Lots of look improvements. And stuff.

Empire Chronicles (Version 0.9.545) - Minor Update

• Bug Fix: Stellar Comet had an issue where it was leaving all party members invisible.
  
• Bug Fix: Fixed an issue where during the Vaedaron cutscene if you chose to help Scarlett she would still be missing from the party.

Fixed an issue making it difficult to access ship controls.
Fixed an issue that could make ship recovery require multiple attempts.
Improved server performance when spawning large numbers of enemies, particularly like what is required for the Defending Orc Hunter's fort event
Increased Mindsage dust drop rates.

Adjusted the following Skill Gems - will be going through quite a few this week.

[Skill Gems]

New / Made Available

Momentum - requires great weapons, on use buffs the user so their swings increase attack and move speed, stacks and refreshes duration.
Power shot added visuals, adjusted all properties.
Exploding shot added visuals, adjusted all properties.
Mass Mending - Protection Skill, wide area version of mending.
Chains of Darkness - massive area, repeatedly root mobs.
Resurrection - Well, it resurrects people.
Arcane Explosion is now available in Gem form.
Ice Rain is now available in Gem form.
Fire Nova is now available in Gem form.


[Updated]
Multishot, adjusted scaling to benefit from primaries, reduced some of the benefit from stats, slightly increased cool-down
Concussion Shot - adjusted scaling to benefit from primaries, reduced some of the benefit from stats

General

• Added option 'Allow Quicksave' to gameplay options to enable quicksaves on any difficulty
  
• Added option 'Developer Console' to enable developer console
  
• Added option 'Light Flares' to toggle light flares
  
• Added manual save menu list to phonograph (hold interact)
  
• Added action log message for autosaves, pickups and readables
  
• Physics objects can now do damage when dropped onto AI
  
• Button pressers and valves can now be physics carried or inventory dragged into slots (in addition to interacting with the slot)
  
• Added destructible wall spots (notated with a crack)
  
• Various improvements to AI reaction and task handling
  
• Reduced the damage of fire to environmental physics objects to make it more viable to carry and burn other objects with them
  
• Reduced the spread delay of environmental fire objects to 0.5 seconds (from 0.75 seconds)
  
• Tweaked how fire spreads among AI to make fire a bit more in-line with other options
  
• Adjusted pickup balance of Undertaker rounds and added Choke Bolt rounds to each area
  
• Doors will now collapse into burnt debris pieces when destroyed with fire
  
• Added settings .ini option 'ActionLog' to adjust action log presence
  
• Added settings .ini option 'ShadowProjectors' to adjust shadow projector culling distance
  
• Added more options for lightmap resolution
  
• Various performance improvements

Weapon: Undertaker

• Added new ammo type: Choke Bolt
  + Douses all sources of fire
  + Causes enemies to cough/daze briefly
  + Flinches enemies in mid-attack swing or who are enraged
  
• 'Slug' ammo type can now break any type of electrical light
  
• 'Incendiary' ammo type can now re-ignite any source of fire that was doused or burnt out

AI: Huntsmen

• Now has a reaction to lights being destroyed or torches being doused
  
• Improved particle fx and animation of lever action rifle ejection
  
• Doused torch swings can now be blocked with the canesword and do lower kinetic damage instead of fire damage

AI: Wounded Goatman

• Health now reduced to 80% of maximum on Crescent and 90% on Half Moon

Area: Coastal Fishery

• New armored huntsmen patrols will now start to appear when backtracking after reaching the cliffs for the first time
  
• Added valve door to shortcut stairs
  
• Detailed the lake area with some additional structures
  
• Detailed the skybox
  
• Fixed various floating geometry and props

Area: Coastal Caves

• Added note about feeding fishdogs
  
• Added valve door after fishdog area
  
• Slightly reduced the fishdog presence
  
• Added some structures to add additional options to navigate the main tower room

Area: Coastal Lighthouse

• Added usable cannon at gatefront
  
• New guard tower and gatehouse area structures
  
• New huntsmen presence and additional conversations
  
• Added connection between lake and cliff path
  
• Made lighthouse chimney connect fully
  
• Detailed first collapsed house and added a secret route
  
• Detailed barn back area and crawlspace
  
• Added powderflask, gunpowder and cannon pickups
  
• Moved fishery treasure map
  
• Added detail to various areas and skybox
  
• Improved geometry and navmesh pathing to allow AI to navigate much more of the level

Area: Slaughtered Goat Tavern

• Added 'Horn of Ulmar' pickup/item
  
• Additional ammo pickups in basement and attic
  
• Adjusted notes to improve clarity of attic and basement key locations
  
• Increased size and visibility of key pickup on the sword in the Goatman's back
  
• Increased time before Goatman adds upstairs location to patrol rotation
  
• Made attic explosive barrel easier to find and access
  
• Added valve pickup to attic
  
• Improved Goatman navmesh pathing around attic area

Bug Fixes

• Improved animation transition states for AI motion
  
• Canesword will now correctly apply crouch state when swapping weapons
  
• Improved physics grabbing to prevent pickups from clipping into surfaces on carry
  
• Drape doors can now be correctly destroyed
  
• Fixed issue where Huntsmen carpet footsteps weren't assigned correctly
  
• Fixed issue where ammo pickups would load state incorrectly if item variant was loaded into a weapon
  
• Fixed gap in room brushes between main building and lighthouse tower
  
• Fixed various occlusion issues
  
• Fixed nightstand table door not having collision
  
• Fixed occlusion issues when looking through the broken gaps on the church rooftop in Cliffside
  
• Fixed issue where AI would not correctly face their move direction during MoveToDoor tasks
  
• Fixed an issue where bullet projectiles wouldn't ignite explosive barrels
  
• Fixed issue where white and blood gems would not stack or could not be split
  
• Fixed issue where fishdogs would not burn or gib
  
• Fixed issue where opening inventory on elevator could kill the player
  
• Fixed various inventory issues
  
• Fixed various save/load related issues that could cause saves to be unable to load
  
• Improved clipping of geometry/staircases in each area

Fixed two minor bugs

It's been awhile, hasn't it?
We've got TWO updates for you today, One you can play NOW and one you can play SOON™

The first will cover what we've added to the game TODAY and the second will dig into our progress on Gloomwood's much anticipated Market District.

But before we can let you in, it's time to.... FIRE AT THE GATES

Here's what you can investigate today...

A NEW AREA

The city guard has gotten word of your progress towards the market district - Doctor - and they're not happy about it.


They've setup a new camp in front of the city gates with new towers, store rooms and one very big cannon to keep you away.



But you won't stay away, will you?



Find the bits and pieces to fire the cannon, bring down the city gate... and prepare to enter the market.

Even though that won't be the ONLY way into the district in the future.


Luckily you'll have help from:

A NEW AMMO TYPE

(stop calling them water arrows)

The Undertaker pistol has a new ammo type. We call it The Choke Bolt.

It can:

• Put out all sources of fire (sneaky)
  
  
• Causes enemies to cough/daze briefly (sickly)
  
  
• Flinches enemies in mid-attack swing or who are enraged (tricky)
  

Also the slug ammo can now break any type of electrical light and incendiary ammo can now re-ignite any source of fire that was doused or burnt out :)

But that's not all today, we've got...

NEW FEATURES

Such as an (optional) action log that will tell you what keys and notes you've picked up, etc.

And the much requested ability to drop heavy items on enemies heads to end their days.

(this one was fun)

We've also got:


Plus added destructible wall spots (notated with a crack) ^

NEW OPTIONS

Such as the ability to select new save slots at phonographs:


The developer console, light flares and yes *Quicksaving* are a toggle in the gameplay options now.


There's also...

(thanks Gianni)

Performance has also been improved and of course many bugs have been fixed.


We like to think we've been adding these areas organically so it feels like the world of Gloomwood is growing for you as we develop it.

New camps are being set up. New secrets are being uncovered. But your journey is just beginning.

NOW, that's what we've done - here's what's to come.

Just in time for the Steam Stealth Fest on the 24th.


But that's not all the news we bring.

In that screenshot you may see a shop? Yes - that's the merchant's shop - and he is inside.

No longer hiding in the shadows - now that you've made it this far.

Once inside he's got A LOT to say (thanks to the incomparable Stephan Weyte) and also much to buy and sell, good doctor.

Have a look...


As you can see, in typical Gloomwood fashion - everything done in the shop will be diegetic.

There are no menus, no UI, everything is done immersively and in-world.


AND YES THIS WAS ALL VERY HARD TO DO THANK YOU.

Come and go as you please, buy and sell as you must - The Emerald Eye is a safe haven for you, Doctor.

And on higher difficulties, finding treasures and trinkets to sell to the merchant for health and ammunition may just be the difference between life or death in Gloomwood.

Speaking of death - you may notice something else menacing in that screenshot above.



Yes, along with Huntsmen, Hounds, and Crowmen in the sewers - you'll now have to deal with the Bat Barbers of Gloomwood as you make your way through the market district, doctor.

But who doesn't fancy a good CUT every now and then, hmm?


Thank you for your patience as we work on this incredibly complex and immersive experience for you.

And we hope as always that you enjoy.

We know there are some who say our development goes not fast enough for their liking, but know this...

WE WILL NEVER SACRIFICE QUALITY FOR TIME.

And we hope you appreciate that.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1150760/Gloomwood/

For more frequent updates please follow us on Twitter and Subscribe to Dillon on YouTube

New shirts and posters are also available:



Gloomwood Early Access Changelog v0.1.223

GENERAL

-Added option 'Allow Quicksave' to gameplay options to enable quicksaves on any difficulty
-Added option 'Developer Console' to enable developer console
-Added option 'Light Flares' to toggle light flares
-Added manual save menu list to phonograph (hold interact)
-Added action log message for autosaves, pickups and readables
-Physics objects can now do damage when dropped onto AI
-Button pressers and valves can now be physics carried or inventory dragged into slots (in addition to interacting with the slot)
-Added destructible wall spots (notated with a crack)
-Various improvements to AI reaction and task handling
-Reduced the damage of fire to environmental physics objects to make it more viable to carry and burn other objects with them
-Reduced the spread delay of environmental fire objects to 0.5 seconds (from 0.75 seconds)
-Tweaked how fire spreads among AI to make fire a bit more in-line with other options
-Adjusted pickup balance of Undertaker rounds and added Choke Bolt rounds to each area
-Doors will now collapse into burnt debris pieces when destroyed with fire
-Added settings .ini option 'ActionLog' to adjust action log presence
-Added settings .ini option 'ShadowProjectors' to adjust shadow projector culling distance
-Added more options for lightmap resolution
-Various performance improvements

WEAPON: UNDERTAKER

-Added new ammo type: Choke Bolt
+ Douses all sources of fire
+ Causes enemies to cough/daze briefly
+ Flinches enemies in mid-attack swing or who are enraged
-'Slug' ammo type can now break any type of electrical light
-'Incendiary' ammo type can now re-ignite any source of fire that was doused or burnt out

AI: HUNTSMEN:

-Now has a reaction to lights being destroyed or torches being doused
-Improved particle fx and animation of lever action rifle ejection

AI: TORCH HUNTSMEN

-Doused torch swings can now be blocked with the canesword and do lower kinetic damage instead of fire damage

AI: WOUNDED GOATMAN

-Health now reduced to 80% of maximum on Crescent and 90% on Half Moon

AREA: COASTAL FISHERY

-New armored huntsmen patrols will now start to appear when backtracking after reaching the cliffs for the first time
-Added valve door to shortcut stairs
-Detailed the lake area with some additional structures
-Detailed the skybox
-Fixed various floating geometry and props

AREA: COASTAL CAVES

-Added note about feeding fishdogs
-Added valve door after fishdog area
-Slightly reduced the fishdog presence
-Added some structures to add additional options to navigate the main tower room

AREA: COASTAL CLIFFS/LIGHTHOUSE

-Added usable cannon at gatefront
-New guard tower and gatehouse area structures
-New huntsmen presence and additional conversations
-Added connection between lake and cliff path
-Made lighthouse chimney connect fully
-Detailed first collapsed house and added a secret route
-Detailed barn back area and crawlspace
-Added powderflask, gunpowder and cannon pickups
-Moved fishery treasure map
-Added detail to various areas and skybox
-Improved geometry and navmesh pathing to allow AI to navigate much more of the level

AREA: COASTAL TAVERN

-Added 'Horn of Ulmar' pickup/item
-Additional ammo pickups in basement and attic
-Adjusted notes to improve clarity of attic and basement key locations
-Increased size and visibility of key pickup on the sword in the Goatman's back
-Increased time before Goatman adds upstairs location to patrol rotation
-Made attic explosive barrel easier to find and access
-Added valve pickup to attic
-Improved Goatman navmesh pathing around attic area

BUG FIXES

-Improved animation transition states for AI motion
-Canesword will now correctly apply crouch state when swapping weapons
-Improved physics grabbing to prevent pickups from clipping into surfaces on carry
-Drape doors can now be correctly destroyed
-Fixed issue where Huntsmen carpet footsteps weren't assigned correctly
-Fixed issue where ammo pickups would load state incorrectly if item variant was loaded into a weapon
-Fixed gap in room brushes between main building and lighthouse tower
-Fixed various occlusion issues
-Fixed nightstand table door not having collision
-Fixed occlusion issues when looking through the broken gaps on the church rooftop in Cliffside
-Fixed issue where AI would not correctly face their move direction during MoveToDoor tasks
-Fixed an issue where bullet projectiles wouldn't ignite explosive barrels
-Fixed issue where white and blood gems would not stack or could not be split
-Fixed issue where fishdogs would not burn or gib
-Fixed issue where opening inventory on elevator could kill the player
-Fixed various inventory issues
-Fixed various save/load related issues that could cause saves to be unable to load
-Improved clipping of geometry/staircases in each area

This is the Survival Mode build which introduces more than 7 survival maps and multiple fixes to the story mode.

These fixes include new files taken from the latest game in development IMS Intelligence Corp,
Healing Gun L-22s bandages now rolls as your healing and has motor sounds, bomb and medikit models have been updated with new models made for Intelligence Corp game, etc. Survival mode includes many maps from cybernetic titan

Players can now add Pike to their lobby, a bot powered by ChatGTP. Pike will help players fill out lobbies to get games going. Lobbies are currently limited to 1 bot, but will be expanding that in the future.

Last week, we highlighted some artwork and portfolios from some of our artists at Grinding Gear Games! In today's post, we're featuring even more of them! Check out their art and portfolios in today's news post!

Note: If you're keen to check out the artist's portfolio, just click their name!

• Battleship shots now do less damage on Ace Mode.
  
• Non-hostile battleship fleets will now have more ships, increasing the chance for the player to see them space jump.

• Ace mode will now be unlocked once the player pays back their debt to Lady Styx on time in Captain mode.
  
• If a player had unlocked Ace mode before, but hasn't yet payed back their debt to Lady Styx on time in Captain mode, then Ace mode will now be locked for them.
  
• Added a new feature for Voyager & Captain Modes: Voyage+
  
  • Voyage+ is unlocked for a mode by surviving a Voyage in that mode.
    
  • Playing Voyage+ will unlock all possible encounter combinations from the very beginning of the Voyage.

• Updated the visuals for Ion Missiles.

• Merchant fleets will now have more ships, increasing the chance for the player to see them space jump.

• Adjusted the Difficulty Selection screen elements to add in the "Start Voyage +" button and the Voyage + unlock conditions and effects.

• If Money is at 0, the Main Console will no longer say the player has 1,000 units at the start of a jump.
  
• Adjusted the font size of the "Info" section of the Main Console so that "Imperial Supply Officer" fits while color coding is on.
  
• Communications will now be stopped if they are happening when the Chaser is destroyed.
  
• Fixed a Missing Reference error that occasionally occurred when merchant ships jumped away after a long time.
  
• Merchant Ship #4 will now correctly play it's space jump animation when jumping.

• Removed the Extra ":" and spaces from the "Info" section of the Main Console when the next territory is Neutral or Pirate.