It's been a while since our last dev diary, and we’ve got some pretty epic updates to share on our recent development progress on Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown. Our team has been hard at work over the past few months on a ton of new content that will be coming to the game at launch later this year, and we’re excited to share a sneak preview of what is to come!
Our demo earlier this year provided an amazing opportunity to watch you all jump into the world of Nysamor, and allowed us a chance to really observe how players interact and play Thrive: . From your feedback, and your experiences with the demo, we have overhauled, tweaked, and tuned Thrive across the board to improve the overall gameplay experience for our players. We’re excited to share our plans for release in the coming months - we promise! Thank you again for all your support.
Our new Dev Blog provides a deep dive into some of our latest features, alongside a closer look at our overhauled combat systems, and the unique military units you’ll unlock and encounter as your journey progresses.
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Fog of War
We have now implemented Fog of War, which obscures unexplored terrain from your sight until you’ve acquired the confidence and resources to explore the Nysian lands. The system operates on two tiers: black and grey. Black fog covers all that has yet to be explored, giving no indication as to what lurks beneath its shadows. Grey fog is found in areas you’ve perhaps driven a caravan through but have yet to build or settle. While you will gain a bit of insight into the terrain, nearby military units and threats will still remain hidden, so tread carefully, or settle these areas to truly enhance your visibility.
Armory Updates
Creating units at the Armory is now streamlined. No longer will you need to select individual citizens and have them convert to military troops. Instead, the Armory’s UI allows for the selection of the desired unit type and quantity. Once the order is placed, provided the correct resources are available, citizens are automatically called to the armory to take up arms and join your kingdom’s guard. As soon as they arrive, their training begins. Once that’s complete, units will then head to the desired Rally Point, which can be adjusted via the Armory’s UI.
Benevolence, Tyranny, Wyrmaxa, and the Battlefield
No matter the path you walk, a fresh batch of military units awaits you. These troops, in addition to those found during your settlement’s beginnings, provide a much-needed boost to your growing kingdom and your quest for reigning over the entirety of Nysamor.
Benevolent players will work toward a peaceful, honorable inheritance of the land, with access to the following unit types: Knights, Spearmen, Longbowmen, Heavy Cavalry, and a Waelgrim Crystal type known as the Champion.
Those who favor Tyranny, bent on exploitation and dominion, find their enforcers in these unit types: Berserkers, Spearmen, Crossbowmen, Heavy Cavalry, and a Waelgrim Crystal unit type known as the Ravager.
Nysamor’s reigning kingdom, Wyrmaxa, is also featured in this new Vlog. These formidable foes will do all they can to defend this ancient land. Testing their might and dominance will be a formidable challenge for even the most seasoned of rulers.
Unit Commands
Control commands have been added to Thrive’s Military Units, and these will be familiar to many RTS players. Attack keeps your selected units ready for a fight as they journey to your desired target. Whomever dares to cross their path will be swiftly dealt with, ensuring no threats remain between them and their destination. The Defend command offers protection for a selected target, be it a caravan or fellow military unit, keeping threats at bay while goods are delivered, and allowing one unit to continue their onslaught without the threat of a surprise attack from behind or their flanks. Lastly, Patrol is a bridge between the previous commands, providing players with a means to secure greater strips of land around their settlements. Selected units will move back and forth between their starting position and the targeted one, keeping an eye out for potential threats and vanquishing would-be foes.
Strategic Damage
Each Military Unit has now been assigned a Damage Bonus, giving them an advantage against another unit type. A Swordsman, for example, is more effective against a Spearman, while the Spearman excels at taking down Cavalry units. This subtle but effective addition has a ripple effect on the battlefield. Strategic planning can see one’s foes swiftly dealt with if these bonuses are kept in mind.
Altered Landscapes
Updates to Nysamor’s map have resulted in a land now covered in a wide variety of terrain types, adding complexity to the landscape and challenges for would-be attackers. Some provinces have limited points of entry, whether due to rocky escarpments or lengthy rivers. These changes bring diversity to the landscape, adding an element that must be considered when navigating offence and defence.
Walls
Walls provide one’s kingdom with an added layer of defence, and we felt our approach needed a bit of a revamp. The new wall-building system is not constricted by set sizes or sections. Every wall begins with a 1x1 tile, which can be dragged and clicked into place as you desire…or as far as your resources will allow. Towers and ladders are now automatically placed along the wall’s length, providing easy access for your units to defend your kingdom.
We hope you enjoy this long-awaited new Dev Log, as we move ever closer toward the game’s release, which should be announced sometime in the near future. Thank you for continuing to follow our journey.
Long may you reign, and long may you Thrive!
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Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is available to Wishlist on Steam now!
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