Ascend and Fall · published
The ninth update since the demo launch is live, and it is all about balance: Incantation, Mana Shield and Mana Eating Orbs now have cooldowns, Arcane Flow and Exposed get stronger, and damage bonuses now add up instead of multiplying. The Sandstorm phase also shows each hero's buffs and debuffs now.
Incantation, Mana Shield and Mana Eating Orbs had no cooldown, so they could be cast every turn. Each can now be recast just as its buff runs out: you can still keep the buff up, but you can no longer stack it.
Incantation: now has a 3-turn cooldown (was none), but its Arcane Flow now cuts your spells' mana cost by 80/90/100% (was 60/70/80%). At level 3 your spells cost no mana while it lasts, though Incantation itself always costs full price
Mana Shield: now has a 2-turn cooldown (was none)
Mana Eating Orbs: now has a 1-turn cooldown (was none), and its Mana Eater lasts 2 turns (was 1)
Shield Crack: its Exposed now makes the target take 50/75/100% more damage (was 50/60/70%)
When several damage bonuses landed on one hit, they multiplied each other, and the order you cast your buffs in could change the result. With Exposed now going up to +100% and Shield Crack still without a cooldown, stacked copies would grow out of hand. Bonuses now add up, the same way every time:
Percentage damage bonuses now add up instead of multiplying: two +100% bonuses give +200% (was ×4)
Flat damage bonuses now always apply before percentage ones, so Battle Cry and Enrage give the same hit whichever you cast first
The Sandstorm phase now shows each hero's buffs and debuffs
Fixed the Mana Eater description: it burns the MP of whoever hits you, not of the target you hit
Balance feedback, bugs, a spell order that feels too strong: tell us on Discord.
If you are enjoying the demo, add Ascend and Fall to your wishlist to hear the moment the full game launches.
See you in the Arena.
— Team CRITSURGE