Devlog: Overhauling the Technology System

Over the past weeks, we’ve collected a lot of feedback from you and we’re incredibly happy to see how well the game has been received so far! Many of you have shared stories about your favorite runs, unique strategies, and creative ways of building your islands.

However, we also noticed one recurring theme in the feedback: the Technology System. Some players found it hard to fully understand how technologies interact and influence gameplay. Since this system is the core foundation of the game’s replayability, we took your feedback to heart and made several improvements to make it more intuitive and rewarding.

Here’s what’s new

1. Start Gold Removed 💰

Previously, new players started with a small amount of gold but many felt overwhelmed by it. They often spent all of it after the first island without considering the long-term consequences. This led to players unlocking 3-4 technologies very early, without having time to really understand how they work. By removing the start gold, progression now feels more natural and encourages players to learn the tech system step by step.

2. Technology Prediction 🔮

A common challenge for new players was understanding what each technology actually did and how to trigger it. We’ve now added Technology Prediction Icons that appear when placing buildings. These icons show which technologies will be triggered, based on the building card played and the tile being built on. This helps players quickly learn what to look out for when purchasing and using technologies.

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3. Improved Scoring Animation & Technology Overview 🃏

The new Technology Prediction system also inspired us to rework the Scoring Animation. You’ll now have a clearer overview of how your Technology cards contribute to your score, making building placements even more satisfying and informative.

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4. Season Scoring Tooltips 📊

To make results easier to understand, we’ve added a tooltip to the scoring indicator. It now displays the Goods and Productivity you achieved in each season, giving you a better sense of how your performance evolved over time.

5. Building Tooltips 🏗️

Buildings now feature detailed tooltips that not only show the Goods and Productivity they generate, but also list which technologies were triggered and what effects they had. This makes it easier than ever to understand how your builds and technologies work together.

6. Card Tiers

We made one additional change that should make deck building feel more relevant. We have significantly enhanced the visuals for tier II and III cards, enabling you to distinguish them instantly. Additionally the shiny new cards give a better sense of progression, when you start replacing your deck with the stronger cards.

These changes should make the Technology System much more transparent and satisfying to explore without losing any of its depth or replayability.

As always, thank you for playing, sharing feedback, and helping us make the game better every week. Keep building, keep experimenting, and let us know what you think of the new updates!

– Daniel & Daniel