Turning Wheel DevBlog

The official Turning Wheel LLC devblog

Gameplay/Balance changes:

Below are all the gameplay/balance changes available in the V3.8.4+ Quality of Death beta that may be obscure, invisible or not immediately obvious to those trying out the beta.


Level Design:

  • Shops now have unique layouts and signage based on the type of shop spawned, helping Monster Races make the decision about whether or not they want to enter.
  • Shop rooms specific to the "room gen" map type (Citadel Only right now) added for each shop type.
  • Submaps can now contain scripting that properly refers to map tiles.
  • Portcullises now behave as doors at map generation; Ensuring there is a tile to move into when it would otherwise lead into a wall.
  • Certain secret levels have received some revisions, including Minetown, Temple, Haunted Castle, the Minotaur Maze and Bram's Castle.
  • 200+ Mines room variants added and revised.
  • 200+ Swamps room variants added and revised.
  • Several types of bridge, platform and scaffold meshes added to levels, replacing existing wood bridges across all tilesets and serving in new levels.

Weapon Skills:

  • Damage used to be scaled 75-100% from 0-100 weapon skill. Now it is:
    • 40-60% @ 0 skill
    • 50-70% @ 20 skill
    • 60-80% @ 40 skill
    • 70-90% @ 60 skill
    • 80-100% @ 80 skill
    • Up to 90-100% @ 100 skill.
  • Polearms have less % variance, so start at 50-60%. Gugnir's damage is always 60%. Then these numbers go up 10% each 20 points
  • Unarmed has more variance, starts at 30-60%, up to 80-100% max.
  • Enemies and players havent had any skills touched to compensate, so net result is a little less damage output. (1-2 points earlygame)

Armor Changes:

  • Armor can now degrade when taking 0 damage (previously only >0 damage).
  • Armor degradation is now more 'accurate', now picks a equipped item slot rather than any armor slot that may be empty. So armor will degrade more often when being hit.
  • AC used to block 100% of damage incoming, now it is:
    • AC blocks 75% of damage incoming when NOT defending, otherwise 100% when blocking (same as before).
    • Blessings on armor (or curses for demons) increases the hard 75% cap by 2.5% per blessing, up to 100% resist
    • Example, you have 10 AC and take 8 damage without blocking. You take 2 damage as 8 x 0.75 = ~6 DMG absorbed by AC.
    • Example, you have 10 AC and take 15 damage without blocking. You take 5 damage as before.
    • Example, you have 50 AC and take 50 damage without blocking. You take 12 damage as 50 x 0.75 = ~38 DMG absorbed by AC.

Player Movement Speed/Weight Changes:

  • Weight used to be 1:1 in terms of movement speed penalty
  • Now weight is a similar speed below < 300 weight (most starting classes). So holding 0 items vs holding all starting items makes little difference at the start of the game.
  • Movement speed per DEX decreased (starting speeds of characters is kept roughly the same)
  • Maximum speed capped at 12.5 units instead of 18.0. (Starting speed is normally about 8 units)

Class / Races:

  • Goatman now starts with 3 booze, no longer becomes greasy from consuming tins. Added chance to spawn potions when using empty bottles on fountains (Previously potions would only spawn when normally drinking from a fountain).
  • Brewer now starts with 3 (from 2) booze, also added 2 firestorm potions

Controls:

  • New hotkey default keyboard "R" or gamepad "Dpad right" will cycle between popup tooltips if 2+ items/interactables are on the ground in the same location. Use this to grab items beyond gates. HUD indicator to show when this is available still to be added.

Frame Rate:

  • Brief technical note - while the game allows you to set the FPS to 300, we recommend setting FPS Limit in Video settings to the refresh rate of your monitor, and disable V-Sync if you have wild FPS fluctuations.
  • Most HUD animations are tied to the FPS rate and if your PC is not meeting the FPS target then animations could be running 0.2x as fast (e.g vsync'd 60 FPS / expected 300 FPS = 0.2)

Monsters:

  • Spiders now can cast "Spray Web" as a special attack. Spiders won't retreat while hunting webbed targets.
  • Monsters retreating into doorframes with ranged weapons/spells now should stay still and continue attacking instead of bouncing and moving in/out of sight
  • Minotaurs now break chests on touch
  • Dummybots are a slightly more visible to enemies

Followers:

  • You can now hold [Block] while issuing certain commands to target ALL followers at once. The HUD will show your hotkey pressed on screen with text (ALL) for valid commands. To use:
  • Wait/Follow: Hold [Block] before selecting the wheel option.
  • Move to/Interact/Attack: Hold [Block] when confirming the world location, not while the wheel is up.

Tinkering:

  • You can now salvage entire stacks of items in inventory by [holding Shift + click] on keyboard, [holding LT + press A] on gamepad.

Alchemy:

  • Alembics now have a 'recipes' tab. When you combine a 'base' and 'secondary' potion for the first time, a recipe will be revealed.
  • Recipes are clickable if you have the required ingredients on hand, and will auto-load the potions into the slots, ready to brew.
  • If you have not combined 2 potions before, the result preview will say "new combination", otherwise the result will be previewed.
  • Potions can be decanted by using 2 of the same type, combining different colors/blessings into the same stack. The first potion (left) will usually be the output color/status.
  • When mixing different potion blessings (decanting or otherwise), generally curses are more powerful and harder to nullify. Examples are:
    • (+2 with +0) = +0
    • (+1 with -1) = +0
    • (-1 with +0) = -1
    • (-1 with -2) = -2.

Shops:

  • Rebalanced many item gold values, in general reduced cost of starting equipment/consumables and increased value of later game items to increase appraisal relevancy.
  • Shops may spawn with 0-4 "hidden" item slots which contain consumables (fixed randomised lists of potions/scrolls/food unique to each shop type) so many characters are able to spend gold at a shop encounter.
  • Hidden shop consumable slots are unlocked at 0, 10, 20, 30 trading skill, and are undroppable by the shopkeeper.
  • Shopkeepers changed to only drop 50% of inventory items on death, like chests.
  • Buying back items in shop now does not increase Trading skill.
  • Now trading skill increases only when buying items, 10-100% chance to increase Trading skill as the item you buy goes from 1-100 gold value. (1 gold items still capped at 40 trading).

Items:

  • Items have a blue exclamation icon when first picked up or identified. Mousing/hovering over the item in inventory or hotbar will clear this icon.
  • Potions now have an identified icon to display what type of potion it is.

Item Mechanic changes:

  • Crystal shard
    • Value 30 -> 15G.
    • Now provides less visibility to enemies than other light sources (sneaking/holding no off-hand is still a better option to evade sight).
    • Removed flame particle effect.
  • Beartraps

    • Now need to be held and wound up before placing, much like tinkered traps.
    • Now placed slightly in front of the player.
  • Scrolls of identify/remove curse/repair/charging now aren't consumed on use (+0 or higher blessing), but consume when choosing the item to apply the effect on.

  • Gems/Rocks now have at 50% chance on impact to shatter when thrown.


Other Item Gold/Weight/Item Level changes

Value refers to nominal buy/sell gold value when Trading skill is 100. If trading skill is 0, then items are 3x expensive to buy and shops offer 1/3x value when sold.

Weight is the displayed tooltip weight of an item.

Item Level is the minimum dungeon level required to spawn an item randomly on the ground. Chests and other sources may generate higher Item Level quality loot, and can be +6 dungeon levels ahead of current floor.

  • Wooden shield value 40 -> 18G
  • Quarterstaff value 40 -> 12G
  • Bronze axe + sword value 60 -> 20G. item level 5 -> 4.
  • Bronze mace value 60 -> 20G. item level 5 -> 0 (Previously quarterstaff was only weapon available floor 0)
  • Bronze shield value 60 -> 30G. item level 0 -> 4.
  • Sling value 40 -> 12G
  • Iron spear/sword/mace/axe value 80 -> 45G. item level 10 -> 8.
  • Iron shield value 80 -> 45G
  • Shortbow value 80 -> 40G. item level 10 -> 8.
  • Steel halberd/sword/mace/axe value 100 -> 120G. item level 15 -> 12.
  • Steel shield value 100 -> 150G
  • Steel shield of resistance value 200 -> 750G. item level 10 -> 12.
  • Crossbow value 100 -> 150. item level 15 -> 12.
  • Gloves value 40 -> 15G
  • Gloves of dexterity value 40 -> 150G. item level 0 -> 1.
  • Bracers value 60 -> 30G
  • Bracers constitution value 60 -> 300G
  • Gauntlets value 80 -> 100G
  • Gauntlets of strength value 80 -> 500G
  • Cloak value 50 -> 15G. weight 20 -> 10.
  • Cloak of magic reflection value 100 -> 350G. weight 20 -> 10.
  • Cloak invisibility value 200 -> 800G. weight 20 -> 10.
  • Cloak protection value 100 -> 90G
  • Leather boots value 60 -> 15G
  • Leather boots of speed value 100 -> 250G
  • Iron boots value 80 -> 35G
  • Iron boots of waterwalking value 150 -> 500G
  • Steel boots of levitation value 200 -> 900
  • Leather breastpiece value 100 -> 35G. weight 150 -> 100
  • Iron breastpiece value 150 -> 70G. weight 300 -> 250
  • Phrygian hat value 50 -> 10G. weight 10 -> 5
  • Hood value 50 -> 10G
  • Wizard hat value 80 -> 75G
  • Leather helm value 60 -> 15G
  • Iron helm value 80 -> 30G

  • Amulet of sex change value 150 -> 400G
  • Amulet of lifesaving value 200 -> 5000G
  • Amulet of magic reflection value 150 -> 350G
  • Amulet of strangulation value 100 -> 75G
  • Amulet of poison resistance value 100 -> 75G
  • Bottle of water value 20 -> 7G
  • Bottle of booze value 20 -> 12G
  • Bottle of fruit juice value 20 -> 18G
  • Potion of sickness value 50 -> 6G. item level 3 -> 1
  • Potion of confusion value 50 -> 35G
  • Potion of extra healing value 100 -> 180G
  • Potion of healing value 70 -> 45G
  • Potion of cure ailment value 100 -> 40G. item level 15 -> 4
  • Potion of blindness value 60 -> 25G
  • Potion of restore magic value 80 -> 42G. item level 10 -> 8
  • Potion of invisibility value 100 -> 70G
  • Potion of levitation value 100 -> 120G
  • Potion of acid value 60 -> 30G
  • Potion of paralysis value 80 -> 75G

All potions weight lowered 10 -> 5


  • Scroll of mail value 40 -> 10G. weight 10 -> 1
  • Scroll of identify value 60 -> 35G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of light value 60 -> 15G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Blank scroll value 40 -> 50G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of enchant weapon value 80 -> 300G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of enchant armor value 80 -> 300G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of remove curse value 100 -> 90G. weight 10 -> 2. item level 15 -> 4
  • Scroll of fire value 50 -> 35G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of food value 70 -> 100G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of magic mapping weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of repair value 60 -> 180G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of destroy armor value 60 -> 50G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll teleportation value 70 -> 30G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll summon weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of charging value 70 -> 100G. weight 10 -> 2
  • Scroll of conjure arrow value 70 -> 90G. weight 10 -> 2

  • Magicstaff of light value 200 -> 70G
  • Magicstaff of digging value 250 -> 300G
  • Magicstaff of locking value 100 -> 60G
  • Magicstaff of opening value 150 -> 250G
  • Magicstaff of slow value 200 -> 70G
  • Magicstaff of cold value 300 -> 200G
  • Magicstaff of lightning value 350 -> 300G
  • Magicstaff of sleep value 250 -> 125G
  • Magicstaff of stoneblood value 500 -> 600G
  • Magicstaff of bleed value 500 -> 750G
  • Magicstaff of charm value 500 -> 750G
  • Magicstaff of poison value 300 -> 150G

  • Ring of adornment value 200 -> 75G
  • Ring of slow digestion value 400 -> 600G
  • Ring of protection value 250 -> 100G
  • Ring of warning value 200 -> 450G
  • Ring of strength value 250 -> 150G
  • Ring of levitation value 500 -> 2000G
  • Ring of regeneration value 600 -> 2500G
  • Ring of teleportation value 250 -> 125G

  • Spellbook of forcebolt value 250 -> 150G. item level 0 -> 1
  • Spellbook of cold value 350 -> 200G
  • Spellbook of light value 250 -> 75G
  • Spellbook of remove curse value 400 -> 777G
  • Spellbook of identify value 350 -> 411G
  • Spellbook of magic mapping value 250 -> 411G
  • Spellbook of sleep value 350 -> 175G
  • Spellbook of confuse value 300 -> 150G
  • Spellbook of slow value 300 -> 100G. item level 4 -> 2
  • Spellbook of opening value 300 -> 350G
  • Spellbook of locking value 250 -> 75G
  • Spellbook of levitation value 450 -> 550G
  • Spellbook of teleportation value 350 -> 150G
  • Spellbook of healing value 350 -> 300G
  • Spellbook of cure ailment value 450 -> 250G
  • Spellbook of bleed value 600 -> 750G
  • Spellbook of reflect magic value 600 -> 1000G
  • Spellbook of spray acid value 600 -> 200G
  • Spellbook of spider form value 600 -> 800G, remains unobtainable
  • Spellbook of troll form value 600 -> 1000G, remains unobtainable
  • Spellbook of imp form value 600 -> 1500G, remains unobtainable
  • Spellbook of poison value 600 -> 200G
  • Spellbook of speed value 600 -> 300G
  • Spellbook of detect food value 600 -> 150G
  • Spellbook of polymorph value 600 -> 750G

Below spellbooks may now spawn in chests/as ground items and were previously normally unobtainable:

  • Spellbook of revert form value 600 -> 300G. item level unobtainable -> 15
  • Spellbook of spray web value 600 -> 750G. item level unobtainable -> 9
  • Spellbook of fear value 600 -> 1000G. item level unobtainable -> 25
  • Spellbook of amplify magic value 600 -> 3500G. item level unobtainable -> 30
  • Spellbook of arcane mark value 600 -> 2500G. item level unobtainable -> 25
  • Spellbook of teleport other value 600 -> 750G. item level unobtainable -> 28
  • Spellbook of troll's blood value 600 -> 200G. item level unobtainable -> 4
  • Spellbook of salvage value 600 -> 200G. item level unobtainable -> 28
  • Spellbook of flutter value 600 -> 350G. item level unobtainable -> 8
  • Spellbook of dash value 600 -> 200G. item level unobtainable -> 8

  • Ruby value 3500 -> 2750G
  • Jacinth value 3250 -> 1750G
  • Citrine value 1500 -> 750G
  • Emerald value 2500 -> 2000G
  • Sapphire value 3000 -> 2500G
  • Aquamarine value 1500 -> 1250G
  • Diamond value 4000 -> 3000G

  • Pickaxe value 100 -> 120G. item level 0 -> 4
  • Tin opener value 40 -> 20G
  • Mirror value 20 -> 15G
  • Lockpick value 50 -> 5G
  • Skeleton key value 100 -> 300G
  • Torch value 30 -> 5G
  • Lantern value 60 -> 35G
  • Blindfold value 10 -> 5G
  • Blindfold of focus value 200 -> 75G. item level 15 -> 12
  • Towel value 30 -> 10G
  • Glasses value 40 -> 70G
  • Tinned food weight 30 -> 20
  • Backpack value 250 -> 450G
  • Alembic value 100 -> 300G
  • Tinkering kit value 100 -> 250G
  • Detonated charge weight 5 -> 2
  • Gyrobot value 50 -> 150G
  • Spellbot value 50 -> 75G
  • Noisemaker value 50 -> 25G
  • Machinist apron value 20 -> 50G
  • Enchanted feather value 100 -> 400G

  • Readable book value 50 -> 75G. weight 20 -> 5.

  • Dyrnwyn value 500 -> 3000G
  • Sharur value 500 -> 3000G
  • Gungnir value 500 -> 3000G
  • Parashu value 500 -> 3000G
  • Khryselakatos value 500 -> 3000G
  • Dragon's mail value 500 -> 5000G
  • Sphinx's veil value 500 -> 3000G
  • Oracle's treads value 500 -> 3000G
  • Wraith's gown value 500 -> 3000G
  • Djinni's brace value 500 -> 3000G

  • Crystal breastpiece value 120 -> 1200G
  • Crystal helmet value 120 -> 800G
  • Crystal boots value 120 -> 800G
  • Crystal shield value 120 -> 1000G
  • Crystal gloves value 120 -> 800G
  • Crystal sword/mace/axe/spear value 150 -> 700G

  • Vampire doublet value 120 -> 1600G
  • Wizard/healer doublet value 20 -> 100G
  • Tunic value 20 -> 15G
  • Fez value 20 -> 90G
  • Suede boots value 10 -> 90G
  • Suede gloves value 10 -> 90G
  • Silver cloak value 80 -> 100G
  • Silver doublet value 100 -> 150G
  • Mirror shield value 120 -> 750G
  • Brass knuckles value 120 -> 35G. weight 40 -> 30
  • Iron knuckles value 120 -> 100G
  • Spiked gauntlets value 120 -> 250G. weight 40 -> 60
  • Black cloak value 50 -> 20G. weight 20 -> 10

  • Bronze tomahawk value 20 -> 12G
  • Iron dagger value 40 -> 25G
  • Steel chakram value 60 -> 80G
  • Crystal shuriken value 80 -> 120G
  • Quiver of silver ammo value 10 -> 12G
  • Quiver of swift ammo value 10 -> 5G
  • Quiver of fire ammo value 10 -> 8G
  • Quiver of springshot ammo value 10 -> 8G
  • Quiver of crystal ammo value 10 -> 15G
  • Quiver of hunting ammo value 10 -> 15G
  • Longbow value 80 -> 120G
  • Compound bow value 80 -> 800G

enter image description here We are delighted to reveal the next massive update for Barony!

enter image description here

As we prepare for relaunch, we put together a new video which introduces the game with all the new features in place. Share it with your friends (and enemies too)!

Barony Public Beta Trailer:

Join the Public Beta!

Like what you see? We would like to officially invite you to play Barony with the Quality of Death update... IMMEDIATELY. The Quality of Death Beta is available to play for Windows & Linux users who own the game on Steam. The game's new features also help it play perfectly on the Steam Deck!

Since Barony supports online cooperative play, it's important that everyone is playing on the same version! So load it up and play with friends, strangers, whoever. IT'S DUNGEONING TIME.


To opt-in to the Beta

(Mac / Windows / Ubuntu / Steam OS):

  • Go to your Steam Library and locate Barony
  • Go to the game's Properties
  • Select the Betas tab Select "quality-of-death-beta [...]" from the dropdown, as pictured

enter image description here That's it! Now that you're all opted-in, Steam should immediately start downloading the latest version of the Beta. You're ready to play!

If you're anything like us, it'll be hard to go back to the old version of the game once you've played this new version. We intend to continue updating this Beta branch until the game is fully released. Feel free to play as much as you like. You're welcome to stream the game, but we'd love it if you could note that you're participating in a Beta if you do.


Party up with others on Discord!

Join the Barony Discord! You are welcome to use Barony's new Lobby Browser to find pickup groups, but Barony does not feature drop-in-drop-out play. So open lobbies are not that common. It's usually more reliable to jump into a game with somebody from our Discord!


Before You Play

Achievements

At the moment, you can't earn achievements in the Beta as a result of many of the content files being in an unreliable state. At some point soon into the Beta's lifespan, we will re-enable achievements, but if you're just playing for the Cheevos, it's not ready for you yet.

Mods

Custom Content and Workshop support is currently not in the Quality of Death beta build. To enjoy mods with the QoD build, you will have to manually replace game files, or revert to the old version of the game. Fear Not. Barony's modding community is extremely important to us, and we have a plan to get those menus back in the game ASAP. Furthermore, huge, fundamental parts of the game's code and content have changed. Mods you once loved may now be obsolete in the QoD build. We apologize for the inconvenience but it simply can't be avoided. We will support our modders as best we can.

This is a Beta

Known Issues:

  • Steam Deck - Entering the inventory, mouse cursor may be active until. using the D-Pad, preventing Bumper / Trigger inputs from functioning. Workaround: Tap a D-Pad button before attempting to use bumpers.
  • Steam Deck - Resolution defaults to 720p instead of 800p
  • Multiplayer Clients - Map Pings do not currently function properly .
  • Split-Screen - 2p Horizontal Split, cannot view character sheet when set to full width. Use the Vertical split-screen setting, or activate the Clipped setting in Horizontal split-screen.
  • Level Generation - Sometimes doors generate incorrectly near to one another, creating an unsightly transition with an awkward gap.
  • Shopkeepers - May rarely get stuck in between doorways, preventing them from trading with you.
  • Multiplayer Continue - When in the lobby prior to continuing the game, the gamepad cannot toggle the room code privacy or view the chat.

There's always the potential for loss of saved progress. Your games may not save properly, or your saves and high scores may become obsolete or they may need to be wiped. Since Barony is a roguelike, these losses tend not to be tragic, but you should be aware. You might run into bugs. You might even run into really bad bugs that you think are dumb and stupid. We promise we very badly want to fix them! Please help us out and report bugs using this quick Google Form.

Click Here to Report a Bug


What is the Quality of Death Update?

The Quality of Death update is a MASSIVE "quality of life" overhaul that Turning Wheel has been working hard to complete over the course of the last two years. If you were a Barony player before 2020, you probably remember that we released updates much more regularly! But an overhaul of this size has required major systemic gutting, and submitting our changes to the public before it was all done would've made the game unplayable. As a result, we've had to withhold an absurd amount of new features, content, and major UX improvements until now.

Here's what you get out of the deal:

Four player same-system split-screen

For the first time ever, you can dungeon-run with adventuring buddies sitting with you on the couch. 2-player vertical and horizontal split-screen supported. 3p uses the 4p slot for the shared map.

All UI redesigned from the ground-up

We've worked to make the UI more intuitive and snappy, providing more verbose and explicit feedback to the player, in addition to making it attractive, and scale properly with varying screen resolutions.

Gamepad controls and interactions overhaul

Prioritizing superior usability and accessibility, we've worked hard to make sure Barony feels great on a gamepad, remembering also that most of our current core audience uses mouse & keyboard, and that experience also needs to be perfect.

Ongoing aesthetic and technical polish

Smoother gameplay that looks better at higher framerates, continued major rebalances to make mechanics, classes and skills more fun and valid, innumerable bugfixes including critical stability problems, Hall of Trials improvements, added level variety, and more.


Quality of Death update public beta build samples:

Sleek character creation info (from our new 4p simultaneous character creation lobby) enter image description here

New lobby browser filters enter image description here

Arachnophobia Filter (replace spiders with crabs!) enter image description here enter image description here

Improved follower / leadership HUD and Menu features enter image description here enter image description here

Unique named NPC / miniboss models enter image description here

Combat animations for enemies who previously had none! enter image description here

Replaced bridge blocks with voxel meshes throughout the game enter image description here

Artful UI across the whole game, such as this gravestone death menu enter image description here

Unique signs for each shop sign, shown on the shop's exterior enter image description here

Overhauled inventory submenus, such as Tinkering enter image description here

Story cutscene art enter image description here


There's so much more.

We can't possibly show it all in a single announcement. But this should give you a good idea of the Quality of Death mission, and the beta you'll be playing. We promised to do all this work thanks to the Barony for Nintendo Switch Kickstarter, which paved the way to a better experience for all players. Well, kinda. We are doing way more work than we promised because we can't help it.

While our work was ongoing, the Steam Deck was announced, increasing the relevance of all this work to our core Steam audience. Speaking for myself, the Steam Deck play experience is near perfect. (I play quite a bit with the Deck hooked up to my TV for awesome split-screen action!) If you followed us through the Kickstarter, you'll know there's a lot more coming to Barony, including new features, content, and another DLC. The Quality of Death update is the first, and single largest step for it all. We're confident our next updates will be much more frequent, and we'll share our development roadmap with you soon.

To our long-time fans, thank you for your patience with us!

Since the Kickstarter campaign, the Turning Wheel team has gone from all part-time / hobby work to full-time employment working on Barony. We're very excited about what that focus has allowed us to deliver to you today. We are grateful for the opportunity to further enhance and fulfill Barony's potential. Thanks for sticking with us. The future looks bright.

See you in the dungeon!

Oh yeah, the game is also discounted on Steam right now until Monday the 7th. Great time to buy!