KOTCL Developer Diaries: New NPC Under the Light of a Triple Moon
Knock, knock, travelers!
The holidays are over—all the fireworks have been set off and the only reminders of Christmas are the fir-trees in the woods of the Frontier, and instead of lights we now have burning torches and candles on the underground altars. We’re happy to see you in the new year! Our team is grateful for your kind wishes under our previous post—it was a pleasure to read them! We have had a good rest and found inspiration, and we can’t wait to share the news!
The residents of Midian are in for colossal changes. Today, we’d like to talk about the fate of the Northern Gate and the clash between the Guard and the Firebrothers. On top of that, our team has received a fragment of a map of some unknown dungeons. Let’s see what information we can gain from it!
We will also share news about the astronomical phenomena in Midian—it seems the stars have truly aligned! But what do they foretell?
Let’s find out!
Crafting a New Map – What Do You Think?
The first adventurers have already dared to descend into Midian’s underground. Few have survived—only a journal and a map fragment have reached us…
It seems those pioneers wanted to tell us all about blood-drenched altars, hidden treasures, and the magical fog that drowns out torchlight. However, they never found their way out of the dungeon...
What do you think about the dungeon map? What else would you like to see on it? Share in the comments!
The Full Moon Wasn’t Full Enough, Had To Add More Moons
In the world of Midian, the Moons play a special role. They rule the flows of magic, influence monster behavior, and even affect the moods of residents (maybe that’s why so many peasants tried to eat you?).
During the festival of the Star Spirits, our whole team went to the shores of Midian to sit by a fire, greet the new moon, crack open some ale, and...
It turned out the number of moons in the sky was surprisingly low. Together with top-tier mages, we had to correct the celestial phenomena. Full moon = 3 moons. Period. Although our programmers insist there should be at least 7 moons. We’d like to hear your advice—how many moons do you want, and what colors should they be? Would you like a bloody Moon?
We won’t spoil it, but the Moons will play a huge role in an upcoming event...
Meet The New NPC—Marshal Lupen!
The Guards and the Firebrothers couldn’t find common ground by 2025... which means you’ll have to pick a side in their escalating conflict and decide the fate of the Northern Gate.
On the Guards’ side, you’ll meet Marshal Lupen—an adept strategist and legendary swordsman. Lupen is unwaveringly loyal to his people and he always stands by his word, though in critical moments, he can act with cold calculation. Don’t be misled by his tender age—like Alexander the Great, Lupen was commanding his first unit at just 16 years old.
Who will you meet on the Firebrothers’ side? Well, you will find that out soon!
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Greetings, friends! This is Andrew aka Innrey. After the holidays, jumping back into the frantic pace of development wasn’t easy—but on the bright side, we had a good rest, replenished our energy, and are now ready for new feats!
How were your holidays? Did you have time to recharge? I used this break to take a fresh look at the game and carefully read all your comments and feedback. I’ve come up with a few key questions.
How did you feel about the final battle for Vanadis?
Should there be an even faster fast mode?
Would you like clearer hints on how to survive Millenis deadly strike?
Your opinion matters to me—I strive to implement every idea that can make the game world richer and more engaging.
Our after-holiday workdays have been very productive. Last year, we added over 3,000 new sounds, and this week, we decided to include new types of effects. Get your headphones ready—my favorite sound now is the growl of the bear spirit, followed closely by the zombie moans and the ghoul scream (you’ll hear them all in an upcoming update)!
For the most observant ones—you might have noticed that updates are coming out a bit less frequently. That’s because something incredible is happening on the bug front—there are fewer and fewer of them! This allows us to focus on new content. However, we’re still fighting the stubborn achievement involving worm eggs—it’s refusing to give in. We’re preparing a “silver bullet” fix for it; it will be fixed soon.
Now for some serious questions: do you think the game universe is balanced? We feel it’s not quite there yet— so we’ve decided to improve the game’s karma system! We’ve already leveled out the cosmic balance and adjusted the world scales, so tracking karma will become more convenient, and the consequences of your choices will be more apparent.
That’s how our winter holidays went by. How about you? How did you celebrate, and what adventures have you experienced in the game? What discoveries have you made? Let us know—we’d love to hear from you! And, of course, thank you for being with us. See you again in Midian!
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KOTCL Developer Diaries: Gifts, Year in Review, and a New Book
Knock, knock, travelers!
The world of Midian has existed for already five winters! We can hardly believe it! Can you? We are very inspired that together with you we were able to create an entire world and keep it alive for so many years!
In honor of this, we’ve prepared a small gift for you for the New Year! Click here to participate in the key giveaways, and at the same time get a prediction and learn interesting facts about our game! And if you already have the game, you can always gift the key to your loved ones :)
An icy wind blows from the Thundering Mountain. You’re warming your hands by a bonfire when Hoogin flies back to your camp and starts circling near you. A moment later, the raven unclenches its claws, and a small scroll falls into your palm. Inside you see... the latest issue of "Midian News"! Let's begin!
Mortis Wishes You A Happy New Year!
You’re about to uncork festive ale when you see a sleigh in the distance. Mortis is riding in it. The sleigh stops next to you, and Mortis's voice echoes through the old cemetery, warming your entire body:
The Solstice is already very close, and a new ring will soon lie on the endless axis. I saw how the wine cups fill and empty, how your hand lifts the crown from the mud... Victory… Defeat... It’s all the same...
You saw the cyclical dream of life, and your power is already great, so I wish you knowledge, peace, and rest. In the New Year, great achievements await you and me!
Let's Sum Up The Year! We Can't Believe Our Eyes, But The Numbers Don't Lie...
This year we:
Released Knock on the Coffin Lid (previously in early access)
Announced the release of DLC — Nightmares of Millenis
Released Prologue with a free version of our game (unfortunately, we recently had to shut it due to new Steam rules)
Fixed over 1000 bugs
Released 17 updates (not counting hotfixes)
Gave away over 100 keys to the game
Added 3106 sounds
Broke our own record and received 94% positive reviews on Steam in a month
In addition, we
Reworked Vanadis and completed her story
Added credits with endings that change depending on your actions and lead to unique outcomes
Made a travel log
Made a grand final battle and significantly improved it thanks to your feedback
Added animated avatars to Steam
AND MUCH more! Over this year, we have been on an incredible journey, hardened ourselves, learned to work better as a team, and better understand which development tasks are the main quest and which are the side ones. But our main quest remains the same—to keep making a game that you will like and making it together with you.
How did you spend this year? Share your achievements!
Dressing Up For Holidays Will Be So Much Easier With Book Of Skins!
Our best scribes have locked themselves in the library of the Northern Gate together with the court mage. Day and night, they are working on a new book, written in moon-colored ink on parchment made of monster skin...
This enchanted book exists in a single copy, and very soon you’ll be able to hold it in your hands and leaf through your collection of skins! What skins would you like to see in it? Just... please don't ask ‘Bjorn in a bikini’ (again)!
How To Celebrate Holidays In The Game? With New Loot It’s Elementary!
Soon you'll also come across small gifts in the game. The brewers of Midian have not yet discovered champagne, but soon you’ll be able to celebrate memorable events with Midian moonshine. Although it’s better if you don’t know what it’s made of... By the way, do you recognize the lantern? Maybe you even remember its owner and where they live?
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Andrey aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon, is here again.
Just like that, 2024 has flown by — our first year with the game in full release, with the precious number 1 at the beginning of each update. It's hard to believe...
After sleepless nights during the release and anxious evenings after the patches, we’ll take a short break for the New Year to wind down a little. We want to spend this time with Dota our loved ones to recover and get inspired. How are you planning to spend the holidays? How was your year?
Mine was crazy but in a good way. Our game has grown to an insane scale, its world has gotten larger, and very bright people have appeared on our team, thanks to whom we were able to seriously take on the rebalancing and porting of Knock.
I’m very glad that through all that time we’re not losing the creative spark and intimacy with which the whole project began. Each of us has space for creativity that others don’t intrude on. Most ideas for new features, characters, and plots are born within our team, during calls. We also discussed ideas for a new game and for a new credits design — everyone has lots of cool ideas to offer, and I'm glad to see how they are being realized and growing.
It's incredible to see how Knock has grown into a whole universe. Just yesterday it was a small prototype, an idea that I discussed with my friends.
Thank you for being with us this year! In 2025, you can expect new game modes, epic battles, dungeons, ancient altars, and much more :)
Happy New Year!
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UPDATE 1.1021 IS HERE!
Knock-knock, travelers!
We've prepared a new patch for you, in which we've decorated the game for Christmas, added new animations, and fixed some bugs! We've also focused on the UI and significantly reworked it in many areas to make reading and playing more comfortable.
New Features
Added the ability to view the world map from battles and from the reward selection panel at the start of a run.
Increased the dialog window size in events.
Improvements
Fixed a bug where extra rewards were displayed at the end of a run.
Fixed tooltip display errors in events and cursor behavior on the map when moving the camera.
Fixed an issue where allies' intentions would change after receiving a buff.
Corrected the achievement "Be water, my friend" to properly unlock with 10 or more Evasion.
Fixed a bug where the "Thin Ice" talent did not apply Vulnerability to enemies.
Fixed an issue where the Armadillo's "Battering Ram" attack ignored a pet's Taunt.
Resolved UI inconsistencies in the hero class selection panel and hero panel in the Glossary.
Added automatic equipment for items rewarded after an Elevation, even if an item is already equipped.
Added chain animations on cards that cannot be played due to the "Helpless" debuff.
Event text will no longer auto-scroll if the player manually scrolls up.
Fixed a bug where "Cursed Death" did not deal damage.
Corrected target selection for "Call to Arms" when allies with Taunt are present.
Fixed the "Slowing" card shuffled by Grutall into the deck if an ally is present.
Improved the "Tit for Tat" talent by adjusting how many times its effect can stack.
Fixed the behavior of Armadillos.
Addressed interactions between "Warchief's Knuckle Dusters," Evasion, and Notch for Bjorn.
Fixed the "Snake Bite" behavior for the Lunar Druid.
Corrected the gold stealing mechanic of the card "A Hit To The Pocket".
Fixed an issue where the "Sacrifice to the Spirits" card did not burn upon play.
Added animations for equipment icons when a set effect activates.
Fixed the countercard "Call Of The Wild".
Fixed the card "Choosing Tactics/Choosing a Strategy".
Resolved the chest exploits with the mad dwarf.
KOTCL Developer Diaries: Game Porting, Skins, and Battle Log
Knock, knock, travelers!
The week is almost over, which means Midian newscast is on again. This week we have been decorating the crypt with lights, putting ornaments on an ancient fir tree in the Frontier forests, and preparing gifts for you! Also, we ditched our mice and keyboards for… joysticks! We’ve made huge progress in porting our game to Xbox, PS, Steam Deck, and other platforms.
The game is growing and growing! The Star Spirits inspired us to wrap up the arcs of your favorite characters so that all guns are fired, all seeds sprout, and all stories weave into a single narrative.
We’ve also decided to learn a new craft and have taken up book printing! Can you already smell the ink, feel the rough pages, and feel the leather binding? That’s us working on a new in-game book. We’ll show it to you next week!
And we’re preparing a little Christmas surprise for you! You’ll find out more about it in the next dev diary :)
Bjorn Recommends — A Moonlit Dinner From The Chef Of The Rotten Bog
Have you started preparing for the Christmas feast? Our forester is also setting up a festive table! Soon, you’ll be able to visit his cabin and enjoy the finest delicacies of Midian.
But be extremely careful... Many who shared bread with the forester later found themselves on his platter. Will you dare to have dinner in his cabin?
Debuff Bingo?
While traveling through the Rotten Bog, you feel the chilling fog seeping into your very bones—the White Seal debuff is slowing your movements. Approaching the Northern Gate, you notice strange enchantments—it seems the mad court mage has cast Excess on you, doubling all negative effects.
These new debuffs will shake up the usual gameplay, adding challenges and mini-games. But the main issue is which debuff suits you today?
Our developers picked The Red Lying Man for themselves. What matches your particular vibe at the end of the week?
Alright Then, Keep Your Secrets… With The Battle log, Secrets Won’t Stay Hidden For Long!
A mirror of your power, the battle log, is almost finished. Remember how you survived Millenis’ deathly blow at the battle of the Northern Gate? Or that time when worms in the Crimson Steppes almost devoured you alive? Now, all those memorable combat moments can be replayed and relived with your fellow travelers over a tankard of ale in the tavern.
And perhaps most importantly—you’ll always know what killed you, so there’ll be fewer deaths!
Remember Dickens’ Ghosts?
Well, now you too can become a ghost and hear Bjorn’s swan song!
Thank you for your ideas on ghostly skins in the last diary! We’ve tried to take your feedback into account and prepared the almost final “ghost” designs.
Now, if Bjorn eats one too many ghostly mushrooms, his body will shudder and his spirit will literally separate from his flesh. So you’ll soon get to feel yourself like a ghost from A Christmas Carol, or perhaps from Macbeth!
Eerie glimmers of light, the whispers of departed souls, and a chilling atmosphere. What is it like to fight alongside the dead? Try it, if you dare!
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Hello, friends! This is Andrew aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon. I’m happy to chat with you again and share some fresh news. It’s suddenly the end of the year—only a few days left, just two weeks! How’s your December going? Are you wrapping things up or still waiting for one final push?
First off, a huge thank you for your warm feedback on our roadmap. We were nervous preparing to share it and never expected it would be received so positively. You discussed and critiqued it, and shared ideas—and all of that deeply inspires us to keep moving forward.
We were especially glad to see the attention given to UI improvements, including font scaling. The work is in full swing: every little piece of the interface, every hand-drawn illustration is being scrutinized. It’s not just about slapping on “a bigger font” but ensuring everything looks stylish, cohesive, and intuitive across the many devices the game is being ported to. We’ve already stocked up on joysticks and are testing. Soon it will be time for Xbox and other platforms! For now, it’s all internal, but we hope you’re preparing your gamepads—the future is near.
Speaking of the future: recently, a negative review about the Steam Deck popped up. A quick reminder: there’s no official version yet. While the game does run, controller support hasn’t been adapted, so it’s all at your own risk. We’re taking that review into account, of course, but our main focus remains on a full-fledged console adaptation.
At the same time, we’re fine-tuning the characters’ health balance—their fates hang by a thread! We want the math to be precise and the experience to feel fair. Everything will be clear and precise.
You’ve also asked what comes after the roadmap. We’re planning to dive headfirst into developing a new game (while not abandoning Knock!). We’ll definitely be looking to you for ideas and advice.
With each update, you help us get better. And now, as the year draws to a close, we’re reflecting, making conclusions, and planning for the next one. What stood out to you this year? In any case, thank you for staying with us and sharing your thoughts. See you in the next diary, friends!
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KOTCL Developer Diaries: Working on a Roadmap, and a New NPC!
Knock, knock, travelers!
We have a big basket and a small buggy of wonderful news! We have finally completed our roadmap and recorded a new video, in which we discuss the map in more detail and also hint at when you can expect the features you’ve asked for. If you don’t have time, don’t worry—we drew it all in the diagram below.
A major interface update is on its way, and we’re a bit scared. We're also working on new NPCs; not all of them are even animated yet, but they’re already plotting changes to Midian. Oh, and please help yourselves to rare treats from the gardener orc— we hope you’ll like them! We’re also looking forward to your suggestions and feedback about the new location. Take a seat by our campfire, we’ll tell you everything step by step!
The Much-Anticipated Roadmap Is Ready!
We’ve created a map of key updates so you can see our plans and follow the development process.
Combat log will let you find out how and why you died. Planning tactics will become easier, and there’ll be fewer frustrating deaths.
Event log will show your progress in unique events and remind you where you left off.
Interface improvements will eliminate the necessity to jump between menus! For example, some new indicators will appear on the map, and when selecting new gear, you’ll immediately see comparisons with what you’re currently wearing.
Text, despite seeming a simple feature, it turned out to be one of the hardest tasks to work on. Adjusting the font size means reworking the map, UI, and many other things. But we’re committed to adding this feature.
Full Game Rebalance We’re overhauling everything in the game—1,300 cards, more than 250 enemies, and over 400 items. We aim to complete this by the DLC release in April.
New NPC—Dangerous and Courageous Helga
What would happen if you combine Rambo and Medici and put them in a medieval world?
You get Helga the elf—a seasoned diplomat and spy, ready to do whatever it takes to restore peace in Midan. Oh, and she’s on very good terms with Bjorn...However, you’ll have every chance to fix that :) How do you like the new character? Are you ready to face her one-on-one?
Oasis in the Steppes, Watering Can as a Weapon, and Tomato Trophies
It’s already winter, but it’s always sunny in the Crimson Steppes! All branches bend under the weight of fruit, and flowers bloom in desert oases. Every day, the farmer-orc weeds his beds and waters his green companions—and very soon, you’ll be able to visit his blooming garden!
But who knows what these new ingredients will bring to your favorite growth potion from this event?
Seeking Your Advice: How to Furnish a Hut?
Do you remember the witches who tried to cook a firebrother? Very soon, you might see them from a COMPLETELY different perspective! Just look at how they’ve tidied up their hut for you! For now, this is just a draft, so you have every chance to influence its final version!
Feel free to share your thoughts: what would you like to see in the cabin? So far, we’re considering enemy skulls, bubbling potions, or a man-eating cat, but we feel like something is still missing… What else should we add?
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Hello friends! It’s Andrew aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon.
For a while, we’ve been working on our much-anticipated roadmap and have promised to show it to you—and it’s finally here! But if a simple image isn’t enough for you, if you want to not just glance at the diagram, but hear our voices and dig a little deeper—here’s a fresh video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGPDnpDNl4I
I recorded it especially for you so you can peek behind the scenes of creating those very stories where every little detail matters and every piece of code becomes part of the narrative. Enjoy your watch, everyone!
This week, we’ve been focusing on event endings to help the story unfold fully, 100%. We don’t want plot threads to get tangled into a meaningless mess; we aim to reveal our story through all the mechanics—so that every player feels the story in their gameplay experience. The sequence of events, as we envision it, is the personal journey of the player and the result of their choices. Even now, every choice is woven into the game narrative. We’re striving to make Midian not just a lifeless backdrop for a card battler, but an immersive environment with a coherent, engaging story and a fitting ending.
And now, that moment has come—the drumbeat is resounding in our chests, and it’s not palpitations from too much coffee, but the final voiceover for our DLC trailer that we’ll be sharing with you soon. Capturing all this madness in one video was no easy task: new bosses, tarot cards, and plot twists. I hope we’ve managed. Very soon, you’ll see the fruit of our labor! (And don’t forget to add our DLC to your wishlist so you don’t miss it.)
I’d like to once again express my sincere gratitude for your words of support. We aimed high—at 92-93% positive reviews—and thanks to you, we hit the mark! Now, we’ll have to set a new goal — 95%.
We read your reviews and comments and respond to them when we can. Your ideas inspire us a lot. The fact that you share your experiences helps us keep moving forward. Thank you and we’ll see you soon in the next dev diaries!
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KOTCL Developer Diaries: Magic, Spirit Persival, And Dark Vanadis
Knock, knock, travelers!
Today we’ve got a lot of news on DLC! We’ve prepared new reborn heroes for you— they’ll reveal themselves in a completely new light. Prepare to face hordes of the undead, explore new gear, and experience magic intertwined with the fates of our beloved characters.
In this diary, we’ll talk about mantles, Vanadis’ encounter with dark forces, and Persival’s transformation into a spirit. And there will be surprises, of course. You will see what our heroes might look like in a parallel universe. Gather around the campfire—it’s going to be exciting!
The Mantle That You Chose!
Remember the poll from our last diary? Most of you voted for mantle #2 —an artifact as ancient as Mortis’s magic itself. But the deciding factor was a comment on Reddit by player Anomadner, who explained in detail why a round collar was out of place in the Midian era!
So, we settled on option 2, improved the design a little bit, and even tried the mantle on the other heroes. Now, they can adjust their brooches with an air of importance while looking like true fashion adepts.
What do you think?
Vanadis Will Sell Her Soul...
The Bog curse looms over Midian once more, and this time, dark magic will make its way into our heroes. Vanadis will face Death herself.
She won’t be a simple archer anymore—she’ll serve the Goddess Death. But in exchange for her new powers, Vanadis will lose part of her humanity. Will you help her return to her old self or side with the ancient force?
There'll Only Be Soul Left Of Persival...
Meanwhile, ghostly mushrooms will turn Persival into a spirit,
Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires
As you can see, we’re inspired by Hamlet’s father’s ghost! Are there any other medieval specters you’d suggest we look into?
So far, we think artwork #1 looks too much like a silver golem, so we’re leaning toward artwork #2. We’re considering making him legless—you won’t need boots, and equipment sets will be much easier to assemble. What do you think? Which ghostly style appeals to you more, 1 or 2?
Esha, I’m Your Father!!
Last week, we introduced you to Esha, our new NPC mage. Now it’s time to meet her father!
Beneath his stern exterior lies a sincere love for his daughter. Separated by dark forces, Esha and her father are ready to do whatever it takes to reunite. But will they have the courage to face the Bog curse?
Somewhere in a Parallel Universe…
What if our heroes looked... different?
Picture elongated limbs, distorted proportions, and faces straight out of Dali and de Chirico’s paintings. In our rare breaks from working on the DLC, we’ve been experimenting with alternate versions of our characters. Soon, we might have enough for a full parallel universe! Some break, eh?
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Hi, friends! This is Andrew aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon.
The work on the game has been intense this week, and I’m excited to share the highlights with you. First, I want to say that we’re not just creating our game thanks to you, but we’re evolving it together, too. Your sessions, strategies, and all your experiences in the game help us make it better.
Much of our progress is thanks to your active involvement. This became possible because we now have real, large-scale data on your gameplay experience—something we didn’t have before the release. We can analyze how you play and use that data to improve KOTCL.
We’ve identified 17 key strategies the players use. Yes, we’re literally analyzing your builds! We track which strategies lead to victory and collect data to make the game more engaging. Our immediate plans include refining these strategies to keep the game challenging even for veterans while avoiding frustrating moments when bosses counter specific builds. Now, we know exactly what works and what needs some tweaking to keep every moment thrilling!
We hope that you’ll be able to play KOTCL on the gamepad pretty soon. We’re working on adapting game controls. It’s a huge work in progress, but our developers are already testing KOTCL on gamepads!
Additionally, we’re tackling sound design for the DLC. Do you love listening to the sounds of rain or the ocean? So do we, but right now, we’re binging "Midian’s Greatest Hits" while working on the DLC soundtrack! Sword swishes, explosions, magic… and maybe some Christmas carols in December. We hope the sounds will be a welcome surprise for you!
Thank you for staying with us, sharing your ideas, and supporting the project. Your involvement truly inspires us.
See you in the next diary! :)
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Nominate KOTCL for the Steam Awards!
Knock-knock, travelers!
We’re here with a last-minute reminder: there’s still time to vote for Knock on the Coffin Lid in the Steam Awards!
If you’ve enjoyed the dark world of Knock on the Coffin Lid, please consider nominating us for the Steam Awards. Steam lets you choose the category, and we believe "Outstanding Story-Rich Game" suits us best.
Just a reminder: voting ends on December 4th at 10 AM Pacific Time. Don’t miss your chance to support us!
KOTCL Developer Diaries: New Characters And Clever Enemy-AI
Knock, knock, travelers!
Do you hear the crackling of magic in the air? That’s us, preparing new mage characters for a life in Midian. But don’t be surprised if you also hear the clash of metal and battle cries! We’re also putting your enemies through daily harsh training, to make your fights with them more thrilling. Oh, and by the way, their loot assortment is about to get richer as well. :)
Let’s get started!
Family Reunion!
Let us introduce a new NPC—Esha the elf!
Dark forces have separated Esha from her father, and she’s begging for your help… You can refuse, of course, but beware—more strength might be hidden in this delicate-looking girl than it seems!
Will you help her? Or will you dare to face Esha’s wrath?
Where Are Your Manners?
We’ve already made new skins and skills for Persival. Now it’s time to add some real flair. Behold the Elder’s Armor! Now Persival can not only swing his sword but also quote Shakespeare and sit with impeccable posture.
Which version do you like the most? Let us know — your feedback means the world to us!
Demonic Music Box and Cursed Doll
There’s some new loot in the mix! Here are a couple of new items:
Music Box: A key piece of the revamped Bored Demon event. Are you ready to hear its tune?
Doll: Who could have left this creepy toy in the dungeons? And who do you think it belongs to?
We won’t spoil anything yet, but remember: this new artifact’s owner can count on unique bonuses… if they’re brave enough to accept the gift.
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Hey there, friends! This is Andrew aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon.
This week, we’ve been busy preparing our next video diary. We’ll share our roadmap (it’s pretty and ambitious) and break everything down for you. We’re eager to discuss the latest changes with you and hear your thoughts because we wouldn’t be here without you.
And now for some spoilers! We’re hard at work on enemy and ally specializations. You read it right—they’ll now have distinct roles, just like in an awesome RPG: tanks, supports, and other strategically important teammates. Honestly, it’s a bit scary to tinker with such core mechanics, but the thrill of it outweighs the fear! We won’t rest until the game is perfectly balanced.
And one more thing: we’re completely reworking the boss mechanics. Engaging in a boss battle head-on? Forget about it! Now, you’ll need to find a certain “key” in each map—this could be a tactic, a resource, or even an object to help you take the boss down. Battles will be much more exciting, so get ready for a real challenge.
If you have questions about development, storylines, tactics, or just want to know how we’re surviving here, feel free to write us! I’ll answer all your questions, and the best ones will be featured in the video.
Thank you for your support, patience, and your love for our game! We’re giving it our all to bring you updates that will make you happy and make the game even better.
See you in the comments and the next video diary!
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KOTCL Developer Diaries: Persival’s Death, Rainbow Altar, and Scout’s Mystery
Knock, knock, travelers!
Do you hear the crackle of a bonfire in Midian's dungeons? That’s us, waiting for wayfarers with the best of victuals and the latest of news.
Come into our cozy camp and pour yourself plenty of ale—today we’re going to tell you about underground relics and the horrible consequences of imbibing the immortality elixir.
Let’s begin!
Persival Pays For Immortality
Immortality costs a fortune, especially if it comes from the Ichor of the Mite. Persival accepted this power which gave him the possibility to face the most dreadful enemies, but for that, he had to sacrifice his humanity and become a weapon in the hands of dark magic.
These sinister changes will be embodied in Persival’s new appearances. He will be not only visually transformed but also receive new weapons and abilities.
Rainbow Altar For The Underground Gods
Don’t fret, it won’t be all doom and gloom! One of the new objects in DLC is the rainbow altar which will add some colors to the dismalness of the catacombs. Unknown creators raised this artifact in ancient times to honor their underground gods. They who take a chance and interact with the altar might receive unexpected upgrades!
But, as it often happens, divine gifts come with ironic catches. Those upgrades can easily turn into curses.
There are already four underground altars, each with unique properties. We’ll tell you about the others very soon!
Major Development In Scout’s Plotline
The elven scout’s story will soon get a continuation! We’ve already added some new events and choices, and a couple of unexpected turns of events.
One of the key moments is the attack on the dwarves’ camp. The scout acts quickly and mercilessly, but… to what purpose? Who is he—a spy, an avenger, or simply a pawn in someone’s hand? Unraveling his motivation is left to you.
Vanadis Learns Magic
anadis decided that a bow was not enough to combat the new threats from the dungeons. After many years of learning from druids, she finally managed to tap into the secrets of magic, and in DLC you’ll get an opportunity to try out her new skills.
Can Vanadis combine her bandit past with her present as a mage? You’ll find out soon!
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Hello, friends! This is Andrew aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon.
We always read your comments—everyone gets our attention! Right now, we’re religiously working on the game balance. We want each battle to be a challenge and not a breeze with an overpowered build that lets you finish the whole game with your eyes closed. We’re working hard, so brace yourself—new trials are coming!
What that also means is that the enemies will be smarter. Each opponent will have a clear role, be it tanking, attacking everything that moves, or debuff-spamming.
We’re finishing up the events thanks to your feedback. Now, event difficulty and rewards will strictly depend on the event type—battle, elite battle, or a random event. The farther you go, the harder the journey, and the more valuable the reward. Routes will require more strategy to encourage you to explore new roads and trails instead of using well-worn paths. This is all happening thanks to you sharing your impressions and gaming experience with us.
We’ve got lots of work to do, and your ideas and comments are our best source of inspiration. Thank you for staying with us!
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KOTCL Developer Diaries: Fan arts, Voting, Zombies
Knock, knock, travelers!
Do you hear hammering blows and otherworldly singing? That’s our blacksmith making new armor for Persival, while our bard is composing new plotline endings! And that’s not all—there won’t just be ours, but also your creative work in today’s diary.
Now let’s get to the news!
We’re making the skin you voted for!
Last time we had a poll to find out which image of Persival the Knight you liked most. Your feedback was unbelievable! Thank you very much for your comments, they helped us to pick the image. We’ll finish the artwork soon and get on to animating it!
On top of that, we’re experimenting with visual effects so that Persival stands out in battle. We’ll have a new vote pretty soon!
Finishing Up Endings
We can tell that the plot of the game and the fate of Midian’s folks are important to many of you. That’s why we’re working on the final book that compiles the endings of the main story arcs. Right now the book contains:
We’re actively drawing new pages to help you better feel and see how your actions influence the characters’ destinies and their world.
26-34 endings for Persival (there can be additional ones depending on your choices)
29-37 endings for Bjorn
28-46 endings for Vanadis
We’re actively drawing new pages to help you better feel and see how your actions influence the characters’ destinies and their world.
Reviving The Dead
For connoisseurs of everything dark and gloomy, we’ve filled the dungeons in DLC with the undead who are ready to battle with you. Not only that, but those undead are infected by some ancient parasites giving the zombies new abilities.
Looking At Your Artwork
We find great inspiration in seeing our players’ creative takes on our game. Thank you for the memes and fan art! Today we’ll share one of our favorite pieces—thank you, juang3d on Twitch for your imaginative approach! Send your memes, art, and any creation of yours that was inspired by our game! We’ll happily post your works in our future diaries.
How About Some Chit-Chat?
Hello, friends! This is Andrew aka Innrey, the founder of RedBoon.
This week we finished our first sprint that included several large tasks. It’s a new model for us, where we organize tasks into two-week periods — sprints. Honestly, I’m thrilled with how it went — we actually finished everything on time, even a bit early! Fingers crossed this becomes the norm and not a one-time thing.
Our work on the COMPLETE GAME REBALANCE is ongoing. So far, we’ve reworked all parameters for the starting cards, a bunch of common cards, and plenty of legendaries. If you’re curious about what’s changing, let me know, and I’ll drop a few spoilers. In parallel, we’re reworking ALL the enemies in the Frontier. We’re tweaking their positions and fine-tuning their stats. Turns out there’s a leftmost route on the first map where you hardly encounter any enemies — making that route pretty easy, but turning the final boss battle into a nightmare.
We’ve also revisited the mechanics of curses. There will be fewer of them, but they’ll have more interesting and stronger effects.
Rebalancing is a massive task, and it could seriously slow us down before the DLC release, but we’re trying to stay on schedule. Our minimum goal is to have the event system updated in time for the holidays so you have a reason to come back to Knock ;)
Thank you for following our progress and sticking with us. I really appreciate it <3
See you in the next dev diary, and thanks for all your feedback and comments!
