Before leaving for Gamescom, some fresh news for you all!
Hello Champions!
You might have noticed the silence in our communication over the past month. With the excitement of Gamescom drawing near, our halls have been abuzz with preparations and plans to create an unforgettable experience. Amidst this whirlwind, a familiar tale unfolds: what was intended as a mid-size update, akin to our quiet intentions, has transformed into a grand journey, as has been the case with each of our previous updates.
Lorebound is now almost ready, prompting us to share some fresh news before we depart for Germany once again. As you know, Lorebound will focus on the lore and RPG aspects of the game. It marks the first installment of a series, delving into the history, legends, characters, and heroes of Plamen. While our exploration into uncharted lore continues, we've also heeded the feedback from our community. Numerous quality of life improvements have been thoughtfully integrated to ensure that your time spent in the game is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. A new round of fixes and improvements will be added as well, following recent iterations we had, making items, weapons and armors way more balanced!
While we won't unveil all, prepare for a fresh look in our locations and a new dice game to ignite your adventure in the upcoming update!
Our initial goal was to release Lorebound in July. However, true to our tradition, we're delivering much more than initially planned, and after much effort, we're finally happpy with what we've achieved. Although there's no fixed release date yet, this week is pivotal for our scheduling. Don't be surprised if Lorebound goes live by the end of the following week. While we can't make promises due to Baldur's Gate ongoing testing, this update holds great significance for us. It serves as a foundational step towards preparing for the updates to come. If, by chance, we aren't able to release before Gamescom, we may shift the launch to the first week of September [busy with the event of course]. Rest assured, we'll present a comprehensive roadmap detailing our current endeavors: a plan brimming with the multitude of contents we're diligently working on.
As we prepare for Gamescom, discussions about the full release, console journey and future are on the horizon. Your support empowers us as we meticulously evaluate scenarios, working tirelessly to ensure the best outcomes. Stay tuned for these thrilling developments!
Enemy champions can now be re-rolled during character creation when in Competitive Mode.
Changed
Destructible objects will no longer show a poise bar when damaged/locked.
Changed stocks for enchanters in Goldport and Na’Nardur.
Main Menu music track has been changed.
Fixed
Fixed a bug with Drolnaks’ arms, causing them to stay too close to the body.
Fixed a bug causing characters stun/knockdown animations not playing out if triggered at the same time of a poise break.
Fixed name of destructible pillars in Temple of Virtues.
Fixed quest giver for the time-limited quest “The Hunt” in Hashak not spawning after the 1st in-game year: now will keep to spawn each year until the quest has been accepted.
Fix an occasional glitch with melee attacks’ trail visual.
A full year of adventures, combat, and exploration in Plamen!
Hello Champions!
Today marks a special day in the journey of Alaloth as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Early Access launch. We want to express once again our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your incredible support, feedback, and enthusiasm. Your dedication has been instrumental in shaping the game and driving us forward. In our previous open letter from our Game Director, we highlighted our commitment to delivering the best possible experience. Today, we want to share some exciting news regarding what lies ahead. We are diligently working on a new roadmap that will outline our plans for the upcoming months. You have been updated on the way about on-going discussions we are having right now with a bunch of new possible partners. You even know that after the happenings of the last year we've mentioned in the open letter, we are very cautios about next steps. For sure, we prefer to prioritize the quality of our game [and the quality of life of our team] over rushing its release. Also, taking into consideration the recent release of Diablo, the summer, Baldur's Gate on the way, as well as a crowded September window, we have made the decision to go on with the EA for a while more, sharing plans with you all in the next weeks.
Nothing is changing of course: you are going to receive a huge amount of new stuff as usual, patches and new features following your feed. We're focusing right now on proof reading and on rewriting part of the dialogues to facilitate the localization process later on, reducing a bit the word count and improving quality of the text. The team is fully committed to Lorebound, our next Major Update, filled with lore-related contents to make your RPG experience bigger and better. We are on this, yes, but we are even working on what's coming up next. Ehodran should be the next big thing along with itemization and a new rework of the leveling sys [up to 20!] but we are still defining how to move on with future updates, DLC and so on. More info to follow,
Once again, we extend our sincerest thanks to each and every one of you for your incredible support, loyalty, and trust in us. The community has been an invaluable source of inspiration, and we are honored to have you by our side. Together, we will continue to shape Plamen into a truly legendary experience.
Last but not least: Steam Summer Sale now and we have the biggest discount ever to celebrate the anniversary: 60% off, 9.99$/€. What else to start your journey in Plamen?
We are close to a significant milestone in the epic journey of Alaloth. It has been almost a year since we embarked on the Early Access phase, and what a tumultuous year it has been! This is a different update, way more personal than the others and it’s just from me, Alberto/Edacar79, Game Director and creator of the game world. I’ve started dreaming about all of this back in the days: I would say that all started with D&D and an Amiga 500, in 1989, when the summer was all about this. No internet, no social media, a completely different world. I'm turning 44 today and it seems like years passed in a blink of an eye, with a young me writing down notes from pen & paper modules and videogames i was playing, being used 30+ years later in a RPG available worldwide and hitting the console market soon. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the challenges we've faced and the incredible resilience of our team: 18 amazing people at its peek, a small group of 7 worth an army today. As the one behind our social channels, Steam page, Discord, every review response, and many other activities beyond game dev [which is still the fun part of the job], I can say with pride that we have channeled our emotions into fuel for innovation, our setbacks into stepping stones towards success. Alaloth has become more than just a game to us: it has become a symbol of perseverance and a testament to the power of our passion.
Back in 2016, we've rented our first office in Rome: 6 squared meters, 2 laptops and a board...
...no air conditioning and bills paid selling some jewelry and personal savings. Worth it!
Directly from 1994, my first English notes ever to play Rolemaster and a Karameikos map
In 2022, the road to Alaloth's release was filled with obstacles and complexities that tested our mettle. We encountered issues that threatened to derail our progress. It was a time of uncertainty and frustration, but amidst the chaos, we remained steadfast in our dedication to delivering the game you deserved. And we deserved as well. During this arduous period, we experienced a significant turning point when Gamera Interactive, the studio behind the game, had the chance to take back the publishing rights for it. I cannot delve into the details surrounding this, we never did, but what you obviously already know is that it marked a new chapter in our development journey. We embraced the change and carried on, determined to forge our own path.
However, the challenges did not end there. We found ourselves entangled in a battle against a venture capital entity that had pledged its support but ultimately endangered our financial stability in the moment of need, when we were ready to push the game by ourselves self publishing it. This struggle pitted a small indie developer like Gamera against an opponent always ready to say around how much it's cool helping devs, despite the fact that their track record says way different things [just check the internet and do some math]. But through sheer determination and the unwavering support of our families, we managed to weather the storm. We've lost people on the way, not being able to offer them new contracts, we've risked bankrupt twice in a few months, we've been forced to launch during the worst period of the year, during sales, rushing things. We had to face health issues, we had to backup with our personal money to avoid waisting years of work and preserve the people that poured their hearth into the project. We have spent endless nights trying to find a way to survive, after a pandemic and many other problems completely out of our control. For all of this, i can say that we are now fighting tooth and nail to reclaim what is rightfully ours, to ensure that justice prevails. The legal dispute is in progress since months and despite this, we've delivered almost 60 patches and 4 Major Updates since June 2022, with Lorebound on its way and more or less four times the content originally scheduled for the Early Access, released in nearly 6 months. We are reinvesting all the money coming from sales, to make Alaloth bigger and better.
Despite the fact that we have been forced to launch during the Summer Sale 2022, the game did well being in Top Grossing on Steam 2 weeks after launch. I had to squeeze marketing and PR in an always-running digital press tour before June 30 but at the end the game launched with 130.000 wishlist and it helped a lot
Dragonhold is the fourth and latest Major Update available since EA launched. We've added more than 30 hours of gameplay through updates and released more than 60 patches with improvements and fixes, following users' feed
Now more than ever, we are asking for your support to spread the word about this small team of survivors, trying to deliver the always-dreamed RPG experience. Tell about the game to your friends, share it on social media, follow us, talk about this in communities. We are still pretty sure that a proper full release could be massive, considering how many people joined us on the way, with just me jumping here and there on streams and forums trying to let the world know about this crazy hybrid between an old school and a modern action RPG [which is something we had to discuss so many times during the last 12 months]. The game is huge now, one of the biggest indie production around considering contents in, with more and more players with 100+ hours under their belt [and some crazy guy from Spain topping 600! Kudos Zao!]
GamesCom 2022 has been a moment to slow down a bit, with the release of the first Major Update, Strongholds, and nearly 20 patches already released. Our booth in Germany with our friend Josh, Rick and Giulia, former Producer of the game and love of my life: In the face of immense challenges, she stood tall as the bastion of strength for all of us.
So, my fellow adventurers, as we are preparing to celebrate this anniversary together, let us remember the trials we have overcome and the strength that resides within each of us. We owe a debt of gratitude to you, our incredible community, for standing by us, for your unwavering support and belief in our vision. Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms would not exist without you. As we move forward, know that we remain committed to delivering a unique craft of love. We will continue to listen to your feedback, refine the game, and provide updates that elevate your experience.
I was looking for a professional pic of myself but at the very end, after 22 years in gaming, i still have to take a proper one. So, Starbucks in Guildford, for the win!
Thank you for being a part of this: together, we will conquer the challenges that lie ahead and shape the destiny of Plamen! The future is bright, and we are eager to share it with you. More to come by the end of the month: time to talk about plans for the full release and what's comin' up next!
As the sun shines brightly and the temperature rises, we wanted to take a moment to share some thrilling updates with you. We're gearing up for an absolutely amazing summer, packed with cool surprises that will make Alaloth bigger and better, following the recent release of Dragonhold, our biggest update so far. Can you believe it's been almost a whole year since we've launched the trailer announcing the EA release window, and 11 months in Early Access? We've come a long way, and we couldn't have done it without you, our fantastic community. If you are with us since a while, you know that we had to face many different challenges on the way [and it's not over yet], but looking back we are proud of what we achieved, despite all the difficulties. We'll have time to talk about this too later on this month btw, time has come. To celebrate this milestone, we're planning a series of community-driven initiatives that will put you in the spotlight. Get ready to participate in special events, engage in lively discussions, and show off your creativity. We want to thank you for your unwavering support and dedication throughout this incredible journey.
Still a great trailer, isn't it?
We're actively working on fine-tuning every aspect of the game as usual, from enhanced gameplay mechanics to stunning visual enhancements and we're putting our heart and soul into making the full release truly remarkable. It's not about this only, of course: as we speak, the next update looms on the horizon, bearing the name Lorebound. It's a fitting title, for this update is a deep dive into the very essence of Alaloth's world. With a laser focus on expanding the game's lore, Lorebound will immerse you in the rich history of Plamen. We're delving deep into hidden secrets and untold stories, allowing you to uncover the mysteries that have been shrouded in time. Brace yourself for epic adventures that will transport you through the eras, revealing legends and legends-to-be. You asked for more RPG-related stuff, we are here for you as usual!
So mark your calendars and prepare yourselves for an unforgettable summer of surprises and celebrations. We can't wait to share all the exciting details with you very soon. Stay tuned, stay engaged, and get ready for all of this. Meanwhile, a new build is available since yesterday, check it out!
Tweaked exit interactions from Military Camp scene.
Changed gold cost of cooking and alchemy recipes.
Improved “Compare” GUI hint texts while in Character UI to better match the current state.
Fixed
Fixed regression causing consumables with health regen buffs to become unusable.
Fixed regression causing additive damage buffs against enemy kinds to be applied multiplicatively, resulting in excessive damage against matching kinds.
Fixed Faster than light quest markers pointing to all cities in the world map instead of just Mayfalls.
Fixed edge case where Investigate tasks could complete themselves without granting the next quest entry thus soft-locking from quest completion.
Fixed a bug that prevented the proper application of some defensive proficiencies/traits.
Fix Trait Survivalist making player move slowly in the world map.
Fix Viainne occasionally warping at scene center after a roar attack.
Fix Viainne acid bombs dropping at vanishing location instead of the intended landing one.
Fix Puppet Wire summon preventing enemies’ dash-like skills from passing through it.
Fixed a bug that prevented save game to load correctly if any Investigate task was active.
Fixed no quest warning remaining on-screen after exiting the Quest Log tab.
Fixed a bug that prevented proficiencies to be correctly persisted if the number of acquired traits was lesser than three.
Fixed a bug that prevented opening the Alchemy table if the “Antidote” formula was acquired.
Fixed a bug that could leave the game in an unresponsive state if mouse pointer was hovering a menu entry while transitioning from main menu to character creation.
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