Artifact System Rework Update

Day Before Heaven Playtest · published · build 25177654

Additions / Changes

  • Artifact limits and rest nodes have been completely revamped.
  • Characters can now only have up to 4 Artifacts. This limit increases the further you progress through a run, up to a maximum of 8. The exact limits are not set in stone for the final game.
  • Artifacts can now be replaced, just like Skills. Certain Artifacts, such as protagonist starting Artifacts, are not removable.
  • Once per Rest Node, you can move Artifacts around your party. This can mean either passing an Artifact from one character to another, or swapping an Artifact between two characters. Artifacts that cannot be removed cannot be moved between characters, either.
  • Added a simple tutorial.
  • Added 12 more Events, roughly doubling the total event count throughout the game. The new Events are evenly distributed across all Floors.
  • Added the following options to the Settings menu:
    • Speed up battle Skill and camera animations.
    • Disable 3D particle effects.

Balance

  • The final boss's AI has been reworked to make its buffing behavior less overwhelming.
  • Floor 2 bosses have been reworked to make their bonus actions less punishing.
  • The Sun Wukong Elite encounter has been nerfed.
  • Ferocity and Lone Prayer now cost less MP, but their damage boosts have been reduced from 2.5x to 2x.
  • Ferocity, Lone Prayer, and Rebellion no longer stack.
  • Nazar has been nerfed and now removes 3 enemy turns instead of all enemy turns.
  • Baldur's Oath has been renamed to Mistletoe and slightly nerfed to a 15% repel chance.
  • Bear Trap now only activates against Physical Skills.
  • Flower Bud has been completely reworked.
  • Snake Bite has been completely reworked.
  • Djembe now only activates for MAG-based Skills.
  • Scalpel now inflicts 2 Deluge instead of 1.
  • Floor 4 Elite encounters have been slightly nerfed.
  • Floor 2 bosses have been slightly nerfed.

UI

  • Character level is now represented with stars instead of a number.
  • Many UI icons, including Dynasties, Stats, and various Skills, have been updated with more polished artwork.
  • Added a visual indicator when losing MP during Events.
  • Exact enemy HP values are now visible.
  • The Critical Buff icon has been updated. Again.
  • When hovering over a Skill or selecting its target, all enemy resistances to that Skill are now displayed on-screen.
  • Adjusted the proportions of player character sprites in battle. This change will better support the finalized character art. Existing placeholder sprites may appear somewhat upscaled until they are replaced.

Bug Fixes / Technical

  • Fixed an error preventing inputs on the victory screen.
  • Artifacts can no longer block Unstoppable Rend.
  • Ouroboros and Holy Grail now reset Stagger when they activate.
  • Blood-tipped Arrow now correctly interacts with Burning Acid.
  • Fixed a bug where some Artifacts would break after reloading a save.
  • Fixed the description for the Magic Bullet status effect.
  • Fixed the descriptions for the Gift Of... Skills.