Cross of Auria News

[p]The downside to ramping up development the way that I have last week is that some bugs slip through the cracks. Today, I launched a series of fixes for the new Rose quest which I thought worked last week but totally did not. If you have progressed to the end of the available Orc War story, Officer Rose will now be in Lvell with two Neko for a brief quest which gives Ruby a new skill! Also, the quest log references Captain Reynolds moving to Frost Forest but the quest not being ready yet - that is still accurate. The next part of The Orc War will be the end of this game's main story and it will launch as one update; 7.0. [/p][p]If you discover at any part of the game that the game fully crashes and prints off a series of yellow text, please let me know ASAP! One such issue is fixed in today's 6.9.1.2 update for the Orcs of Lvell quest log when its completed. [/p][p][/p][p]6.9.1.0-6.9.1.3 \[Build #197, Release Date: November 20, 2025]
Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where Officer Rose would not respond to the Orc War progression in Lvell.
- Fixed a display issue on all fires that can be extinguished.
- Fixed Quest Log issues relating to the Saving Lvell quest, including a debug for players who have already finished it.
- Fixed a Quest Log crash relating to a the completed version of The Orcs of Lvell.
- Fixed a Quest Log crash relating to the completed version of Rabbit's Foot: Adventure II. [/p][p]6.9.0.2 \[Build #196, Release Date: November 17, 2025]
Fixes:
- The item Officer Rose gives you for the Lvell sidequest now functions correctly at any forge with Synthesis. [/p][p]6.9.0.1 \[Build #195, Release Date: November 17, 2025]
Fixes:
- Fixed an issue with the new event in Port Reception[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]that sacrificing 1000 Electric Power not only grants an achievement, but causes Ruby to discover a weapon with access to an incredibly powerful skill? This skill gains damage based on five times the amount of electric power sacrificed, plus half damage from current electric power stored! Electric Power is sacrificed by Ruby when she uses Lightning Rage enabled attacks![/p]

[p]There have been a dozen or so rapid fire updates since the last post. This time, we're pushing the world state forward just a little bit to allow for Rabbit's Foot and Phoenix Ash completion, even if you've progressed into the Orc War story. [/p][p]Please note that while Captain Reynolds references meeting up in Frost Forest, this part of the questline is not yet ready and the Quest Log also makes note of this. This patch is purely for allowing access back into Auria and Lvell during the Orc War.[/p][p]Here are the notes, in order, of everything that's happened in the previous 8 game updates since the last post. These generally affect end and postgame content. Highlights: Zodiac Overwatch is finished with an achievement for each boss plus a crazy good accessory & Lvell/Auria can be opened again during the Orc War to allow Hunter Lodge achievement progress. [/p][p][/p][p]6.8.5.0 \[Build #193, Release Date: November 14, 2025][/p][p]New: - The "Rest Well Earned" quest can now be advanced by returning to Ruby's House[/p][p]Fixes:
- Fixed a passability issue on the Rabbit's Foot tileset.
- Fixed an issue where experience would be rewarded for "Standby" before other characters returned to the party.
- Pet Guide is no longer considered "consumable" and won't disappear if the pet is not in the party.
- Fixed an achievement issue with the Colosseum Anura raid.
- Talking to either of the Phoenix Ash NPCs after completing their quest chain will run the achievement check in Port Reception.[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Crossbolt now benefits additionally from five times the total amount of Sacrificed Electric Power in addition to its other effects.
- Adjusted the layout of the Veil Trials and fixed #1's exit point.
- Corrected the text of the Event rift Reaper in the Awoken Veil.
- Fixed terrain issues inside Ruby's House.
- Lightningstrike now hits twice.
- Bolt Cutter now hits three times.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.5.2 \[Build #193-X, Release Date: November 14, 2025]
New:
- Functionality and achievements added for the remainder of the Zodiac Overwatch.[/p][p]Fixes:
- Zodiac Whistle now teleports Ruby to the correct instance of the Zodiac Overwatch.
- Prevented warp travel in the Zodiac Overwatch when criteria wasn't met.[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Zodiac Vendor will now exchange Astral Coins for Astral Tokens in the 'Other' shop.
- Zodiac Vendor will now exchange Small EXP tokens into Medium, and Medium into Large in the 'Other' shop.
- Zodiac teleporters can now warp to the entrance. The entrance can now warp to Wing 1.
- Greatly increased the drop rate of Capricorn's gear.[/p][p]6.8.5.3 \[Build #193-X, Release Date: November 15, 2025]
Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where Lightningstrike and Bolt Cutter would not hit the target the correct amount of times.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.5.4 \[Build #193-X, Release Date: November 15, 2025]
Fixes:
- Optional boss in Scarlet Fire rift is now accessible.
- Additional achievement trigger for Bloodlust Manor added in case the first fails & reorganized the first to be more stable.
- Fixed the entry tile to Bloodlust Manor after the event is complete. [/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- The Warden no longer references unused Rifts and the remaining 3 rifts have been scrapped.
- All achievements are visible even if incomplete.
- Greatly increased drop rates from Scarlet Fire bosses.
- Scarlet Fire and Rift Anura bosses now have the passive Boss state.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.5.5 \[Build #193-X, Release Date: November 15, 2025]
Notes:
- This update is mostly about restructuring the Disassembly Pool and Augmentation. Because each Armor and Weapon is counted as a unique item as opposed to a Stack, these changes only affect newly acquired gear. Gear acquired before this update will not reflect these changes, as their data is stored locally on your save file rather than referencing the game database.
- The data surrounding exactly what was changed will be too great and specific to document, but the overall goal is to reduce the amount of instances that a player would want to save their game, commit a series of actions, then reload if the result was bad.
- While Armor and Weapons see their disassemble pools completely revamped, the Disassembly Pool of Items will not be changed. The number of items in the game files outweighs Weapons and Armor expontentially and disassembly is only currently available on throwaway, sellable, and low value Items as it is. [/p][p]Disassembly Updates & Changes:
- Many Armor which previously had 0 Upgrade Slots now have exactly 1 and can not roll with more or less. Very few items remain with forced 0 slots.
- The NPC in the Awoken Veil who cycled Hallows Gear and sold Moderate Tool Kits no longer cycles gear and sells the Moderate Tool Kit for 50G and 1 Pit Coin, down from 1000G/0PC. They also now sell the Great, Mega, and Ultra tool kits for 250G/2PC, 500/3PC, and 1000G/4PC respectively.[/p][p]Misc Updates & Changes:
- The achievement checker NPC in the Veil has been removed. By my estimation, this NPC has existed since August 2022. The world state has changed significantly enough that if you had earned the achievements but they didn't pop on Steam via a bug in early 2022, replaying the game to earn them legitimately today is the right thing to do here in 2025.
- The Awoken Veil NPC who sold Hallows gear no longer sells ++ weapons, which are now offered via Team HH in Brandywine Forest instead.
- Found unfinished data for Zodiac weapons, finished it, then added it to the Zodiac boss loot tables. While not noted in the tooltip, each of these weapons has 12% Barrier Penetration.
- EXP Tokens now offer to use all of them rather than having to use them individually.
- The Zodiac Overwatch NPC now offers to merge EXP Tokens into larger ones at no cost via his shop.[/p][p]6.8.5.6 \[Build #193-X, Release Date: November 16, 2025]
Fixes:
- Fixed the tooltip and effects of newly acquired Corrupted Catalysts.[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Significantly increased the drop rate of important items from Veil Trial Boss #4.
- Removed the Challenge Level based despawn for bosses in the Veil Trials, relying on the Erase Event to function to protect players from duplicate battles. This will prevent gaming the system to skip bosses, but also allows for saving inside the Trials arenas since the Challenge Level is no longer a relevant factor in the boss despawning. It also increases the probability slightly that boss will trigger its battle a second time
- In addition to Challenge Level ascending on victories and being saved on defeats, it is also directly set to the maximum intended number upon using the exit warp even if save/reloading was used to artificially extend the CL beyond its normal maximum. Please note that achievement checks are run after the boss fights, not every time the CL increases.
- Zodiac Overwatch is no longer save restricted.
- Rift An'ura is no longer save restricted.
- Scarlet Fire is no longer save restricted.
- A new warning has been placed on the entrance rifts to areas that are no longer save restricted.[/p][p]Notes, Known Issues & Other:
- This update seeks to remove save restrictions in long gauntlet or raid style areas by changing the way progress is measured without disrupting the overall integrity of the events.
- There is a very small chance for fieldspawn battles (the ones you can see before the fight begins) to cause a second roll of the dice and subsequent battle from a single unit. There is an even smaller chance for this to happen on Player Touch boss battles, particularly in the Veil Trials. Due to how cumbersome the project file has become and the 'desire to crash' talked about in previous updates, nothing can truly be done to repair this - but it speaks volumes as to why this project needs to wrap up sooner than later.
- Saving and reloading inside a Veil Trial or Colosseum Rift will respawn all previously defeated enemies whose progress function relies on Erase Event, which is most of the non-boss enemies. With this update, I have chosen to allow the players their own discretion regarding boxing themselves into a high level area.[/p][p][/p][p]6.9.0.0 \[Build #194, Release Date: November 17, 2025]
New:
- By speaking to Captain Reynolds in Port Reception, another quest become available to increment the world state to its final version before the end of the main campaign releases. Ruby will need to acquire special powers to return Lvell and Auria to their previous states. Luckily, some of the Lvellan residents can help[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Herbs for Clarence can now be completed at any point as long as Ruby has access to this part of Auria.
- Stun is now removed by damage 20% of the time, down from 50%, and adds turns when reapplied instead of resetting them.
- The hidden Neko in Market Town now teaches Alex a different spell if she already knows Resurrection, and teaches a subsequent spell after that.
- Officer Rose will react to the Rabbit's Foot quest at the Lvell Soldiers Outpost, but if this is done after the Orc War world state incrementation, then a huge chunk of the dialogue is left off to keep the conversation making sense. [/p][p]Notes, Known Issues & Other:
- Once the world state is incremented via quest progression, it is not possible to visit previous versions.
- The Rabbit's Foot becomes accessible again via world state progression.
- The Phoenix Ash becomes accessible again via world state progression.
- Due to the world state progression, some incomplete quests may become inaccessible or unstable. You should report these ASAP here on the Steam forums.[/p][p][/p][p]6.9.0.1 - Emergency Fix for the Port Reception event. This build is deployed but the Info tab doesn't change from 6.9.0.0 yet. Also, the item Officer Rose gives to Ruby is in the inventory as a Hidden Item, but does not yet function as described until the next bigger update.[/p][p][/p][p]6.9.0.2 adds functionality for that item in Port Reception from Officer Rose. Any further updates beyond this will get their own post.[/p]

[p]Today we're taking a brief break from working on late Halloween and miscellaneous postgame stuff to move the main story forward. Rest Well Earned, obtained from Officer Rose during the Orc War, can now be completed by returning to Ruby's House. If the trigger was missed to add this quest to your Quest Log, returning to Ruby's House will re-add it just in case. This quest features a rather significant optional lore drop alongside a forced significant lore drop. Using what I learned from designing the Team HH interactions, making this was much smoother than previous events.[/p][p]Key Notes about this build and development moving forward[/p]

• [p]The primary build will remain 6.8.5 until the final part of the main story campaign is released which will increase the version to 7.0.0.0. Until then, only the last number will change to indicate quick patches that are being deployed to the live environment as issues are fixed and other important changes are made. These will all end up in the 6.8.5.X notes that release alongside 7.0, but will not have individual posts like this one. To see which game version you are on, press Info from the title screen. Restarting Steam will always pull the latest update. This doesn't mean it will take a long time for me to do, just that I'm going to be rapid firing fixes for this build into the live environment. We realistically might be done next month - I don't know yet! [/p]
• [p]There may be bugs. Rest Well Earned goes through a brand new zone and series of events created in just the last few days. I tested it myself, but you all break the game way better than I do. If you come across a bug, you can always post it here in the Steam forums or you can reach out to me on Discord. My name there, like here, is Hardytier. We don't have a dedicated server for this anymore as we're rounding the corner for final updates and finalization of the project.[/p]
• [p]Ruby still has free roam of the Orc War world after completing the quest, but access to Auria is still blocked. [/p]
• [p]Due to continued difficulty on the back end with the engine constantly crashing, plans for various zones are officially scrapped altogether. Most notably, this includes Terra Anatis, the Auria Prison, Auria Lighthouse, Alpha Ruins, The Pit, Land of Fire, and additional Colosseum raids. After development of this project concludes, we'll have a much longer postmortem discussion about the content cut here at the end.[/p]
• [p]There will be one final main story quest that takes Ruby's team to a point of no return where saving will be impossible, where the events of the end of the game take place. I plan to begin working on this next quest immediately. When available, it will be obtainable from Captain Reynolds after completing Rest Well Earned. Following that, I will clean up development on Horseman Hunter Pass and Eyes in the Frost, which will serve as official postgame content now at levels 30-40 and 40-55 respectively. Again, we'll have more about this in the postmortem discussion.[/p]
• [p]Once you reach the Orc War alarm, it is no longer possible to complete The Rabbit's Foot or The Phoenix Ash achievements. As originally intended, they are sidequests which are mostly optional. Access to Auria is restricted completely and access to Lvell is limited.[/p]
• [p]The final pieces of development in order before this project is complete are: [/p]
  • [p]Final main story quest with game ending[/p]
  • [p]Horseman Hunter Pass - Premium DLC for Brandywine Forest area. Level 30-40.[/p]
  • [p]Eyes in the Frost - Free DLC for the Snowdrift Village area. Level 40-55.[/p]
  • [p]Shadowfrost Citadel - Premium DLC for the final raid of the Snowdrift Village area. Level 55-60.[/p]
  • [p]Awoken Veil cleanup[/p]
• [p]Following the completion of the above, I will begin a new project for what in my mind has always been Chapter 2. Using what I've learned doing this game, the scope will be reigned in significantly from what we've seen here and I won't push the engine past its limits. More on this later.[/p]

[p][/p][p]6.8.5.0 \[Build #193, Release Date: November 14, 2025][/p][p]New:
- The "Rest Well Earned" quest can now be advanced by returning to Ruby's House[/p][p]Fixes:
- Fixed a passability issue on the Rabbit's Foot tileset.
- Fixed an issue where experience would be rewarded for "Standby" before other characters returned to the party.
- Pet Guide is no longer considered "consumable" and won't disappear if the pet is not in the party.
- Fixed an achievement issue with the Colosseum Anura raid.
- Talking to either of the Phoenix Ash NPCs after completing their quest chain will run the achievement check in Port Reception.[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Crossbolt now benefits additionally from five times the total amount of Sacrificed Electric Power in addition to its other effects.
- Adjusted the layout of the Veil Trials and fixed #1's exit point.
- Corrected the text of the Event rift Reaper in the Awoken Veil.
- Fixed terrain issues inside Ruby's House.
- Lightningstrike now hits twice.
- Bolt Cutter now hits three times.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.5.2[/p][p]Very shortly after this was posted, I got to work on finalizing the Battle Series X free DLC, known in game as the Zodiac Overwatch. After multiple frustrating engine crashes - it's finished and fully playable with significantly increased drop rates from the bosses. Each boss yields its own achievement and defeating the final boss temporarily unlocks an NPC by the entrance. If you can afford it, a special Accessory awaits. Once you leave the Overwatch, this NPC disappears until the final boss of the zone is defeated again. This post was made around 9am, with this update being deployed around 12:30pm.[/p][p][/p]

[p]Development of future trials (if I end up doing more) will surely take longer, as I have exhausted my existing pool of resources.[/p][p]Previous post covers the upcoming Horseman Hunter DLC and functionality of the Awoken Veil Trials (seen here) [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]This update is being deployed so soon after the last one due to the discovery of an exploit in the new trials.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.4.3 \[Build #192, Release Date: November 12, 2025]
New:
- The third Veil Trial is now available! Access requires Challenge Level 20.
- The fourth Veil Trial is also available! Access requires Challenge Level 30.
- A new series of skill guides are available in the loot pool of Veil Trial bosses 1 & 2. Basic Guides have a 33% chance to drop, Moderate Guides 10%, and Advanced Guides 5%. Guides teach Tier 1, 2, and 3 physical, magical, and special elemental abilities respectively. Ex: Guide to Basic Fire teaches one ally Emberstrike, Firebolt, and Eruption all at once. This drop rate only applies to Trial 1, 2,and 3. [/p][p]Fixes:
- Fixed an issue on the low level trial rifts which would allow entry before the required challenge level was reached. [/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Local file PatchNotes file renamed to x.Legacy_Patch_Notes. The old file begins at version 1, public build #1 and ends at 6.8.4.2 Build #191. A new local file starting at 6.8.4.3 Build #192 has been created for the remainder of development named Patch_Notes.
- Disassemble pool adjusted for Blazerblade weapon.
- The following Snowdrift enemies have been scaled up to level 40-50: Snowbear, Angry Puffin, Enraged Construct, Vengeful Construct, Warped Spirit, Cookie Warrior, Harping Hare, Slimebat, Frost Turtle, Frostslayer Mantis, Ghazra.
- It is no longer possible to save inside the Awoken Veil Trials.[/p][p][/p]

[p]First and foremost - a second trial extending to level 20 is available in the Veil and can be challenged immediately upon completing the previous one introduced in the last patch. But how to access it - that is the question.[/p][p]I've finalized the gimmick surrounding the Veil Trials / Challenge Level. Let's bullet point it for easy understanding:[/p]

• [p]Starting a trial will set your Challenge Level to 0. Your Challenge Level can be viewed from the Save menu.[/p]
• [p]Completing the first trial consists of defeating 10 battles one after the other. For each one, your Challenge Level increases by 1.[/p]
• [p]While your Challenge Level is 10 or higher, you may enter the second Veil Trial.[/p]
• [p]Completing the second trial consists of defeating 20 battles one after the other. Again, for each one, your Challenge Level will increase by 1.[/p]
• [p]When the third, fourth, fifth, etc Trial become available, they will require full completion of the previous Trial to access.[/p]
• [p]However, if Ruby is killed part way through the Trial, you will only have access to Trials corresponding to your Challenge Level. Reminder: Your Challenge Level resets every time you start a new trial![/p]
• [p]Therefore, if you fail on battle #9 of the second trial, you won't get a game over, but Ruby will return to the Awoken Veil with Challenge Level 9. With the CL being too low, access to the second trial will be restricted and Ruby will have to defeat the entire first trial to raise the CL high enough to open the second trial.[/p]
• [p]This will be how it works for however many trials I end up releasing. My goal is 10.[/p]
• [p]There is a one time completion bonus in a chest behind the boss in each of the Trials. The first two directly affect Ruby's Snake pet.[/p]

[p]Starting the trials has no minimum level or story based prerequisite. This can be done as soon as Ruby discovers access to the Awoken Veil. Keep in mind that nothing in the game right now directly points Ruby to these discoveries, but multiple access points exists throughout the world. The easiest and earliest access point would be in the large room upstairs of Ruby's House via the statue. The game is a little too old for me to pretend this information is a spoiler.[/p][p][/p][p]Also launching with this update are back end preparations for the Horseman Hunter Pass DLC involving the two NPC who have no visible quests for Ruby in the Team HH Lodge. I don't yet have a timeframe for the launch of this content, but I've spent most of the week on it so far. Here's some info about the plans for that DLC:[/p]

• [p]$4.99 from the Steam Shop[/p]
• [p]With the DLC installed, the NPCs in Brandywine Countryside / Team HH Lodge will give Ruby the Special Access Pass which allows access to the Horseman War Campaign.[/p]
• [p]Current goal: 10 Hunter Lodge Sidequests, including Extinction, Supply, Target, Strike, and Raid. Of these 10, full functionality for the first 2 and preparation for the following 2 are coded in.[/p]
• [p]Raid takes place in a classic Cross of Auria castle structure, similar to the discoverable Love Is In the Air questline in Agartha. Location currently named Brandywine Manor.[/p]
• [p]Battle focused high level content structured with enemy levels 30-40.[/p]
• [p]Lodge quest progress grants access to three new companion pets via "Team HH: Extinction" quests, specifics to be announced later. The completion of these units prompted the previous several patches worth of Skills & Ability changes, particularly the ones with new Mastery effects.[/p]
• [p]New exclusive gear particularly useful to but not limited to Ruby's pets.[/p]
• [p]Greater drop rates for the orange quality weapons' crafting materials within Brandywine Manor.[/p]

[p]Coming just after the Horseman Hunter Pass is going to be the long awaited changes to Snowdrift Village, which level-wise would occur after the Horseman coming in at 40-50. [/p][p]Finally, following that, a story wrap up for this game, Cross of Auria, originally titled "Cross of Auria Chapter 1 - The Awakening", will launch and development on CoA will conclude. We've talked about this a bit in the past, but real quick I just want to let you know why we need to move to a second game and it's super simple. The engine keeps crashing. I discovered some information about how to expand the default limitations of the engine, specifically maximum amount of internal data stored for Actors, Classes, Items, Weapons, Armor, Skills, Enemies, Troops, Switches, and Variables. Every time I save, there's a chance that everything on the back end - the things listed above, but nothing saves for the front end - what you as the player experience. For instance, I'll make a ton of changes to a location then go edit mastery effects for a skill and press save, but only the mastery effect will save. The entire location reverts to how it was before I started for the day. This has made development incredibly cumbersome especially in cases of nested event scriptwriting, like the Candy Bag. Every time I get deep on a new concept that requires not exiting out to save for, I get a crash. So we need to, for real this time, wrap it up and move on. And just for complete transparency - after making the game free to download and play, the motivation I've had to extend the game has dropped significantly. This is why I'm focusing heavily right now on this DLC. If you recall, it did not originally intend to extend the game at all beyond the Flame Titan. In terms of 'end game' for chapter one, there's a thread in here somewhere called "Minigame Megathread" that goes over all the "postgame" stuff there used to be before the main story was extended beyond what was originally written for chapter 1.
tldr; I let the scope get way out of control and it can't be reigned in. So it's time to finish the story![/p][p][/p][p]And on that note, here's the official patch notes for everything above. This will launch later tonight. Check the Info tab from the main screen to see if your game has updated. If not, don't fear! It will be public tonight![/p][p][/p][p]Oh PS, bosses just randomly got potentially way harder good luck.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.4.2 \[Build #191, Release Date: November 11, 2025]
New:
- The second Veil Trial is now available! This one goes up to Challenge Level 20 and has a unique one-time reward for completion.[/p][p]Fixes:
- Fixed a teleport issue from the old Halloween events in the Awoken Veil.
- Removed the second Black Forest Halloween access object from the Awoken Veil.[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- Reorganized how the Veil Trials will calculate progress used for later rifts.
- The Boss state, in addition to its previous effects, now reduces chance to be afflicted by loss of utility and control effects by 33% (Petrify, Blind, Silence, Confusion, Fascination, Sleep, Stun, HolyStun, Disable, Fear). Also reduces chance to be afflicted by general damage effects by 10% (Poison, Burn, Bleed). Also adds one hit to Normal Attacks. No change to end of turn field damage (Thunderstorm/Blizzard/etc) or niche modificatons (Soak/Poisonfear/etc). This is an overarching effect on all bosses with the Boss status that stacks on top of their custom resistances and weaknesses. Previously, the Boss state only increased parameters by 10% and added a 10% chance for a second action per turn.[/p][p][/p]