While I finish up the last bits of the new build (including figuring out how to get past T:3 in my own game now that I’ve gone and made it harder…), figured it was a good time to note two small website changes:

1) The forum has temporarily been disabled. Truth is, there just aren’t enough people who would use it yet to justify the constant war against spam accounts I was fighting while it remained open. Still, it’s all set up for later, I literally just have to turn it on once the comment threads on here start getting crowded or some other sign that it would actually be used happens.

2) Links to the most recent builds can now (and forever always) be found at the top of the little side bar to right, above the Twitter button, which should make them easier to find and grab.

Thanks to Jason once again for helping me out with various website-related matters. I’ll have a “real” update on how the build is going (including some screenshots) in a few days, hopefully to be shortly followed by the build release itself! Stay tuned!

Hey there. Sorry for the long delay between posts, but it has been in service to a good cause. I can now report the next build of Demon is ability complete. All of the new abilities (50 of them), as well as tweaks to existing abilities, required for the new content have been completed. This also means that the build is nearly monster complete: only thing left for them is setting up their capture conditions.

After that, the two steps remaining will be coming up with new spawn tables that include the new monster roster (and account for changes in first appearance position for some older monsters), and some testing to make sure it’s all working reasonably well. Then, finally, at long last, this monster of an update will be ready to release.

Hang in there, it won’t be long!

Work continues apace on the new content. I’m probably about halfway through implementation at this point.

Here’s some screenshots of some of the new demons trying out some of their abilities.

An Acheri dancing to spread Infection to multiple enemies.

A Zar pouncing into the midst of enemies, leaving them stunned and panicked.

A Chindi just after finishing off a Gandayah with Snuff Out, a powerful smite that attempts to instantly kill critically injured targets.

The ability designs, and all of the new icons related to them, have been completed. Here’s a screenshot of them.

Next up: implementation, some testing, and then I can finally release this content push. I haven’t forgotten I promised to preview a few of the new abilities for you, so here you go.

Autoantipathy: Mind, Active. Free action. Deal low damage to a Panicked target. Cantrip cooldown.

Blood Rot: Body, Passive. Applying or reapplying Infection, Poison, or Paralysis deals damage to the target, and also reduces their stamina.

Pyrokinesis: Fire, Active. Free action. Deal low damage and possibly Ignite all targets around an Ignited target. Cantrip cooldown.

Warmth: Fire, Passive. Boosts your health and stamina regeneration based on the number of Ignited characters you can see.

Icebreaker: Ice, Passive. Your attacks attempt to instantly kill Chilled characters at critically low health.

Dreamstalker: Mind, Passive. Damage you deal to Sleeping characters will not wake them up if they were at full health.

Dessication: Body, Passive. Reducing a character’s stamina also causes damage to that character.

Judge’s Mein: Light, Passive. Dealing Light damage to a target that used a hostile ability on its last turn has a chance to cause Guilt.

Witch’s Mein: Dark, Passive. Dealing Dark damage to a target with at least one negative status effect has a chance to cause Hex.

Bolt Chain: Electricity, Passive. Applying Shock to a target damages and possibly Shocks an enemy adjacent to the target.

My project at work is approaching alpha, so I’ve been a bit blasted this week, but work continues on designing the abilities for the new demons… as well as adding some new ones for the existing cast, and some others to add to the lists random modifiers can draw from. These abilities will include some interesting new mechanics as well.

In an attempt to balance out the number of abilities available to each playstyle and element, many of the abilities being added are focusing on previously under-represented elements such as Fire, Ice, Electric, Body, Mind, Light, and Dark to make them more viable as a primary focus for characters or even entire teams, and also to better illustrate what are supposed to be their unique strengths and capabilities.

Once I finish the ability design and start on icons, I’ll post some teasers of some the new abilities so you have some idea of what’s coming.

As promised, here are all 19 new demons together.

From top-left to bottom-right: Acheri, Akateko, Banshee, Bmola, Chindi, Demas, Echeneis, Eloko, Huo Shu, Lilim, Oni, Raicho, Ruler, Shisa, Unicorn, Vishap, Will O’ Wisp, Yeti, and Zar.

Next step is getting icons for their new abilities and then, on to implementation.

The new character art is coming along nicely. About halfway done so far. I’ll eventually show all of them together when I finish, but for now, let’s meet the four new starter monsters:

Huo Shu, a rodent that can emit heat and flame:

Will O’ Wisp, a ghost that lures people to various dangers:

Echeneis, a fish that attaches itself to ships to slow or stop their movement:

And finally Raicho, a bird that is often seen during thunderstorms:

Hope everyone is enjoying the 2/14 build. See you again next week.

Finished the research & design phase for the new monsters coming in the next Demon content push. Nineteen new enemies (friends?) coming up: Remora, Will o’ Wisp, Huo Shu, Raicho, Lilim, Acheri, Bmola, Zar, Demas, Chindi, Akateko, Eloko, Shisa, Oni, Banshee, Vishap, Unicorn, Wendigo, and Ruler.

Now to get started on the art.