Companions, Leveling, and Abilities v.0.48

In this update, I'm releasing a mechanic that will significantly boost the combat power of companions and, especially, mercenaries. Alpha pets — the monsters mentioned in the description — will be introduced in upcoming updates. Check out my video- Devlog #32, where I detail the update and how to use these mechanics. If you're not subscribed to the YouTube channel, please subscribe and show your support.

Important:

✅ Legendary and alpha pets (companions) will now stand out in their personal menu with certain elements and colors. They will also be highlighted in incubators.

✅ All companions now increase their bonus damage through critical hit chance and critical damage leveling, and later — through amplifiers and boosters once such items are introduced.

✅ All legendary and alpha companions (monster pets) will now gain increased stat values when leveling and growing. Legendary companions will be stronger than regular ones, and alpha ones will be stronger than legendary ones.

✅ Mercenaries you hired, leveled, or bought before this update will receive a one-time recalculation of level-up points. You can spend skill points to increase stats in the mercenary menu. Note: if you're not currently playing but have mercenary companions, please log in and visit your companions so their levels are recalculated and they receive skill points in your save.

✅ Human mercenary companions can now use devices and equipment. In the companion menu, click "Enhancement" to see what that companion can use. Equipment slots for companions will unlock as they level up. For monster and animal companions, I plan to introduce something similar in "Enhancement." To install equipment on a companion, move an item (e.g., a drone) into their inventory, then open the "Enhancement" menu. If the companion's level allows, the button will become colored and active; click it to have the companion install that equipment for use.

✅ In the "Enhancement" menu, just below devices and equipment, settings for that equipment have been added: you can set the enemy health threshold at which the companion will activate the device. You can also uncheck the usage toggle there.

✅ Fire, acid, and plasma companion abilities can now be leveled and enhanced, and companions from legendary or alpha eggs will have even higher values. Legendary companion abilities will be stronger than regular ones, and alpha ones will be stronger than legendary ones. A regular spider-monster has the ability to throw webs at enemies; this ability can also be leveled.

✅ Skolark and Tunorot companions have received their first ranged attack ability.

✅ Monster companions raised from eggs or caught as juveniles at nesting sites will now gain increased stats during growth and leveling if they are legendary or alpha pets. Legendary companion stats will be higher than regular ones, and alpha stats will be higher than legendary ones.

✅ Legendary pets will now use Tier 5 Life Essence, and alpha pets will use Tier 6 Life Essence. Basic regular pets will continue to use Tier 3 Life Essence as before.

✅ Cyborg and robot companions will use battery energy instead of food and water for their stats. The cyborg or robot menu will display a white battery charge bar. Batteries and power cells for cyborgs and robots will be introduced later, along with the robot and cyborg crafting mechanics. So ignore the battery bar — it won't drain.

✅ All installed devices and equipment on a companion will drop to the ground upon their full death, so you can retrieve their items.

✅ Companions with weapons will now use ammunition for equipment; place ammo items in the mercenary's inventory so they can use them. When purchasing a premium mercenary, they will now come with a one-time ammo bundle in their inventory; premium mercenaries you already have in-game will also receive a one-time ammo bundle.

✅ Several skills have been added to mercenaries: ammo regeneration, ammo scavenging, explosive rounds, and armor-piercing shots.

✅ Mercenaries with the "Aggression" command enabled will now respect the "Follow Distance" from your character, to avoid getting too close and blocking your view. "Follow Distance" is set in the companion menu.

✅ If a mercenary has both "Wait" and "Aggression" commands enabled, they will stand still and shoot like a turret, without moving.

✅ New 9.19 caliber ammunition has been added to crafting, NPC sales, and case loot.

✅ Fixed a bug where mercenaries would stop saving their leveling progress at 100% taming.

✅ In the "Civil Sector," the NPC armor trader Sasha Stalnoy now has voice lines (voiced by Yngvarr_io, Twitch channel).

✅ The web from the companion — a regular spider-mutant — will no longer target the main character.