SixOkayMember, Administrator, Master Founder, Robot Entertainment, Early Access, Featured Developer
edited November 2014
New Features
MVP Scoring
Players now receive notifications during the game about how their teammates are doing. Every wave you’ll see who on your team is the best Leader, the best Defender, or the best Player, and a point value. Points are completely arbitrary and used only for scoring purposes, they don’t carry over, and they do not entitle you to bonuses at the end of matches.
Basically, it is just to help you keep track of what your teammates are up to, and it’s NOT an excuse for you to berate someone for not doing their “job”. (But it’s really cool to see your name in text-lights when you fight off a particularly heinous wave of minions by yourself!)
Press (B) to view the Leaderboard in game!
Offense/Defense Classification
Heroes are now assigned a role in the dashboard: Offense or Defense. This is the position the hero is meant to be played in, and signified by a neon outline with a little sword (offense) or shield (defense). This should help everyone form more balanced teams in the beginning, and should help new players get a feel for the type of heroes and their gameplay strengths.
This should not be confused with their Hero Class, Leader/Bruiser/Mage/etc. This is the ROLE that class is good for playing.
Also, bear in mind it does not actually limit you to that play style, it merely represents our professionally opinionated suggestions.
Quickcast and its Toggle Option
Quickcast allows you to activate a piece of gear without equipping it. So, say you’ve got a ring in slot 2, press 2 in order to fire off that ring while remaining on your primary weapon.
There’s also a new option in the Gameplay Options menu to add ALT to the binding so that you can press ALT-2 to instantly fire the off the gear.
Killscreen Re-vamp
While not technically a new feature, it’s been given a makeover. Trap debuffs are no longer shown, and only one Crowd Control effect is listed, in addition to the re-organization of K-screen info.
You may have heard whispers of this little firecracker, and now she’s finally ready to make her debut.
A spunky adolescent with a penchant for “accidentally blowing up the turkey” and “not meaning to freeze Temper’s tail to the forge”, the Apprentice is War Mage’s first (and probably the last) protégé. She can’t really control her powers, including which element they happen to be, and that is both awesome and terrifying. Her familiar, Feebee, is a shape-changing creature of chaos itself; the firebat will change element to match her mistress.
Passive: Feebee the Firebat. A small, funky looking critter held aloft more by magic than wingspan, Feebee will occasionally shoot a projectile of the Apprentice’s currently selected element at enemies. Feebee cannot be targeted or killed.
Primary: Chaotic Prism. Magic goes in, and some element comes out. At the start of each match, the Apprentice is assigned a random element (Fire, Frost, Lightning, or Arcane). All her ranged, magical attacks manifest as this element, and she receives magical resistances to her currently attuned element.
Secondary: Book Bash. Apprentice stole the Chaos Tome from the Master’s private study, and while she uses its magical nature to cast her spells, she can also use it as a club when she gets frustrated. Book Bash does a hefty chunk of physical melee damage to whatever it hits. The bash also knocks enemies to the side.
Q Ability: Spell Swap. If her current element isn’t working out, Apprentice can beseech the chaotic powers-that-be for a change. A powerful Area-of-Effect blast goes off in the new element, and both Chaotic Prism and Feebee will shoot a different element after activating this ability.
E Ability: Exploding Touch. A targeted enemy or friendly minion gets a speed boost and an explosive personality. And by that, I mean it will run forward and then, when killed, explode whatever damage type to which Apprentice is currently attuned.
Barks and Player Communications (Pressing F1-F4) work when you are dead.
Melee impact FX now play on last hit.
Sorceress “Mesmerize” effect also plays ‘Stun’ visual fx.
Players keep previous trap rotations after they die.
Allies of Ancestor can no longer kill themselves to buff him with the kill command.
We tried to patch dance protocols into the rest of the Robot employees but haven’t had a chance to playtest. Tune in to the next Orcs After Dark to see how well it worked…
1) Keep the music volume settings from one session to another? 2) Place the cursor at the login screen on the password field instead of the e-mail field?
We will see if shoop managed to fix the Robot employee dance protocol, Hateweaver specifically.
Like the F1-F4 commands working after death, makes you work with the team when your dead to call for help if you didnt get the chance to before you got jumped.
Finally we get a prospector and Temper skin!!!
P.S Like to be able to only remove the latest tunnel instead of having to start all over again.
P.P.S. Dibs on any gold Orc teeth.
_______________________________ "Ask me 'bout my Ogre Bond' - Fishbot 2014-2014
Skins for Ancestor and Temper sound GREAT. I like the subtle but important change/nerf to Ancestor. What is this 'zoom' being added to a couple of Primary attacks though? Not sure I understand... .
All the Guardian changes, the Bot behaviour improvements sound good, and that new squishable, Apprentice, sounds like a pretty darn fun character. To squish.
(ahem voice)
And is this not the best written enumeration of patch changes we have ever read? Good job! Extra cheap leather headdress for the first-wave Orc known as SixOkay! And when you hear the familiar staccatto of that MG42, just Grrr. GRRRRRR! That always works.
Just ask Ancestor. Who`s dead.
P.S.: The only thing I lament is the ongoing lack of a charge-up attack for Smolder`s Primary Fireball. I do not play her, but I always thought that was a coolly playable mechanism for her/players of her. Kind of miss it. I`d be interested to know the reasonings for having removed it.
1) Keep the music volume settings from one session to another? 2) Place the cursor at the login screen on the password field instead of the e-mail field?
Would really nice if the whole "still makes sounds in the lobby while in background" issue that has been around since the very first version were fixed too, before we go on patching hiatus.
1
SixOkayMember, Administrator, Master Founder, Robot Entertainment, Early Access, Featured Developer
Exploding Touch sounds a lot like Bloodspike's Orc sacrifice. Is it possible to use both abilities on the same orc? If so, do the effects stack? That is, would they... explode twice? Or make an explosion that's twice as large?
I seem.. to remember talks about a element switching mage at some point before these patch notes. I don't remember if it was on a stream or on the forums.
I'm sure @Nananea more than anyone else is excited to actually be able to talk about those Ring of Last Stand nerfs.
Otherwise, I like the increase in importance of having minions around when pushing a guardian lane. It also makes AoE clearing that much more important to have on defense. (Sorry defensive warmage players)
Chopping 25% off of the mp requirement on chain lightning should definitely help with the Master's mana usage. Since now he only needs to hit 5 targets to make it equal a standard shot, which might be max targets on chain lightning anyways. I don't remember what his base mp regen was prior, so I can't really comment on that bit. Now, if only I could aim correctly on him when it counts!
.. School Daze Apprentice, Harry Potter fans are we?
1
K2-D2Member, Administrator, Master Founder, Robot Entertainment, Early Access, Featured Developer
Chopping 25% off of the mp requirement on chain lightning should definitely help with the Master's mana usage. Since now he only needs to hit 5 targets to make it equal a standard shot, which might be max targets on chain lightning anyways. I don't remember what his base mp regen was prior, so I can't really comment on that bit. Now, if only I could aim correctly on him when it counts!
I did a small test on this before 1.5 was released. Each hero (that I tested) has a base regen of 3 mana per second. so master now has 1.5x the normal rate.
I did a small test on this before 1.5 was released. Each hero (that I tested) has a base regen of 3 mana per second. so master now has 1.5x the normal rate.
Meh..
was hoping Master along with a number of other heroes would have gotten some buffs so they would actually be used more often in games over the next few months of no updates. Guess not!
Among other issues I have, I'm surprised of no mention of tier 3 Kobolds being added into the minion cards. I mean, how much longer are we supposed to complain about how worthless Kobold King is (among a few other heroes, but he by far is the prime example). If the hero isn't going to get any buffs, then it would be wonderful to see if he could ever be a viable hero mid-late game (Although, whether or not he's even viable early game is a serious question someone could ask..) with actual Kobolds to push seeing as how that's the main function of his skill-set.
Exploding Touch sounds a lot like Bloodspike's Orc sacrifice. Is it possible to use both abilities on the same orc? If so, do the effects stack? That is, would they... explode twice? Or make an explosion that's twice as large?
The effects stack. The Apprentice Exploding Touch ability requires the minion to be killed before they do their AoE explodes. Bloodspikes skill will explode a minion after a certain amount of time as they run forward.
So technically you could stack them and have a double explosion possibly hit enemy heroes, minions etc. It will do some pretty significant damage.
PezRadar Robot Entertainment | Director of Marketing
Comments
New Features
MVP Scoring
Players now receive notifications during the game about how their teammates are doing. Every wave you’ll see who on your team is the best Leader, the best Defender, or the best Player, and a point value. Points are completely arbitrary and used only for scoring purposes, they don’t carry over, and they do not entitle you to bonuses at the end of matches.
Basically, it is just to help you keep track of what your teammates are up to, and it’s NOT an excuse for you to berate someone for not doing their “job”. (But it’s really cool to see your name in text-lights when you fight off a particularly heinous wave of minions by yourself!)
Press (B) to view the Leaderboard in game!
Offense/Defense Classification
Heroes are now assigned a role in the dashboard: Offense or Defense. This is the position the hero is meant to be played in, and signified by a neon outline with a little sword (offense) or shield (defense). This should help everyone form more balanced teams in the beginning, and should help new players get a feel for the type of heroes and their gameplay strengths.
This should not be confused with their Hero Class, Leader/Bruiser/Mage/etc. This is the ROLE that class is good for playing.
Also, bear in mind it does not actually limit you to that play style, it merely represents our professionally opinionated suggestions.
Quickcast and its Toggle Option
Quickcast allows you to activate a piece of gear without equipping it. So, say you’ve got a ring in slot 2, press 2 in order to fire off that ring while remaining on your primary weapon.
There’s also a new option in the Gameplay Options menu to add ALT to the binding so that you can press ALT-2 to instantly fire the off the gear.
Killscreen Re-vamp
While not technically a new feature, it’s been given a makeover. Trap debuffs are no longer shown, and only one Crowd Control effect is listed, in addition to the re-organization of K-screen info.
New Hero - Apprentice
You may have heard whispers of this little firecracker, and now she’s finally ready to make her debut.
A spunky adolescent with a penchant for “accidentally blowing up the turkey” and “not meaning to freeze Temper’s tail to the forge”, the Apprentice is War Mage’s first (and probably the last) protégé. She can’t really control her powers, including which element they happen to be, and that is both awesome and terrifying. Her familiar, Feebee, is a shape-changing creature of chaos itself; the firebat will change element to match her mistress.
Passive: Feebee the Firebat. A small, funky looking critter held aloft more by magic than wingspan, Feebee will occasionally shoot a projectile of the Apprentice’s currently selected element at enemies. Feebee cannot be targeted or killed.
Primary: Chaotic Prism. Magic goes in, and some element comes out. At the start of each match, the Apprentice is assigned a random element (Fire, Frost, Lightning, or Arcane). All her ranged, magical attacks manifest as this element, and she receives magical resistances to her currently attuned element.
Secondary: Book Bash. Apprentice stole the Chaos Tome from the Master’s private study, and while she uses its magical nature to cast her spells, she can also use it as a club when she gets frustrated. Book Bash does a hefty chunk of physical melee damage to whatever it hits. The bash also knocks enemies to the side.
Q Ability: Spell Swap. If her current element isn’t working out, Apprentice can beseech the chaotic powers-that-be for a change. A powerful Area-of-Effect blast goes off in the new element, and both Chaotic Prism and Feebee will shoot a different element after activating this ability.
E Ability: Exploding Touch. A targeted enemy or friendly minion gets a speed boost and an explosive personality. And by that, I mean it will run forward and then, when killed, explode whatever damage type to which Apprentice is currently attuned.
New Skins
Soul Thief Ancestor – It’s not stealing if you plan on giving it back later, but in the case of this Ancestor skin… I think it’s stealing.
Forged Fury Temper – Channeling anger into metal lets Temper to create some pretty cool armor for himself.
Snake Charmer Ball-and-Chain – I’m sure snakes won’t be the only charmed ones when you wear this Ball-and-Chain skin. Bouncy eyebrows.
Gold Rush Prospector – Yukon dance, if you want toooo, all around the wooorrlld… but you have to wear this Prospector skin.
School Daze Apprentice – This skin makes Apprentice look much more studious than she is, helped in no small part by the Owl form that Feebee adopts.
Hero Updates
Ancestor
Prospector
Tundra
Master
Stinkeye
Smolder
Bloodspike
Robot Entertainment | Marketing Manager
Trap Updates
Guardian Updates
Minion & Mob Updates
Gear Updates
Bot Improvements
General Updates & Fixes
Robot Entertainment | Marketing Manager
1) Keep the music volume settings from one session to another?
2) Place the cursor at the login screen on the password field instead of the e-mail field?
Like the F1-F4 commands working after death, makes you work with the team when your dead to call for help if you didnt get the chance to before you got jumped.
Finally we get a prospector and Temper skin!!!
P.S
Like to be able to only remove the latest tunnel instead of having to start all over again.
P.P.S.
Dibs on any gold Orc teeth.
"Ask me 'bout my Ogre Bond'
- Fishbot 2014-2014
Skins for Ancestor and Temper sound GREAT. I like the subtle but important change/nerf to Ancestor. What is this 'zoom' being added to a couple of Primary attacks though? Not sure I understand... .
All the Guardian changes, the Bot behaviour improvements sound good, and that new squishable, Apprentice, sounds like a pretty darn fun character. To squish.
(ahem voice)
And is this not the best written enumeration of patch changes we have ever read? Good job! Extra cheap leather headdress for the first-wave Orc known as SixOkay! And when you hear the familiar staccatto of that MG42, just Grrr. GRRRRRR! That always works.
Just ask Ancestor. Who`s dead.
P.S.: The only thing I lament is the ongoing lack of a charge-up attack for Smolder`s Primary Fireball. I do not play her, but I always thought that was a coolly playable mechanism for her/players of her. Kind of miss it. I`d be interested to know the reasonings for having removed it.
Robot Entertainment | Marketing Manager
Robot Entertainment | Marketing Manager
I'm sure @Nananea more than anyone else is excited to actually be able to talk about those Ring of Last Stand nerfs.
Otherwise, I like the increase in importance of having minions around when pushing a guardian lane. It also makes AoE clearing that much more important to have on defense. (Sorry defensive warmage players)
Chopping 25% off of the mp requirement on chain lightning should definitely help with the Master's mana usage. Since now he only needs to hit 5 targets to make it equal a standard shot, which might be max targets on chain lightning anyways. I don't remember what his base mp regen was prior, so I can't really comment on that bit. Now, if only I could aim correctly on him when it counts!
.. School Daze Apprentice, Harry Potter fans are we?
Associate Producer || Connoisseur || Robot Entertainment
Robot Entertainment | Director of Marketing
was hoping Master along with a number of other heroes would have gotten some buffs so they would actually be used more often in games over the next few months of no updates. Guess not!
Among other issues I have, I'm surprised of no mention of tier 3 Kobolds being added into the minion cards. I mean, how much longer are we supposed to complain about how worthless Kobold King is (among a few other heroes, but he by far is the prime example). If the hero isn't going to get any buffs, then it would be wonderful to see if he could ever be a viable hero mid-late game (Although, whether or not he's even viable early game is a serious question someone could ask..) with actual Kobolds to push seeing as how that's the main function of his skill-set.
So technically you could stack them and have a double explosion possibly hit enemy heroes, minions etc. It will do some pretty significant damage.
Robot Entertainment | Director of Marketing