Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North News

The latest patch includes some bug fixes and a new zone of control mechanic to allow players (and the AI) to prevent players passing through the tiles adjacent to an enemy unit without first engaging that enemy.

Changes:

• New zone of control mechanic added where a unit can no longer move through the tiles adjacent to an enemy except to engage with that enemy.
  
• The mystic barrier hit points have been increased to 300 to allow sufficient time for players to rescue Osmod in the wizard's tower level.
  
• Reduced the number of lizardmen in the temple entrance level.
  

Bug Fixes:

• Huscarle's War Cry ability now correctly reduces enemy morale by 20 points instead of 200.
  
• The border around active effects in the unit stat sheet is now visible.
  

Please note that the zone of control mechanic is still experimental. If you have feedback or find any bugs in its implementation, please let us know.

Here are the details for the latest patch:

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed the bug where a character might run on the spot indefinitely if trying to get to a position on the map they have no way of reaching.
  
• The mystic barrier at the battle to save Osmod is no longer in the wrong faction. Golems on that level can no longer attack past the barrier to hit Osmod directly.
  

Changes:

• Added the character's level to the unit stat sheet.
  
• Reduced the increase of AP attack cost and move cost in complex mode from 2 x character level to 1.5x.
  
• Changed the AP and life gain per level up for fighters, wizards and missile characters to be consistent to allow a more uniform upgrade path.
  
• Improved the enemy AI to use defensive stance (when available) if on low health or low morale.
  
• Improved the enemy AI to use offensive stance more often when on high health and enemy are within attack range.
  

Here are details for the latest patch:

New Content

• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added before the ghoul ambush.
  
• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added before the confrontation with the death mage.
  
• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added before the battle with the werewolf at the ruined temple.
  
• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added before the ambush of the dwarven caravan by the Ratmen.
  

Changes:

• In Complex mode, the cost of performing an attack and a movement is now increased by 2 x the character's current level. This is to prevent characters from becoming too powerful as they level up in this mode.
  
• Improved the AI to use heals more effectively.
  
• Improved the AI to not advance into melee range if the unit is primarily a missile unit.
  
• Improved the AI for spearmen units to try and retreat out of range of counter attacks where possible.
  
• Improved the AI for missile units to retreat out of melee and hide behind cover when possible (more likely to do so on low morale)
  
• Targeting tiles are now shown with a curly particle effect to make it clearer.
  
• Reduced potency of cleric's enchant weapons ability.
  
• Increased the stats of the lizardmen hero, lizardmen raider and fireborn.
  
• Increased the number of lizardmen archers on the temple entrance level.
  

Bug Fixes

• Various minor bug fixes.
  

Please note that this update includes a major change for Complex mode gameplay. The increase of AP cost for attacks and movement makes the game considerably slower paced than currently in the middle and late game. This is in response to the current situation where characters are able to move across the board and attack far too often once they reach level 6 and onwards. If you disagree with this change or feel that is should not as significant, please let me know in the community thread and we will continue to adjust it.

New Content

• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added at the start of campaign.
  
• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added before the confrontation with the bandit chieftain.
  
• New cinematic cut scenes with dialogue added before tavern brawl.
  

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the return to Osmod’s tower level would not load if you chose to betray the dwarf king.
  
• Fixed a bug where the game would hang if you shot a fire arrow or threw a grenade at a point where the caster would also be caught in the blast radius.
  
• Mystic barriers are no longer difficult to target for attacks.
  
• Fixed a typo in the description for Potion of Rage item.
  
• Fixed a bug where the ability description screen would not disappear if you killed the last enemy on a map with an attack ability such as Sweeping Blade.
  
• Fixed a bug where a character would run on the spot and cause the game to hang if they tried to hide behind the skull statue in the bandit ambush level.
  
• The glow effect behind the inventory screen is now disabled if you choose to disable UI glow effects in the options menu.
  

Changes:

• Targeting tiles are now shown in blue rather than red to make them clearer for those affect by colour blindness.
  
• Text in campsite buttons are now clearer and easier to read.
  
• Increased range of cleric’s healing touch from 1 tile to 3.
  
• Increased movement speed of Dwarf character class from 3 to 4 in simple gameplay mode.
  
• Increased movement speed of Tree Spirit character class from 3 to 4 in simple gameplay mode.
  
• Increased size of campaign and replay mission screens slightly to make them easier to read.
  
• Adjusted position of clouds in bandit ambush level to stop them obscuring the battlefield.
  

Hi everyone, here are details on the first patch. These are a mix of bug fixes and feature requests from the userbase.

- Fixed bug where overwriting an old save with a new campaign would prevent progressing in that campaign properly.
- Fixed bug where the buttons in the camp site would not be easy to click on certain resolutions.
- Fixed exploit where using buffs to reduce attack or move AP cost below zero would result in a character gaining AP when they moved or attacked in Complex gameplay mode.
- Fixed a bug that was preventing the Heavy Hitter achievement from being awarded.
- Fixed the reward backpack position so that it is not off screen when setting the UI scale option has been increased.
- Fixed a bug that made the infobox explaining that units with unused action points will go on guard show up more than once. After the first time, it will not display again for the user.
- Patrols are now more frequent on higher difficulty levels.
- Difficulty slider added to Replay Battles screen.
- Attacks and counter attacks are now displayed on the character's stat sheet in the inventory and in the shop UI.
- Updated in-game credits with tester names.
- Added an option to hide the glow effects in the UI.


If you have any feedback please share it in the community hub or discord and we'll do our best to address any concerns.