New Raike Weapons
[p]The Rakta Update brings 8 new canon Raike weapons into the base game. Thematically they are inspired by an amalgamation of East Asian real life counterparts.[/p][p]Check out these renders of the new content:[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/5fcaa6a63109dd94efe8db1aacefa506111d8789.png"][/img][/p][p]These exotic weapons can be purchased at The Baron's Bounty in Crystal Hunt, or accessed freely in Sandbox mode.[/p][p]It might have taken 7 years, but we did it guys - the katana is a canon part of Blade & Sorcery. ːsteamlaughcryː[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/c761e8c2e7073510cfaf9c0f7b068cf523356dad.png"][/img][/p]Physics bases shuriken
[p]Among the new weaponry are physics-based shuriken (including a shuriken pouch).[/p][p]These shuriken will actually spin when thrown, with a little under-the-hood assistance to help ensure the blade actually sticks into the target. (annoying when you throw a weapon and it just bounces off an enemy ːsteamfacepalmː )[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/74391ed99c9868a39f17b622a54de75aa4a48302.gif"][/img][/p][p][/p]Dual Spell Staff
[p]My personal favourite addition to the update: the Raike Dual Crystal Staff.[/p][p][img src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcGw1dmlsbGI0Ynd5a29iZTg4c3NwemllcjJ3bGZhdXFrNXJpeHN2dCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/YTEQMGDkDjHkV4vYWV/giphy.gif"][/img][/p][p]Being a highly magical warrior nation, the Raike have developed a combat staff that allows for a dual imbue; one element on each end.[/p][p]This allows for some really cool and creative combinations! For example, you to have one end blasting a flamethrower spell while the other end is lashing a lightning whip.[/p][p]Or, double up on the element and unleash hell![/p][p][img src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMTA3eG9meDhrejdjYWN4M2Fxdm02d3EyYmo0ZDFjbndodDJpM3RwaSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/VOPpEnCab0o412YOuj/giphy.gif"][/img][/p][p][/p][p][/p]New Raike Armour
[p]Available in Crystal Hunt to purchase in the Baron's Bounty, or freely available in Sandbox mode, for the first time ever, a non-Eraden armour is available to wear.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/21cfff29594443b802e2bdf33055dae1aa7bac95.png"][/img][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/1287f6e6907dcba0dd60369472d4778e51a55599.png"][/img][/p][p]The armour reflects the warrior culture of the Raike, reflecting exquisite craftsmanship, functionality, and aesthetic.[/p][p]You can find the new armour under the plate section of the armour spawner.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/a8c7055242afc5404cdb23b550f4e7af4317f954.png"][/img][/p]Special Rakta Wave
[p]Fight in Sandbox mode against Raike warriors, equipped with their Rakta attire and weapons. [/p][p]Currently we have it limited to 1v1 duels, but expanding this is a real possibility in the future, if not in minor patches then possible as a bonus in the future Byeth Updates.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/903656a6e709ed8493ee28f0a31223373dcd8622.png"][/img][/p][p]You can find this special 1v1 wave in under the category Special > Rakta Elite Duel.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/6039122925621f911edb03154a8e59e5605ef7d9.png"][/img][/p]Achievements
[p]The Rakta Update brings 37 achievements to find and unlock.[/p][p]A couple of the achievements are listed and you can see what is necessary to unlock them. These are the really obvious type achievements, like complete X in the game, or collect Y items. [/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/8d37736b961b6be5b097c02e69b1491de8a25cdb.png"][/img][/p][p]However, we really, really wanted to avoid these grindy type achievements, because our vibe is that those kind of achievements always feel like they are just there to waste your time and keep you grinding hours.[/p][p]So in the case that we have visible achievements, we tried to make them more landmark accomplishments (mostly relating to the end game) but mainly we opted to make most of the achievements hidden. The idea here was we wanted to make them more easter eggy, and something fun for the player to try and find in game themselves through discovery. Typically they relate to an in game secret, or are a reference to some community in-joke, so the objective is to explore the game, and see what you discover. [/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/33834682/c68f4e8406818d057cdf3411227abdda76e82a34.png"][/img][/p][p]You can of course spoil the unlock conditions by simply revealing them on Steam, so no worries if you are a straight-up completionist type person and don't want to actually discover them for yourself.[/p][p][/p]What about Unity 6 and OpenXR?
[p]I mentioned in an earlier preview about the Rakta Update being the time when we would update the game to Unity 6 and OpenXR - this is a purely technical decision which will help Warpfrog handle the snowballing maintenance of Blade & Sorcery across so many headsets, but players would not actually notice any difference at all.[/p][p]However, the move to Unity 6 is a big one because it risks breaking all sorts of mystery things in the game, and indeed when we began the migration, we start to notice all sorts of stuff was breaking, from dungeons to VFX.[/p][p]Because of the bug risks involved, we would need to do a really massive QA pass over the whole game, and given that we didn't want to delay the update release, we decided to hold off on the Unity 6 / OpenXR switch for now and we will tackle it in the coming months instead.[/p][p]As said, the delay on this migration will be completely indifferent for players, except for one thing - full body tracking. OpenXR was likely to improve FBT, so this is one thing players will benefit from when the migration happens.[/p][p][/p]Modwatch: will this update break mods?
[p]The short answer: no! [/p][p]Of course you can't guarantee anything 100%, but the main concern was that Unity 6 threatened to break map mods and scripting mods. However, since we are not moving to Unity 6 right now, this is not an issue.[/p][p]This update has no major code changes and we are being deliberately careful so as not to break mods if it can be helped. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That's it for now, folks! Coming down the line is likely to be some small bugfix patches, and a patch that switches the game to Unity 6 and OpenXR. Other than that, it is on to the next Byeth Update - The Sentara Update![/p][p]Cheers![/p][p][img src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMnBpN3hzeWkweXl6d3lqZzVkMXAwaThpYXF2MnZlaWM5eG93YmJwayZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/I329W3aeqwKFUlL9yw/giphy.gif"][/img] [/p][p][/p]
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