[Closed beta 0.10.1.0-SNAPSHOT] Tutorial Improvements, Power Line changes
Content changes:
-Significantly improved NPC monologue system for readability and effect.
-Added a more hands-on opening tutorial that covers controls, crafting, electricity, and combat. Most of Helper-bot's dialogue has been re-written with a little more personality, too.
-Improved visuals/sounds for tier 1 Minibot
-Power lines now start with 1 "Delivery Socket", but can be configured to have up to 5. This should make connecting power grids across your planets much simpler!
-Adjusted loot tables on starter planet to reduce inventory clutter.
Fixes:
-Fixed collision separation issue that sometimes caused players to 'teleport' up ledges.
-Improved various issues related to ground-smash ability for the 'cleaver' weapon
-Fixed crash related to Crystal Extractor
-Fixed various HUD misalignments
-Fixed issue where Nano-hammer would target and damage weeds, but could not kill them
[CLOSED BETA 0.10] Spring 2023 Devlog
Minicology is gearing up for a signup-only beta - join the Discord server if you’re interested!
If you’ve got a tester copy, check out the “SNAPSHOT” beta branch by right-clicking Minicology in your steam library and navigating to PROPERTIES->BETAS. This branch might have some bugs and crashes for the next few days, but if you’re eager to check out the latest features, go right ahead.
What’s new from the past few months:
Massive, open galaxies
Minicology is getting a whole new universe - with procedurally generated solar systems in need of rescuing! Each system generates a set of objectives, which range from repairing factories to fighting bosses. At the end of each system you’ll be rewarded with a single-use terminal that lets you spend your levels on permanent upgrades to your character. Systems can be started and finished in any order - it’s up to you to decide how you save the mini-verse!
Anvil system
Crafting an anvil will now let you embed enhancement cores in weapons. Each weapon has a base number of enhancement slots, so there’s some strategy to picking your favorite weapon+core combo!
Serum brewing
Farming Fronkeys just got more interesting! Fronkeys now drop toxins, which can be morphed into consumable serums by combining them with Antivenom at a Serum Stand. In later updates, look out for ways to weaponize toxins against enemies :)
Shielding & Critical Hit systems
There’s a new framework for shields, which let players and enemies alike block damage under certain conditions. Certain weapons are better than others at breaking tough enemy shells and deflective shields - so choose carefully!
Critical hits deal more damage and can activate special effects like life steal, shields, or stamina regen. A crit-heavy build can chain together critical attacks to activate these effects and stay ahead of the competition!
Starmail
Players can now craft Starmail launchpads to ship materials to other planets. These can also be connected to Item Pipes in order to automatically unload shipped materials into your chest room!
UI overhaul
Among other things, crafting has gotten a major overhaul. You’ll no longer need to switch back and forth between tabs in order to research+craft, and you can now investigate the full crafting tree by researching items from the preview menu.
Progression improvements
Early game progression is a little clearer! Players can now craft Steel - and associated weapons+armor - out of coal and ferrite, and several machines are available to further refine materials into advanced weapons and accessories.
Lots of new Enemies!
Catch weather-specific enemies like Pufferfish and Water gaslins on rainy days, or new invasion foes like the Jellyfish Psion or Moon Jelly! Lots of fun stuff here.
Performance enhancements
Lots of these! Many systems run smoother and game saves should be more stable.
[0.9.7.0] Feedback and bug report improvements
Sorry for all the patches in the past day! I got a slew of bug reports and decided it was finally time to improve report handling
Menu Changes -Bugs can now be reported from within the Minicology Application -Crash reports can now be sent directly to the developer by checking the 'attach crash log' button on the bug report screen -Minicology will now prompt users who have crashed in last session to report bugs -Email can be supplied in bug report form. If you have supplied your email, you should get a notification when issue is marked as resolved
Gameplay changes: -Fixed formatting on a few labels -Early-game context-based tips will now be shown multiple times -Placed spawn cap on number of ambient peblins/jellyfish that can be alive at any given time
[0.9.6.3] Hotfix
-Tweaked enemy spawn-rate scaling
[0.9.6.1] fixes
-Meteors now correctly deal 15 damage instead of 30 -Fixed issue where meteor event would fail to drop rewards if timer was under 1 second -Fixed issue where shooting meteors with an arrow could softlock the event
[0.9.6.1] fixes
-Meteors now correctly deal 15 damage instead of 30 -Fixed issue where meteor event would fail to drop rewards if timer was under 1 second -Fixed issue where shooting meteors with an arrow could softlock the event
[Demo 0.9.6] Meteors re-loaded, QoL fixes
Meteor Event Reworked:
-Meteors now only destroy terrain on event failure -Meteors can now be knocked down in air, but can also be destroyed on the ground. Get rid of them all before the event ends! -Meteor Storm now only drops Burning Essence on successful event completion
Tutorial changes: -Players now start with Research Station+Helperbot in inventory, rather than ship storage -Helperbot will now re-deliver opening monologue after being destroyed -Reworked tutorial highlight for input/output buttons -Gameplay option added to reset tutorial tips -Enemy spawns are now delayed until the first night -Ready for More? event is now delayed until the first morning
QoL changes: -Torches are now less obtrusive -Holding up while jumping through a platform will now let you jump up to 3 blocks high -Players now start with 60% health + hunger after death -Gameplay option to turn on keyboard shortcut reminders above hotbar buttons -Clicking on an immature turnip/wheat will now destroy it and drop its seeds -Spawncap placed on invasive plants in a single area -Fixed certain issues with auto-ducking
Bugfixes: -Fixed issue where changing keybinds wouldn't save -Fixed crash on saving/loading verticle gardens -Fixed possible crash on menu load
[Patch 0.9.5.1] Label format fixes, new tips
-Fixed formatting issues on several help labels -Fixed issue with health bar displaying on vertical gardens -Changed Helper-bot opening tips to be more helpful -Added tips for activating events, cave heat, and Woperators -Adjusted when the 'event activation' menu appears - should be more obtrusive now
[Public Demo 0.9.5] Base Building Fest!
Automation
Find a Printer Nozzle in one of the challenge chests to get started! Crafting a Pipe Printer will let you print pipes that can be used to link chests & crafting stations together for automatic smelting, milling, cooking, and printing!
Auto-printers have replaced 3D printers, and can be used to craft a preset recipe when connected to automation
Item Filters can be used to automatically sort items
Crafting station UI no longer needs to be open in order for auto-crafting to work. Just link a generator up to a furnace, mill, or printer, and let it roll!
Irrigation is significantly improved, and now uses the same systems as automation to transport fluids
Status effects & temperature
Status effect system reworked - using elemental weapons will now fill an enemy’s Status Bar with heat, cold, corrosion, static - when filled, powerful status effects are applied! It’ll take longer to fill the status bars of big enemies.
Temperature UI reworked - you can now see each temperature/hazard source and its amplitude on the temperature UI.
New mouse tooltip style added, for describing elemental/environmental hazards.
Event improvements
Rainbow spawns have been significantly improved - they'll no longer spawn in weird corners or outside the bounds of the skybox!
Comets reworked - they now apply frost with a new projectile pattern and drop Frozen Essence. You’ll need to destroy them before they explode!
HUD now shows event health bar
Meteor Shower drops improved - no longer require sunstone dust to forge thermium ingots
Tutorial improvements
Many ‘event’ style tutorials have been replaced with ‘tips’ on the sidebar. You can adjust the frequency of tips in settings.
Players now start with Survival Woperator
Helperbot is less obtrusive
Climbing and movement tweaks
Climbing down one block tunnels no longer results in animation errors
Climbing can be started while player is still on the ground
Climbing ropes down one block tunnels no longer results in stuttering movement
Jumping from ropes and ladders improved
Double jumps are no longer used when the player jumps while a few pixels off of the ground
Cayote time improved
Tree climbing improved
Tool improvements
Still not entirely happy with the UX here - but it’s definitely harder to accidentally water the wrong thing!
Frostjet and Thermal Drill now apply status effects to enemies
Blocks can now be placed on top of structures.
Hammer targeting improved
Misc:
Lots of new item art & optimizations
Floating Islands are now larger and less common. Should reduce confusion when events trigger on top of floating islands.
Decorative leaf blocks added
[0.8.8.6] hotfix
-Fixed crash on hitting armored enemies with melee weapons -Changed hitspark light radius
