Why the Changes?
I wasn't happy with the core mechanics. I could start to see why as I heard people's feedback, watched some friends play, and of course had a chance to play the game a bunch more myself.
The leader changing wasn't great. Most people weren't changing leaders during a run, myself included, and it makes you feel like you're missing out on something. Now, by only letting you pick a leader at the start of a run, I actually think it makes the game both easier to understand and more replayable. It's fun to start a new run to try a new leader style.
And this was just the tip of the iceberg. My design goal for this game is to create the feeling of "having each others' backs" so I needed a replacement for leader-switching. Now each hero has a unique low-cooldown leader skill. It's basically a "get your party out of trouble" button that behaves very differently for each hero.
Rea can clear a path. Fig can stun large groups. Han can move the party quickly and dominate targets. Min can blast things out of existence. You have to aim this leader skill manually though.
Helms are gone for now. They'll come back, but it was weird to trigger big attacks from something you wear on your head. There are new offhand weapons as a replacement. As leader you trigger offhands manually with right mouse button. Currently your followers use offhands automatically, but this is subject to change.
The recommended movement mode is now to just use your mouse to point and click. Hold left mouse button to keep moving. Press spacebar to use your leader skill. Press right mouse button to use your leader's offhand. You can still use WASD if you want. Controller support coming too.
Partial list of various big changes below.
Gameplay
- all hero skills changed or replaced!
- you now only pick your leader at the start of a run, not during the run
- press spacebar to use your leader's special skill (low-cooldown)
- heroes move faster and pick things up from further away
- hero targeting, animations, and movement should feel much snappier now
- you can now move and attack by just mouse-clicking (WASD still works too)
- offhand weapons have replaced helms as higher-cooldown special attacks
- helms removed for now; they'll return as powerful relics
- enemies are generally faster but take longer to hit you
- added helper tips for leader skills and offhands
- show target's name, health, and level on mouseover
- enemies that are too low level will no longer give experience points
- all colors rebalanced to help make your heroes and actions more clear
Min
- now wields only fire magic
- new starter wand
- new alternate upgrade weapon: Pyroblaster
- new leader skill: fire multiple wand projectiles
Han
- arrows are faster and stronger
- aim is overall improved
- new leader skill: rush forward and then fire arrows quickly
Fig
- hit harder overall
- new leader skill: jump attack to stun groups
Rea
- starter weapon is now melee with low damage, high knockback
- new upgrade weapon is a stronger melee staff
- new alternate upgrade weapon is a punny mid-range projectile: Canon
- new leader skill: fly while knocking enemies away and healing
