Bury your beards in our sweet Holiday Sale and event!
[p][/p][p]30% off the game for a limited time! Holiday event is also happening, so make sure you grab your limited time candy cane pickaxes, holiday hats, and get some holiday treats in your bank like they last![/p]
We have a big announcement regarding when Below the Stone's release will happen in January!
[p][/p][p]January we have something big planned for all the fans, And we're looking for playtesters for our combat update that is slated for the same time! If you'd like to join in the new combat update, fill it out here:[/p]
[p][/p][p]Since it's the holidays, I thought I'd also share a great story about an indie studio we know, Pizza Kidd, another indie just trying to make it in the industry. He's a friend of the studio, and is also launching their Kickstarter crowdfunding page! [/p]
Pizza Kidd is a a gritty sci-fi beat ’em up inspired by Street Fighter II, Streets of Rage, and 90s anime.
[p][/p][p]They're looking for supporters! So check out their trailer, and also sign up for their Kickstarter page below. Here's their trailer: [/p]
- Mike @ Strollart; Below the Stone[/p][p][/p][p] [/p]
Small Security Patch Out Now
Greetings fellow dwarves!
We just put out a small update that fixes a security vulnerability (CVE-2025-59489) inside of the game engine that powers our game (Unity Engine). Since this is a very small update that is purely to resolve this problem, there will be no version number change.
The next upcoming update (The Combat Update) will also have this security patch, as well as every update after that (of course!).
Extra information about this vulnerability (CVE-2025-59489)
This video covers this news very well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toRGh5NVAbs
But there is a few takeaways that I want to make towards all of this:
#1 Steam and various other platforms have taken measures to protect us from people who may try to exploit this.
#2 From my own research, it appears that the vulnerability does not "happen" while the game is running. The vulnerability exists in how programs can take in additional data (launch parameters, command arguments, whatever you want to call them). So the exploit involves launching the game with very very specific launch parameters that allows an attacker to execute code outside the game itself (which could steal your data, or do many other bad things) by using the permissions of the game itself to bypass antivirus.
What this means for you is, in order for this to be used against you, you have to click on something (like a link or button) that launches the game with this "evil input data" that performs the exploit. So for most people, your not going to be randomly hacked out of nowhere just by having the game installed on your computer, or if you run the game without any additional data, such as if you were to double click on the .exe itself.
The exploit is still there, which is not great, but that is why we are patching it. So there is no chance of it being taken advantage of.
But again, with all this being said. We have patched this issue so it is no longer a problem. I am only mentioning all of these details to help keep people informed. And also because I know some people may want to run older versions of the game in the future. So I am saying all this to maybe give some people a bit of peace of mind that the game being actively running on your PC isn't exposing you, and that typical internet precautions are enough to keep you safe (don't click on shady stuff).
Below the Stone Sale! + Combat update Sneak peek
[p]Dig into the deals! Below the Stone is on SALE — gear up for your next underground adventure and save big while you mine deeper than ever. Don’t miss out… treasures await![/p][p][/p]
[p]We've also been working on a few big combat related thing`s as well. Set bonuses are going to be a part of the next update, which will include other stats outside of armor to build toward.
We're also in the middle of rebalancing a lot of enemies that were a struggle to encounter in the early game, while also making their behavior more interesting to fight during your battles beneath the stone.[/p][p]
[img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/3fa597960aba6b569fb808dd6e360b74667e9d7b.png"][/p][p][/p][p]Another big change coming is making biomes part of the main progression path, requiring materials from each biome in order to progress through the game, like combining Silver Ore with Ectoplasm from the haunted biome to make Spectral Ingots. These ideas are not final listed below, but they give an idea of what the team is discussing. We'd like to hear what you think![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/731d2699e57c925010e5f673a7655ff09c2f75cd.png"] [/p][p]There's also been work by the art team, including a new boss battle! (Still very much wip)[/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/78a2a54d779a9d8e4d33f43b653e1a7fe387f4c4.gif"][/p][p]I’ve been thinking about posting more casual updates as we go—just little snapshots of what we’re working on. Sometimes as a dev, I feel like I need to show off something shiny and polished, but honestly, that can strip away the realness of what we’re doing and how we connect with you all. If you're into seeing more of the messy, behind-the-scenes stuff, I’d love to keep sharing quick, unfiltered posts here. Just us, building this thing together.
- Mike @ Strollart; Below the Stone [/p]
A Sneak Peek at What We’ve Been Working On
[p]Some people have been asking us what we've been working on, so I think it's due time we do another Steam announcement.[/p][p][/p][p]A lot of our current work is centered around Kingdom NPCs and connecting that to new in-game objectives, such as Quests and Kingdom Upgrades.[/p][p][/p]
Improved crafting UI
[p][/p][p]A lot of this work required us to refactor various bits of code so that us programmers don't lose our minds while trying to implement new features.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/5729d7c9d7302eaf24e32743a485fd07d7656050.png"][/p][p] One of which is the refactoring of the Crafting UI. To keep things simple, there were 2 separate files that were essentially copy/pastes of each other, one was for the Blacksmith, and one was for the Alchemist. Since we are adding a new NPC with new crafting recipes, it's high time we refactored that code to something general that would be used by all NPCs.[/p][p]Because maintaining 3 (or more) separate files that do basically the same thing is a programmer's worst nightmare.
Additionally, we have made various nuanced improvements to the "base" crafting ui that all NPCs use. Such as snappier animations, sizing and positioning changes, and proper scaling of certain UI elements based on window resolution.
On that note, the next thing I would like to show is the [/p]
Craftmaster.
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/588717a4907dfaf3ac09d693530af5d80bb0c218.png"](Work-in-progress screenshot of the Craftmaster and her workshop station.)[/p][p][/p][p]The Craftmaster is a tireless maker of various wonderful gadgets and contraptions, but can also make some typical and important items when needed. She supplies her fellow dwarves with many useful gadgets that other professions in the kingdom simply can't.[/p][p]She is also known to experiment once and a while. Well... Maybe it's all the time. So many projects, but only so much time in a day![/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/5022da47b8823742b741d1af467f369411b37c48.png"][TAG-40][/p][p][/p][p]For the player, several of the Blacksmith's crafting recipes will be moved to the Craftmaster, and many new items/recipes will be added to the Craftmaster as well.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/b70b6ce461ae921d41b99f5b061770a9a979cd43.gif"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/9312471303b69da14eb6b2b29c792f48cfa26246.gif"][TAG-50][/p][p](Special armor for different play styles) [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/dfa89a51994b3cdd97c6a99a674d594f4ab456c0.png"][/p][p](^ Some potential new items to be introduced with the Craftmaster ^)[/p][p]All craftsdwarfship is of the highest quality![/p][p]https://www.dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Craftsdwarf%27s_workshop[/p][p][/p]
Next up, Quests!
[p][/p][p]Firstly, a point of clarification. The Foreman gives "missions". "Quests" are similar, but don't have to be completed to exit the caves.[/p][p]The player can accept and complete quests from various NPC's. Some of these quests are relevant to the story, and others will unlock things in the Kingdom. There is a lot more variety potential with Quests compared to Missions. There will even be some quests that serve as something like a tutorial, in that the quest will help introduce the player to important aspects of the game.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/13eb585881d4d520d2db5488f9a6489702aea899.png"][/p][p](A work-in-progress screenshot of quests showing in the journal)[/p][p][/p][p]Once you start accepting quests, you will be able to see/track them in your journal. When a quest is completed, you go back to the NPC that gave you the quest and it will be removed from your journal, and you will be rewarded. [/p][p]This new quest system will be used to present the player with the existing "save this NPC" quests that already exist in the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Quests will also be very relevant to our next feature to discuss:[/p]
The Bar!
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35936341/f23f20fbd84f6e04a74e0989ee0d7b9801e09c16.png"][/p][p]The bar is an area where you will find many new NPCs with various colorful personalities, and stories to tell. The bar will also be a place where the new quest system will see a lot of use, as the owner of the bar will need your help repairing it and getting it ready for customers again. Other NPCs may also offer special quests with unique rewards.[/p][p][/p][p]Overall, we want the bar to be a lively and atmospheric place that you will want to visit just to see what's going on.[/p][p][/p]
Some other good mentions
[p][/p][p]We are also introducing a gold cost to crafting so that there is a bit more meaning behind the gold you all are accumulating.[/p][p][/p][p]We have also added a "low health passive regen" mechanic. This will heal you very slowly over time if your health is under 20 hp. It will help you out when you're in a rough spot with only 1 hp left and still need to escape the cave.[/p][p]Additionally, we have internally talked about introducing random fireplaces in the caves that you can ignite and cook foods that give you special buffs. We have not started work on this yet, but it's a highly anticipated idea.[/p][p][/p]
This is all for now
[p]I know I am probably missing some smaller things we have done already, but I have covered all the major stuff we have either done or are currently working on.[/p][p][/p][p]If you wish to ask us anything regarding Below The Stone or learn anything else about what we are working on, we can be reached on our Discord server. https://discord.com/invite/MW72QReXKh[/p][p]We typically post what we are working on there.[/p][p][/p][p]Anyways, thank you for reading.[/p][p]We hope you are digging it![/p]
Giant Bugfix Update - Alpha 0.9.1
We threw up our arms and said: "You know what, this is getting out of hand. It's time we show these bugs who's in charge here!" We really went crazy with this one. But we hope this helps make the game feel a lot more stable and polished.
Enjoy!
Alpha 0.9.1 - Bug Annihilation Update
[New Features]
* Added new escape theme (new music) * Added cursed lodestone decor bricks (and added them to their respective structures) * Added coal ore spawns to layer 2
[Improvements]
* Added 3 more potions to gold loot chest * Torch crafting recipe now gives 16 torches rather than 15 * Added logging for each time player generates a new cave system * Reduced torch melee reach from 1.3 to 1.1 * Improvements to music crossfading in situations where it happens * Small adjustment to escape sequence
[Fixes]
* Fixed issue where knockback could be applied even when melee attacks were out of range * Fixed issue where dashing while stun locked would still consume stamina * Fixed issue where standing on top of a "broken drill pod" while fully repairing it would cause the player to instantly jump into the repaired pod, effectively ending the run, without realizing that would happen. You will now be prompted if you wish to leave. * Fixed oddity where repairing a drill pod, and then pressing "summon drill pod" would effectively teleport the same drill pod to a different location based on the summon drill pod logic. It now creates a separate pod. * Fixed dialog UI appearing behind minimap * Fixed dialog UI appearing behind "deploy drill pod" button * Fixed "old goblin" journal sprite and description * Fixed issue where the "focus player" button on the Megamap would not be visible/clickable depending on your resolution * Fixed some visual issues with tooltips in crafting UI * Fixed a bug where the player could be killed while using the "layer escape hole" when it takes you back to the kingdom * Fixed various sounds (including UI sounds) not being affected by current volume settings (and sliders) * Fixed sort point of web cocoon entity * Fixed some cursed lodestone structures using the wrong Megamap icon * Fixed issues related to game unpausing while still on pause (ESC) menu * Fixed issue where some sounds that should be treated as "sound effects" in the space of the game, but instead are treated as UI sounds, resulting in their volume being 100% and not attenuating with distance * Fixed some minor visual/sorting issues with boomerang projectile * Fixed issue where lodestone golems could still be damaged by other damage sources like projectiles * Fixed controller icons not showing in several spots * Fixed controllers not being able to access general settings * Fixed baby spooder having strange movement compared to what it previously was * Fixed fire troll also having strange movement compared to what it previously was (Also disabled collider and hitbox when doing his jump attack) * Fixed some invisible objects in the tutorial scene
"Demonic Dealings" 0.9 Update
"Demonic Dealings" has arrived!
We've been hard at work in the mines addressing player feedback here, and wanted to make the game fit to everyone's playstyle. Based on your reviews, and your feedback, we have EVEN MORE HARDCORE elements for our roguelike-iest players to select, and also added easier playstyle adjustments for those who want to have a more casual time in the caves.
For our hardcore players...Locked away behind new dungeons to explore, there are Cursed Lodestones ~ Interacting with cursed lodestones now points you to the boss dungeon, buffs existing enemies, and eventually spawns the new Nightmare creature, BUT also rewards you by guiding you to layer 2 + gives you bonus loot when you open chests, mine, and kill enemies. And for our more casual dwarves... Players can buy back their gear from the goblin trader Imogen (this was already in, but we never mentioned it in a video and we also fixed how it would not save when you closed the game)... HOWEVER beware the curse of these lodestones, as they will make your items impossible to recover once you activate them! Play with cursed demonic magic, and taste the cursed flames. There's also a new mission type, elite enemy kill mission now available at Foreman.
With all these changes, we want to hear back from YOU the players, through all your amazing reviews letting us know what you like, and also letting us know any bugs or issues or features you'd like on our Discord community.
Change Log
Alpha 0.9 - Demonic Dealings Update
Key Feature:
We have completely reinvented the "caves awakening" system from the ground up. Shades no longer spawn after being in the caves for X amount of time. Instead, shades are manually summoned through "Cursed Lodestones" found in new structures that spawn in the caves. Cursed lodestones grant certain buffs to the player, but in exchange, you are constantly pursued by shades. For each cursed lodestone you activate, you gain more and more buffs, and invite more and more dangerous shades to attack you. This all resets when you exit a layer. The goal of these changes is to again allow people to play in the caves for as long as they want, while giving other players a more difficult experience, if they choose. A hardcore mode, if you will.
[New Features]
* Added Cursed Lodestone * Added 6 new "Cursed Lodestone structures" * Added Cursed Lodestone Guardians * Added fire turrets * Added new "kill elite enemy" mission to replace the existing "kill specific creature" mission * Added Layer 2 chest (currently spawns in goblin structures) * Added boomerang * Added break action shotgun * Added comically large spoon * Added throwable flares (green and orange) that you can have a blast throwing around!
[Improvements]
* Completely remade Nightmare shade (potentially fixing some bugs along the way) * Improved the "buy back lost items" feature in Imogen Shopkeep to persist the lost items over game sessions * Tweaks to various loot tables for chests * Reduced the spawn radius of the Mole Trader to allow for him to be discovered more often * Various additions and improvements to Mole Trader trades to add a bit more utility to him * Small change to torch recipe * Other various refactors and improvements to keep the programmers sane
[Fixes]
* Fixed an error with falling kobolds * Did we fix some bugs? Yea. Do we remember what they were? Not really. Maybe that's a good thing...
FINAL BIG UPDATE OF THE YEAR: 0.8, Layer 2 update
A happy holidays to all our depth dwellers! 20% off BELOW THE STONE!!!
This is our last big update of the year, with many new layer 2 additions.
We got plenty for you to dig into, from new enemies to fight, sub-biomes being implemented, new biome hazards such as falling shale rocks and slippery ice, as well as new unique layer 2 structures to explore!
This update was spent adding more content that players have been asking for with layer 2, and there is much more coming your way with our following updates we have planned.
In January, we hope to have a public road map to show what we're planning for our 1.0 release of Below the Stone. We want to make 2025 the big year of Below the Stone! Please join our Discord for more news on this as time goes on.
Alpha 0.8 - Layer 2 Upgrade Update
[New Features]
* Introduced "sub biomes" where a single biome will have other smaller biomes that can generate within it. For this update, the Ice Biome is now a sub-biome of the Arctic biome. * Added many new static decor objects to many Layer 2 biomes * Added "ice slick" entity to ice biome. Stepping on it gives you a cartoonish speed boost. * Added Ice Slime * Added Ice Bat * Added Rock Golem * Added Tiny Little Rat * Added Goblin (just a basic goblin) * Added Kamikrazy Goblin (he loves his comically large dynamite) * Added Baby Radiation Scorpion * Added stamina regen potion * Added ore glow potion * Added "biome welcome ui" that appears when you enter a new biome for the first time. Now you know what they are called! * Added falling shale hazard to shale biome * Added the ability to buy back certain items that you lost from your previous death (at goblin trader). This currently does not persist across game sessions. * Added many new goblin structures to Layer 2 to replace the existing kobold structures on Layer 2. * Added Stabilizing Crystal item (found in geode biome) * Added Ectoplasm Crystal item (found in haunted biome) * Added Ripe Lava Leaf (drops from lava ferns) * Added Fire Troll Fur (drops from fire troll) * Added sound that plays when an item drop hits the ground
[Improvements]
* Refactored and Updated character movement (both player and other creatures) to be more realistic. Objects now have proper surface friction when on the ground, and don't when in the air. Due to this, objects now also move slower in water. * Ice is now slippery * Fixes+Changes to how knockback is calculated * Updated radiation crystals to play a low hum when you stand close to them, but they also deal small damage. Highly recommend checking them out. * Nerfed bone's (skeletons) melee damage from 20 to 15, and ranged damage from 15 to 13. Also slightly buffed the basic goblin enemy, since it is meant to be mostly a Layer 2 creature. This is to help make general combat on Layer 1 more forgiving for new players, we hope. * Various minor adjustments to the spawn rates of static entities on Layer 2. * Changed ordering of biomes on Layer 2. * Various updates to existing Layer 2 static entities * Lava fern now spawns sparsely in shale biome * Various improvements to sound * "Escape Pod Summon" sound now plays positionally in the game's space. So it's generally quieter, and you can hear if the escape zone is to your left or right. * Very tiny changes to bat ai. They may be less likely to make small flight paths now. * Small change to Haunted Skull ai to give an opportunity to the player to hit them twice before orbiting again.
[Fixes]
* Fixed tooltips for applied effects * Fixed some visual issues with some particle effects * Fixed a bug where players could dash through gate entities in structures, this also means that creatures can't see you through gates as well. * Fixed unnoticeable error messages that would happen when the player opened the sound settings menu. * Fixed Haunted Skull journal description being a copy/paste from the small slime.
Alpha 0.7 Patch Notes - Halloween 2024 Update
As I (Andrew) typically do, here is the full change log for this update. I was not able to get it done on the day of the update this time around, but here it is.
# Alpha 0.7 - Halloween 2024 Update
[New Features]
* Added Haunted biome to layer 2 (not strictly Halloween content). * Added cosmetic pumpkin hat (can be found from Haunted Houses. * Added pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. * Added 4 Halloween candy items which can be collected from breakable pumpkins, each which give a different temporary effect. * Added "pumpkin patch" and "haunted house" structures that generate during the Halloween season. * Added seasonal Halloween decorations to the kingdom. * Added "spooky wood" block type (for initial use in haunted house). * Added "spooky wood with wallpaper" block type (for initial use in haunted house). * Added "haunted" block type and floor type.
[Fixes]
* Fixed a bug where small structures were not spawning as much as intended. So there should be more structures now, I think.
🎃LIMITED TIME Halloween event! Alpha 0.7🎃
Spooky time is here! All the dwarves in Below the Stone are ready for the haunting experience that lies in the depths below!
End of year plans
As the year comes closer to a close, and we have most of the foundation we want with Below the Stone complete, we're now looking at doing a series of quicker, content rich updates for players to dig into. This includes fleshing out layer 2 content, with the team discussing what sort of NPCs we'd like to add next, and how we can expand on the lodestone/"Caves Awakening" shadeling timed difficulty event for dwarves who spend too long in the caves. We'd love to hear what players have to say, so please join our Discord and comment here to let us know what you look forward to most, we are constantly reading through your messages :)
Abbreviated Changelog:
-👻Haunted biome added to layer 2 -🎃New "Pumpkin Patch" structures spawn - New Halloween dungeon -🍬🍫Added new limited-time candy items with buffs! -🦇Pumpkins with candy spawn in the caves -🎃Limited time "pumpkin mask" item added -🕙🎅Added "timed event" logic to game to allow for more future seasonal content -🐛Various bug fixes
Thank you miners for your constant involvement in our community, now go get some sweet candy and ores while it still lingers in the caves!
Below the Mines Bundle!
Howdy miners!
Today, we're very honored to announce a bundle between Below the Stone and Forgotten Mines!
For all the dwarves who go deep Below the Stone to find the Forgotten Mines! This Dwarven pixel art roguelike bundle is all your dwarven pixel art roguelike needs!
In the games, dwarves must descend into the deepest mines and get their riches back! But the mines are full of dangers and enemies, so prepare for difficult fights
About Below the Stone: Below the Stone is an extraction roguelike about dwarves on the quest for the deepest depths. A place where each and every descent will lead to new adventures -- and where only the most determined dwarves with many lost lives will be rewarded by the hidden world lying below the stone.
About Forgotten Mines: Wreak vengeance and retake lost mines from goblins, orcs, skeletons, and demons in this small-scale tactical roguelite RPG. Build the perfect expedition team and turn the underworld red with each challenging, fast-paced run. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2238630/Forgotten_Mines/
This bundle is a "Complete the Set Bundle", which means that if you already own one of the game, you get a 10% discount on the other game! And Below the Stone is currently 20% off until October 30rd!
For all the dwarves who go deep Below the Stone to find the Forgotten Mines! This Dwarven pixel art roguelike bundle is all your dwarven pixel art roguelike needs!
