Jun 4, 2024

Toy Tactics - Kraken Empire

Hello, commanders! We have tons of info to share with you today, so let’s get to the most important part first.

One final content update before the release date approaches. That’s right, on June 6th you’ll get your strategic hands on some new toys.

New mode! ⚔

- Skirmish! Conquer and defend unit-producing buildings to survive all the incoming waves.

New languages! 💬

-16 languages fully implemented.
-2 voiceover languages ready: English and Spanish

New cinematics, animations and interface! 🎥

-12 cinematics ready, with voiceovers and subtitles in every language.
-New and improved menu and interface appearance.
-New 2D animations for Sun Tzu and army leaders in the campaign map.
-New tutorial videos for units and spells.

Balance and gameplay improvements, performance enhancements, and bug fixes ⚙🐜🚫

-Spells and relics revisited, improved and rebalanced.
-Unit balance improved to increase differentiation between factions.
-All campaign missions and bosses improved and rebalanced.
-Secondary gameplay modes reworked, including Creative, Challenges and Mercenaries.
-Creative and Mercenaries mode now allow for color change and relic selection.
-Improved quality and performance correlation to adapt the visuals to any hardware.
-New render pipeline to improve performance and appearance.
-Bug fixes and corrections.

This new update comes exactly on June 6th, when we will be participating in Guerrilla Collective with tons of other amazing indie devs and publishers. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Don’t miss out, see you on June 6th!

TOY TACTICS nominated for Best Gameplay on BIG Festival

We are also honored to be nominated for an awesome award: Best Gameplay at BIG Festival, which will happen later this month in the festive city of Sao Paulo. Thanks Brazil for loving Toy Tactics as much as we do!

Big Festival is a major game festival in Latin America organized by gamescom latam. This is Big! Sun Tzu says we have the prize in the bag, but even if we don’t win, we are really happy to be nominated.

Release date incoming! ⚔️ Keep an eye on the Future Games Show on June 8th!

After years of working on Toy Tactics, we are finally ready for the full release. You will know the official release date during the Future Games Show, which will happen on June 8th. 🎆🎆🎆

Watch Future Games Show on YouTube. Set up your reminder right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jXmyz452hs

Don’t forget! June 8th! You’ll know all our secrets then 💥

Jun 4, 2024

Corgi Month: Unleash the Joy!

RIFT - Arcahem

Hello, Ascended!
Bark bark, bark! Woof!! – Glinda, the Corgi.

That’s right! It is International Corgi Day today, and we can’t be celebrating these cutesy adorable Corgis for just one day, right? That is why we are unleashing the corgi joy across Telara with Corgi Month!

Take part in several fun events for a chance to win amazing rewards and celebrate our adorable Corgi companions!

Corgi Hunt!
Bark? B-bark?? – Radar, the Corgi.

WHAT? That is not what Corgi Hunt is!
Taking part in the Great Corgi Hunt is all about finding the absolutely adorable Corgis hidden in the pictures scattered all across RIFT’s social media for a chance to receive amazing rewards!

So, how do I participate, you ask?
It’s simple, starting today until June 30, keep your eyes peeled for as many corgis as you can across our social media platforms (RIFT’s Official Website, Discord, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Steam)! Once you have confirmed the location of all Corgis, enter your answer in this form and any required information and you might be one of the three lucky winners to receive 3000 Credits!

Please note: The form will become available on June 30, 2024, at 2PM UTC.
Further, every corgi in pictures from June 4, 2024, until June 30, 2024, at 1.59PM UTC count, EXCEPT the corgis in the Corgi Month pictures.

-

The Best Companion!
Woof, woof! Bark!! – Bee Bee, the Corgi.

We totally agree that Corgis do make great companions, but other companions should also be celebrated! Our pets hold incredible significance to all of us, so we ask you, dear Ascended, to show us your favorite companion!

Participating is simple!
To join, simply log in to RIFT, select your favorite companion, take a screenshot of your character with the companion, and post it in the #best-companion channel on RIFT’s Official Discord server, include your character name, shard and region and you are set to be one of the three winners to receive 3000 Credits each!

Winners for both the Corgi Hunt and The Best Companion competitions will be revealed on July 8, 2024.

General Terms of Participation apply.
Detailed Information.

Let’s get the Corgi love started, dear Ascended!

Your RIFT team.

Jun 4, 2024

Soulmask FAST Q＆A 01

Soulmask - Peter

Hello, chieftains!

Remember what we talked about yesterday? In addition to the improvements we have confirmed, we will also provide a unified response to all the issues mentioned by the chieftains!

Let us dive right into it:

Q:The mineral on the server still won't refresh!

A:We have completed the repairs and it has been fixed in today's update!

Q:All of my tribesmen have entered a combat state, what is going on?

A:We are aware that this is a bug, and similarly, today's update will resolve this.

Q:Even if my tribesmen can be revived, their talents will be gone forever! And the cycle to cultivate a tribesman from scratch is terrifyingly long!

A:Losing your best tribesman is definitely hard to take. Next update in the week, a "Perfect Revive for Tribesmen" option will be added for solo and private server modes, allowing your tribesmen to be revived directly in their optimal state!

Q:The solo mode is too difficult!

A:In Soulmask's private server, Solo mode, and Co-op mode, we suggest adjusting all the multiplier , especially the damage/defense data as recommended by Peter, to enhance the gaming experience!

Additionally, in our advanced settings, we have some convenient toggles, such as not dropping death bag upon death or disabling decay feature, which greatly facilitate a more relaxed adventure for solo players!

Of course, in the future, we will gradually adjust the corresponding indexs for each difficulty level to make the experience more smoothly.

Q:Can't we search the contents of the box at the Work Benches?

A:We are a game that prides itself on realism, but we understand the needs of our players. We are considering the specific adjustments.
For now, you can temporarily use your tribemen to complete crafting tasks. You can learn everything through This article; your tribemen will find the necessary materials themselves and complete whatever you need.

Q:The game's distant view is too blurry!

A:Soulmask actually enhances the environmental layering through atmospheric effects and volumetric fog, which is a unique representation of the rainforest style in Soulmask.

However, we also take into consideration the preferences of some players. If you find the visuals too blurry, we recommend trying to disable DLSS, enable FSR, and turn off depth of field effects. This should provide a sharper image quality.

Q:The respawn of barracks/forts is simply unreasonable. I have no idea when suddenly a large group of Barbarians will spawn!

A:Due to the special tribal replenishment mechanism in our barracks and forts, the barbarians need to respawn on a set schedule based on the in-game time (defaulting to midnight every night). In the past, on PVE servers, players intentionally or unintentionally lingered in the camps, preventing the barbarians from respawning. To address this situation, we modified the monster respawn mechanism. This could explain why you are seeing the barbarians respawn right in front of you.

However, we acknowledge that the lack of transparency in the respawn time is something that needs improvement. We plan to provide chieftains with ample reminders before respawns in future updates. We are also considering adding coefficient settings for respawn times.

For the time being, aside from preemptively knowing the respawn times and avoiding them, players in the single-player version have another temporary solution:
Click on "Continue Game" in the main menu.
Click on "Advanced Settings."
In the toggle buttons on the right, enable the "PVP Options" and enter the game.

By doing this, as long as the player's character is still within the barracks/fort range, the barbarians inside will pause respawning until the player completely leaves the barracks/fort area.

Q:I entered the official server on the first day of the game's release, and now it's almost full!

A:We understand everyone's frustration, but this issue is complex. The number of players on the server will fluctuate based on factors such as time, new server availability, and player count. We are closely monitoring the server entry situation for each server and planning how to address the problem in a better way.

Q:Alligator/Panther killed me 100 times in the early stages!

A:Soulmask is a realistic survival game, and the difficulty can be quite hardcore. If you find it exhausting to play, you can choose a lower difficulty or adjust combat-related parameters to familiarize yourself with the combat mechanics of Soulmask before seeking further challenges.

Speaking of alligator and panther, these two new player killers may seem extremely ruthless at first encounter. However, once you become familiar with their movements and have tribesmen with stronger talents and specialized skills, they will no longer be a threat. For example, the slide attack skill with a great sword is very effective. As you master everything, the difference between predators and capybaras may not be that significant...

Oh, by the way, there are community players who have become proficient at killing any enemy. You can join our Discord server to seek more help, and many enthusiastic players will be happy to assist you.

Q:When can we expect to support Steam Deck?

A:Currently, due to compatibility issues, we strongly advise against playing Soulmask on the Steam Deck. It will take some time to improve and fully support it.

Q:Picking up the death bags after respawn is too cumbersome, and the campfire does not work well on rainy days. Why can't there be at least one respawn point in each area?

A:Regarding the issue of respawn points, we will make adjustments in the near future. You will see more respawn points in the future!

Q: I wasted too much time on running from this point to that point, is it really necessary to run for so long?

A:Although we have locations for mystical portal for regional teleportation, it seems that it's not enough. We will develop more ways for fast travel in the future.

Q:Construction system is indeed cumbersome! Not to mention, there's no specific construction mode, making it nearly impossible to complete the roof capping.

A:We actually have a "Construction Hammer" that simplifies the building process, but it appears many chieftains are not aware of it. As a result, we're considering introducing information about it in the tutorial and other parts of the game.

Regarding the roof capping issue, we will resolve it in the next update as quickly as possible, and you'll see the improvements soon. For now, you can use the "floor" building elements to cap the roofs.

Q:Why doesn't the game support DLAA?

A:Support for DLAA and DLSS-FG is already in the works! You will soon be able to enjoy it!

Q:Is the end-game numerical design in the game a bit too exaggerated? My friends and I have been fighting for a long time, yet we barely deal any damage to the boss?

A:Of course as for the solo mode, you can adjust settings related to damage received and defense, but regarding the numerical values, ZIMA believes an explanation is necessary:

Soulmask is a game with complex character growth. Factors such as the rarity of tribesmen, their talents, proficiency caps; the pairing of masks with crystals, weapon proficiency along with corresponding masteries, the material of equipment, food, and mods—all these elements, when used and combined strategically, can greatly affect a player's combat power. The disparity among these factors can be several times over!

Therefore, when you feel like you are struggling, manage your territory well and try everything to strengthen yourself. We have compiled a reference list of technology corresponding to levels:
1-10: Linen Gear
11-20: Beast Bone Gear
21-30: Bronze Gear
31-45: Iron Gear
45-55: Steel Gear

The above responses are only for the first round issues - yes, we do have many issues that need to be addressed. Within 48 hours, we will release the next FAQ document. Please stay tuned. See you soon!

Community Manager, Peter
Chief Producer, Zima

Join discord: https://discord.com/invite/4G2K7FDbtp

Jun 4, 2024

Version 1.1.12 Update

Community Announcements - Ruindog_Quasi

Overview
After listening to the community, we've decided to update some of our recent development content first, so you can see what's not yet available in this update.
What's not yet in this update
Higher quality guns / New character “Speed Demon” / Endless Mode maps / Most module changes / Some map changes / Temporarily missing 2D art resources
If you encounter any problems with the current version, please give us feedback in the community and we will solve the problems for you as soon as possible!

================================================================================

Below is a description of the updates in this version
Functionality
The transparency of friendly effects can now be changed, you can do this at any time in the settings options.
Switching autofire now has a shortcut key (Q for keyboard and mouse / L2 for joystick)
It is now possible to view the loot drops of a map when it is selected.
You can now view the loot drops for a different map from the pause menu in the middle of a battle.

What's New
Character paints can now be purchased from the main menu's Supply Depot (Warning: LV6 guns in the Supply Depot are not yet available).
Character Paint Description
You can choose a paint job for your character when selecting them, which changes the character's color scheme
Defeat Evil Corporation ！！！！！ You can now earn more rewards by raising your anchor level by gaining followers.
Anchor Level
You can increase your Anchor level by gaining followers. The higher your Anchor level, the more items you can buy from the Supply Station.
The items in the supply station will be enriched as we update it.
It is now possible to recast equipment by consuming currency and materials.
#Legendary phrases will not be recast
Some core effects have been added and reworked, check out the dev log for details.

Gameplay Changes
Added a drone that follows the character and automatically fires at and periodically stuns enemies behind the character's camera
All characters now have exclusive skill evolution effects
You can choose to evolve skills during core upgrades to enhance their form, and skills can be evolved a total of 3 times.
Some characters have had their skills modified and reworked.
Gatrina: Plasma grenades now hit straight instead of parabolic, and can now be thrown at your feet!
Barbarina: doesn't take damage and triggers [Moment of Awesome] when attacked during a backward maneuver
Straw 6: Instead of forward displacement, it now continuously deals damage for a period of time
Skill Area Boost has been added as an optional module, an attribute that boosts a character's skill's area of influence

Energy Ores have been added to all maps, destroying them will drop recovery items and some functional items, so please explore more!
The cores of all summon types have been reworked, and summons now have a new look and gain bonuses from character attributes.
Elite monsters on the Echo Outpost map will drop airdrops.
Module upgrades can be purchased after each battle on the Broken Ruins map.
“Bosses on the Broken Ruins map will appear after 8 battles and will have a prominent warning indicator

Reworked the effects of the Convergence Rifle
It is now possible to spend extra bullets and deal extra bullet damage by storing them for a longer period of time.
Polymerization Rifle will now deal damage faster
Shotgun properties have been strengthened overall
SMG guns have increased in magazine capacity

Bullet Splitting is now included as a core upgrade.
Radiant Missile/Soul Eater now has +2 bullet splitting when leveled up to 3
Super Core “Soul Eater” now has +6 Bullet Split.
All temporary buff boosts now have a UI tier indicator at the bottom of the screen.
The mini-map now shows more detailed drop boosts.
Some drops and monsters now have clearer mini-map hints
Added Hp display UI for elite monsters
Added a number of new super cores that you can view in the artwork or experience the effects for yourself
A large number (almost all) of core effects have been changed or reworked, which you can see in the artwork or experience in-game
Changed the position of the character relative to the camera so that the character is now centered on the screen
Reduced monster attributes on level 1 difficulty and increased the difficulty curve for monster attributes (if you feel bad about the new attribute increase, feel free to give us feedback on the forums and we'll come up with a solution as soon as possible)
Reworked the boost formula for bullet change speed and fire speed, now the boost speed is smoother and has a boost limit curve.
Replaced the numerical calculation scheme, now the values will be rounded up to one place every 1000, and displayed as: K/M/B/T, to solve the problem of possible numerical overflow.
Changed the archiving scheme to solve some potential archiving problems.