As we didn't get enough submissions before the deadline, we will save the stone submissions we've gotten so far for the competition next week. This week we have three new stones from us! Give them a try and tell us of the cool builds you create and if anything seems broken.

Flintstone

Rarity: Common Base Power: 3 Abilities:

• On place: Gain 1 Smudge.
• On activate: Gain 1 Smudge. For each Smudge on this stone, apply 1 Bleed to a random adjacent neighbour. Activation cost is 1

Kyanite

Rarity: Rare Base Power: 2 Abilities:

• On place: Charge a random adjacent neighbour by 1.
• On remove: Charge a random adjacent neighbour by 1.

Sugilite

Rarity: Rare Base Power: 3 Abilities:

• On activate: Transfer all Decay on self to a random stone on the left or right. Activation cost is 2
• On preparation: Gain 1 Decay. Gain 1 Shine.

[ 2025-02-18 19:34:30 CET ] [ Original post ]

Note: Short deadline for this week! Have you felt that you wanted a specific stone but it doesnt exist in the game? Maybe you want a stone that pushes all stones to the sides of the board? Or a stone that adds random buffs and debuffs to all its neighbours? Or maybe a combo of stones that creates the craziest build if you can get it to work * just * right? Now is your time to submit your stone/s idea to us! Submit your idea to have a chance to get it in this or next weeks update How to submit to this week's update: * Write your idea as a comment to this post before the end of today (Monday 17th Feb) How to submit to next week's update: * Write your idea as a comment to this post before Friday 21st Feb. * Bonus points if you submit a picture of your stone idea in our Discord If your stone idea wins, it will be added to the game and you will be credited in the patch notes for that week.

[ 2025-02-17 10:48:47 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello everyone! Here comes this weeks update with more modifier variations and a reworked tutorial! Note: Saved runs from previous versions are likely to break with this update.

Modifiers

This update add many more new trader modifiers. A selection of some:

• Spare Bag: Has at least 1 bag, and it's half price!
• Honest: Common stones are 25% off
• Careless: Three random stones are free (rare)
• Eye for Quality: Pays 50% more for your epic stones

Tutorial

Our focus during the past weeks has been gathering feedback on the new player experience. It's been super valuable and we've now completely reworked the Path of Initiation, the tutorial. So if you have a friend that you think would like to try Stones of Power, now is a great time to try out the new tutorial on them :)

Other

• Some more tooltip rework
• picric acid crystal has been nerfed and no longer renews

[ 2025-02-15 19:27:56 CET ] [ Original post ]

Sound Update number two with a few additional bits and bobs! Give it a listen and tell us what you think!

Sounds

Sound effects for the following events have been added:

• Gain Shine
• Gain Moon Shadow
• Gain Glimmer
• Gain Smudge
• Gain Static Charge
• Default sounds for gain buff/debuff
• Charge stone with energy
• Deal damage
• Gain gold sound effect (when gaining from Gold or Silver)
• Match victory!
• Match draw...
• Match lose
• Preparation phase start
• Enemy turn start
• Player turn start
• Stone removed
• Renewal stone usage
• Placing stone on grass patch

Music has been added to the title scene

Bits & Bobs

Added Setting sliders for

• Music
• Ambient Sounds
• Sound Effects
• Master Volume Slider

Tooltip wording has been made more consistent. Program icons added Game now keeps correct aspect ratio regardless of your screen aspect ratio or window aspect ratio

[ 2025-02-04 17:48:22 CET ] [ Original post ]

The silence has been going on for long enough and its time for the first update with sounds that will let you really immerse yourself as you throw your combos on the beach! This is the first update of two, targeting music and some sound effects. In this update we have:

• Background beach sounds and music
• Sound effect for drawing stones
• Sound effect for placing stone
• Sound effect for moving stone
• Settings to turn music and sound effects off and on

Have a fun and relaxing run!

[ 2025-01-28 17:32:53 CET ] [ Original post ]

Alpha 20 is here and we've got some major additions to share with you all! Linux & Steamdeck players: A fix for the progress not being saved has rolled out in this update - please tell us if you are running into any more issues!

Beach Trade Upgrade

Traders are getting a significant overhaul in this update, and updating their selling skills. They've heard about this new fangled thing called discounts and deals that gets more people buying and all the traders have made signs to show off what they uniquely offer! In patch note terms:

• There is now always 3 traders to choose from (exception is the first trader on Path of Determination)
• Each trader has one or more modifiers that impact what stones they offer and the price
• You can now only choose one trader

Modifiers

Traders will get between 1-3 modifiers. Examples of modifiers that traders can have:

• Has 50% more stones
• Has at least 2 rare stones
• Minerals are 75% more common
• Crystals are 50% cheaper

QoL Features and Other Changes

• You can view all your stones by clicking on your bag
  
• Soapstone now only targets stones that actually have debuffs
• Added visual effect for gaining coin in match (eg Silver and Gold)
  

[ 2025-01-21 19:50:56 CET ] [ Original post ]

A new week and a new update with three new stones and a balance change! Linux & Steam Deck players: Currently updates are resetting progress on Linux builds, including Steam Deck. We are working on resolving it but if you do not want to lose progress please hold on updating.

New Stones

Desert Rose

Rarity: Rare Base Power: 5 Abilities:

• On activate: Draw 1 stone for each Bleed on this stone. Activation cost is 1
• On preparation: Gain 5 power per Bleed for the turn.

Lapis Lazuli

Rarity: Rare Base Power: 3 Abilities:

• On activate: Charge adjacent stones by 1. Activation cost is 2
• On remove: Apply 1 Static Charge to diagonally adjacent neighbours.

Tourmaline

Rarity: Rare Base Power: 3 Abilities:

• On place: Apply Static Charge to 5 [Crystal]s in your bag.
• On activate: Draw 1 [Crystal]. Activation cost is 1

Balance Changes

• Red Garnet now also renews 5 on activation

[ 2025-01-14 15:17:12 CET ] [ Original post ]

Starting up our Tuesday releases again with some new stones and new bags.

New Stones

Bismuth

Rarity: Common Base Power: 1 Abilities:

• On place: Gain 3 Glimmer.
• On preparation: Reduce power by 2 per Glimmer for all neighbours for the turn.

Celestite

Rarity: Common Base Power: 2 Abilities:

• On activate: Convert all Glimmer to Shine on all neighbours. Reduce power by 4 for all neighbours for the turn. Activation cost is 2
• On preparation: Apply 1 Glimmer to each neighbour

Mystic Topaz

Rarity: Rare Base Power: 0 Abilities:

• On place: Gain 3 Glimmer per adjacent stone.
• On activate: Draw 1 stone. Gain 1 Static Charge. Activation cost is 2

New Bags

Electric Bag

You have +2 max energy each turn.

Fuzzy Bag

All your stones gain 1 Static Charge when placed.

[ 2025-01-07 16:14:30 CET ] [ Original post ]

Happy New Year and we are back with the first update of the year!

Balance Changes

During the break weve been able to take some time to play and in the process done a lot of rebalancing and tweaks. The highlights:

• Rebalanced coin rewards after matches. Coin reward is now around the value of 1 stone at the start of the run and around the value of 2 stones towards the end.
• Starter stones are no longer offered by the traders
• Gemologist has been slightly nerfed
• Rebalanced Soapstone and tibetan quartz

New Stones

Cinnabar

Rarity: Common Base Power: 0 Abilities:

• On activate: Apply 1 bleed to each adjacent neighbour. Gain shine equal to the total bleed on neighbours. Activation cost is 1
• On remove: Apply 1 bleed to each adjacent neighbour.

Citrine

Rarity: Common Base Power: 2 Abilities:

• On place: Gain 4 energy if adjacent to 4 stones owned by you
• On activate: Transfer all buffs and debuffs of adjacent stones to the stones below them. Activation cost is 1

Dumortierite Quartz

Has +3 power for each static charge on stone Rarity: Common Base Power: 0 Abilities:

• On place: Gain 1 removal and 1 static charge
• On remove: Draw 1 stone

Heliotrope

Rarity: Common Base Power: 3 Abilities:

• On preparation: Apply 1 bleed to each adjacent neighbour

Ruby

Rarity: Common Base Power: 0 Abilities:

• On activate: Gain 36 power. Activation cost is 6

Other Changes

• Added settings screen, including ability to set animation speed
• Updated tutorial and rebalanced Path of Initiation

[ 2025-01-04 16:48:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

Wrapping up the year with a few more stones that use the activation ability! We will be taking a couple of weeks off over the holidays and will be back with a new update after the new year.

New buffs/debuffs

Bleed

If a stone has 3 bleed in preparation phase, remove it

Static charge

When stone is removed gain 1 energy for each static charge on it

New Stones

Ametrine

Rarity: Common Base power: 3 Abilities:

• When activated gain 1 energy for each shine on this stone. Convert all shine to glimmer on this stone. Activation cost is 0

Red Garnet

Rarity: Epic Base Power: 6 Ability:

• When activated convert all glimmer to Bleed on ALL stones. Activation cost is 5

Selenite

Rarity: Common Base power 4 Abilities:

• When activated move all diagonally adjacent neighbours down. Activation cost is 1
• When removed apply 3 glimmer to adjacent and diagonally adjacent neighbours

Tibetan quartz

Rarity: Common Base power: 2 Abilities:

• When placed apply 1 Static charge to diagonally adjacent neighbours
• When activated gain 1 energy for each static charge on this stone. Activation cost is 0

[ 2024-12-21 21:59:33 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello everyone! A big update is here and we need your help to playtest living shadoodle out of it! This update comes with a complete new game mechanic and a rebalancing of more that 70% of the current stones in the game. The update also includes a first iteration of a new player tutorial so if you havent tried Stones of Power yet, now is a great moment to try it out and give us all the feedback you can.

Energy and Activation

The biggest change in this update by far is the introduction of energy. We wanted to add more interesting choices for the player in the core game loop in addition to placing stones. This feature has given us a broader design space to create new and interesting stone abilities but also enabled us to balance some problematic stones (looking at you Hematite ). Activated abilities also open up new opportunities for players to be smart.
Energy in Stones of Power is used to activate the abilities of your stones on the board. They require different amounts of energy and once the stone is activated the ability happens directly
This game mechanic changes the dynamic of the game a lot and we would love to hear what your thoughts are around this system. Share a screenshot of you defeating the Abyssal OP AF in our Discord and you will be granted the role of Abyssal slayer for the ultimate bragging rights!

Added Tutorial

There is now a short tutorial for the Path of Initiation. It is a lightweight tutorial that focuses on getting players onboarded quickly into the basic gameplay mechanics.
If you are a new player we would greatly appreciate any feedback you have on this tutorial. Feel free to add your thoughts as a comment to this post or join our discord and give us the feedback there!

New Stones

Amazonite - Common Stone

Abilities Preparation: Give +1 power to all neighbours for the turn On Activate: Give +2 power to all neighbours for the turn

Yellow Stone - Starter Stone

Abilities On Activate: Push neighbours away

Game Balance

With the new energy system, the abilities of the following stones have been rebalanced:

• Aquamarine
• Blue stone
• Clear Quartz
• Fluorite
• Gold
• Hematite
• Magnetite
• Marble
• Moss Agate
• Onyx
• Picric Acid Crystal
• Pietersite
• Purple Fluorite
• Pyrite
• Pyrrhotite
• Red Stone
• Sardonyx
• Soapstone
• Stalactite
• Torbernite
• Tungsten
• White Opal

Other changes

• Ground animations sped up even more
• A bunch of bug fixes

[ 2024-12-10 19:24:24 CET ] [ Original post ]

We asked for bag ideas and wow, the community delivered! There were so many great suggestions from the community that we decided to add not only one bag, but three. Enjoy trying out these amazing new bags in the latest update!

Thiefs Bag

Pitched by: panda4994 When you win a match, steal 2 random stones from your opponent's bag.

Bag of Overpowered Removal

Pitched by: esillen Your stones can be removed the same turn they are placed. Start each match with 1 removal.

Party Bag

Pitched by: Daniel Schaublin If your bag contains at least 3 [Mineral]s, draw 1 extra stone each turn." If your bag contains at least 3 [Gem]s, all your stones have +1 extra base power. If your bag contains at least 3 [Crystal]s, gain 2 extra removal each turn.

[ 2024-12-03 18:46:51 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hey all! We dont have enough bags in Stones of Power and we need your ideas! Were inviting you to pitch your bag idea and we will choose one to add to the next release (planned for tomorrow so short timeline here!). We can also mention we have something big in the works and we will share more once we get closer to releasing it! Heres how to pitch your bag idea:

• Write a reply either to this post or in our Community Discord
• Propose a bag mechanic that you would like to see in the game and why you think it would be fun.
• Optional: Tell us what types of builds and stones you think it would work well with.

Submit your pitch before tomorrow to have a chance to see it in the next release!

[ 2024-12-02 11:54:09 CET ] [ Original post ]

A smaller patch rolling out with some balance changes and QoL features

Game Balances

• All traders will now offer the same amount of coin when you sell your stones
• Reduced spread of coin rewards

QoL

• Shift-clicking stones when trading will automatically move them
• ESC now backs out of trader screen
• Ground effect animations are slightly sped up

Linux

• Linux build should work now. Was definitely not at all bundled with the windows version of java we would never make a mistake like that

[ 2024-11-26 18:28:55 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello all alpha testers! Weve been getting some great feedback from you all and it's having a direct impact on the direction were taking Stones of Power. As we have both new and veteran players to the rogue deckbuilder genre, one of the difficult things has been ensuring a fun game balance that works for everyone. This update includes some pretty major rework to make balancing this easier in the future. Please give the update a go and send us your feedback, either in the comments here or any other channel of your choice :) For those who would like to become a alpha tester, join our Discord and give us a poke.

Introducing Paths

We have now added Paths to Stones of Power. Paths are runs that have different enemies, bosses, difficulty scaling, etc. The current available paths are:

• Path of Initiation
• Path of Curiosity
• Path of Determination

Master a path (win!) to unlock the next path.

Added Unlocks

Only a subset of stones and bags are available from the beginning. They are then unlocked as you progress through the different paths.

Other changes

• Several stones have been rebalanced
• There is now a hint on how to speed up animations
• A few bug and grammar fixes

Not a picture of me pushing an update that has major game balance changes

[ 2024-11-19 20:25:17 CET ] [ Original post ]

Small update with 2 new stones!

Sardonyx

Type: Mineral Rarity: Common Abilities Preparation: Give self +2 power for the turn per adjacent enemy stone. On remove: Renew 3

Benitoite

Type: Crystal Rarity: Epic Abilities When placed: Double Shine on all neighbours

[ 2024-11-12 17:34:39 CET ] [ Original post ]

Hello everyone! It's been 10 weeks since we put up the first closed alpha of Stones of Power on Steam and every single week we've been pushing new updates with features and changes. Its been really cool to see you all trying it out and we now want to make sure we are communicating the changes regularly. Moving forward you will find the Patch Notes for each update in the News feed here We're going to use this News post to summarise all the changes that have happened since August

Where we started

To kick us off lets have a look at where we started:
* Silently screams at the amount of text in the tooltip * First alpha had:

• 1 Placeholder Enemy (Rocky) that went up to 100 prestige
• 20 stones
• Super annoying tooltips with a lot of text

Where we are at

Since August we have added a whole bunch of things!

New enemies

The Abyssal

The Abyssal works a lot with board manipulation and is also being used as our current final boss placeholder The Abyssal OP AF with 300 prestige.
Side note - Did you know you can get to more than 900 damage in a single turn?

The Gemologist

The Gemologist focuses on stone types and board control. We are considering changing their name to highlight their more feline features.

Drifter and Cloudsurfer

Both the Cloudsurfer and Drifter are enemies that are about exploring early game combos.
Here you can also see the reference image we used when creating the art

New stones

We have added 12 new stones. We're taking it slow now in the beginning as we're focus on nailing the core game mechanics before we add too much content

Bags

Bags are a recent addition which impact your whole stone collection throughout the run. There are 12 different ones to choose from right now

UI and Visuals

We have also added a bunch of visual changes and UI improvements such as preview stone effects, journey progression and nicer backgrounds


We're now going to prepare a small update that we hope to ship later today - see ya'll later!

[ 2024-11-12 15:46:06 CET ] [ Original post ]