Aug 18, 2023

Suzerain - Mr. Nowak

Dear Suzerain Universe fans,

We are pushing our first minor update after our successful 2.0 launch.

Patch 2.0.4
(18/08/2023)

The update is deployed to the default branch. The database changes only apply to new games, and code fixes apply to on-going games.

Content and Balancing

Increased the difficulty of election win calculation
Updated Bludish opinion and unrest balancing slightly
Added more nuance to the new world lore with new articles and edits
Added Walker Plan and Arcasian Dream codex articles
Removed budget constraints on presidential decrees
Removed condition constraints on tax reform meeting
Made small improvements to the new scenes and their flow
Adjusted Paskal resignation condition

Audio

Expanded and created more varied crowd sounds
Added new sound effects across the game
Improved existing sound effects implementation further

UI&UX

Implemented cycling shortcuts for report, token information and token interaction panels
Added negative UI scaling for a smaller interface scale
Removed status effect screen notifications on tokens
Implemented arrow key navigation for conversations and prologue/epilogue
Implemented past reports (archive) functionality for Journal Panel
Reduced pie chart font sizes to show more details

Visuals & Optimization

Updated old report panel header assets
V-Sync will be turned on by default
Conducted an optimization pass to improve frame rates across the board
Reduced the visual quality of the low option drastically for lower-end users
Added SSAO option for lower-end devices
Shader optimizations for rendering collection item inspection and outlines

Bug Fixes and Polish

Broken condition fix for getting wrong game ending after family scene
Corrected some population stats
Adjusted Wehlen war and Bergia condition slightly
Fixed missing resignation condition check for Nia
Close button at center no longer triggers map scrolling
Fixed the possibility of making no change on a panel issue for some
Added check for a Monica dialogue to handle no youth org affiliation
Pushed a fix for corrupted saves that blocked new games from being started
Fixed too fast skips or clicks skipping the decree panel selection
Made an attempted fix for Steam Cloud issues
Fixed broken condition leading to wrong feedback from Alphonso
Improved certain lore word usage consistencies
Fixed some inconsistencies in feedback regarding the trade tariffs
Fixed chess reverse context issues on one branch
Fixed wrong condition in Alvarez talk leading to blocking of trade due to EPA
Fix for Hawker custody question if Hawker is killed
Fixed two achievement triggers
Fixed issues with three collectibles
Improved how certain new story variables are set so they can be checked better
Fixed a few reports with wrong content
Added some more narrative-build up for some scenes
Fixed a few news related issues
Dozens of typos and other misc issues resolved

Jul 31, 2023

Rewrite history: Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" Update is HERE!

Suzerain - Torpor

Dear citizens of Sordland,

We are thrilled to share with you the moment we've all been eagerly waiting for – the unveiling of the 2.0 "Amendment" update for Suzerain! This update marks a true rebirth for our beloved Suzerain, taking it to a new level. Experience fresh dialogues, impactful choices, and tangible consequences that shape your nation's destiny. Enhanced visuals, an interactive world map, and an immersive narrative await you.

We've made the game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, whether you're a seasoned player or new to political games. This comprehensive overhaul refines the game narrative, improves quality, and elevates the audiovisual experience, making every moment in Suzerain even more memorable.

"We are thrilled to announce the Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" update release," says Ata Sergey Nowak. "It is a major overhaul that improves every game aspect with new features, content, and audiovisual enhancements. The update also includes many bug fixes, further balancing, writing improvements, and more."

The Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" update is the culmination of a year-long endeavor by the Torpor Games team to refine and expand upon the original game and is the first release in a long-term plan for expanding and supporting the game, including more free updates and a series of premium DLC campaigns, the first of which - Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia - will launch in Q4 this year.

Indeed, refining and expanding upon the original game is important for us, driven by our passion to create unique gaming experiences that deeply resonate with all of you, our amazing community.

The update also marks the start of a new arrangement with our dear publisher, Fellow Traveller, with us, taking up co-publishing duties, expanding our experience, and growing our skills and capabilities.

The update will debut with a limited-time discount of 70 percent off the game's current price of $14.99, which will run until the 13th of August. On the 14th of August, the game's price will increase to $19.99 to reflect the added value and enhancements in this update and support the continued development of further free updates.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2435940/Suzerain_Support_the_Developers__Vulpitzer_Award/

Last but not least, we want to introduce our latest special addition: the exclusive "Vulpitzer Award" item, now available for purchase!

It's important to note that this item is entirely optional and purely aesthetic. With the acquisition of the "Vulpitzer Award," you not only improve the decor of your president’s desk but also extend your invaluable support to Torpor Games in their endeavor to deliver more updates like this.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/16847/

You can also discover our latest offering - the Supporter’s Edition, the Supporter’s Edition includes the game Suzerain and its Original Soundtrack, as well as the Vulpitzer Award cosmetic DLC. By choosing the Supporter's Edition, you'll enjoy a 15% bundle discount, making it an irresistible deal.

Moreover, the Supporter's Edition is designed as a "complete the set" bundle. This means that if you happen to already own any of the items included, you can still take advantage of the bundle discount by purchasing just the remaining items you need.

If you haven't tried Suzerain yet, it will be the best moment to get it!

[[i]Please note that this latest update requires starting a new save to be played. The previous save system will no longer function due to the implementation of a new technical infrastructure. However, we understand the value of preserving the legacy version 1.9 for those who wish to access it for nostalgic purposes.

Follow these simple steps to access Suzerain's legacy build:

Open your Steam library.
Right-click on Suzerain and select "Properties."
Go to the "Betas" tab.
Enter the code: "hsuarchive1954."
Choose the "legacy1.9" branch.
Download and play.

It's important to mention that the old version will not receive any further support or updates. We've introduced the 1.9 branches primarily to support players with in-progress saves, as we recognize the critical importance of accommodating their ongoing game experiences.

You can access the Legacy Suzerain 1.9 until the end of the year after which it will no longer be available.[/i]]

The full changelog of additions in the 2.0 "Amendment" update is below:

[CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT]
[FOR YOUR EYES ONLY - CONTAINS SPOILERS]

Patch 2.0.0
(31/07/2023)

This update only applies to new games and is deployed to the default branch.

Features

New interface and user experience
Gamepad support with full verification for Steam Deck
Story selection screen and campaign system
Torpor mode (Ironman), can be disabled after the first completed playthrough
Manual save/load system
World map integration
Additional interactable objects on the desk
15 new collectible story items, one supporting the dev's item
Story, country, and leader information panels
Projected economic growth graph
Dynamic event tokens, including operations on the map
Status effects for cities and countries
New sound effects for key story moments
New ambient room sounds and map music
UI scaling bar and new font options, including OpenDyslexic
Text animations for key moments and typewriter animation toggle
Reminder panel for constitutional changes
New notification system
New construction bar for infrastructure projects and progress updates
Analytics added for improving balancing and game design outcomes
Complete technical infrastructure overhaul allowing for faster and easier content development
Improved look-at mode
11 new game achievements
Added news feature to the main menu

Content

12 new scenes
9 new decisions
6 new bills
New prologue lore content and choice
Modifications and additions to over 20 existing scenes
40 new faction reports
30 new country reports
Over 300 new news articles and city reports
Bludish amendment storyline, Bergia special zone storyline, Gasom, and Energy Protection Act storyline
Character content expansions: Ewald Alphonso, Tarquin Soll, Fetih Ejall, Gus Manger, Lucian Galade, Remus Holstron, and many more
Crisis events to highlight big issues that players missed when not reading narrative support like news, reports, situations
New additions to Monica Rayne-related content
New VAT presidential decree option
Revamped and expanded many news articles
Added reports about some successful synergies
Added unfriendly and hostile country relations
Added progressing status effects for trade and the border fortification
20+ new codex entries and edits to dozens more
First-pass implementation of status effects feature content
Detailed demographics content for all cities and player countries with graphs
New Suzerain Universe lore outside of Sordland
Updates and corrections to existing Suzerain Universe lore
New historical lore about the 30s and 40s of Sordland from The Conformist
New Holsord-related lore from The Conformist
Added new autocrat path content with Young Sords involvement
Added USP obstruction path that causes late-game bills to be blocked or forced

Art

New table decorations
New country tokens
New city tokens
New event tokens
16 new 3D collectibles
New world map
Two new character portraits
Epilogue silhouette images for all endings
Map overlays for visual changes
Interactable objects on the table open UI elements
Updated portrait holders for characters
Updated Sordland map with new sections
Higher quality codex art

Audio

Map music addition and neutral, tense variations
20+ new sound effects for key moments
New main menu music
Ambient room audio
Sordish National Anthem verse sound added to a special moment
New Torpor sound logo
Added audio ducking

Design & Balancing

Government budget system overhaul with high (3), medium (2), and low (1) spending values
Changed starting government budget to 7
Economy system revamp with recovery options from crises and increased synergies
Re-balanced triggers of impeachment trial, war, and coup endings
The projected economic growth graph shows trends, not economic state
Updated certain ending flows about war, exile, and a few others to improve the narrative design
New tourism policy and situations
New energy policy and situations
New BFF policy and situations
New Bergia and Article 6&7 policy and situations
Changed Lucian's enemy condition
Slightly updated family relation balance
Updated regional economy balancing and changes
Increased threshold of late-game crisis disabling early, mid-game returns
Lowered trade war and market crash damages
New economy gain and loss changes, more early game opportunities to gain and lose
Improved crisis variable stats and allowed more gains if only a few late-game crises occurred
Increased difficulty of ATO and CSP factions join offer
Removed impeachment of President by Assembly due to lack of proper content
New election balancing and calculation additions based on new content
New ideological leaning balancing and improvements
USP obstruction path leads to disabling or enabling certain late-game bills
Added a few inter-regional economic synergy opportunities
The added impact of energy prices on some regional economies
New assembly and court vote calculation for new amendment content

Bug Fixes and Polish

Over 300 typos and grammatical errors fixed
More than 200 bugs fixed
Optimization pass for lower-end devices
Improved several game flow errors that impacted balancing negatively
Improved situations and policies text descriptions
Extended and improved dozens of short and low-quality news articles and reports
More feedback about certain parts of the story with little feedback

And before we sign off, remember that Kingdom Of Rizia, our much-anticipated first premium DLC, will be making its grand debut in Q4 this year! Don't forget to wishlist. Prepare for a thrilling adventure filled with new challenges and captivating stories.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2352340/Suzerain_Kingdom_of_Rizia/

Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Vectern sis da!

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Jul 6, 2023

June 2023 Broadcast

Suzerain - Torpor

Citizens of Sordland, welcome to the June broadcast! As the warmth of summer spreads like a golden wave on our great nation, we extend our heartfelt greetings to each and every one of you.

Today, we gather to share an overview of the most thrilling updates that have unfolded within our borders over the course of this month.

As we approach the final stretch of the Suzerain 2.0 update, our team is working tirelessly to improve every aspect of the game. We've conducted rigorous internal testing, and we're now in the process of adding the finishing touches, including controller support. One of our primary focuses has been refining the in-game feedback, ensuring that each action you take has clearer results and consequences.

We're also infusing new life into the game with additional decisions and bills, such as those relating to the Bergia Special Zone and the Bludish rights situation in Sordland. These added layers of complexity are designed to make your experience more immersive and dynamic. Alongside these additions, we're experimenting with text animations to further enhance the game's narrative flow and create an element of surprise.

Visually, we've completed the 3D art pipeline for the 2.0 update, and on the audio front, we're excited to see our personal voice recording sessions add an extra layer of depth to the game. We're also exploring analytics design to help balance the game for 2.0 and the future, ensuring each of the 450+ key choices offers a meaningful and balanced gaming experience.

Finally, we've initiated our closed community testing phase, which will continue until the 2.0 release. The feedback of the community testers who have been with us since 2019, is invaluable during this phase and will guide our fine-tuning process to make sure Suzerain 2.0 is the best it can be. Keep an eye out for some exciting news we have to share in July!

We are excited to share our latest contributions to environmental conservation through tree-planting initiatives. In the month of June, we donated 400 Euros towards planting trees in Ethiopia, furthering our commitment to combat deforestation and restore precious ecosystems in this beautiful country. Additionally, we are proud to continue our support for reforestation in Colombia by donating 200 Euros. This follows our previous contribution towards tree planting in the esteemed Sierra de la Macarena National Park.

Last year, we partnered with Torpor Games and made a meaningful impact in the Sierra de la Macarena National Park through our donation. To witness the positive outcomes of our collective efforts, we invite you to explore the progress made in the park through the following link.

Here is an exciting update from our journey with the Torpor Games Team. Just a few weeks ago, we had the great opportunity to come together for a recording session, initiated by James Spence, our esteemed official music composer.

During the session, we recorded different voices that you will soon have the pleasure of experiencing in the upcoming Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" Update. We are excited to hear our voices recorded for special moments that will add an extra layer of depth to the game. But that's not all! We also had the privilege of recording the National Sordland Anthem, a piece that captures the essence of our great nation.

Click here to watch the video

We are delighted to share exciting news from Ata, who had the privilege of participating in a prestigious panel. This discussion provided him with a platform to share his vision with industry professionals.

The conference was funded by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and the Digital Games Culture Foundation. Ata was honored to be a part of this event, which is part of the Foreign Policy Game project we are actively involved in. The project focuses on creativity and the exploration of games' potential in various realms.

Ata shared some important topics during the conference about the games' role in relaying foreign policy, world peace, and facilitating public diplomacy. His statement highlighted the transformative power of games as a medium for fostering understanding, engagement, and dialogue on global issues.

“Video games, as an art form capable of engaging with an array of subjects, have carved their place on the national stage. Now more than ever, this immersive medium is delving deeper into real-world political discussions. I highlighted how games can uniquely portray foreign policy choices from a myriad of viewpoints, even providing players with an understanding of the experiences of those impacted. Such openness facilitates a better world - one where the principles of democracy and human rights aren't simply expectations dictated by the "West" for the "East". Instead, they're integral parts of a world where human experiences take center stage and games serve as digital mirrors reflecting these experiences.

These gaming experiences hold the potential to bridge national, cultural, economic, and societal divides, connecting us through shared human experiences that lie at the very heart of our existence. Our studio remains dedicated to provoking nuanced reflections on politics, society, and, paramountly, the human condition in power dynamics. Through the dissection of ideologies, choices, and complex game mechanics, we aim to ignite meta-perspective debates and cultivate empathy for individuals facing challenging circumstances.”

Art by Vonlipvig

Thank you, everyone, for your unwavering support and dedication. As we approach July, we will take a short break, but fear not, for we have an exciting announcement for you.

Get ready for the highly anticipated launch this summer of our first Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" Update, which aims to bring new features and enhancements.

Before we sign off, Kingdom Of Rizia, our much-anticipated first premium DLC, will be making its grand debut in Q4 this year! Don't forget to wishlist. Prepare for a thrilling adventure filled with new challenges and captivating stories.

Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Vectern sis da!

Check out our Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Discord and our newsletter to get the latest breaking news for Suzerain and The Conformist.

May 30, 2023

May 2023 Broadcast

Suzerain - Torpor

Citizens of Sordland! Our May Broadcast has arrived, carrying the seeds of fresh starts and boundless opportunities. As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, it's the moment to embrace the vibrant spirit of the season. It's time to shine, and we're thrilled to share the latest news and updates from our Torpor Games team.

We have been swamped working on new content and features over April and May. Finally, after the announcement, we can more openly speak about the 2.0 "Amendment" update and the Kingdom of Rizia DLC. After so long, we are so excited to co-publish and do more with Suzerain.

We have recently been working on the new features and content additions for 2.0, making new budget-balancing passes, adding new sound effects and music, updating several parts of the game with recent narrative changes such as updates to Arcasia, United Contana, Valgsland, and more, and adding more world events to the experience. We have finally changed the economy bar to the intended design it was supposed to represent, the economy's growth, not the economy itself.

The new content work regarding 2.0 is in full swing, with further refinements and additions making their way into the game, such as a more detailed Bludish rights and unrest storyline. We are also expanding and changing certain parts of the Constitutional Amendment.

Additionally, new security alliance reports from ATO and CSP are being added to the world map to share updates from the alliances. We won't spoil further and hope you like the changes when they land in your hands this summer! Expect more development news from Rizia after the 2.0 update launches.

For now, what we can share is that we are working on offering a different yet familiar experience with new features, challenges, and narrative topics.

We're thrilled to announce that on the week of Charles III and Camilla coronation (May 4th), we unveiled our latest secret projects: the highly anticipated Kingdom of Rizia premium DLC and Suzerain 2.0 “Amendment” update.

The update will be released this summer. It offers a complete overhaul of Suzerain, with new dialogues, choices, consequences, improved visuals, UI, world map integration, and interactions. It caters to both new and experienced players, enhancing every aspect of the game with audiovisual improvements, bug fixes, writing enhancements, and more.

The 2.0 "Amendment" Update will be available on PC only initially, with Torpor Games hoping to bring them to Switch and iOS/Android at a later date.

We couldn't be more delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response this news has received so far. We've been featured in several magazines, which you can read here:

We're also happy to report that our journey has gotten off to an incredible start. We've already had over 6500 of you add Kingdom of Rizia premium DLC to your wishlist, and we're incredibly grateful for your support.

We can't wait for you to experience the new features and content we have in store for you. If you haven’t done it yet:

To help spread the news even further, we also recently held a Q&A session where we answered some of your most burning questions about these exciting developments.

And wow! Some of our community members have gone above and beyond to support us. They've written a high-quality transcription of the Q&A session, which you can find at the link below.

Read the Q&A

We're incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication, and it's heartening to see how much support we have from all of you.

The beginning of May was for us full of high notes. Indeed, we participated in the annual LudoNarraCon sale, which was hosted by our dear publisher Fellow Traveller.

This festival celebrated narrative-driven games and offered a wonderful opportunity to explore some of the most engaging and immersive storytelling experiences out there.

We were thrilled to be a part of this event and to offer our fans a great deal of 70% off on Suzerain. Whether you were a fan of political dramas or enjoyed thought-provoking narratives, there was something for everyone in the lineup.

Summer is here, and that means the festival season has arrived! The Torpor Games team kicked off the season this year by going to A MAZE. / Berlin 2023. Our team was excited to discover other indie studios and to gather in a great location in the heart of the city.

It was a good opportunity for us to talk about our latest projects, network with fellow creators, and engage with fans of indie gaming.

Connecting with people from the scene reminded us how much we truly love it. It was a fantastic experience, and we came back feeling inspired and energised to continue creating innovative and engaging content for our community.

Click here to watch our adventures!

As we bring this broadcast to an end, we want to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for your support. It's thanks to you that Torpor Games is expanding and thriving.

Portrait of Lucian by LemonKerr

Portrait of Suzerain characters Jules von Lipwig

We are blown away by the incredible artwork that our community continues to produce, like the stunning portrait of Lucian created by one of our talented members.

Thank you for co-creating this journey with us, keep sharing your masterpieces with the community, and we can't wait to share more news and updates with you in the next broadcast!

Vectern sis da!

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May 4, 2023

Kingdom of Rizia premium DLC & Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" update are coming soon!

Suzerain - Torpor

Kingdom of Rizia premium DLC and Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" are coming soon!
With great fanfare and ceremony, the long-awaited moment has finally arrived. After working hard on it for a while, we finally completed the puzzle that had us all on the edge of our seats. Our team is thrilled and couldn't wait to see the final result. We shall no longer keep you in suspense, for the time has come to reveal the grand news!

We're thrilled to announce the upcoming Kingdom of Rizia premium DLC and the Suzerain 2.0 "Amendment" update for our critically-acclaimed political RPG, Suzerain. The 2.0 "Amendment" update will be available on PC starting in the summer of 2023, with the DLC following later this year.

Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia Expansion

Are you ready for a royal experience? Set four years before the events of the main game, players will be taken on a journey to discover the geopolitical and internal challenges faced by King Romus Toras of Rizia. This premium expansion of Suzerain is a fresh and unique experience, where you'll encounter new challenges, meet new characters, and shape the future of the Kingdom.

A new system of government - Experience rulership of a monarchy
New character - step into the shoe of King Romus Toras of Rizia.
New campaign - Tackle many geopolitical challenges and shape the future of the region by negotiating with neighboring nations.
New characters and factions - Navigate an intricate web of political and personal relationships with the royal houses, councilors, country leaders, and others.
Experience the trials and tribulations of being part of a royal family, including the Queen-Mother Estela. Toras, your daughter Princess Vina Toras, and your uncle Grand Vizier Hugo Toras.
Discover the past and present of the Kingdom of Rizia, expanding the lore of the Suzerain Universe.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2352340/Suzerain_Kingdom_of_Rizia/

Suzerain 2.0 "The Amendment" update

The Torpor Games team has been working tirelessly for the past year, and we're happy to announce that our efforts have paid off! The 2.0 "Amendment" update is finally coming, and it's packed with exciting new features that will take your gameplay experience to the next level.

Get ready to dive even deeper into the world of Suzerain with the addition of world map integration and new interactions. Plus, we've added more story content that delves into the constitutional amendment, Bludish rights, and former Presidents. That's not all: the update also introduces the highly anticipated Torpor Mode, which allows for manual saving after completing the game once.

At launch, we'll be revealing dozens of exciting new features, improvements, and changes that will make your experience even better.

Release Plans and Upcoming Price Increase

The premium DLC Kingdom of Rizia and the 2.0 "Amendment" update for Suzerain will be launched exclusively on PC. As a small indie studio, we have decided to focus first on the platform where our community journey began.

The 2.0 Update will launch this summer, followed by the Kingdom of Rizia premium DLC later this year.

We envision these releases as just the beginning of our long-term plan to support and expand the game through a combination of premium expansions, major free updates. In a few years, we will be launching our new game, 'The Conformist'

Our goal is to continue growing the Suzerain universe together for the years to come. In order to reflect the value that Suzerain will offer and to help us in achieving this goal, we will be raising the price of Suzerain on PC from US$14.99 to US$19.99.

We did not take this decision lightly but this price increase will help us to deliver more great free content for the game and keep increasing the value for all players on PC. We are making this announcement now to provide plenty of notice.

Furthermore, the game is currently on discount for LudoNarraCon at 70% off and we will provide a similar discount on Steam during the Summer Sale and again when the 2.0 update releases. We encourage anyone who has not yet bought the game to take advantage of these opportunities to grab it at a cheap price before the increase comes into effect.

Thank you for your support - we couldn't have done it without you. Don't forget to add Rizia to your wishlist on Steam to stay in the loop!

A morgna wes core!

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