Cross of Auria News

[p]Development on the 2025 Halloween event is progressing well. A bug was reported on Discord which forced this early rollout. For now, the world map has seen a minor change and allows access to Brandywine Forest - the host location for upcoming Halloween themed DLC event. Progress is blocked beyond the first quest & second zone. If you choose to explore this area now, I recommend using an additional save file. A message plays in the first zone also saying as much.[/p][p]This update also launches many changes to enemy skills as well as gives some enemies the new unmitigated Attack. In my quest to not have enemies ever do 0 damage without access to a functioning plugin, I've created a secondary Attack command that does 2x the Atk stat as damage with normal variance and does not take into account the defender's (Ruby's team) armor. I think upgrading the engine itself is what allowed the TurnOrderDisplay (top right during combat) to function, but also broke the ArmorScaling. I prefer TOD to function - I can just do extra work for AS.[/p][p]While the new zone on the world map isn't finished, it also isn't empty. The enemies there will respawn upon leaving and returning. These zones do not currently have step-based random encounters, so the only enemies you encounter will be the ones you bump into. The Halloween themed enemies in this area have increased stacking drop rates from landing Saboteur debuffs. Ex: Landing Attack Break will increase the drop of some items by x%, then landing Magick Break will increase that drop rate even further. This is limited to one increase per state landed, so using the same one over and over won't give higher bonuses. Exact drop rates may be revealed in the future if we end up doing a full postmortem guide.[/p][p]It is important to note that the Sabotage version of Attack Break and the Skill version of Attack Break share the same debuff state, meaning that once you learn all the skills you can, you don't have to keep leveling Saboteur if you don't want to. The same goes for Synergist abilities. Learn Skills start becoming available for both Saboteur and Synergist beginning at level 20. The classes themselves become available to Ruby's team once a character has brought White Mage or Black Mage above level 5 for Synergist and Saboteur respectively. [/p][p][/p][p]Final note... I'm not going to scrap the 2020/2021 Halloween events from the Veil like I previously intended. I think what I created for the alternate outfit event in both story and gameplay is unique enough within the game to not take it away. However, as the easier event by far, I will have to cut item drop rates across the board with the next update, however soon that is with Oct 31st being the latest. So, if you have not visited the Veil and taken part in the alternate outfit Halloween event, you have 3 more days to get super easy drops. The items used in the 2025 event are the same as the ones from 2020/2021 and progress made during the new event will work toward those orange weapons![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]6.8.3.2 \[Build #188, Release Date: October 28, 2025][/p][p]Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where pets would rejoin the team during the Frostslayer class trial event before canonically added back to the team. [/p][p]Updates & Changes: - All store pages for Cross of Auria and associated DLC have been updated to reflect the following changes: Developer Name, Publisher Name, YouTube link (removed), and Social Media link. Long story short, I'm using a new name online (iArtefact) and all my new projects, plus this one, reflect that. Discord name is Artefact Kingdom - once you join, you must select the appropriate role to see the CoA section. (Edit 11/4/25 - This has been undone.) - Part of the Overworld has been updated to allow access to the new DLC zone. - Lash now has a 30% chance to apply Element Break, is classified as a Magical Attack, has a 2 turn cooldown, and has a massive % damage based Mastery Effect up to level 5. - Gale Guard reworked. Corresponding state has been removed. Ryan will still use this skill with its new effects. - Charge now does Physical instead of Inherited damage, has +50 Speed, and has a % damage based Mastery Effect. - Flutter now has +25 Speed and a % damage based Mastery Effect. - Sticky Slap now has a flat damage based Mastery Effect. - Leech is now considered Physical element, can apply Poison (20%), has a 5 turn cooldown and has a flat damage based Mastery Effect. - Wing Slap now has a 3 turn cooldown. - Bite now has a % damage based Mastery Effect. - Chomp now has a % damage based Mastery Effect. - Slap now has a % damage based Mastery Effect and no longer has a reduction to Speed. - Enraging Flames now properly has a 2 turn cooldown and has a mastery effect. - Small Candy Pouch randomizer is now 3-5, up from 1-5. - Large Candy Pouch randomizer is now 9-12, up from 4-12. - Sweet Candy and Sour Candy can now be consumed to restore some HP (10% and 20% respectively). - Blazing Candy now does AoE fire damage and can cause Burn. - Hallows Frames now have distinct icons.[/p][p]Notes, Known Issues & Other:
- This update rolled out due to the pet fix - the Halloween 2025 event is not yet complete. However, the first quest may be started! Progress beyond it is currently blocked.
- A warning message appears in the first zone of Brandywine Forest to make a new save. I strongly recommend doing so during event construction.[/p]

[p]We had a long one a few days ago so let's keep this one short - a new object appears in Ruby's House and the awakened Veil for toggling on and off the Black Forest halloween themed enemies. While active, up to 21 roaming enemies will appear throughout the forest of which 20 have random spawn points. The amount of roaming enemies depends on Ruby's level, increasing up to level 30. When Ruby is level 30 or above before entering the zone, all 21 enemies will be loaded in. On the other hand, if Ruby is below level 5 when entering the zone, none of the 21 enemies will spawn. [/p][p]Rather than make you guess, here's some important info:
- Sabotage abilities cause items to drop more frequently from these 21 battlegroups.
- Not all secrets released will be documented in these patch notes.
- These event enemies only provide 1 EXP per unit and 0 gold, but have a chance to drop EXP tokens.
- The pumpkin in Ruby's House / Awakened Veil share triggers and effects and can be accessed beginning after Day 1 ends (aka: it is not in the Day 1 / Ruby's House zone).
- This wave of patches will all fall under the 6.8.3.X, Build 186-X grouping due to testing and iteration as we go. I will likely have to make rapid adjustments and documenting them all while releasing them would become cumbersome. When the next "full patch" gets posted, everything changed between now and then will be documented in there, but have already taken effect in game.
- Synergist and Saboteur classes prevent the use of Skills and Magic, but have Learn Skills via the menu for Skills and Magic beginning at level 20. These classes will also change the visual level of your other classes when swapping between them. This is because these new classes require significantly less EXP to level up. While equipped, they view the other classes as having their current EXP, but traveling along the lesser EXP-required level up path. You don't actually gain levels from swapping classes.
- Report bugs directly to me here on the Steam Forums or more quickly on Discord @ https://discord.gg/nj8qFGxagP. I ended up having to terminate the previous server that was being used for other things, but that's a story for another place and another time. This will function as my permanent Discord home moving forward until such a time where I stop using the app. (Edit 11/4/25: The best place to report bugs for now is going to be here on the Steam community pages.)[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.3.X \[Build #186-X, Release Date: October 19, 2025][/p][p]New: [/p][p]- An object appears in Ruby's House after Day 1 and the awoken Veil which allows players to toggle The Black Forest 2025 Halloween enemies. [/p][p]- Saboteur class now available to Black Mages level 5 or higher.[/p][p]- Synergist class now available to White Mages level 5 or higher.[/p][p]- New states (buffs & debuffs) created for the two new classes. [/p][p]Updates & Changes:[/p][p]- Newly acquired Hallows+ weapons tooltip includes which items the weapon will disassemble into. This also applies to the shop tooltip. They disassemble at a 100% rate.[/p][p]- Hallows++ weapons tooltip now includes "cannot be disassembled".[/p][p]- File size increase due to sourcing new assets - currently unused.[/p][p]Fixes:[/p][p]- Fixed a visual bug for the Candy Bag when removing Blazing Candy. The math has always functioned correctly, but the display number referenced the amount of remaining Sweet Candy instead.[/p][p][/p]

[p]Hey everyone, it's been a while! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you. In fact, I've been thinking up a couple of cool new things to add to the game. My goal is to have them released by the end of this month - so keep your eyes peeled in game for a version change! Yes, unfortunately that means this is not ready for deployment YET![/p][p][/p][p]First up, the Headless Horseman, angered by his defeat to Ruby & co, has crossed the barriers of the Veil and slipped into Revan somewhere. He brought with him his army of risen warriors! Find access to this new location from the world map soon![/p][p][/p][p]The Horseman also picked up some new tricks in the form of debuffs... Ruby should probably bring somebody who knows Synergy abilities to dispel them! (Both Synergy and Sabotage abilities will be available as new Classes with the release of this DLC!)[/p][p][/p][p]Alright, was that too corny? Let's get into some documentation style information. Two new classes are joining the game - Synergist, which focuses on buffing allies, and Saboteur, which focuses on debuffing enemies. These new abilities are tied to brand new States, 8 in total for each class. One for Attack, Magic Attack, Defense, Magic Defense, Agility, Luck, and Elemental Resistances. Using a buff on an ally is guaranteed to apply the effect unless afflicted with the opposite debuff. Using a buff on an afflicted ally has a 50% chance to remove the debuff instead. The same is true for debuffing enemies - there is a chance to dispel their buff or apply the debuff, depending on whether or not they have other buffs active. But more than that, these new State-based-skills are guaranteed to Dispel the previous iteration of buffs and debuffs on contact guaranteed! So if an enemy has a 2x Attack buff and you hit them with Attack Break (and it doesn't miss), they can say goodbye to that Attack buff even if your debuff State doesn't land! Sound like a lot? You'll get the hang of it![/p][p]Beginning at level 20, Learn Skills appear for both Synergist and Saboteur. These abilities share names with the previously learned abilities, but instead will activate for the Skills and Magic commands instead! By default, only Synergist and Saboteurs can use these skills. But once you hit level 20 and activate the Learn Skills, you can take some of these abilities with you to the other classes![/p][p]Synergist and Saboteur classes become available through progress within the new Headless Horseman DLC (to be officially named later). [/p][p][/p][p]Near-Future Plans
- Tie achievements to in-game rewards. Ex: completing the new Headless DLC rewards new save files on the same account with the Synergist and Saboteur classes for all characters (except pets).
- Create an extinction event within YSV/Snowdrift.[/p][p][/p][p]The expected release of this new DLC, including progression for two new classes is on October 25th, 2025 for $4.99. The store page will not become active until the DLC is ready to launch that moment - no preorders this time![/p][p][/p][p]Snowdrift Village / YSV is getting a minor mechanical makeover after the Headless DLC drops. This already exists as a DLC and no additional content will need to be purchased or downloaded. The expected release for this is December 20th, 2025.[/p][p][/p][p]Battle Series X wings are also expanding in the meantime.[/p][p][/p][p]On October 20th, 2025, the Horseman's army will infect the Black Forest. The higher Ruby's main class level, the more difficult enemies will spawn (up to level 35).[/p][p][/p][p]What's that? One of the Horseman's allies seems to be willing to recognize Ruby as its master![/p]

[p]I've had to rapid fire some fixes over the last few days so apologies on so quick of a new update - but today we're looking at Electric Power! Those of you who are far enough in the game know that some skills add to Ruby's overall Electric Power which increases the damage her Electric-type skills do, and there are a handful of skills and events that reduce this number. Now, it's all being counted. [/p][p][/p][p]This next part contains achievement spoilers, so exit now if you don't want to see! [/p][p][/p][p]New Achievements:[/p]

• [p]Thunder Bringer: Raise Electric Power to 500. In-game, this rewards Ruby with a new Skill.[/p]
• [p]Through the Ringer: Raise Electric Power to 1000.[/p]
• [p]Power for Damage: Sacrifice 250 Electric Power.[/p]
• [p]For a Good Cause: Sacrifice 500 Electric Power.[/p]
• [p]Ends Justify the Means: Sacrifice 1000 Electric Power. In-game, this rewards Ruby with a new Weapon. [/p]

[p]To collect the in-game rewards, the save file being used must have completed these milestones. Within the next few weeks if possible, I hope to add an in-game vendor that would check achievements and reward these things even on a brand new save file.[/p][p][/p][p]Additionally, the Save screen has changed. "Sacrificed", referring to Electric Power Sacrificed, now appears below Psychic and Electric power in the middle column. Challenge Lv. has been moved to the far right column. Challenge Lv hasn't been used in a long time, but the Pit will be making its return soon for all players.[/p][p]If something does not work as expected, feel free to reach out right here on the Steam forums at any time. I check in regularly when able - but the best place for immediate help is on Discord @ https://discord.gg/wTbquRqWZv[/p][p]I'll stop talking now - here's what's new this week:[/p][p]6.8.2.1 \[Build #184, Release Date: July 02, 2025] Fixes:
- Empty Snowdrift Village now exits direct to smaller Snowdrift Area to prevent getting stuck in the larger Snowdrift Area. [/p][p]6.8.2.2 \[Build #185, Release Date: July 03, 2025] Fixes:
- Dojo Cerberus no longer returns pets to the party before the story sequence introducing the snake to Miley & Riley occurs. [/p][p]6.8.3.0 \[Build #186, Release Date: July 03, 2025]
New:
- New concept: Power Sacrifice. This internal stat now appears in the Save menu and counts how much Electric power Ruby has sacrificed for the sake of using skills and performing other actions. Affected are: all Lightning Rage skills and Bolt Cutter schematic chain.
- New achievements can be earned relating to accumulating and sacrificing Electric Power.[/p][p]Updates & Changes:
- The Essence of Essences has ended! The portal in the Veil no longer functions.
- Crossbolt now accurately reduced electric power by 2 when used.
- The "Decrease Electric Power" trigger can now bring Ruby below 0 power, but will not yield Sacrifice points. This will only result in reduced Electric Ability damage and not progress toward any Sacrifice perks.
- Lightningstrike now has a 2% chance to stun.
- Lightning Rage now forces Ruby to act immediately using any of the LR-enabled abilities.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]I discovered a new way to manage checking ownership of DLCs - so this update focuses entirely on that. Put simply, additional unnecessary maps have been marked as Timelost (~20 or so) and all DLC data is included with the base game regardless of purchase status, but is unlocked via an in-the-moment check when content is accessed. [/p][p]Also, a major passability issue was found based on a report here on the Steam forums between Snowdrift Village and the world map, so the entire Snowdrift Area section 2 has been temporarily removed. The distance from the World Map to Snowdrift Village via the area north of Lvell is significantly closer than before, but SDV no longer connects to the Veil at all. [/p][p]DL Hopper also runs a DLC check in the Headless Horseman arena, refusing to fight you without it. [/p][p]The Headless Horseman level 20 event is still available to those who do not own the DLC via the same visible unit as the other tiered battles.[/p][p][/p][p]Special Note: I didn't want to release the DLC changes as a standalone patch, but once I found the passability problem in Snowdrift Area, I didn't have a choice but to address it immediately. It was not possible to escape SDV once entering it and while there it was virtually impossible to save.[/p][p][/p][p]6.8.2.0 \[Build #183, Release Date: June 29, 2025][/p][p]Fixes: [/p][p]- Fixed a passability issue in Snowdrift Area. [/p][p]Updates & Changes: [/p][p]- Leftover data from 'vents' is slowly being removed.[/p][p]- Removed the Valentine's Day NPC from the Veil.[/p][p]- Adjusted the layout of the awake Veil.[/p][p]Updates & Changes (DLC):[/p][p]- Snowdrift Village can no longer be accessed from the Veil. This change is reflected on the DLC page. The entrance through Snowdrift Area north of Lvell now serves as the fixed point on the world map to access the village.[/p][p]- The way DLC ownership is evaluated has been changed.[/p][p]- Support for MAC DLC has been permanently removed from the script files.[/p][p]- The original maps for Founder's Packs (now Gift Packs) have been timelost and will be deleted at a later date. FP Chests now appear directly in the Veil in the same location as expected.[/p][p]- Condensed the Headless Horseman event into a single visible unit who despawns after the battle. He returns every time the player returns to the map. The level 30 no-DLC event is no longer available to users who own the DLC.[/p][p]- Headless Horseman access no longer requires Halloween Event 2020 progress.[/p][p][/p]