Hey Skul Squad! First of all, we'd like to sincerely apologize for the delay. Today we were in the process of applying the v1.5 update patch and suddenly experienced a technical issue with the MacOS and Linux builds. Currently, the Windows version has been updated, but the MacOS and Linux builds aren't quite ready yet. Please just know that we're trying our best and hope to update them by June 9th. We'll keep you posted on the matter and let you know when we have further news. Once again, we really apologize for the delay and ask for your understanding. In this update weve reformed the Inscriptions and Status Effect System. As will be detailed in this post, Skulls, Items, and Quintessence all received major changes. In addition, 67 new items were added along with reformation of some existing items. There are more changes regarding the game system, not to mention a Character Information Window, so scroll down and see the details! [hr][/hr]

Changes Made

System

• Improved system for invincibility effect [quote=author] Developers Comment We improved the system regarding invincibility. From now on when hit by the majority of enemy attacks, not only will you not take damage, but you wont be knocked back either. No more need to worry about straying too far after avoiding an enemies attack by dashing. [/quote]
• Damage dealt by a swap skill and damage dealt by using a normal skill will now be differentiated [quote=author] Developers Comment Up until this point, damage caused by skills triggered as Swap Skills were treated as skill damage, but now the two types are treated differently. [/quote]
• Added Character Information Window
  

[hr][/hr]

Reformed Status Effects

Current Status Effect had little effect on battle so it was considered as an attack enhancement rather than an actual attack method. However, through this reformation, each Status Effect will gain distinctive characteristics so that users can utilize Status Effect as an effective attack method when conquering Carleon.

1. Changes in Status Effects

• The outcome of Status Effects will be the same regardless of how Status Effect is applied
• Status Effects that give damage will be affected by Physical or Magic Attack Power
• Bosses can be afflicted with Status Effects
  
• Some of the enemies patterns will have a status Unstoppable, which makes the enemies immune to Freeze and Stun [quote=author] Developer comment Now Bosses can be afflicted with Status Effect but not always. The effectiveness of Status Effect to Adventurer and Boss decreases by a certain amount and all the Bosses will be in Unstoppable status while preparing for the attack. [/quote]

2. Changed Effect for Each Status Effect

• Poison: Deals Physical damage every 0.33 seconds and continues for 3 seconds
• Wound: If additional Wound is given to the enemy who already has Wound, it will inflict Bleed and give one huge Physical damage.
• Burn: Gives Magic damage every 2 seconds, continues for 10 seconds, and gives more Magic damage to surrounding enemies
• Freeze: Paralyze movement for 3 seconds and Freeze status ends when attacked
• Stun: Paralyze movement for 1.5 seconds

[hr][/hr]

Skull

By reforming the Status Effect system, each Status Effect will now be more effective and useful. In particular, Status Effects and skulls who rely heavily on them have been changed significantly.

Skeleton-Sword

The Skeleton-Sword has been reformed. It will still use its sharp blade to wound enemies like a true swordsman.
The Skeleton-Sword is a master of inflicting status effects on enemies and the Legendary Grade Royal Guard Captain deals even more damage to enemies who are bleeding. Along those lines, in order for the status effects to have the right synergy, weve decided to change all the damage types from Magic to Physical. Applies to all skulls Passive Effects

• Reformed Passive Effects

Swap

• Reformed Swap Effect
• Changed damage type: Magic Physical

Skill

• Deleted the skill [Tetanus]
• Added new skill [Double Slash]
• Reformed Skill effects
• Changed damage type for every skill: Magic Physical

[hr][/hr]

Frost Skull

We reformed the Frost Skull and Status Effects.
The Frost Skulls main strength is still its Freeze Status Effect, but now even bosses can be affected by it. Applies to all skulls Passive Effects

• Reformed Passive Effects

Swap Skill

• Reformed Swap Skill Effect

Skill

• Removed [Glacier Fragment]
• Removed [Hibernation]
• Reformed effects for each skill
• Added new skill, [Glacial Blade]

[hr][/hr]

Werewolf

Skill

[Beast Leap]
• Reduced Skill Damage

Skill

[Rip Apart]
• Removed Bleed Effect
• Increased Skill Damage [Beast Leap]
• Reduced Skill Damage

Skill

[Rip Apart]
• Removed Bleed Effect
• Increased Skill Damage [Beast Leap]
• Reduced Skill Damage

Skill

[Rip Apart]
• Removed Bleed Effect
• Increased Skill Damage [Beast Leap]
• Reduced Skill Damage

[hr][/hr]

Petty Thief

Applies to all skulls Swap Skill

• Changed Damage Type: Physical Magic
• Increased Swap Skill Damage

Skill

• Changed Damage Type for [Rip Pocket]: Physical Magic
• Increased Damage for [Rip Pocket]
• Changed Damage Type for [Backstab]: Physical Magic
• Increased Damage for [Backstab]

Skill

[Back Roll]
• Removed Bleed Effect

Skill

[Backstab]
• Changed it so that Stun is inflicted 30% of the time

Skill

[Backstab]
• Changed it so that Stun is inflicted 30% of the time

[hr][/hr]

Skeleton-Shield

Applies to all skulls Basic Attack

• Increased the vertical attack range for the shield slam when doing a Basic Attack

[hr][/hr]

Mummy

Applies to all skulls Skill

• Changed name from [Mummy Poison] to [Mummy Breath]
• Removed poison effect from [Mummy Breath]
• Increased damage of [Mummy Breath]
• Removed poison effect from [Mummy Ball] and [Mummy Bug]
• Increased damage for [Mummy Ball] and [Mummy Bug]
• Changed it so that [Scratch] and [Survival Knife] have a fixed chance to deal a wound

[hr][/hr]

Alchemist

Applies to all skulls Swap Skill

• Made it so that flasks inflicting poison dont mix when hurling different flasks at once

Skill

• Deleted the skill [Poison Flask]
• Added the new skill [Neurolepsis Flask]
• Changed the name of [Plague Flask] to [Pollutant Flask]
• Changed the name of [Flame Flask] to [Emergency Ignition Flask]
• Changed the number of charges up to 4 times for [Pollutant Flask] for all skulls
• Changed the cooldown of [Pollutant Flask] to 14 seconds for all skulls
• Increased the damage of [Pollutant Flask]
• Changed the number of charges up to 3 times for [Emergency Ignition Flask] for all skulls
• Changed the cooldown of [Emergency Ignition Flask] to 16 seconds for all skulls
• Reduced damage for [Emergency Ignition Flask]
• Changed the number of charges up to 2 times for [Liquid Nitrogen Flask] for all skulls
• Changed the cooldown of [Liquid Nitrogen Flask] to 25 seconds for all skulls

Skill

[Emergency Ignition Flask]
• Changed the additional embers to inflict Burn with a 5% chance

[hr][/hr]

Rock Star

Applies to all skulls Skill

• [Climax] Changed cooldown: 10 sec 20 sec
• [Climax] Increased damage

[hr][/hr]

Minotaurus

Applies to all skulls Skill

• [Bludgeon] Changed cooldown: 14 sec 22 sec
• [Bludgeon] Increased damage

Passive

• Allows the player to cancel the delay after the attack of [Ground Shatter] by dash

[hr][/hr]

Stone Monkey

Skill

[Heaven-Earth Slam]
• Changed cooldown: 12 sec 21 sec

Skill

[Heaven-Earth Slam]
• Changed cooldown: 12 sec 21 sec

[hr][/hr]

Gene

Skill

[Genie Smash]
• Changed cooldown: 13 sec 20 sec

[hr][/hr]

Clown

Skill

[Peek-A-Boo Knives]
• Changed cooldown: 12 sec 21 sec

Skill

[Peek-A-Boo Knives]
• Changed cooldown: 12 sec 21 sec

[hr][/hr]

Prisoner

Applies to all skulls Swap Skill

• Changed the daggers to inflict Wound with a 10% chance

Skill

• [Ice Crossbow] Changed cooldown: 10 sec 20 sec
• [Ice Crossbow] Increased skill damage

Skill

[Blood Sword]
• Changed cooldown: 7 sec 13 sec
• Increased damage [Fire Grenade]
• Changed cooldown: 10 sec 15 sec
• Added the effect of inflicting Burn [Cleaver]
• Changed cooldown: 13 sec 18 sec
• Changed the circular saw trap to inflict Wound on enemies with a 3% chance [Wolf Trap]
• Changed cooldown: 10 sec 25 sec
• Increased damage

[hr][/hr]

Archlich

Applies to all skulls Skill

• [Deathly Chill] Changed cooldown: 14 sec 25 sec

[hr][/hr]

Inscription

The Inscription system has been reformed. No more need to worry about the Courage Inscription losing its effectiveness if you dont have the Standard-issue Carleon Sword.

1. Changed Inscription System

From now on Inscription will become meaningful when users collect 2 Inscriptions and 4 Inscriptions respectively. However not every Inscription gains meaningful effect by collecting 2 and 4. There are some special Inscriptions that give meaningful effect when collecting 2, 3, 5, and 6 Inscriptions. We think the original system that changed the effect of Inscription as users added Inscriptions one by one, had some downsides. But with your feedback and with our effort to make the system better, we concluded that the original system had more negatives than positives. That is why we changed to a system that activates an effect when users collect 2~3 Inscriptions. We also lowered the required number of Inscriptions for maximum effect to 2~6 Inscriptions. As a result of this change, we are hoping that you can utilize various item combinations with less stress.
This systematic reform regarding Inscription changed the UI related to Inscriptions too. Inscriptions in effect are now highlighted with color, so you can easily see which Inscriptions are in effect. [hr][/hr]

2. Additions, Changes & Elimination of Inscriptions

With the reform of the Inscription system, every existing Inscription has been either changed or eliminated. Physical attack and Magic attack are important and popular stats in Skul, but we hope other stats to be attractive as well. Due to this system reform, the effect of every Inscription was changed in some way and we would like to introduce a few Inscriptions that best represent the direction we aimed for. [hr][/hr]

• Effect with 2 Inscriptions: Skill cooldown speed increased by 40%
• Effect with 4 Inscriptions: Damage dealt by skills is amplified by 20%

Mana Cycle is a replacement for Sorcery and this Inscription specializes in skill cooldown speed. When 4 Inscriptions are collected, damage dealt by skills is amplified. Amplify effect becomes more effective as you play through the game because stats and damages get multiplied by the bonus percentage. Before, only Brave, Tactics, Duel got amplifying effect and this led to an unbalanced preference of Inscriptions. In this reform, we applied the Amplify effect to not only Mana Cycle, but also other various Inscriptions. From now on, users can play according to their preferred play style and get damage wise advantage as well. [hr][/hr]

• Effect with 2 Inscriptions: Can spot an enemy with treasure.
• Effect with 4 Inscriptions: Type of reward users can get by finding a treasure chest will increase.

Treasure is a replacement for Miser and this Inscription gives you an opportunity to gain more gold. If you defeat an enemy with treasure, you can get a treasure chest with gold and if 4 Inscriptions are collected, the treasure chest might include items too. Getting more gold and obtaining a better item combination is a valid strategy but Miser just increased the amount of gold which was not that effective and was also boring. In this reform, we tried to make the system more exciting. [hr][/hr]

• Effect with 1 Inscription: Basic Attack triggers ice pikes from the ground and Freezes enemies nearby (Cooldown time: 15sec)
• Effect with 2 Inscriptions: Freeze duration increases by 2 seconds
• Effect with 4 Inscriptions: To end Freeze status, one more additional hit is required

Inscriptions for each Status Effect have been added. Now Status Effect gives the same effect regardless of how Status Effect is applied. Inscriptions that give Status Effect like Absolute Zero allows you to strengthen the Status Effect. These Inscriptions along with Status Effect items will enable a more diverse play style for users. [hr][/hr]

• Effect with 2 Inscriptions: The first attack of an enemy leaves a mark that lasts for 1 second (5 seconds for Adventurers and Bosses). Damage to an enemy with a mark is amplified by 25%.
• Effect with 4 Inscriptions: Attacking an enemy with a mark becomes a critical hit.

Hidden Blade is an Inscription based on assassin concept items so this Inscription explodes a lot of damage right after battle begins. We focused on the way to build up synergy between Inscription and item while designing which item gets which Inscription. Also we think concept based synergy is important as much as performance based synergy. Concept based synergy allows players to learn what kind of Inscriptions there are for an item and this leads players to get immersed in the game. Previous Inscriptions were weak in concept based synergy, and therefore in this reform we tried to resolve this problem. So these are the Inscriptions that represent the reform of the Inscription system and below is a list of new Inscriptions

• Heirloom
• Antique
• Masterpiece
• Arms
• Artifact
• Fairy Tale
• Relic
• Hidden Blade
• Fortress
• Spoils
• Treasure
• Mannatech
• Heritage
• Bone
• Sun and Moon
• Brave
• Wisdom
• Rapidity
• Mana Cycle
• Mutant
• Misfortune
• Strike
• Chase
• Soar
• Execution
• Duel
• Brawl
• Revenge
• Poisoning
• Excessive Bleeding
• Arson
• Absolute Zero
• Dizziness

[hr][/hr] https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1147560/view/3324233322398363713