Ave Patronus,
Today, we proudly present you our second major early access update “Trials of the Gladiator”.
Aside from tons of fixes, small adjustments and balancing changes, this update consists of two main features:
1) Expeditions
Gladiator life is not all about fighting. Sometimes even warriors want to venture into the world to run errands, acquire new gear through trade, maintain diplomatic relationships or gather information through espionage. Aside from steel and gold, rewards yielded by such adventures can be improved prowess, new proficiencies and even life changing experiences made along the way.
This system adds an additional layer of management. Gladiators who are not sent to brawl their way through a challenge can now be sent on expeditions outside the city, earning a wide range of rewards.
Additionally it allows players to improve and customize Gladiators beyond what training in the Academy or combat in the Arena can offer: Combat stats, their Spirit Trait and the Deity they worship.
But as always, success is not guaranteed and failure bears harsh consequences.
2) New Class Abilities
The Academy trainer Geddon made a trip to visit his own grandmaster and returned with new tricks to teach your Gladiators. Each Class can learn one new skill to use in the arena.
Conveniently, the advanced training techniques also provide an additional ability point, so all skills can be unlocked as your fighters level up.
The new Abilities were chosen to round out each classes’ kit with additional synergies, offer more exciting choices and enable new interesting builds to tackle Challenges. You can learn more in the detailed notes below - or go in blind and figure it out for yourself. Either way, we wish you great success and best of luck mastering those new combat toys on your journey to the top!
Vale, Patronus!
Daedalic Entertainment & Exordium Games
Expeditions
Building: Inn
Added Expeditions tab (available from level 2)
The expedition tab will always offer 3 Expeditions
In city view the compass icon on the right indicates the number of currently available and active Expeditions.
After completing an Expedition a report with information about the outcome and consequences is displayed and a message is added to the city event log.
Some expeditions take more than one challenge to complete. The progress for ongoing Expeditions is displayed in the Expeditions tab in the Inn.
Currently the pool consists of 34 unique Expeditions.
Patron Quests:
Added 3 new Quests that reward completing Expeditions
New Class Abilities
Added a new unique Ability for every Class
Mystic Class
New ability: Blizzard
Move through all empty spaces in a direction, damaging and applying Frost to adjacent targets along the path and leaving Frozen Ground on spaces you move through.
Retiarius Class
New ability: Rally
Rally up all allies within range restoring their missing Armor and applying Haste.
Secutor Class
New ability: Groundbreaker
Slam the ground in front of you, sending out a shockwave that damages and applies Slow to all targets in a pattern.
Serpens Class
New ability: Viper Dance
Spin around throwing daggers in all 4 directions damaging and applying Bleed to the first target in line. If the target has Poison, there is a chance to apply Petrify.
Arcum Class
New ability: Flashflare
Throw a dazzling explosive in a line, hitting the first target and pushing them back 2 spaces. Has a chance to apply Stun. Targets receive extra damage on collision.
Saltator Class
New ability: Bladestorm
Jump forward on an empty space throwing daggers and damaging all targets in a pattern, then jump back to the original position.
Sacerdos Class
New ability: Banish
Attack the first target in a line, pushing them back up to 3 spaces. Summon Electrified Ground on the targeted space. Targets receive extra damage on collision. Finisher.
Caligo Class
New ability: Nightmare Pulse
Attack an enemy within range which chains to up to 3 additional enemies or objects, each within 3 tiles of the previous target. Damage is reduced by 20% with each subsequent hit. Has a chance to apply Fear.
Arborius Class
New ability: Wildgrowth
Enchant the ground beneath you, healing all allies and applying Poison to all enemies in a pattern around you.
Improved, updated and polished numerous UI interactions and localization lines.
Fixed and streamlined tons of smaller interactions and edge cases.
Miscellaneous
Achievements: Army in the Making, Unstoppable Force
Now is correctly awarded only when owning the required number of gladiators.
Previously could be awarded when owning less than the required amount in some cases.
Achievement: Lightning Reflexes
Now is only awarded for Cathedra challenges as intended.
Previously could be gained for a challenge in any area.
Achievement: Slay!
Added the requirement to actually change the Gladiator's appearance to earn the achievement.
Previously was awarded for just opening and closing the customization panel.
Gamepad
Right stick can now be used to scroll in more menus
Quest: Carve and Cleave
Now is awarded in all cases as intended.
Previously was not awarded for certain equipment combinations
Steam Achievements
We updated the localization on several Steam achievements to clarify the requirements.
Winter VFX
We hope you enjoyed the holiday flair decorating the pits.
With the festive season being over, it is stowed away again... for now.
Arena
Ability: Talon Dive (Harpy Enemy)
Changed ability to only target enemies. Previously also targeted allies in some cases.
Updated ability description to correctly describe the effect.
Arena Modifier: Grand Tournament
Updated text to accurately reflect the effect.
Arena Modifier: Metal Spikes / Consumable: Metal Spikes
Renamed "Metal Spikes Trap" to make more intuitive sense.
Previously "Metal Spikes".
Arena Modifier: Self-Sabotage
Now only triggers when an ability is actively used as intended.
Previously could be triggered by certain passive traits activating.
Audience Favor: Gold
Picking up a pile of gold with a possessed enemy unit now correctly awards the amount to the player.
Battle
Unit info panel now responds to gamepad controls as intended.
Battle
Unit info panel now also displays an experience bar for Gladiators and tier info for non Gladiators.
Enemy: Emperor
Upgraded the Emperor's battle plan to increase effectiveness and call for backup more frequently.
Obstacle: Jungle's Grasp
Increased timer between activations to 6 turns (from 3) to decrease occurrence of consecutive Snare status on the same unit.
Tutorial
Updated the movement tutorial text to provide more details on the Attack of Opportunity system.
City
Building: Academy
Fixed an issue that could cause the ""Train Instantly"" button to remain active while not having sufficient funds.
Buildings: Academy, Expeditions, Infirmary and Quarters
Slots now display the assigned Gladiator's name for clarity
Building: Infirmary
Fixed an issue that could result in the cost of Resting not being displayed.
Building: Quarters
The last Gladiator can no longer be dismissed to counter an infinite money glitch.
Previously the player was awarded 3 free Gladiators once they had none left, regardless if they died or were sold.
City Events
City Events and Expeditions that can apply the Unavailable status to Gladiators now display an indicator icon with explanatory tooltip.
City Event: Imperial Bounty
Updated text to correctly reflect the events conditions and outcomes.
City Event: Under Investigation
Sabotages granted by the event can now be equipped and used in Battle in all cases as intended.
Previously required Dark Alley Building and the respective Sabotage to be unlocked.
Quests: Army in the Making, Paint The Town Red, Unstoppable Force
Now is correctly awarded only when owning the required number of gladiators.
Previously could be awarded when owning less than the required amount in some cases.
Tooltips
City buildings now provide context information when they are locked
Gladiators
Ability: Venom Spit (Serpens Class)
Fixed tool tip to indicate the actual ability range.
Previously always indicated 1.
Ability Windstorm (Mystic Class)
Changed to apply damage only to enemy units. Knockback still applies to all targets.
Previously applied knockback and damage to all targets.
Caligo Class
Updated tooltip for abilities Singularity, Umbra Mea and Tenebrae Capit to reflect the correct ranges.