Playtest Update v0.3.2 — Critical Feedback Patch

Critical Feedback Patch — v0.3.2

Hello, Operators!

v0.3.2 is a focused Playtest update built around recurring player feedback. This patch expands build variety, improves combat readability, and addresses several issues affecting movement, progression, and elemental effects.

NEW BUILD OPTIONS

• Breach Cycle
• Deadeye Chain
• Combat Momentum
• Sprint Capacitor

These four new behavior-driven Standard cards reward shot cadence, consecutive weakpoint hits, fast kill chains, and sprint-to-shot timing.

COMBAT & VFX

• Reduced enemy size and adjusted their navigation dimensions to match.
• Rebuilt Shatter with glowing 3D fragments across its projectile, burst, impact, state, and overload effects.
• Removed Shatter’s circular, square-looking, and lingering smoke elements.
• Replaced Beacon’s radial Shockwave presentation with a dynamic branched-Lightning attack.
• Beacon Lightning now grows through moving forks and secondary branches before striking enemies.
• Improved Explosion knockback so enemies are pushed outward more consistently and resume movement correctly.
• Updated the Explosion shockwave with a volumetric 3D presentation.

GAME FLOW & READABILITY

• Wave-clear XP collection time now adapts to the distance of remaining XP orbs.
• Reduced the normal XP attraction range while preserving the opening level-up flow.
• Updated XP orbs with a darker teal visual identity.
• Updated the Pause Menu with a neutral black background fade and improved panel animation order.
• Increased Wave Incoming and Wave Clear message duration.

FIXES

• Fixed the XP bar sometimes remaining full without opening the card-selection screen.
• Fixed dead enemies briefly slowing or physically obstructing the player.
• Fixed Beacon sometimes pushing enemies toward the player.
• Fixed Beacon-affected enemies appearing frozen after being struck.
• Fixed Beacon gameplay impact occurring before the visual attack reached enemies.
• Fixed upper-body Explosion hits receiving weaker knockback than intended.
• Fixed Shatter spawning an additional generic circular impact effect.
• Public player computers no longer create unnecessary local RunLogs. Remote telemetry and automatic uploads remain disabled.

ARENA DETAILS

• Added a subtle graffiti detail to the arena.
• Added playtester MR GUY MAN to Community Credits.

Thank you for continuing to test OVERHEAT PROTOCOL and share detailed feedback.

More combat variety, content, and arena improvements are already planned.