Ars Notoria Playtest Has Ended – See You Next Time!

Thank you to everyone who joined and supported this round of the Playtest! The test has officially ended at 10:00 UTC.

Over the past days, we’ve received a wealth of valuable feedback and suggestions from the community. Every play session, every comment, has been a driving force for us to improve the game. Our development team will carefully review and absorb these insights as we continue refining Ars Notoria toward a more complete and polished experience.

This is not the end, but the beginning of the next stage. We look forward to reuniting with you in future tests and growing Ars Notoria together!

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Hello everyone, we are the development team of Ars Notoria! We sincerely thank you for your continued attention and support for the game. After a month of dedicated polishing, we’re excited to present to you the brand-new Version 0.3.2.0 of Ars Notoria!

From smoother loading and performance improvements to an expanded Faction Management system, this update brings new vitality into the world of Ars Notoria. We’ve laid the foundation, but what truly brings the game to life is your creativity and feedback.

Whether you’re a long-time player who has accompanied us on this journey or a newcomer stepping into adventure for the first time, now is the perfect moment to experience Ars Notoria. We warmly invite you to join us—build, explore, and share your unique experiences. Your feedback just might shape the next version!

How to Participate:

If you’ve participated in a previous Ars Notoria playtest, you can download and launch the new build from your library.

If this is your first time, simply click the “Request Access” button on the Steam store page — you’ll receive an email notification once you’ve been added to the playtest.

🕒 The playtest will be live from September 8 to September 23 (PT), featuring version v0.3.2.0.

Version 0.3.2.0 significantly improves performance (including loading speed, VRAM usage, and overall package size), greatly expands the Faction Management system, and fixes numerous issues across quests, exploration, multiplayer, and the UI.

Here’s the full changelog covering Build 0.3.2.0.

Build 0.3.2.0

Optimization

• Significantly reduced loading times, making them roughly three times faster.

• Reduced the packaged game size by approximately 30%.

• Reduced VRAM usage.

• Reduced possible distant shadow flickering and slightly improved mid-distance shadow quality.

Quests

• Added a dialogue option to the Quartermaster that allows learning how to build fortifications if the corresponding blueprint was lost after completing The Watch Never Sleeps quest.

• Fixed an issue where imprisoned villagers and quest markers appeared before receiving the "Missing Villagers" quest, allowing them to be rescued early and preventing proper quest progression.

• Fixed an issue where prisoner cages might not spawn after reloading during the "Explored Woodlands" quest stage.

• Fixed an issue where quest markers for bandit hideouts might not appear after reloading in certain cases.

• Fixed an issue where some newer quest rewards might not be granted if the save file was from an older game version.

Exploration

• Added Aspect spawns in the Dead Grove zone.

• Added Gift spawns to the Woodlands and Dead Grove zones.

• Added hidden treasures to the Dead Grove zone.

• Added cellars to the Dead Grove zone.

• Adjusted some Woodlands treasure locations and maps for improved clarity.

• Non-unique gifts can now be found in hidden treasure chests.

Mounts

• Summoning a tamed horse now calms it, even if it is in combat or aggressive.

• Fixed an issue where tamed horses could follow the character and engage in combat without receiving the corresponding commands.

• Fixed an issue where a horse could permanently despawn when summoned inside a dungeon and then exiting.

• Fixed an issue where the character would not exit the dungeon correctly when mounting a horse.

Status Effects

• Fixed an issue where some status effects were not removed correctly after their duration expired.

• Fixed an issue where status effect icons for elemental Shields might not be removed correctly.

• Fixed an issue where status effect tooltips for slow effects displayed the movement penalty value twice.

• Fixed an issue where time tick speed could be incorrect for some status effects after reloading.

Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue where combat sounds from other players in multiplayer could be heard at far greater distances than intended.

• Fixed an issue where the main character's physics interactions with foliage might not display correctly in multiplayer.

• Fixed an issue where the Interact tooltip was shown when aiming at other players despite no interactions being available.

• Fixed an issue where the camera could be too zoomed in when joining the game as a client.

Resources

• Fixed an issue where fences near crops could be hit and destroyed with scythes, sickles, or other tools. They can now only be damaged with axes or weapons.

Building

• Fixed issues with camera collisions on storage platforms and stairs.

Items

• Added common, uncommon, and rare gifts.

• Fixed an issue where the Ceremonial Dagger could execute enemies with more health than intended.

• Fixed an issue where a squad member without an equipped bag could still display one after switching if the main character had it equipped.

Faction Management

• Added an option to remove zones via the Quick Menu.

• Added a button to build tools directly from the Building Upgrade Slots menu.

• Added an option to rename Housing and Workplaces.

• Increased the default Zone size from 10x10 meters to 12x12 meters for better compatibility with flat ground modules.

• Zones now support grid snapping when placing flat ground modules.

• The following building slots can now be constructed within Zones and will unlock new activities:

Lumberjack

1. Lumberjack's Tools - Unlocks Woodcutting activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Circular Saw - Unlocks Lumbering activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Tar Kiln - Unlocks Tar Production activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Debarker - Increases the amount of harvested/processed wood and tar.

5. Lumberjack's Counter - Allows selling logs, lumber, and tar.

6. Lumberjack's Signs - Increases the maximum number of woodcutting resources sold per day.

7. Lumberjack's Stands - Increases the selling prices of woodcutting resources.

Miner

1. Miner's Tools - Unlocks Iron Mining activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Bloomery - Unlocks Ingot Production activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Mining Shaft - Unlocks Precious Ore Mining activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Stamp Mill - Increases the amount of harvested and processed iron.

5. Miner's Counter - Allows selling iron and precious ores, as well as ingots.

6. Miner's Signs - Increases the maximum number of mining resources sold per day.

7. Miner's Stands - Increases the selling prices of mining resources.

Pitman

1. Pitman's Tools - Unlocks Quarrying activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Drill Press - Unlocks Block Production activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Hauling Machine - Unlocks Fuel Harvesting activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Stone Saw Machine - Increases the amount of harvested/processed stone and fuel.

5. Pitman's Counter - Allows selling stone and fuel.

6. Pitman's Signs - Increases the maximum number of quarrying resources sold per day.

7. Pitman's Stands - Increases the selling prices of quarrying resources.

Potter

1. Potter's Tools - Unlocks Digging activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Brick Making Machine - Unlocks Brick Making activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Tile Mold - Unlocks Tile Making activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Ceramic Kiln - Increases the amount of harvested/processed clay.

5. Potter's Counter - Allows selling clay, bricks and tiles.

6. Potter's Signs - Increases the maximum number of pottery resources sold per day.

7. Potter's Stands - Increases the selling prices of pottery resources.

Dyer

1. Dyer's Tools - Unlocks Hoeing activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Dyeing Vat - Unlocks Dye Production activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Glass Furnace - Unlocks Glass Production activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Hand Mill - Increases the amount of harvested/processed pigments.

5. Dyer's Counter - Allows selling pigments, dyes and glass.

6. Dyer's Signs - Increases the maximum number of dyeing resources sold per day.

7. Dyer's Stands - Increases the selling prices of dyeing resources.

Distiller

1. Distiller's Tools - Unlocks Splitting activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Salt Pan - Unlocks Solution Production activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Aludel - Unlocks Essence Production activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Pot Still - Increases the amount of harvested/processed salts.

5. Distiller's Counter - Allows selling salts, solutions and essences.

6. Distiller's Signs - Increases the maximum number of distilling resources sold per day.

7. Distiller's Stands - Increases the selling prices of distilling resources.

Herbalist

1. Herbalist's Tools - Unlocks Herb Gathering activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Resin Tapping Tools - Unlocks Resin Harvesting activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Oil Press - Unlocks Oil Production activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Extractor - Increases the amount of harvested/processed herbs.

5. Herbalist's Counter - Allows selling herbs, solutions and essences.

6. Herbalist's Signs - Increases the maximum number of herbalism resources sold per day.

7. Herbalist's Stands - Increases the selling prices of herbalism resources.

Weaver

1. Weaver's Tools - Unlocks Reaping activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Spinning Wheel - Unlocks Fabric Production activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Rope Walk - Unlocks Rope Making activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Loom - Increases the amount of harvested/processed fibers.

5. Weaver's Counter - Allows selling fibers, fabrics and rope.

6. Weaver's Signs - Increases the maximum number of weaving resources sold per day.

7. Weaver's Stands - Increases the selling prices of weaving resources.

Farmer

1. Farmer's Tools - Unlocks Farming activity and provides bonus experience.

2. Leather Rack - Unlocks Leather Production activity and provides bonus experience.

3. Stove - Unlocks Fat Melting activity and provides bonus experience.

4. Manger - Increases the amount of harvested/processed grains, fats and leather.

5. Farmer's Counter - Allows selling grains, fats and leather.

6. Farmer's Signs - Increases the maximum number of farming resources sold per day.

7. Farmer's Stands - Increases the selling prices of farming resources.

• Added new activity types for Zones:

1. Woodcutting - Allows workers to harvest wood using Lumberjack's Tools.

2. Lumbering - Allows workers to produce lumber using a Circular Saw.

3. Tar Production - Allows workers to produce tar using a Tar Kiln.

4. Iron Mining - Allows workers to harvest iron ore using Miner's Tools.

5. Ingot Production - Allows workers to produce iron ingots using a Bloomery.

6. Precious Ore Mining - Allows workers to harvest precious ore using a Mining Shaft.

7. Quarrying - Allows workers to harvest stone using Pitman's Tools.

8. Block Production - Allows workers to produce stone blocks using a Drill Press.

9. Fuel Harvesting - Allows workers to harvest fuel using a Hauling Machine.

10. Digging - Allows workers to harvest clay using Potter's Tools.

11. Brick Making - Allows workers to produce bricks using a Brick Making Machine.

12. Tile Making - Allows workers to produce ceramic tiles using a Ceramic Kiln.

13. Hoeing - Allows workers to harvest pigments using Dyer's Tools.

14. Dye Production - Allows workers to produce dyes using a Dyeing Vat.

15. Glass Production - Allows workers to produce glass using a Glass Furnace.

16. Splitting - Allows workers to harvest salts using Distiller's Tools.

17. Solution Production - Allows workers to produce solutions using a Salt Pan.

18. Essence Production - Allows workers to produce essences using an Aludel.

19. Herb Gathering - Allows workers to harvest herbs using Herbalist's Tools.

20. Resin Harvesting - Allows workers to harvest resin using a Resin Tapping Tool.

21. Oil Production - Allows workers to produce oil using an Oil Press.

22. Reaping - Allows workers to harvest fibers using Weaver's Tools.

23. Fabric Production - Allows workers to produce fabric using a Spinning Wheel.

24. Rope Making - Allows workers to produce rope using a Rope Walk.

25. Farming - Allows workers to harvest grains using Farmer's Tools.

26. Leather Production - Allows workers to produce leather using a Leather Rack.

27. Fat Melting - Allows workers to produce fats using a Stove.

• Fixed an issue where closing the Zone type selection window did not correctly set up building slots for the Shelter.

• Fixed an issue where the Building Menu could not be opened after closing the Zone Type Selection window with the Escape key.

• Fixed an issue where Vault item quantity might display as 0 after the end of a workday in certain cases.

• Fixed an issue where switching between faction member activities might not correctly update food values.

• Fixed an issue where activities might not provide items or resources at the end of a workday if another faction was selected.

• Fixed an issue where the character info and activities tabs might not update correctly when switching to a non-playable faction in the Faction Management menu.

• Fixed an issue where workplaces with multiple worker slots might not indicate occupied slots correctly in certain cases.

• Fixed an issue where destroying a building part through the Quick Menu prevented further interaction with Zones.

• Fixed an issue where destroyed building parts could still appear in the workplace list.

Character Customization

• Fixed an issue where textures might not display correctly for female characters in the Character Selection menu in certain cases.

• Fixed an issue where the previously selected character could still be controlled after returning to the main menu and entering the Character Selection screen.

• Updated some of the character portrait backgrounds.

User Interface

• Adapted main game menus to support 4:3, 16:10, 21:9, and 32:9 aspect ratios.

• Fixed an issue where map icons for some mine types had an incorrect background color.

• Fixed an issue where the dialogue window could cause crashes in certain cases.

Settings

• Added an option to enable SSGI for enhanced lighting quality.

Other

• Disabled certain keyboard shortcuts for debugging that were still available in the testing version.