Playtest Version 0.15 Notes

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where loot that applied to enemies at the start of combat wasn’t being reset between runs

• Fixed a visual bug with the EXP Bar appearing filled when it should be empty.

• Fixed a bug where stats would not properly reset on character death

• Fixed an issue where enemies killed by HP Debuff stopped updating their UI

• Fixed an issue where characters didn’t reset Fatigue on death

• Fixed an issue where the Loot Display on the Character Select screen wouldn’t generate if entering on an enemy’s turn

• Fixed an issue where Limbs and Heart End of combat loot wasn’t applying

Gameplay Updates

• Updated Hemorrhage to deal % damage based on an enemy's Max HP

• HP boosting Abnormality effects no longer cap at 1 if the remaining HP is less than the boosted HP

• Enemies now get a small boost to HP, Max HP, Trauma, and Fluids - 5% per combat completed

• Enemies now get a small boost to Bone and Sinew - 1 point per 2 combats completed

• Removed move packages and reworked General Buff logic

• Added a bleed effect to the Helping Hand's Nail Gun move

For a while I've wanted to differentiate between hemorrhage and bleed - one just seemed like a more immediate version of the other. By making Hemorrhage % based damage, and based off the Max HP of a character, it makes it more dangerous to characters with larger base health pools, and less dangerous to characters with smaller ones. this pairs better with Bleed being more dangerous to smaller Health-pool characters and less so for larger ones.

HP Buffs now kill you if they run out and you're in a deficit. Before, when an HP buff ran out it would just stop at 1 if there wasn't enough HP to remove. This was forgiving, but not very fair or predictable, and it allows me to make a few more creative choices for characters, enemies, and boss fights moving forward.

Enemy Scaling has also been a feature I've wanted to add for a bit - I'm starting small, but might add in difficulty options later to make it larger. The game is meant to have ~12 fights per run in it, so this should give a better gauge on how things are balanced. This also allows me to not worry about making enemies' base versions harder and harder for stronger players.

Packages were mainly just a placeholder loot system, and they caused a lot of issues logic-wise, but I'm hoping to replace them with actually niche upgrades worthy of a level up. The general stat buffs are now exclusive - if you've chosen a scaling buff, the equivalent version that's a flat upgrade won't appear, and vice versa.

The Helping Hand has a weaker fluids attack that I always wondered why it would logically use it - nails are sharp, why not add a bleed effect to make that a small threat? This also can act as a natural status effect tutorial for new players.

Cyclcopos Move Updates

• Increased Cyclopos Base Trauma from 10 to 20

• Decreased Cyclopos base Fluids from 40 to 30

• Updated Blood Shot - No longer reduces total HP, updated to deal % damage on upgrades

• Updated Luxation - slightly reduced scaling, Later levels only increase target fatigue by 1, added +1 fatigue to self, added fatigue effects to level 1 version

Cyclopos was meant to be a brawler type character, evening out their damage puts the character more in line with that identity. Bloodshot was already dealing direct damage, this update is to be in-line with the new Hemorrhage behavior. Luxation was a slight problem-move due to its ability to just stun lock anything and everything with the right setup, so I've changed it to more of a utility move.

Dopplegrabber Move Updates

• Updated Finger Gun - reduced the jump between level 1 and level 2 bleed effects, evenly spaced out bleed scaling

• Updated Bone Splinter - reduced damage of the bleed effect, increased duration to compensate, added a small self-applied bleed.

• Updated Bile Bomb - reduced Bone/Sinew debuff to 5 for all levels, levels now increase duration, added debuff to level 1 version

Dopplegrabber's identity was a sort of persistence attacker, with moves like vampiric veins playing into the prolonged focusing of a single target. by reducing the values of moves but increasing their duration, that identity can more frequently come out. The bleed on self for Bone Splinter is setup for upgrades later down the line, and also allows some loot to be more properly utilized.

VasculurchMove Updates

• Updated Heart Burn - updated to deal % damage

• Updated Tachycarda - updated to deal % damage, Reduced Damage dealt to self, increased Damage buff to target, changed targeting type from Multi Attack to Single attack

• Updated Palpitate - Reduced scaling/numbers, removed regeneration effect, Added +1 Fatigue on self, changed targeting type to Multi Target

• Updated Hypertrophy - increased scaling on heal

• Updated Pacifist gene - Ichor effect reduced from 1.75 to 1.5

Vasculurch was always seen to me as a "swing turn" character, making a big move that's specifically suited for the task at hand. By making Tachycardia single target and boosting its effects, it's more capable of boosting a single character. Palpitate was originally expected to be a multi-target heal, and Vasculurch was expected to have a fatigue of 4, so this is going back to those roots in a way. it also makes healing a set up event with how Hypertensive crisis boosts Ichor.

UI Updates Updated Main Menu Music Added small main menu animation Updated the "Low Player HP" Music track