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« on: November 22, 2022, 11:49:34 PM »
Balance Update Summary
The November 2022 update to game balance addressed two earlier issues of the game: early-game areas were too easy, and the second half of the game could be unfair due to a harsh spike in difficulty. To alleviate these issues, we buffed the Health values of most enemies in the first half of the game, adding additional stats, abilities, and effects where necessary. This concerns areas of the game leading up to about the end of Chapter 3. From Chapter 4, some areas needed a reduction of difficulty instead of buffs. Often these areas had issues with boss mechanics rather than actual creature stats, so we started with tweaking unfair behavior before moving on to stats. Overall, creatures in the second half of the game received mild buffs or mild nerfs, depending on the situation.
The goal is to have Classic-difficulty players be able to complete the game without the use of heavy meta or much side-questing. In turn, Veteran- and Courier-difficulty are meant to provide a challenge with a decent amount of side-questing and proper build optimization.
Attribute Update Summary
The November 2022 update to attributes revolves around the redesign of three stats: Charisma, Focus, and Dexterity. The main focus was to make Charisma a useful stat in combat, in a way that the other attributes keep their usefulness too. To achieve that, two stats that were previously unaffected by attributes will now scale from them: Critical Strike Chance and Status Effect Chance. The interrupt system, clean hit, and critical strike rules were also updated to reflect these changes. The following paragraphs discuss the attribute update in details.
Interrupt System
The interrupt system now considers the attributes of both the attacker and the defender when an attack is made. Characters can be built to cause or withstand an increased amount of interruptions based on their stats and equipment. To cause interruptions, slower weapons are more effective than fast ones, while spells, specifically Elevated-energy spells are the most potent options. On the other hand, casting spells leaves the user vulnerable to interruption. Slower weapons, especially when paired with a shield, are the most effective for evading interruption.
Charisma
Charisma is now a heavily offensive stat besides providing utility in social situations. The attribute benefits both Critical Chance and Status Effect Chance, as well as the Interrupt Strength of a character. These associations are in line with its broader meaning of cunning and fighting creativity. This makes Charisma a very useful stat to damage dealers, especially those who can keep themselves out of harm's way.
Focus
Focus, in turn, now focuses more heavily on defenses. Focus benefits Interrupt Evasion, and to some extent, Critical Chance. It also kept its pre-existing defensive attributes (Dodge chance and Block chance). This makes Focus a useful stat for both spellcasters and frontline characters.
Critical effects now extend to damaging and healing spells, thus Focus is desirable to both offensive and defensive casters.
Dexterity
Dexterity is now the sole attribute contributing to Aim and Accuracy. In addition, it pairs with Charisma to constitute a character's Status Effect Chance. Like Focus, it kept its pre-existing defensive attributes (Dodge chance and Parry chance). Dexterity is now primarily useful for weapon users and crucial for improving hit ratings.
Clean Hit
The bonus damage for Clean Hits has also been increased, adding a moderate buff to Dexterity, to balance it with the buffs to Charisma.
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