Spellwake News

0.999j

• Buffed many skills that were too weak. Most skills should now feel strong to play.
  
• New skills
  
• New unique items
  
• A new class (Pathfinder)
  
• Uber beacons (a new type of beacon with high difficulty and high rewards)
  
• Bug fixes
  

This update started with the aim to improve weak skills. For the game to be
enjoyable, players should feel like they are owning. Skills should be designed
to make the player feel that. It is good if skills are powerful if they give the
player dopamine when used. It is okay if skills are powerful. Buffing one skill
doesn't make other skills weaker. It just makes them weaker relative to the buffed skill.
But, if players own the game with one skill, and even complete it, the hypothesis is
that it will make them want to try other skills and beat the game again, which is one
of our main goals. We have too often nerfed skills that were fun just to make the game
balanced. Fun is more important than balance.
If players remember that they were owning, they will remember the game and want
to return to it later.
To make players feel like they own, they must overcome obstacles.
Therefore, the game should not be too easy. Owning the hardest content should
require skill, but mainly better items that require time to craft (because you need
gold and other crafting materials).
If the player finds a character that they like, there should be ways to make that
character stronger, and further challenges as well. In particular, crafting and
rare item properties can be motivating. Getting a new and better item feels like
you just got a new toy.

Full change log:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8deyhsrg73c2an/Changelog.txt?dl=0

A new season begins. Ladder characters will transfer to non-ladder and the ladder realm is reset.

This update contains a ton of improvements, new content and new endgame system.

Summary:

• Special material revision
  
• New skills
  
• New unique items
  
• New item properties
  
• Balance changes
  
• Bug fixes
  
• Quality-of-life improvements
  
• Improved or redesigned around 40 map bosses to make them more interesting.
  
• New base item: Rune
  
• Revised endgame. There are now 4 difficulties instead of 20. Characters can continue to level after level 100, up to a maximum of 200.
  

Full change log here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8deyhsrg73c2an/Changelog.txt?dl=0

A new season begins. Ladder characters will transfer to non-ladder and the ladder realm is reset.

This update contains a ton of improvements, new content and new endgame system.

Summary:

• Special material revision
  
• New skills
  
• New unique items
  
• New item properties
  
• Balance changes
  
• Bug fixes
  
• Quality-of-life improvements
  
• Improved or redesigned around 40 map bosses to make them more interesting.
  
• New base item: Rune
  
• Revised endgame. There are now 4 difficulties instead of 20. Characters can continue to level after level 100, up to a maximum of 200.
  

Full change log here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8deyhsrg73c2an/Changelog.txt?dl=0

This update will release on Friday the 2nd of June at 15:00 GMT.

New characters can be designated as "boundless". If so, the following changes occur.

• Max level becomes 1000. After level 100, the character gets a new skill every 50 levels.
  
• Some specific areas are higher level than normal, even level 1000 or higher.
  
• Once it reaches level 100, the character gets no XP penalty in any area.
  
• The character can only enter Boundless servers. It cannot join ladder or non-ladder severs.
  
• High-level monsters can drop epic item properties. Epic item properties always drop on sparks. They can be added to unique items.
  
• The character will not transfer to non-ladder when the season ends. Instead, it is deleted.
  

For balance reasons, some specific skills stop scaling after character level 100.
Attribute points (for strength, dexterity, etc.) are not awarded after level 100.
We expect this game mode to be very imbalanced. It's just for fun and may not be permanent.

This patch also adds messages that guide new players when they make obvious mistakes, such as taking a semi-active skill but never activating it. It also contains many bug fixes. In particular, it addresses a major lag issue.

Post any question on Discord!
https://discord.gg/3uYDnms

Full change log:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8deyhsrg73c2an/Changelog.txt?dl=0