Dev Update #2 (Roadmap)

In today’s dev update for Godslayer Arena, I will be going over the Early Access roadmap to give you all some insight on what new features and reworks will be added.

The very first of the major updates releases today, so please make sure to check it out and let me know what you think of the changes.

Read below the roadmap graphic for further details!

v0.7 - Fortune Spells, Trait Breakpoint Update, and Mastery Changes

Patch 0.7 releases today, and if you’d like to see all the changes make sure to check out the patch notes.

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To recap, this update introduces a new class of spells called “Fortune Spells”. These spells are automatically cast whenever you acquire or discard certain spells. The effects of fortune spells vary, but most of them give you a permanent bonus in some way.

These are designed to make certain spells more valuable when they appear in the spell shop, even if they’re not directly a part of your core build. Ideally, they should make it so that more shop refreshes will offer you something that benefits you in some way.

The next major change in today’s patch is the trait breakpoint update.

By default, most traits will now cap out at 4 or 5 spells equipped. Most traits that started at 3 spells have now been lowered to start at 2 spells. However, masteries and Godshard weapons will now unlock extra breakpoints, giving you the option to fully invest in these traits.

Previously, many of the strongest builds were the ones that utilized a mix of spells from many traits in order to have well-rounded offensive and defensive power. These changes aim to further support that playstyle and encourage more varied builds, while still allowing you to fully invest in a trait if you get the mastery or Godshard for it.

Additionally, many traits have been reworked with more powerful defensive effects. If you choose to fully invest into one of your unlocked traits, you should no longer be sacrificing your defenses for it. Since higher trait breakpoints are rarer and can’t be acquired every game, that also allows for those breakpoints to be more powerful than they were before.

Finally, the mastery selection event has been moved to the 4th planning phase. You can now reroll all 3 mastery options at the cost of 2 fateweavers.

This should hopefully alleviate some of the rng related frustrations with the mastery system.

v0.8 - Curses Out, Champion’s Favors In

In patch 0.8, the curse system will be completely scrapped. Nerfing your own builds proved to just be a bad idea all around. There wasn’t anything fun at all about forcing players to choose a set of debuffs to apply to themselves, especially when the system was extremely rng based. I’ve learned now that difficulty feels a lot better when enemies are the ones getting the buffs.

The replacement for the curse system is going to be the favor system.

At the end of each arena combat, instead of choosing a set of curses, you’ll now have the choice of a few “favors” that apply various bonuses until you select a new favor. Many favors will affect what type of spells appear in your shop. This means you now have a bit of control over the rng aspect of the spell acquisition.

Here are some example favors that you might be offered. Keep in mind that nothing is finalized yet:

• Tier 3 spells are more likely to appear in the shop. Whenever you acquire a tier 3 spell, gain 3 experience.

• Spells that share a trait with your mastery are more likely to appear in the shop. Combat start: Spells that share a trait with your mastery permanently gain 5 spellpower.

• Whenever you refresh your shop without taking a spell, you have a 50% chance of gaining another shop refresh and 10 resonance.

• Combat start: Silver and gold level spells permanently gain martial 1.

• You no longer gain a free shop refresh at the start of each planning phase. Instead, gain bonus experience and resonance.

Some favors will come in the form of a “trial.” Trials turn up the difficulty of the upcoming zone by adding in new enemy types or buffing enemies in some way. You’ll receive an extra powerful reward for your troubles.

Trials will always be optional, and you’ll always be offered at least one other non-Trial option. As with all events of this kind, you’ll be able to use Fateweavers to reroll the favors you’re offered.

v0.9 - Bosses, Boss-Unique Spells, and Dungeon System Rework

Bosses will be introduced to arena combats in this update. Much of the design for this update is still in the early phases, but it will probably resemble the following.

Right before you enter each arena, you’ll have the option of selecting which boss to fight. Each boss will have a unique ability or aura that affects all enemies for that arena combat. Many of these abilities and auras are expected to be somewhat simple effects.

What makes each boss unique is that they will reward you with spells specific to bosses. These spells are only going to be obtainable through these boss drops, and they can only be upgraded through resonance rewards. These spells will have traits attached to them like normal spells.

Each boss will have a different pool of spells they can drop. Oftentimes, you’ll be receiving a spell that doesn’t fit into your build, but receiving one that does fit should allow for more interesting and varied runs. These spells should also provide an incentive to change your build halfway through your run if you get a desirable boss drop.

Aside from bosses, the dungeon system will be receiving some changes as well.

In the current version of the game, arena combats spawn enemies that surround you, whereas non-arena combats spawn enemies in a linear fashion. Arena combats are much more difficult as a result. Certain spells may thrive in non-arena combats but fall apart in arenas, making it difficult to assess how strong your build truly is.

My plan is to combine the two spawning methods. Each combat will now have you start by making your way through a linear chamber, and at the end of that a few more enemies will spawn surrounding you.

Normalizing the spawning method of arenas and non-arenas should lower the massive difficulty spikes between the two and allow you to judge your build better before boss battles.

Finally, I plan to introduce an enrage mechanic to combat.

A timer will tick down once combat starts, periodically increasing the damage enemies do.

By encouraging players to clear combat as quickly as possible, the enrage mechanic should make encounters more engaging.

v0.10 - Resonance System Changes

Resonance will no longer be offered through tiered level breakpoints. Instead, during the planning phase, you’ll be offered the option of taking a resonance reward at the cost of some resonance. This resonance reward will take the same place as selecting shop refreshes or experience, so you can only choose one of the three.

The resonance reward you’re offered will change each time it’s offered and will scale based on how much resonance you’re currently holding.

More resonance rewards will be implemented alongside these changes.

This is a relatively small change overall, but it should make the process of selecting resonance rewards flow more naturally.

One other thing this update will introduce will be methods of obtaining spells from other Godslayers, allowing for even more build diversity!

v0.11 - Godslayer #3

The final major content patch for Early Access will be for the third Godslayer. It’s still a work in progress, but as soon as I have something to share, I will let you all know!

v1.0 - Full Release

Endless mode will come with the full 1.0 release of the game. I also plan on reworking the tutorial at this point.

Closing Thoughts

I want to take a moment to address the long silence of these past few months. Shortly after the last update, I hit a wall of extreme burnout coupled with some significant challenges in my personal life. I was in a bad place mentally for a while and I wasn’t able to give Godslayer Arena and the community the energy it deserved.

I’m sorry for the radio silence and I’m truly thankful for those of you who stuck around, especially for the people worried about my physical wellbeing. I’m happy to report that I’m doing much better now and that I’m very excited to be working on Godslayer Arena again. My long term vision has never felt more clear than it does now and I hope that today’s update and roadmap can show a bit of that.

Thank you all!

-Paolo