With a shining brilliance comes The Stunning Update!
This update brings a host of balance and quality-of-life changes, in addition to a brand new item and some much needed buffs to old ones.
The best defense is a good offense - take the reworked weapons out for a spin and wreak havoc!
However, an even better defense is a good defense. Face enemies head-on with the Compound Shield, a new item that will stop foes in their tracks. Until 4/26, Stone Story RPG will be running a special event (and accompanying 20% discount) where you can obtain a cosmetically unique enchanted Compound Shield. Read below to find out more.
And after much silence from the city above the clouds, a message from Acropolis has found its way down once more. Open it and read to see what news awaits!
The Compound Shield (and Special Event)
Your ASCII arsenal expands even further. The Compound Shield is the latest gear addition to the game and will stun attackers for a short period of time. This item continues to open the existing design space for shields, allowing us to dig deeper into both new and existing mechanics.
To commemorate the occasion, Stone Story RPG will be running a special loot event where you can obtain an enchanted shiny Compound Shield. The event will take a milestone format, where you can progressively receive better enchantments by stunning more foes with the Quarterstaff. This limited-time event will take place until 4/26.
Quarterstaff’s New Ability
The Quarterstaff has received a new activated ability! Use it to pull off a mini-dash attack that will stun enemies, giving you an opening in the frantic flow of combat. Find creative ways to include them in your combat scripts to unlock new combos.
Balance Changes and Quality-of-Life Improvements
Much of this update was focused on polishing existing systems and mechanics. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our community, we’ve been able to iron out several of the kinks in combat, progression, and crafting.
Weapon Buffs
Several items have received buffs including: Staffs, Wands, and Hammers. These weapon categories received a mixture of damage and attack speed increases, which should in turn lead to a greater variety of gear usage amongst players.
A long-requested UX feature from our players, we’ve added a “Fuse More” function within the enchanting workflow. Users who farmed the endgame often found it tedious to navigate their inventory each and every time they wanted to fuse enchantments.
Now, you need only have at least 13 enchantment stacks (including enchanted items), and the Triskelion will automatically factor those into your fusions. Less time clicking, more time looting!
Community Scripts
In the time since we held Stonejam 2, we’ve had an incredible variety of scripts by our amazing community members. We chose some of our favorites to be included in-game. Load them up in your Mind Stone using a simple “import” command!
Another scroll? You are starting to question whether or not someone has intentionally been leaving these for you to find. Regardless, your curiosity once again takes hold as you unfurl the peculiar black parchment and pore over the stark white script within.
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We hope you all have fun digging into these new changes to the gameplay!
Be sure to join the Stone Story RPG Discord server to keep up with the game's development and chat with other members of our community! - discord.gg/StoneStoryRPG
We hope you've all been safe and healthy these past few weeks. Things have been busy on our end as we work with our awesome beta testers towards pushing updates out onto the live branch. Keep reading to see what we've got coming up.
Balance Update and New Item
This weekend Stone Story RPG will be getting an update that addresses a wide variety of balance issues and much needed QoL improvements. These include things like a reworking of wand stats, streamlining the enchantment process, and even more additions to Stonescript.
The update also brings the Compound Shield into the game, which further explores new edges of the existing design space for shields. We think it will be a stunning addition to your arsenal. :y
To celebrate, Stone Story RPG will be running a limited-time event where you can obtain a powerfully enchanted Compound Shield. The update, event, and accompanying sale will go live this Saturday, April 18th.
The Quest Stone
Our next big content update will be 3.0, which adds the Quest system to the game. Up until now, the Quest Stone has been a placeholder for a long-planned feature that willl greatly expand the amount of narrative content in the game.
The way it works is that quests will function as their own self-contained storylines. Each quest is split into 4-5 parts and will take players on journeys across the Dark World as they revisit familiar locations, talk to old acquaintances, and dive into dangerous new mysteries.
To help us crank out content for the Quest system, we've brought on additional writing talent! We're extremely thrilled to be working with them and can't wait to cook up exciting adventures for new and returning players alike.
Not only will the Quest system add more to the base game, it also opens up further possibilities for community-made content. The modular framework will be designed with the intent to support custom quests, allowing players to create their own adventures or share them with others. That feature is a ways off, but adding the Quest system to the game is a big first step.
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That's all for now! To stay current with Stone Story RPG's development, join our Discord server to get insights on the design process, chat directly with the devs, or share scripts with other players.
We hope you've been staying safe and healthy! With everything going on right now, many events have been cancelled. However, the folks over at IGF and GDC are working to ensure that as much of their respective shows will continue as planned.
IGF/GDC Sale
Finding yourself cooped up at home like so many others are? Now's the perfect chance to finally play that ASCII-animated game you've been eyeing! Until March 23rd (10 AM PST), Stone Story RPG will be on sale at a 20% discount. See for yourself the game that was nominated for IGF's Excellence in Visual Art Award.
IGF and GDC Virtual Awards Ceremonies
Although the physical shows were cancelled, many GDC speakers have been streaming their talks this week. That also includes the IGF and GDC awards! Tune in today (3/18) at 5 PM PST to cheer us on as we join other awesome games like Knights and Bikes and Void Bastards in contention for IGF's Excellence in Visual Art award.
We hope you're staying healthy and safe with everything going on right now. It's been a rather rough time for Stone Story RPG. With the cancellation of both GDC and SXSW, we've lost invaluable opportunities to share the game with a wider audience.
However, our plans moving forward have not changed. Work continues on additional content and other features. We ask for your patience as we reevaluate the weeks to come.
In the meantime, we've got some exciting stuff to share with you!
Spring Loot Event
The Spring Equinox is upon us!
From now until Sunday, March 15th (11:59 PM PST), the Mushroom Forest will be dropping 2x loot. Pay a visit to the Angry Shroom and see what they have in store for you~
StoneJam 2: Return of the Script
Last weekend we hosted our second StoneJam and the turnout was incredible! Here are a few entries to give you a taste of what our community submitted.
We hope you've been enjoying the newest additions to Stonescript. Keep an eye out this weekend for updates on our StoneJam winners. There were lots of great submissions that we're sure you'll love.
If you haven't yet picked the game up, we're excited to share that we've partnered with Chrono.gg to offer you Stone Story RPG for $13.99 - its lowest price ever! The sale will end tomorrow at 9 AM PST, so be sure to grab the game while you can.
Stone Story RPG’s jam event makes its return this weekend. Update 2.8 has added a vast array of new features to Stonescript, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in Stone Story. Take part in StoneJam 2 and show off your creations!
What is Stonescript?
Stonescript is a scripting language built into Stone Story RPG, used for modifying the character's AI. Easy to use yet powerful, scripts can be as simple as automating potions if your health gets low or optimizing combat to super-human levels. Stonescript can also be used to manipulate a number of in-game elements, like the UI or player cosmetics. Put your avatar in a flying mecha, give them a fancy hat, or create a dynamic healthbar!
What is StoneJam about?
The Stonescript Update has greatly expanded what is possible in Stone Story RPG. We want to see what YOU can create! Some of the projects that people have made with Stonescript include:
Blackjack
Fishing
Combat scripts
Animated pets
Custom UI elements
What do I get?
For StoneJam 2, we have a number of prizes!
This time we’re introducing categories. These categories are meant to help guide you in creating scripts by providing a general theme or idea. They are:
Epic
Awesome
Beautiful
Useful
Anyone participating has a chance to win each category. Have an Awesome and Beautiful new pet design? Maybe a Useful component that others can build with? From efficient farming scripts to full screen mini-games, all ideas are welcome!
Any number of participants can win each category and a chance for the following prizes:
Epic = +15 Enchantment
Awesome = +11 Enchantment
Beautiful = +10 Enchantment
Useful = +10 Enchantment
Our favorite submissions will also be invited to be an official addition to the game, allowing players to activate your script with a simple “import” command.
When is StoneJam?
StoneJam will take place from Friday, February 28th (10:00 AM PST) to Monday, March 2nd (11:59 PM PST). You have 86 hours to create and submit your scripts.
How do I participate?
StoneJam 2 will be hosted on our Discord server! To gain the new @stonejam role, go to the #commands channel and type !stonejam. Two new channels have been created for this event. Use #stonejam-discussion for all discussion about the jam and reserve #stonejam-submit for submitting entries.
How do I submit my StoneJam entry?
Submission rules:
1. Inside your scripts, at the beginning of each file include: - Name/nickname of author (or multiple names if multiple authors) - Version number of the script - Instructions on how to use it
2. Drop your script into #stonejam-submit, along with screenshots and/or gifs of your entry in action.
3. If a single entry involves multiple interdependent scripts, put them into a zip.
4. Submit different entries separately.
5. You can submit scripts created prior to the jam, as long as the jam weekend is used for meaningfully improving them.
Fire up those keyboards: The Stonescript Update is here!
Version 2.8 of Stone Story RPG adds a wide variety of features to Stonescript, the in-game scripting language. Bring your automation to the next level with powerful new functions. Got a taste for scripting? Get ready for the return of Stonejam and share your creations with the world.
After many requests from our community, we have also raised the treasure limit from 150 to 100 + 5 * the player's level. Get your farming on and rack up that loot!
And what’s this? Another message from Acropolis! Check below to see what news the floating city comes bearing.
Additions to Stonescript
The bulk of this update was focused on totally revamping Stonescript, bringing changes like:
Modding
Tired of the same old UI? Spruce it up a little with Stonescript. New ways to manipulate what can be drawn on screen give you a wider set of options to customize your display as you see fit.
These draw functions aren’t just about changing the UI. You can even add cosmetics and pets to the game! Look dapper with a fancy hat or stroll through the Caves of Fear with your trustworthy frog companion.
Advanced Combat Scripts
Push your automation even further beyond with powerful functions. Fine tune your character’s combat abilities down to the second, leaving no room for human error. Ensure your triumphant victory through endgame and beyond.
Mini-games
You got your mini-games in my game! This update comes with 3 mini-games (still in development) built entirely with Stonescript. Pick apart the code to see how you can bring your own mini-game to life.
Script Sharing
You can now import external scripts into your game. Not only does this allow for easier sharing, it also gives players a way to better organize their scripts. Mixing and matching combat and UI scripts has never been easier.
In-between all the Stonescript improvements, we’ve also managed to rework the Repeating Crossbow. Already a favorite to many, the Repeater suffered from inefficient scaling with enchantments. Check out the full release notes to see how we tackled this problem - http://stonestoryrpg.com/releasenotes/
Stonejam 2: The Return of The Script
In celebration of The Stonescript Update, we’re bringing back Stonejam! Next weekend, flex your scripting skills with the community and see what you can cook up. A few select scripts will be chosen to ship with the game, allowing players to natively import them via the Mind Stone.
Keep an eye out for more information.
Sunday Stream
Catch our Sunday stream (2/23) with the developer, standardcombo! He’ll be going over an exciting new addition to the game (hint: you’ll be able to pet it).
Once more, an ominous black scroll appears before you. Within the parchment lies a stark white print; another pronouncement from the city in the sky. Acropolis is abuzz with activity. Look within to see what events have transpired in the floating capital above.
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We can’t wait to see what you create in Stonescript! Share your projects with us on Twitter or Discord so other players have a chance to try them out.
Be sure to join the Stone Story RPG Discord server to keep up with the game's development and chat with other members of our community! - discord.gg/StoneStoryRPG
Today officially marks the six month of Stone Story RPG in Early Access! Thank you all so much for following the game’s development journey.
What’s happened in Early Access so far?
We’ve made significant strides towards bringing Stone Story to its final vision, and have even picked up a few awards along the way! Over the past six months we’ve:
Pushed out a major content update
Expanded upon Stonescript
Won awards at Tokyo Game Show and TIGA
Been nominated for awards at IGF and SXSW
Held the very first Stonejam
Squashed over 60 bugs
Development continues to push on full steam ahead. Our current plans are to finish off the remainder of the Stonescript updates. Afterwards, focus will shift onto the Quest system, which will push Stone Story into 3.0 and bring a whole new layer of modular content to the game.
Of course, Stone Story RPG would not be where it is right now without all of your support. A huge thank you to every single one of our players and fans! Whether you are part of our Discord, hype the game up to your friends, or simply bought Stone Story and enjoyed it, you make all of our efforts worth it.
IGF, SXSW, and Voting for the Audience Award
If you’re in town for either IGF or SXSW, keep an eye out for Stone Story RPG. Our teams will be presenting at both expos and hopefully bring home an award or two!
A reminder that IGF has voting open for their Audience Award, so if you haven’t already done so make sure to vote for Stone Story (and tell all your friends!).
It’s been incredibly inspiring to see people not only make fanart of Stone Story RPG, but to do so with ASCII art! Check out some of the awesome fan creations we’ve received over the past few months.
We have some exciting news: Stone Story RPG has been nominated by the Independent Games Festival for Excellence in Visual Art! We're extremely honored and humbled to be in consideration for this award alongside other great games.
But that's not all; in addition to Excellence in Visual Art, Stone Story RPG also has a chance to be selected for IGF's Audience Award! Every vote helps, so once you vote be sure to tell others about it!
In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Stone Story RPG will be on sale for 20% off until January 27th.
(no rats were harmed in the making of this promotional material)
The Road to 3.0
Thanks to some additional help that we took on, we've been making steady progress towards the next content patch. Several new features have been added to Stonescript with more on the way.
Some of these features include:
Importing of external scripts
?ai states
else/elseif operators
... and more!
New content is constantly being tested on our beta branch. If you want to discuss the beta updates with other players, be sure to join our Discord! - http://discord.gg/StoneStoryRPG
Fan Creation Spotlight
Did you know that Stone Story RPG has gotten fanart? It's true! We've got awesome players on our Discord server who've cooked up some cool creations. Check 'em out!