Everpixel Tactics Devlog 8

Everpixel Tactics Devlog 8

It was a busy week. I'd hoped to finish up the Cryomancy tree and all associated equipment this weekend, but other priorities popped up. Namely, resolution issues. Instead of finishing up cryomancers this weekend, I added the ability for users to edit various display settings - but the game is much better off for having done so. I also both started - and mostly finished - the "character compendium" in the game.

Over the next week or two, I plan on finishing up the Cryomancy stuff. When that's done, I'll get working on adding more cultures, monsters, and missions to the game. And when all of that is done, I'm going to break ground on the "Quest" feature in the game. I'll cover quests in more detail in an upcoming devlog.

For now, let's take a look at the character compendium (already in the game) and the upcoming Cryomancy tree.

Character Compendium

Everpixel Tactics already has a LOT of enemies you can face off against. A fair amount of feedback thus far boils down to "things aren't always clear." Some of this is by design, but the criticisms are well-placed - I do need to provide better information and/or resources to the player. Enter the character compendium.

The compendium is a work-in-progress that details all of the enemies that a player can face in Everpixel Tactics. It also lists out any perks, traits, or abilities that those enemies may have as well as at what levels they'll have them. I also hope that it doubles as a source of inspiration for players thinking about how to build their own mercenaries. More than anything, though, it should help remove some of the mystery related to why certain enemies have certain capabilities. For example, slimes can - and will - dissolve corpses to grow in size. And when they grow large enough, they can devour your mercenaries whole. All of that information will be relayed in the character compendium.

Cryomancy

The next update will give players access to the Cryomancy tree. It will also include a slew of new Cryomancy-themed equipment. It will then be followed up shortly afterwards with a small update adding new cold-themed enemies to face off against.

The theme behind the Cryomancy tree is - of course - cold and ice magic. But it can't be just like Pyromancy, or Arcanomany. Cryomancy has to be different for it to be interesting. Nothing bugs me more in video games than when a spell or ability is simply an upgrade of another and that by acquiring it, you've deprecated the previous one. Similarly, it's always bugged me when different abilities are the "same-thing-but-with-different-skins." At the heart of Everpixel Tactics is the idea of experimenting with crazy builds - I hope that the Cryomancy tree sets itself apart enough that it encourages players to do just that.

As it is now, pyromancy is your standard all-out-damage magic tree. Biomancy is mostly a healing tree, Arcanomancy is a utility tree with some serious counter-magic capabilities, and Necromancy is a utility tree with the ability to inundate battlefields with meat shields.

Cryomancy will represent the first of several "crowd control" magic trees. Cryomancers will be able to do respectable damage, but it will be their ability to chill and even freeze opponents that sets them apart. One of their main weaknesses, however, will be that their spells have some lengthy cooldowns. Wise players will offset these weaknesses using the Mage, Sorcerer, or even Chronomancy perk trees (when implemented) to speed up these cooldowns.

Without further ado, let's break down each of the 8 perks of the Cryomancy perk tree.

• Cryoform: (Aura) Toggle an aura that applies cold damage to enemies every turn with a chance to reduce their action points on their next turn.

• Cryomancy_Mastery: (Passive) Cryomancy spells cost less fatigue to cast. Additionally, chill debuffs from this character last an additional turn.

• Freeze: (Passive) Whenever this character deals cold damage, they have a chance to also stun targets.

• Frostburn: Blast an enemy with cold damage and chill them. Has high amount of armor ignoring damage.

• Frostfall: Blast an area with cold damage and chill all targets in the area.

• Rimefrost: Chill a target and apply a debuff that causes them to recover less fatigue each turn.

• Iceform: Buff a target to also deal cold damage during melee attacks. Enemies striking this character will also take cold damage with a chance to become chilled.

• Soulchill: (Passive) Targets chilled by this character take additional damage from all sources.