Demo Update: New NPC, Reworked Hunger System and Quality of Life Improvements

[p]Hi everyone! We're back with the first major update for the Ways of Alchemy demo. This time, we're bringing you a new NPC, a completely reworked hunger system and plenty of improvements based on your feedback.[/p][p]🚀 The updated demo is ready to download! Give it a try and share your thoughts.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]Meet Your New Neighbor: Stories, Gifts and Problems[/h2][p]Sometimes she brings gifts, sometimes she brings problems that need your alchemical expertise.[/p][p]A new NPC has joined the game! Your neighbor will visit you from time to time, bringing various events with her. She might show up with useful gifts, or present you with challenges that require your problem-solving skills. We've written plenty of events for her interactions, adding a new social element to your daily routine.[/p][h2]New Artifact for Royal Orders[/h2][p]Now you can tackle your first royal commission without waiting for adventure recipes.[/p][p]We've added a new artifact at the start of the game that lets you complete your first royal order without needing recipes from expeditions. This should make the early game smoother and help new players understand the royal commission system right away.[/p][h2]No More Time Penalties: The New Hunger System[/h2][p]Exhaustion affects your work efficiency, but won't stop your progress entirely.[/p][p]The hunger system has been completely reworked. We heard your complaints about time penalties, so here's what changed:[/p]

• [p]Hungry character now get an "exhaustion" status instead of losing time[/p]
• [p]Exhaustion reduces work efficiency on processes rather than blocking them[/p]
• [p]The effect wears off over time, or can be cured by drinking a potion with healing properties[/p]
• [p]Working with zero energy also causes exhaustion.[/p]

[h2]Enhanced Potions: Secondary Effects and New Properties[/h2][p]Every potion now serves multiple purposes.[/p][p]All potions now have secondary effects beyond a pillar. Some restore character stats, while others give temporary properties.[/p][p]We've added four new properties:[/p]

• [p]Dreamer – consumed when a character with this property sleeps, restoring more energy. If the Alchemist sleeps, he also gets a vision card.[/p]
• [p]Toughness – better chances of avoiding scars when wounded[/p]
• [p]Warrior – higher odds of crushing victories in challenges[/p]
• [p]Remedy – potions with this property can be used to treat wounds regardless of pillar requirements and also to cure exhaustion.[/p]

[h2]Balance Changes[/h2][p]Some tweaks to improve the gameplay experience.[/p]

• [p]Expanded worker traits – some workers now have additional base properties[/p]
• [p]Stronger fertilizer effects – plants now grow faster[/p]
• [p]Better ascension potion timing – more time to add secret ingredients when brewing[/p]

[h2]Quality of Life Improvements[/h2][p]Changes that make the game easier to navigate.[/p][p]Here's what we've improved:[/p]

• [p]Better card placement – the game now detects card overlaps more clearly[/p]
• [p]Improved stack movement – you can now move stacks by clicking on the card description area[/p]
• [p]Auto-stacking for identical cards (you can turn this off in settings)[/p]
• [p]Better screen experience – improved screen dragging, added hardware cursor and screen scrolling[/p]
• [p]Backup saves in case you run into serious bugs – you can now restore your game to an earlier point[/p]
• [p]Added mandatory/optional slot indicators – now it's easier to see which cards are optional for each process[/p]
• [p]Better card replacement – when cards replace other cards, new buildings won't fly away from where the blueprint was placed[/p]

[h2]Learn the Ropes: New Tutorial[/h2][p]Master both basic and advanced mechanics with our tutorial system.[/p][p]New players can now learn the game through a tutorial that covers basic controls and advanced strategies. Whether you're starting out or want to understand complex mechanics better, the tutorial will help.[/p][h2]Market and Guild Improvements[/h2][p]No more guessing what you're buying – every purchase now has clear descriptions.[/p][p]Both the market and mercenary guild now have unique text for each purchase and hire. You'll know exactly what you're spending your coins on.[/p][h2]Other Changes[/h2][p]From interface improvements to language support – making the game better for everyone.[/p][p]The update also brings various improvements and new features:[/p]

• [p]Expanded interface – now displays more important parameters[/p]
• [p]Updated English localization – conducted major proofreading and improvements[/p]
• [p]Chinese AI translation – added to the demo, plus great news: the game will get a full professional Chinese translation by release![/p]
• [p]Alchemist portrait selection – you can now change the appearance of your main character card in settings[/p]
• [p]Dynamic pillar texts – progress in pillars now reveals alchemical secrets to the Alchemist and changes property descriptions[/p]

[h2]What Do You Think?[/h2][p]This update is based on months of community feedback. How do these changes feel? Does the new hunger system work better for you? We're curious about your experience with the neighbor events and whether the tutorial teaches the mechanics well.[/p][p]🚀 The updated demo is available now! As usual, your feedback is everything – let us know what you think about the changes, it shapes how Ways of Alchemy develops![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]