Smarter Allies and More Varied Adventures (v144)

Smarter Allies and More Varied Adventures (v144)

This update improves Party Mode allies, adds three run modifiers, smooths early progression, and polishes Expedition, combat, controls, and presentation.

Party Mode

• Allies now assess danger, health, positioning, resistances, and resources more effectively.
• Allies use a much wider range of spells, abilities, scrolls, and wands.
• Allies choose safer targets, account for friendly fire and channeling risk, and vary similarly useful actions.
• Outside combat, allies may ask for equipment upgrades, food, or healing supplies.
• Separated allies follow through stairs and can cross unavoidable pits.
• Rested XP now applies correctly to every party member, and Wild Shape breaks before fatal damage downs a druid.
• Improved ally combat effects and stopped unseen fights from revealing unseen enemies.

Run Modifiers

• Added Slow Learner and Fast Learner, granting -50% or +50% XP.
• Added Raging Hordes: 50% larger groups drawn from one level higher.
• Added Unlikely Allies: ordinary monsters have a 10% chance to arrive with a similar-level creature.

Progression and Expedition

• Raised earned XP from early Valoria quests through the Underway by 50%.
• The Crown of the Sea-King now awards 250 XP on recovery and 500 XP on delivery. The Old Road now awards 300 XP.
• Doubled Old Sea Cave exploration XP to 400, 500, and 600 across its three floors.
• Dungeons now repopulate roughly twice as quickly after their reentry grace period, with slightly more activity on underpopulated floors.
• Added A Navigator's Compass, a Tidecross errand from Neris worth 200 XP and 40 gold.
• The Expedition ship's chest now closes and refills as the voyage advances, and the gangplank works after leaving Tidecross.
• Beds can now be used for sleeping. The ship's new private berth provides a full rest.
• Removed the duplicate Crown quest notice.
• Smuggler's Debt II now gives a +1 Keen short sword or dagger; Grummok gives +4 plate mail or a +4 tower shield.

Combat and Controls

• Cure Wounds now targets any adjacent creature consistently and gives the normal result on empty tiles.
• Projectiles avoid allies when an equally valid path exists, but can hit them otherwise. Hunter's Eye lets ranged weapons and spells pass safely.
• Quivering Palm, monk kicks, and Forest Dragon Breath now use percentage-based ARM mitigation.
• Class Action windows expand for longer lists, and L1/R1 no longer switch tabs unexpectedly.
• R1 now toggles Bag and Equipment views consistently in shops and item services.

Presentation and Fixes

• Refreshed artwork for 89 monsters.
• Fixed music glitches during rapid zone and world-map transitions.
• Fixed a rare NPC pathfinding crash.
• Fixed missing Roadside Shrine altars, including affected saves.
• Fixed Goblin Chief lair placement for Rakto, the reward chest, and the exit stairs.
• Fixed stray inaccessible secret-room tiles in the Old Cave.
• Localized all new quests, modifiers, requests, and interface text.