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VALHALL: Harbinger News

Welcome to the new land & Important fixes and improvements & Pre-Beta 0.8.5

[h2]Vikings![/h2]

Today we are bringing new content and many gameplay improvements. As said in the previous update, we are starting to focus heavily on actual playability of the game, rather than just adding new features as we prepared them separately before.

In this patch a new map with more gameplay suitable landscape and better optimization arrives. Here, after certain amount of polishing, many previously prepared mechanics will make sense and start playing together in a really enjoyable gameplay loop.

[h3]Clear old saves, fresh game start is required[/h3]
If you have old saves, please press Restart button in the pause menu.
Alternately you can clear your save folder here C:|Users|*YourName*|AppData|Local|VALHALL if there are any issues.

Survival mode is available in Singleplayer, while the servers are offline for now.. We have finished the previously mentioned preparations, but have rethought some points and decided to bring them back at a later stage after adding certain upcoming content. In this way, we will be able to optimize the development and reduce the frustration of the players due to possible problems.
Loki's deathmatch servers are online.

Also, this patch fixes some significant issues and improves the overall smoothness of the game.

Patch Pre-Beta 0.8.5 is out, hope you enjoy it!

[h2]New map[/h2]



The new map is an island. Its terrain has appropriate curves for animals and warrior bots navigation. It is also being prepared for various game events and quests. The landscape is still a work in progress, if you find an unfinished part somewhere on the map, we are preparing it for future content.

There are different aspens, firs, red pines on the map. And you can cut them all!



Breathing life into the environment step by step.



Iron ore can now be found mostly in swamps.



There is a new enemy camp that you can raid.

The island you start on is the main place where you survive and will be the main battleground with future game events.



However, we are preparing other smaller islands that you will be able to reach by ship!


[h2]Water[/h2]

It's here in Survival. As well as buildable ships! You can find it in the Build menu.




[h2]Swimmable lakes[/h2]

Previous lakes were weird, mostly because you couldn't swim in them, you could just walk through the water. Now it's fixed. You can swim and drink from slightly more beautiful lakes on the new map. A marker has also been added for it to make it easier to find.




[h2]Weather[/h2]

Atmosphere and lighting have been improved for different weather. The nights are much clearer, but still dark enough that good vision requires a light source. The night sky now rotates not horizontally, but naturally.



According to players feedback, the day and night have become longer.

Also, now there is an eye adaption effect.


[h2]Seasons[/h2]

Adjusted the weather for different seasons. Some aspects are still work in progress. Snow covers the foliage in Winter.




[h2]Mushrooms[/h2]

Ready to eat, hold E to pick up.




[h2]Performance improvements[/h2]

The game improved not only visually, but became more performant too. It's still pretty heavy and we're still working on it. Weather settings and graphics configs were adjusted. The graphics settings configs have also been changed, the game looks better at lower settings than before.


[h2]Directional aim[/h2]

Based on player feedback, we've added an aim UI. It shows the direction of your mouse, which can help you navigate through directional attacks. The bow remains unsighted.


[h2]Smooth camera movement[/h2]

The camera has been adjusted to make movement more enjoyable, and some actions, such as the construction process, have become smoother.


[h2]Survival mode player characters[/h2]

Changed the set of characters in Survival mode.


[h2]Running and acceleration adjustments[/h2]

The running speed has become mostly higher to feel more agile and reach destinations faster. The important point is that it has a speed acceleration curve that greatly affects its actual feel and various nuances such as being able to run away from attackers.


[h2]Main menu bugs fix[/h2]

Fixed various main menu bugs such as overlapping different UI tabs in some cases when after entering the Armory. Also disabled the current background animations, the appearance and functionality of the main menu will be updated in future patches.


[h2]Faster game loading[/h2]

Now the game starts faster, game modes load faster.


[h2]Game process not shutting down fix[/h2]

Fixed an issue where the process not stop after closing the game. It also affected in-game performance and could cause minor freezes every few seconds before fix.


Skål!
Blackrose Arts

Commander menu & Hiring mercenaries & Various improvements & Pre-Beta 0.8.2

Vikings!


Hello! Sorry for the delay with this update. Our team in Ukraine stays strong and we continue to push progress.

Today we are bringing gameplay improvements and new features. Some of them are currently only available in the Weapon Test mode, but will appear in Survival with a new map in the next patch.

And this new map will be a place where a lot of previously prepared mechanics will make sense and start playing together.



The new environment will be concentrated in terms of visuals and events. You will no longer need to walk from one point to another for a long time along a huge empty hill.

The behavior of animals and characters will improve significantly in the new landscape. The interactivity of nature and the dynamics of the weather will also feel better.

[h3]Pre-Beta 0.8.2 patch has arrived![/h3]

  • Added recruitment of mercenaries.



    You can hire mercenaries to fight for you. All mercenaries have their own characteristics: health, stamina, damage multiplier, inventory slots and salary per day. There is also one additional gold payment upon hiring.

    You can go to the mercenaries chapter to see the list of available mercenaries. If you don't like them, there is an option to update the payment list. The list is updated on its own from time to time.

    On the Weapon Test gold for hire can be found in chests and enemy pockets.

  • Added commands wheel to rule your squad.



    You can give different commands to your squad using the new command wheel.

    Now there are Charge, Follow me, Stay here, Make me laugh, Switch to fists fight, Auto mode.

    The last one means that your squad will follow you, but it will have the freedom to decide who and when to attack. If you order just to Follow you, they won't attack anyone. Later commands will be supplemented with such as the shield wall, and the current ones will be enhanced with a variety of sounds and animations.

    If you are killed, the warriors will protect your body until their last breath. This system also has safety measures in case they get stuck somewhere.

  • Added Commander menu.



    A new tab where you can manage your warriors.

    Check their stats, control pay, retire. Here you can keep track of who is alive and who is dead. Also, your warrior can be revived if you are near special places.

  • Added a Restart button to the pause menu.

    This allows to start a new game in singleplayer or reset your current save files in the event of a critical problem.

  • Added exit from any in-game menu by Esc in addition to these menus buttons.

  • Added a new way to enter the Building menu.

    Crafting and Building are now submenus of one common tab. By default, you enter the crafting menu with the R button. If you have a Hammer equipped and press the R button, the Build menu opens. With this new way, if you don't have a Hammer equipped and don't want to spend time to get it from your inventory to the hotbar, you can now simply select a structure from the Build tab. The hammer will be equipped automatically so you can build right away.

  • Added torch limit to prevent crashes.

  • Changed default feint button to Second thumb mouse button.

  • Adjusted clash to make it feel more fluid. Chopping wood has also become a little more enjoyable.

  • Fixed a bug when moving an item to your inventory from another with RMB does not stack.

  • Fixed incorrect impacts on some structures, such as the fence.

  • Fixed the effect of mouse scrolling on gameplay in the quest menu.

  • Fixed that wolves and bears do not attack, but trigger and run up.

  • Fixed a bug due to which the bear did not attack on the run in some cases, and it also became a little faster.

  • Decreased deer population.

  • Reduced the number of raid bots and made them less aggressive based on feedback.


Note: after adding or adjusting new content, in some cases, old saves may not work correctly with the new version. If you encounter a game-breaking bug, you can try clearing your save by clicking the new Restart button in the pause menu.

Skål!
Blackrose Arts

News update - Rule your bot squad & more in the next patch!

Vikings!


[h3]News update on next patch - own bot squad and more coming![/h3]

We are working on a huge patch that implements the mechanics of recruiting and controlling your warriors by giving them different commands.

Also, we are preparing a new map for the Survival game mode. Part of it could also be used for a BR for the first time.

Here are some gameplay footage of how orders work. At the moment, the following commands have been completed and are in the testing stage (searching for bugs, polishing): Charge, Follow me, Stay here, Switch to fists fight, and Auto mode.





The list of these commands is not exhaustive - Shield wall, Switch to bow/melee weapon, more to come.

As you may know, part of our team is based in Ukraine. We keep working and try to release the next patch in March, but right now some of us have to take care of life first.

Skål!
Blackrose Arts

19.03.22 Update: The patch was planned on March, but some things are still WIP. We aim at 7-16 April now. Thank you!

Skål!
Dadskil

Boats & New water & Swimming & Combat improvements & Pre-Beta 0.8

Vikings!


[h3]Pre-Beta 0.8 patch has arrived![/h3]

Today's patch brings a lot new, fixes and improvements. Let's see what's there:


  • New water

    You can enjoy the new water on the Weapon test map! It is part of a new comprehensive system including boats and swimming.

  • Boats and swimming are here! & New Weapon test map

    Now you can test the boat and swimming features on the new Weapon test map. They are WIP and will be improved in the course of development (both logic and effects).



    Swimming allows you to swim not only on the surface of the water, but also underwater as long as you have air.



    To board the ship you will need the ladders located at the bow of the ship and use the rudder located at the stern of the ship.



    The boat has several movement modes - use W (once & twice) and S for speed and A/D for turning.

    Important note: all of these features (the new water, boat and swim system) only work on the Weapon test map because the current Survival map is just a testing ground in the current development phase. And these systems require a lot of work with the landscape. That's why we decided to implement them already on the new Survival map, which is currently in development. More information will be in the next updates - about the upcoming new map and the start of Beta testing, when there will be enough mechanics and content to ensure a playable and enjoyable game state.

  • Adjusted the stamina cost for various weapon items

    Now each type of weapon (1H, 2H, shields) consumes stamina more correctly and is blocked depending on the type of weapon.

  • Archers (bots) inventory improvements

    Archers now have only a small amount of arrows in their inventory.

  • Improved AI logic - bots can now switch weapons between melee and ranged weapons

    Basically, this logic is prepared for future mechanics and content, when the player will be able to control his own warriors...

  • Adjusted bot spawn randomizer

    Now it is configured correctly and raid bots appear in a random number.


    Additional work has been done based on community feedback since the previous patch:

  • Different accuracy of archer bots depending on the time of day

    Archer bots now have significantly reduced range and accuracy at night to avoid unbalanced combat during this period.

  • A new block system and fine-tuned balance between different types of weapons and an increased value of shields in combat.

    Players can now hold a block instead of briefly blocking on each press. This will allow melee warriors with shields to gain more protection from arrows. It makes sense to use a shield more often. Removed weapon block (swords and axes) against arrows.

    The balance will also be reached by turn cap (when you can't turn quickly while holding block) and the additional stamina cost from hitting.

    When the shield's durability reaches 0, it will be destroyed.

  • Balanced too many raid bots at the start of the Survival map

    Now bots will raid your base not at the very beginning :)

    P.S. We always keep an eye on your comments under updates. Main polishing work will take place closer to Beta and farther tests. But feel free to share your thoughts at any time. We are very grateful for your feedback!


    Bug fixes:

  • Fixed visual bug with hotbar at the moment of death

  • Fixed an annoying weapon swap bug

  • Fixed disappearance of the character's body when approaching a dead body

  • Fixed item management bugs

    Incorrect position of the item icon when moving with LMB and incorrect work of fast transfer with RMB


[h3]Main known issues:[/h3]


  • Loki's maze Deathmatch servers may have connection issues during the next 2 days.

  • Customized weapon equip doesn't work correctly after the latest inventory rework

  • Crouch is temporarily disabled

  • Latency has a too big influence on the block (VFX could not work as well as block quality is not we are aiming for)

  • In rare cases game process doesn't finish on its own for a long time.

  • Characters don't play movement animations correctly. We need to fix upperbody bones rotation during movement animations
Important! Some bugs can appear due to conflict with temp / saved files of previous VALHALL versions on your PC.
If you meet an unlisted issue then:
- delete all game saves here: C:|Users|*YourName*|AppData|Local|VALHALL.
- uninstall the game through Steam
- delete manually game folder in your Steam folder
P.S. Keep in mind that you will lose progress in single player modes in case of deleting save files.

We have done almost all the work on the Survival servers. They are still undergoing maintenance, but will be back to life soon with the next patches. Now you can try it under the Singleplayer tab. Loki's maze Deathmatch servers are on now.


Skål!
Blackrose Arts

Happy Holidays & Pre-Beta 0.7.8

Happy Holidays!


We wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!

[h3]Pre-Beta 0.7.8 patch has arrived![/h3]

Improved bot logic for Loki's maze Deathmatch

As you probably know, before the bots participated only in combat and did not challenge you to save points by activating the Runestone. Now bots are also fighting for activation and can become great rivals.



Moreover, archers' logic was improved - now they notice obstacles (trees, stones, walls) during aiming and bypass them (previously they shot to obstacles if their target was behind the obstacle).

Ships & new water are almost ready and will be in the next update!

As we work on new basics, there are some changes that may cause bugs in previous saves. If you encounter one, please clear your save files C:|Users|*YourName*|AppData|Local|VALHALL

In the next patch, boats will be presented by one type - Karvi. Drakkar (Busse) and others will be added later.







Each type of ship has its own characteristics that affect how it is controlled, how it interacts with water and with other ships in accordance with the physics of the game.

For example, a larger ship will deal more damage to a smaller ship in the event of a collision, and its momentum at the time of collision will depend on the masses of both ships. Another case is if you stop your ship - it will sail slowly due to the physics of the waves.

[h3]Main known issues:[/h3]


  • Weapon swapping bugs in rare cases. Reconnect to fix.

  • Customized weapon equip doesn't work correctly after the latest inventory rework.

  • Crouch is temporarily disabled.

  • Latency has a too big influence on the block (VFX could not work as well as block quality is not we are aiming for).

  • In rare cases game process doesn't finish on its own for a long time.

  • Characters don't play movement animations correctly. We need to fix upperbody bones rotation during movement animations.
Important! Some bugs can appear due to conflict with temp / saved files of previous VALHALL versions on your PC.
If you meet an unlisted issue then:
- delete all game saves here: C:|Users|*YourName*|AppData|Local|VALHALL.
- uninstall the game through Steam
- delete manually game folder in your Steam folder

Survival servers are still undergoing maintenance. You can try it under the Singleplayer tab. They will become available again in the next patches (Loki's maze Deathmatch servers are on now).


[h3]The future patches bring:[/h3]


  • Boats.

  • New items and gathering options.

  • New characters and equipable armor.

  • Bots logic upgrades.

  • Combat improvements and bug fixes.


Our team sends you the warmest holiday wishes!

Skål!
Blackrose Arts