Developer Update #2

[p]Recently we have focused on item balance and armour progression to enable enjoyable PvP. There has also been major work to core and social systems.[/p][p][/p][h2]Armour tiers and combat balance[/h2][p]We have expanded armour tiers across all classes. This gives players more noticeable progression and helps balance combat.[/p][p][/p][h3]Warrior upgrades[/h3][p]Dark Knight armour. Heavy, imposing, and built to withstand blow after blow.[/p][p] [/p][p][/p][h3]Archer upgrades[/h3][p]New archer gear. Sharper looks, stronger stats, and perfect for the ranged assassin, with the added bonus that under-armour is dyeable. Arrow trails have also been added.[/p][p][/p][h3]Mage upgrades[/h3][p]Mages have new robe tiers, optional hooded variants and natural magic resistance and absorption baked into the armour.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Coatings[/h2][p]We have introduced coatings which are crafted using alchemy. These consumables can be applied to weapons including arrows, applying extra damage and a visual change to the item.[/p][p]Damage values have been adjusted for balance.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Social systems[/h2][p]This has been fully revamped and expanded to make Helrift more social and connected.[/p]

• [p]Chat interface overhaul[/p]
• [p]Whispers now open in separate tabs to keep conversations organised[/p]
• [p]Friends list added[/p]
• [p]Approval / rejection of friend requests[/p]
• [p]Presence notifications to see who is online[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Gate server enhancements[/h2][p]To support long-term scalability, more systems are being moved onto the Gate server.[/p][p][/p][h2]Next Steps[/h2]

• [p]Technical preparation and ongoing content development for the upcoming playtest[/p]
• [p]Major changes and additions to the research system[/p]
• [p]Complete rework of Wayfarers' Rest, the starting map zone[/p]