We are sure the latest update preview for the upcoming "Descent" content update has left you wondering how active abilities will work, how the trinkets look in game, how you will equip them, if we are really adding shapeshifting abilities to Striving for Light and what are those descent dungeons and the world event? We hope that this update preview will quench your thirst and give you some insights on what will await you with the upcoming update. Since all major features of the 1.0 release will be implemented with the 0.9 content update we are updating our pricing with the release of Descent content update. In case you missed the first descent update preview you can read it here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1646790/view/3694694975390397377?l=english

Shapeshifting

Yes, you have read correctly, we are adding shapeshifting abilities to Striving for Light. Those active abilities are bound to legendary trinkets and will temporarily transform you into a powerful creature granting you access to a new attack exclusive to the shapeshifted form. Use the active ability of the Burning Feather to trigger Ashen Awakening and arise as a blazing phoenix bringing fire to your foes.

If you are more fan of melee combat you might want to search for the Bear Ornament that gives you access to ability Nature Calls that lets you shapeshift into a bear granting you access to a massive ground shattering AoE attack.

Using Trinkets

Now as we have shown some of the new active abilities of the new trinket system you might wonder how you will acquire and use the trinkets. Dropped trinkets will be highlighted by new designed and unique loot beams and drop sounds for the different trinket types. Interacting with the trinket will open up a new trinket exchange UI that lets you select one of your four trinket slots. If you select one already used slot it will show the new trinket on the left and the selected trinket on the right so that you can compare those stats and figure out which ones to exchange. All new UI's have been designed with controller support in mind.
You might want to check the trinket stats when there is no trinket to exchange so you also view the trinkets in the re-designed stats window. The stats window also has received improved controller support so LT/RT will now not only zip through the stats pages but also your weapon stats, character stats and all four trinkets.

Active Ability System

You might have already noticed the two new circular UI elements we have added at the bottom of the screen centre. This left UI element is displaying your basic range/melee attacks also indicating your attack speed cooldown. This should overall improve attack feedback.
The right UI element will display the legendary trinket ability when the color requirements for other trinkets are met. In general the active abilities of legendary trinkets have a cooldown based on defeated enemies. Our goal at designing the trinket abilities was to not introduce a "wait for the ability cooldown" scenario that will interrupt gameplay as this would be the "safest option". As they recharge with defeated enemies this gives us better possibilities in balancing these new powers. When activating an active ability the remaining ability duration will be shown by a new ability indicator on the top centre.

Trinkets Abilities

We are going to big variety of trinkets with the launch of the Descent content update, bringing complete new build possibilities to the roster of Striving for Light. As you might have already guessed from the last image there will be legendary healing potions that let you heal your wounds.
There will also be exclusive new companions only gained by the respective trinket. What about hatching a small phoenix fighting along your side.
Have you ever wished you could collect some of the left over hearts when you already are on full HP, you can search for a mysterious new item that conserves unused hearts just to be released later when you need them.

Descent Dungeons

In the last preview we mentioned a new type of side dungeons. We decided to make the dungeon accessible even without using the new skygem currency you will be able to find deep below the surface in the already showcased tower defense arena challenge. You will always be able to use the descent device to travel to descent depth 1. To increase reward and the size and challenge of the descent dungeon you will have to use skygems to power the descent device to take you deeper below the surface.
But be careful this is a one way ticket to descent, you will have to fight your way back up alone. The deeper you descent the higher your rewards will be, if you make it back up...

Bloodstained Chests

Traveling through the vast lands around Ankerath you will encounter bloodstained chests. No one has seen them before... The bloodstained echo calls; brace for the falls.
With the bloodstained chests we are adding a complete new world event with a unique mechanic to all maps of Striving for Light.

Improvements and old content rework

With the 0.9 update we are also revamping a lot of the old content. Just to name a very few:

• You might have noticed the completely new blood visual effects
• More responsive range combat
• Improved enemy spawn algorithm that prevents enemy spawns upon player position
• Rebuilding some left over old particle effects to utilise GPU calculated particles to prevent CPU bottlenecks.
• Gatekeeper arena re-design
• Plenty of performance improvements to enable you to further push the bounds with your created builds.
• Improved scaling of softcore mode
• Improved controller support for skilltree UI navigation
• Updated skill effects for older skills like explosions, meteors ...

Updated Pricing

The release of 0.9 marks the completion for all major features that we plan to include for the 1.0 release of Striving for Light. Post 0.9 we will focus on polishing and giving you more of the great and improving what's not great already. Therefore we will update our pricing with the release of the new content update. Since the release of the Aeodra Content Update 0.7 around a year ago the amount of content has grown tremendously without adjusting the price for around a year now. To better align with the enriched content and enhanced value of the game, we'll be updating our pricing as communicated on our steam early access page. The price for Striving for Light will raise from the current $9.99 USD (9.75) to $14.99 USD (14.79) when the Descent content update drops. We will again post a reminder as soon as we have a release date for the update. So that everyone has the possibility to get the game for the current price.

What comes next?

This only marks a fraction of all the new content that will be included in the Descent content update. All main systems are now implemented and will go into playtesting very soon. We will share more details on Awakened Gatekeepers and the new gatekeeper arena as well as more of the improvements to existing content as we get closer to the update release. Please note that all of what we have showed you here is subject to change as we are still full in active development for all of the new content. Abilities, names and stats might change as we see fit. Also since the scope of this update is huge and we want to make sure everything is polished and enjoyable on the update release day this will still need some time to cook until its ready. We want to thank you for your patience and the ongoing support! If you want to stay up to date with the ongoing development and chat with fellow players about the new update, you are invited to join our discord.

[ 2023-09-20 18:30:25 CET ] [ Original post ]