Shifting Gears on the Item System
Back when we first shared our roadmap late last year, we announced our plan to add the item system around summer. But now that Trials Mode has been implemented and we’ve had a chance to reflect on everything we’ve built so far, we concluded that the item system does not offer enough value to justify its development cost. The system would have provided a slight combat advantage, and this could be covered just as effectively with accessories introduced with Trials. Instead, we shifted our focus to expanding weapon skills and more varied combats.Elena’s New Weapon
Changing Elena’s weapon was brought up through player feedback and after some surprisingly easy discussion within the team, we decided to swap out her secondary weapon with a pair of axes. There are already plenty of sword-wielders in the cast, but not many axe users. Giving Elena dual axes will make her stand out more, both visually and mechanically. We love how her new setup plays and we hope you’ll take her for a spin in your next expedition following the next patch.
Boss Battle Variations Incoming
This one has been on our minds since the early days of Early Access and we are finally implementing it: boss fight variations. In the next patch, we’ll introduce two new variations each for the Act 1 and Act 2 bosses. Variations for Act 3 boss are of course also in the works. While the maps will remain the same, the bosses will be equipped with different weapons, forcing you to change up your strategy against them. You will first encounter these variations in a fixed order but once you’ve battled them all, they will be randomized to keep you on your toes.Better Signs, Better Choices
We’re also improving how we show signposts at Forked Road, particularly for routes that lead to meta-progression items (like Coral Stone for shop upgrades, Sacred Embers, or Rune Fragments for class upgrades). Right now, once you’ve completed all upgrades, these resources lose their usefulness–leaving you no reason to choose these routes. Well, that’s changing. We will consolidate those signposts and make them smarter, so that they’re more likely to offer meaningful value even in the late game. Essentially, the sign will show all three rewards and if chosen, one of the rewards will be given to you.