Throne of Bone cover
Throne of Bone screenshot
Genre: Strategy

Throne of Bone

Beta Changes: Content updates and a rework to hearts

Thanks for all those providing feedback on the beta changes. I am hoping to have these ready for the main branch by end of August!

Gameplay Change


Trying out a change to hearts in combats where you minions are defeated.
Was: Each remaining non-defender enemy minion caused the necromancer to lose a heart.
Now: The necromancer loses one heart for failing to clear a combat room, and all hearts if they are unable to clear the Final Boss.

New Minion:

"Gatekeeper"
Level 4 Horror Steward (5 skull cost)
5/5
Defender
Support: Other friendly minions with Defender or Support get +5/+5.


Content Changes


Cursed Doll
Was: Defender. Dies: Give a friendly minion +2 Attack permanently, then summon a copy of me to the enemy's side.
Now: Dies: Give a friendly minion and enemy each +2 Attack permanently.

Necrooze -> The Ooze
Was: Summoned or Sacrificed: Fill your empty battlefield and bench slots with random minions.
Now: Sacrificed: Fill your empty battlefield and bench slots with random minions.

Energy Echoer
Was: Whenever a neighboring Related minion's ability triggers for the first time each combat, this copies it.
Now: Whenever a neighboring Related minion's ability triggers for the first time each combat, trigger it again.

There's been a lot of confusion (and bugs!) due to Energy Echoer copying the ability for herself, rather than copying the ability and preserving the original source. (ig: dealing damage based on its own health when copying Nether Warden). I'm exploring this simplification, with an understanding that it changes the outcome of some interactions from what used to happen.

Virulent Zombie
Was: Level 3 (4 cost) 4/2 Whenever an enemy takes Magic or Poison damage, I gain that much Health this combat.
Now: Level 3 (4 cost) 4/4 Whenever an enemy takes Magic or Poison damage, I gain +2 Health this combat.

The day has come. It hurts to change what has been an exciting moment for a lot of new players, but I think this character needs to be nerfed in order for more strategies to be viable and interesting.


Bug fixes


#533 if you hover over the top right corner outside of the shop this will pop up
#544 Extra coffin buy tokens ares stacking in the UI if you don't buy them, until a significant portion of the screen is them. It should just show 2/2 left to buy or whatever on the one token.
Bug: Managed to get an integer overflow by having -1 attack on shadow mentor. The Possessor was a 5/32 before this.
#548 A shielded minion behind a shielded Rampart being attacked by an Elite Archer results in no shields lost. Unsure if the rear shield is necessary.
#543 BETA: Old bones was not buffing minions on combat start. (Old Bones was only giving +1+1 not +2+2)
#554 golden disciple of destruction only applies poison once per attack
#553 Ready BoneSaw bonus from perfected minions was reset after going to a sparring
#558 beta: pickled brain seems to be resetting it's count during every Rest section

Cannot Repro:
These aren't necessarily not bugs, but I am unable to reproduce what was reported, so I am looking for more information
#535 if you level up mid combat via deadwood summoning will o wisps into the fight and abomination attack the boss it will softlock the game
#541 after previous best and losing, you often (always?) will not get credit for beating that curse level
#560 energy echoers do not work at all in rival fight

Beta Update: Relic changes and more!

Hey folks,

Another batch of updates for Beta. I'm hoping to get feedback on these before I move these changes into the main branch for the Summer Content Update (hopefully by late August!)

Another Minion Joins the Necromatic Lineup


Disciple of Destruction
Level 4, 5/5. Zombie Mage
Attacks: Apply 1 Poison to all enemies.
Dies: Deal 5 Magic damage to each Poisoned enemy.

Goggles on, it has dev art by yours truly : ]

The High Eye

The High Eye fight has been updated. I've also slightly increased the rate in which The High Eye spawns as the final boss, just for more beta exposure.

Banners and Buildings


Banners now appear after Area 2: The Castle, and Buildings appear after Area 3: The Throne Room

Storage

The Exhume/Expand storage-granting activities have been removed from the 3x3 grid. Instead, now you can purchase a storage slot from the skull shop once per area for 3 skulls.
Additional storage slot have been such an important resource that it would often dominate the selection of 3x3 activities. Bringing it into the shop provides a more consistent way of getting storage, and adds a bit of risk: forgoing summoning mid area may make it more likely you lose a fight.

Relic Changes


I'm hoping to make the Area 1 Relic reward something that has a meaningful impact in your overall run, rather than just being a small power boost. I'm hoping these changes lead to more variety and memorable builds from run to run.

Wand of the Dead
Was: Skeletons and Zombies get +2/+2.
Now: If a friendly Skeleton or Zombie attacks, you choose its target.

Pickled Heart
Was: Reapers and Blights get +2/+2.
Now: Reapers and Blights get +1 Attack. Grows by 1 for every 5 minions summoned.

Darkflame Candle
Was: Spirits and Horrors get +2/+2.
Now: Spirits and Horrors are Shielded.

Ashen Warpaints
Was: Warriors and Shamans get +3 Health.
Now: Warriors and Shamans are Related.

Bloody Whetstone
Was: Minions with Ranged or Sneaky get +4 Attack.
Now: Minions with Ranged have Sneaky. Minions with Sneaky have Ranged.

Ebonstaff
Was: +2 to your Magic Mastery.
Now: Your Magic Mastery is doubled.

Gravesoil
Was: +2 to your Poison Mastery
Now: Your Poison Mastery is doubled.

Chains of Obedience
Was: Ferals get +3/+3.
Now: Ferals costs 1 fewer Skull to summon.

Necronominicon
Was: Level 1 minions get +2/+2.
Now: If summoning a minion triggers a friendly ability, trigger it twice.

Mask of Wrath
Was: Rogues and Mages get +3 Attack.
Now: Rogues and Mages have -2 Attack and gain Multihit II.

Ready Bonesaw
Was: Improved and Perfected minions get +3/+3.
Now: Improved and Perfected minions get +3/+3. Grows by +3/+3 whenever you perfect a minion.

Bug Fixes:

#539 New Bone Steward that gives skulls for being hit, after perfecting him took four hits in a fight, and I only got three extra skulls after combat

I'm still investigating some of the weirder bugs seen with some combination of Deadwood/Ooze/Doll/Deathcycle. I appreciate the reports and logs shared in discord