buttons from displaying after returning to the main menu from a submenu
  
• Menu options are no longer highlighted when the cursor is moved to another option while LMB is pressed
  
• The numbers indicating damage taken by foes should now update properly at the end of the battle
  
• The current journey step indicator is now updated when moving onto the next page of the selection screen, not on the reward screen
  
• The End Turn button can no longer be pressed after the battle has ended
  
• Fixed the issues that caused the health bar to display the wrong numbers
  
• Fixed the issues that caused the camera to zoom out permanently when playing several attacks in a row
  

Introducing many balance changes. Even the Basilisk was not left unattended!

You can now select one of three rewards before a boss fight:
- Recover 50% of max. health
- Remove a card
- Upgrade a card
[h2]Rebalanced boss fights[/h2]
Act 1

• Heretnik: base Armor decreased from 2 to 1
  
• Leshy: health decreased from 20 to 18; base Armor increased from 1 to 2
  
• Triyuda: Dark Sorcery grants 2 Armor and Strength x2 instead of 3 Armor and Strength x3
  
• Veshtitsa: base damage increased from 3 to 4
  
• Vodyanoy: health increased from 22 to 26

Act 2

• Corrupted Sorcerer: health decreased from 48 to 42
  
• Heretnik: health decreased from 44 to 39; base Armor decreased from 4 to 3
  
• Replaced the Ukodlak with the Striga in the foe lineup of the Heretnik fight
  
• Leshy: health decreased from 40 to 32; base Armor increased from 3 to 4; removed the Oak Bark effect
  
• Triyuda: health decreased from 40 to 35; Dark Sorcery now grants 2 Armor and Strength x2 instead of 3 Armor and Strength x3
  
• Veshtitsa: health decreased from 40 to 35; base damage increased from 3 to 4; the use of the Summon Revenant ability is now limited
  
• Vodyanoy: health increased from 44 to 46
  
• Yaga Defiler: health decreased from 44 to 39; Poisonous Thorns replaced with Double Melee Attack

Act 3

• Heretnik: base Armor decreased from 6 to 5
  
• Replaced the first Two-Souled Bosorka with the Ukodlak and the second Ukodlak with the Sorcerer in the foe lineup of the Heretnik fight
  
• Leshy: health decreased from 60 to 54; base Armor increased from 5 to 6
  
• Triyuda: Dark Sorcery now grants 2 Armor and Strength x2 instead of 3 Armor and Strength x3
  
• Veshtitsa: base damage increased from 3 to 4
  
• Vodyanoy: health increased from 66 to 78
  
• Yaron the Calamitous: base damage decreased from 13 to 9

Rebalanced foes

• Ukodlak: health decreased from 18 to 16; base damage decreased from 8 to 7; the Slash attack now always inflicts Bleeding; the use of the Deafening Roar ability is now limited.
  
• Basilisk: after using the Don’t Blink ability, the Basilisk gains an effect by the same name (which grants the hero Distraction at the start of their turn).
  
• Distraction (2 AP): Spectral. Change the Basilisk’s intention to Toxic Breath. Forget this card.

An option to speed up gameplay is now available in the Settings:

• Regular speed
  
• x1.25
  
• x1.5
  
• Adjusted the VFX of the End Turn button

[h2]Rebalanced relics[/h2]
Relics obtained from bosses

• Rowan Necklace now grants Fortitude x2 instead of 1
  
• Witch’s Besom now removes 3 cards instead of 2
  
• Ornate Jewelry Box now restores 15 Health instead of 20
  
• Golden Ring now restores 9 Health instead of 15

Relics obtained from regular foes

• Seven-League Boots are now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Yaga’s Dagger now grants Vigor x2 instead of 3
  
• Tattered Pouch is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Ornate Mirror is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Enchanted Quill is now Uncommon instead of Rare
  
• Juicy Apple now grants Vigor x2 instead of 3
  
• Aventurine Charm is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Self-Cooking Cauldron is now Epic instead of Uncommon
  
• Spiked Pauldrons now grant Thorns x3 instead of 4
  
• Snakeskin Cloak is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Pearl Charm is now Epic instead of Rare and restores 3 Health instead of 2
  
• Iron Horseshoe can now be bought at the merchant’s; it is now Rare instead of Epic and grants Vigor x3 instead of 2
  
• Cloth Doll now grants 1 AP instead of 2
  
• Carnelian Charm is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Runic Ward is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Guiding Ball of Yarn is now Rare instead of Epic
  
• Many-Armed Doll is now Epic instead of Rare
  
• Healer’s Belt is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Cursed Pendant is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Magic Tablecloth now restores 15 Health instead of 20
  
• Bogatyr’s Shirt is now Uncommon instead of Rare and grants 2 Armor instead of 3

Relics bought at the merchant’s

• Raven Claw is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Wooden Jewelry Box is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Malachite Cup is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Life Orb is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Bottomless Pot is now Rare instead of Uncommon
  
• Pan Flute now grants Vigor x2 instead of 3

[h2]Fixes: [/h2]

• Double Down! now enables you to play an Attack card even if the hero has the Disarmed debuff
  
• Playing Tactical Strike via Double Down! no longer causes the battle to freeze
  
• Delicate Balance no longer remains on screen when it is dragged onto the battlefield immediately after drawing a card and before selecting a card to discard
  
• Fixed the description of Torment
  
• Shortened the description of Shelter
  
• The Red Handkerchief relic now works properly in the fight with Yaron
  
• The Golden Charm relic now triggers when buying relics at the merchant’s
  
• The description of the effect gained from the Wild Flax consumable now mentions that the effect is active until the end of the turn
  
• The description of the Fatigue debuff now mentions that its stacks are consumed when attacking
  
• Adjusted the description of the Disarmed debuff inflicted by the Rusalka to indicate that it disables the ability to play Attack cards from your hand only
  
• A pop-up containing the description of the Strength buff now appears when hovering over the Bebok’s Shoulder to Shoulder effect
  
• The battle modifier In Yaron’s Footsteps can no longer apply to a boss fight
  
• Fixed the issue where the battle modifier “Wandering Merchant” enabled the player to buy an item they couldn’t afford as their first purchase
  
• Fixed the issue that required the player to kill one extra foe in order to complete the Hero’s Path quests
  
• Previewing card upgrades on the 3-card selection screen during the battle no longer causes issues with game logic
  
• Fixed the issue that sometimes prevented buttons from displaying after returning to the main menu from a submenu
  
• Menu options are no longer highlighted when the cursor is moved to another option while LMB is pressed
  
• The numbers indicating damage taken by foes should now update properly at the end of the battle
  
• The current journey step indicator is now updated when moving onto the next page of the selection screen, not on the reward screen
  
• The End Turn button can no longer be pressed after the battle has ended
  
• Fixed the issues that caused the health bar to display the wrong numbers
  
• Fixed the issues that caused the camera to zoom out permanently when playing several attacks in a row
  

The first week after the early access release was busy. Thank you for finding bugs, giving feedback on gameplay, and all the comments!
Introducing update 0.1.2 with many small but important changes.

[h3]New additions:[/h3]
● Hero’s reaction when attempting to carry out certain actions
● - Not enough AP to play a card
● - Unable to play a card because of a status effect
● - Hand size has reached its limit
● Buka: Added a new animation and VFX when shifting into the Wraith form.
● Buka: Fixed sound issues when taking damage.
● Added a new animation when a foe steals a card from the player’s Draw Deck.
● Revamped the icons of the current quest and the “In Yaron’s Footsteps” modifier
● Added an additional background for the Lake
● The Artbook is now displayed in the main menu if the Artbook DLC is installed
● Fixed the thickness of the card cost digit
● Changed the color of boosted numbers in card descriptions during battle
● Fixed the shadows issue that occurred when turning a page in the book
● Updated the credits
[h3]Bug fixes and improvements:[/h3]
● Playing cards that cost X now triggers the Withered battle modifier
● The prompt that appears when claiming a consumable with a full belt no longer
prevents you from claiming other rewards
● Playing Tactical Strike through Double Down! no longer causes the battle to freeze
● You are no longer granted base cards via relics, consumables, and Boons during
battle
● Replaced the card images in the tutorial (English version only)
● The Whetstone relic no longer boosts damage dealt by the Self-Snapping Whip
relic
● Fixed the issue that caused Yaron the Calamitous’s and the Vodyanoy’s animation to
play twice when activating an ability
● The Spindle relic’s effect no longer stacks whenever you receive healing and no
longer triggers in subsequent runs
● The Silver Spoon relic now grants cards on the player’s turn, even if damage was
taken on the foe’s turn
● Fixed the tooltip of the Confused effect granted by the Cateye Stone relic: It now
changes the cost of all cards that appear in your hand rather than drawn cards only
● Fixed the issues that caused the health bar to display the wrong numbers
● Updated the Agility effect description: The Agility stacks are not consumed if the foe
has no Armor or their Armor is disregarded for a different reason
● The End Turn button text now changes during the foe’s turn
● Fixed the Evasion effect description: The effect is active until the start of the next
turn
● The discount from the Birchbark Scroll relic is now applied immediately after
purchasing the relic
● The Wooden Jewelry Box relic no longer prevents AP gains from relics that are
received after it
● The amount of Gold earned is now calculated correctly after a run is completed
● Zooming in should now work properly when playing Attack cards with a slight delay
● The capture animation no longer plays ahead of time when destroying a Dying foe
and capturing another during the same series of actions
● The Bottomless Pot relic no longer prevents you from visiting a merchant after
replaying a battle if you buy the relic and then return to the main menu
● Updated the warning displayed when the current game version does not match the
version of the active run: The active run will be reset
● The Skip button is now highlighted when the cursor hovers over it during story
dialogues
● The Magic Crystal relic no longer allows you to cancel the transformation with the
Esc button
● Goose-Swan. Fixed game crash when the "Flight" effect expired if the player had the "Torment" gift played.
● Fixed a bug that allowed a forgotten card to be played again.
● When receiving two consecutive cards to choose from in hand not from the deck, the first received card no longer disappears.
● Fixed the inability to exit the journey deck view if it was opened before visiting any page since the game launch.
● Battle condition "Chaos": functionality restored.
● Curio "Snake Cloak", potion "Willow Rod": Fixed bugs that prevented new cards from being drawn after discarding cards.