Hello everyone! This post is the first one in the series of devlogs where we tell you about new content that will be a part of the upcoming major update. Today, well share the details about high tier Proselytes - new dangerous enemy types which youll be able to encounter in Catacomb dungeons. Proselytes are a disturbing, mysterious vampire cult that only recently became prominent in Aldor - they are definitely on the fantasy side of things when compared to the rest of the setting. While working on them, we decided not to focus too much on realism and the restrictions of the world we created, instead fully embracing the opportunity to make new enemies memorable and unique.
Here they are, left to right ======================= Lets start with the Proselytes whom you might run into while exploring both low and high level Catacombs.

Martyr

The sight of martyrs' agony only strengthens other Proselytes' loyalty to the Court. How deep into madness does one need to descend to volunteer for something like this?.. Martyrs are stationary foes whose main task is to support other cultists. Their Neverending Torment passive causes Martyrs to lose Health each turn as long as theres both an enemy and an ally within their Vision, while Willing Sacrifice transforms some of the damage they take into healing for their allies. As a result, it might be a good idea to prioritize Martyrs in combat. There is one thing to keep in mind though - killing them doesnt immediately end your troubles. Even upon taking fatal damage, a Martyr continues hanging from the stake, replacing their abilities with the Blessed in Death passive that grants significant buffs to the rest of the Proselytes. The solution here is simple - youll just need to finish the job and topple the stake propping up the corpse.

Bell-Ringer

Echoing through the pitch darkness of underground tunnels, the otherworldly cluttering of his bell can send even the most reckless hotheads fleeing in terror." The Bell-Ringer is yet another cultist whose main task is supporting other Proselytes. Aside from the standard Proselyte bag of tricks, he also has two unique active abilities: For Whom the Bell Tolls and Unholy Anthems. The first ability generates a huge amount of noise, attracting cultists from distant rooms and chipping away at your characters sanity, increasing the damage they receive. The second one grants a random buff to every Proselyte in a large radius. ======================= Lets have a look at the next tier of Proselytes:

Fiend

This Proselyte is a perfect soldier: inhumanly strong, ferocious, and feeling no pain, fear, or mercy. Fiends retained their ability to handle weapons, so they act as infantry of sorts. Armed with axes and crude clubs, they have access to some Weaponry skills. On top of all that, they also have two new passives: Witness His Might and Anthems of Bloodshed. Witness His Might increases Fiends damage and Health for each unique Proselyte type within their Vision, and allows their attacks to gradually decrease your characters resistance to damage. Anthems of Bloodshed grants them a guaranteed critical hit with bonus Bleeding Chance on every 6th attack that also buffs nearby cultists upon landing.

Impaler

Impalers are unmatched in their ability to track down and capture those poor souls who unknowingly wander into the catacombs. The victims that survive the hunt either join the cult or serve as sacrifices for the Court. Impalers main task is to wear your character down and quite literally bleed them dry. To aid them in this task, they have access to a number of abilities: Impaling Lunge, Lacerate, Net Throw, and Sudden Lunge. Other than that, Impalers Blood Scent buffs their Crit and Counter Chances as well as their damage for each Bleeding affecting enemies and allies within Vision.

Murkstalker

The horrific murkstalkers resemble underground bats not only in appearance but also in their behaviour, taking full advantage of the catacombs' impenetrable shadows. Murkstalkers are among the most devious Catacomb creatures - defeating them wont be an easy task. Their main strength lies in mobility and being unpredictable: Murkwalk allows them to teleport over large distances, and Embrace the Murk grants them a short dash and invisibility. While invisible, they regain some of their strength and receive a stacking bonus to stats, which they can unleash at the right moment by rushing your character down with a devastating Murkstrike. An invisible Murkstalker can only be revealed by standing on an adjacent tile, so it might be a good idea to bring a net or some other means of Immobilization when facing them - those will prevent any attempts to retreat into the Murk.

Girrud

Girruds are too far gone in their disturbing metamorphosis, giving off the impression that their repugnant tongues have a mind of their own. This Proselytes main weapon is his incredibly long tongue, skillfully utilized through the following three active abilities: Tongue Pull allows him to drag the target a bit closer, Tongue Push creates a two tile distance, while Tongue Leech has a chance to Immobilize and Drain a large amount of Health.

Yagram

This bestial cultist's mind is clouded with unbridled rage - there is very little human left in it. Yagrams are an embodiment of rage and brute force, posing danger to allies and enemies alike. They are capable of multiple AoE attacks: Swipe lets them knock nearby targets into walls and other props, while Earthshaking Strike Stuns and Dazes anyone who happens to stand in front of a Yagram. Additionally, every attack delivered to or by Yagrams fuels their hidden rage stat. Upon reaching a critical level, it activates the Bestial Rage passive that increases both their damage dealt and damage received. While in this state, Yagrams abandon all common sense, causing their attacks to frequently hit random targets instead of your character - with enough luck, this can be used to your advantage.

Saggul

Sagguls still bear the mark of the Crimson Plague, although for them it's a blessing rather than a curse. Sagguls are twisted, ugly mutants that act as ranged units for the Proselytes. In combat, they rely on Blood Spit, creating puddles of liquid that damage your character and heal other cultists. When forced into melee, they can still fight back with Blister Burst, dealing damage and creating blood puddles on every nearby tile. ======================= And finally, minibosses:

Wormbearer

Wormbearers are the grotesque embodiment of the Court cults: the host suffers from its parasites, while the parasites suffer for their host. Clumsy and hard to kill, Wormbearers rely on giant worms that they can summon on any tile within Vision by spending a bit of Health. They are also willing to make use of any dead bodies lying nearby, destroying them with their Wormfood ability to summon a few worms on random adjacent tiles. The resulting number of worms depends on the size of the affected corpse. A single worm isnt all that dangerous, but a whole swarm of them can be rather difficult to deal with - their Feed the Host passive converts some of the damage dealt to the enemy into Health for the Wormbearer, allowing more and more worms to be summoned.

Anmarrak

The only thing keeping this vaguely human-shaped product of vile rituals alive is its blind faith in the Court. An Anmarrak is a miniboss with a unique style of combat. Upon spotting an enemy, it burrows its tentacle arm into the ground, receiving a massive boost to various resistances, while losing its ability to move around and attack directly. The tentacle arm then resurfaces near the enemy and begins striking them. Moving away from the tentacle or killing it forces the Anmarrak to reposition it or spawn a new one. The key to defeating the seemingly invulnerable Anmarrak is to methodically slay its tentacles: thanks to its One Body passive, any damage received by these two entities is split between them, permanently increasing with every destroyed tentacle. ============================ Thats all for now. We hope you enjoyed reading about these upcoming additions to the games bestiary! Make sure to stay tuned: in the next few devlogs, well tell you more about new Ability Trees and changes to the Magic System. Until next time!

[ 2022-06-12 17:33:00 CET ] [ Original post ]

Stoneshard is a challenging turn-based RPG set in an open world. Experience the unforgiving life of a medieval mercenary: travel across the war-torn kingdom, fulfill contracts, fight, mend your wounds and develop your character without any restrictions.

EXPLORE THE RAVAGED LANDS

• Open World
  War always leaves its mark: villages lie in ruins, dungeons are infested with monsters and old roads are abandoned. Travel across Aldor and learn more about its past.
  
• Economy
  The wartime economy is ruthless, but it also presents many opportunities: fulfill contracts, hunt for treasure, trade in a variety of goods and travel the land to earn your fortune.

CHOOSE YOUR PATH

• Character Development
  Experiment with 100+ abilities and 200+ equipment pieces without any class or level restrictions. Create your very own playstyle!
  
• Enemy Variety
  Take part in intense battles against numerous factions. Brigands, abominable cults, the undead - all of them require a unique approach.
  
• Tactical Battles
  There is no hand-holding. Only the thoughtful ones shall prevail - plan a few turns ahead, adapt to your surroundings and fully utilize your character’s strengths.

SURVIVE AGAINST THE ODDS

• Health System
  Master the simple but deep health system: cauterize bleeding wounds, relieve pain with alcohol and drugs, practice bloodletting and heal your maladies with various concoctions.
  
• Psyche
  Different in-game situations have a distinct influence on your character’s mental condition. High morale may turn the tide in your favor when fighting even the most hopeless of battles, while low sanity brings panic attacks and paranoia.
  
• Permadeath
  Do you like risk? Then try out the Ironman mode, where every decision is irreversible and your character dies once and for all.

PLANNED UPDATES

• New Content
  New settlements, including three majestic cities. New enemy factions: the mysterious Deep Dwellers and the ruthless Hive. Even more activities, equipment, enemies and abilities.
  
• Caravan
  Gather your caravan: upgrade it, find new routes and recruit followers - their skills and abilities will surely come in handy. Feeling tired? Return to your camp to hear fresh stories or just rest by the fire.
  
• Devotion
  Devote yourself to one of the aspects of the enigmatic deity. But remember: every blessing has
  its price. Are you ready to make a pact?
  
• Campaign
  To solve the mystery of the Stoneshards, you’ll have to visit dozens of exciting locations, make decisions with long-lasting consequences and slay a number of ferocious bosses.
  
• Alchemy & Cooking
  Discover new recipes and experiment with potions and dishes by combining different ingredients.