I’ve been spending the last little while updating the UI.

In the Alpha build the UI was very simple and looked like a prototype. Function over form. In the first Beta build I updated the UI’s look a little – cleaned up icons, better layout, etc – but it was still very plain.

Keeping the UI simple has actually saved me a lot of development time, because I never cared too much about how it looked, it was easy to re-do screens and rearrange the UI layout.

However a gray background doesn’t cut it for the full game. Now that the game’s features have been pretty much implemented, I’ve been spending some time updating the look.

What do you think?

I’ll probably touch it up a little bit before it’s complete, but the overall direction I’m pretty happy with so far.

A new day, a new version: Heroes of a Broken land Beta 5.0!

Lots of improvements all around, tons of new world events that give quests, some involving multiple dungeons, giving you a much more lively world. Plus the much-requested auto attack button, for those easier encounters.

List of Changes:

• Fixed a bug where multi-floor dungeons could change on reload
• Auto-attack toggle added, automatic melee attacks for easy encounters
• Added basic mini-map feature to the world
• World monster made more dangerous, damage is % of total gold, monsters are more agressive
• Keyboard shortcuts are now user-configurable
• You can now select your party by keyboard (1, 2, 3, etc)
• Added basic Dungeon generating events – random dungeon creation w/reward
• Fix potential crash with certain events on Tiny sized worlds,
• Tiny worlds are a little bit bigger
• Rescue quests/events added
• Treasure hunt quests added
• Artifact quest added
• Custom portraits

World Map

Once again Heroes of a Broken Land has been updated and now downloadable.

Upated builds should be available on Desura and GamersGate “soon”

What’s new in Beta 4.0?

• Game now downloads new versions automatically (full auto-patching still TODO)
• Fix Spell Focus and Healing Prayer skills to properly boost damage/healing
• Event system upgrade – multi-stage events, world awareness (karma, danger levels, etc)
• Undead Hoards & Rat Plague Events added – quest spawing events
• Alchemist Huts can now be found on the world map
• Fix bug where reloading on turn 1 would give a new party
• Higher level recruits may now be from Elite classes

What’s coming next?

The event system upgrade should mean that games become more interesting and varies.  I will be adding more world events as well as adding more detailed and complex events. The choices you make will have consequences, both short and long term.

I will start taking a second look at shops and trainers, balancing their prices and skill availability.

Plus I’m going to start filling in some basic missing functionality that I’ve been promising: keyboard customization and customizable portraits.

We’re getting closer and closer to the final 1.0!

Beta 3.0 is now out!

A much requested feature has been added: help screens! Now you can see the various classes and their skills. You can also read up on defated monsters.

There was also quite a bit of skill balancing, especially Fae and Lizards, but Priests and Mages also now have some new unique skills.  Unfortunately if you’re using a save game from a previous version your skills won’t be updated.

• Help Menu (shows class skill list, building info and monster stats)
• Tweak loot drops (slightly more armor drops)
• World object tool tips
• Speed now has more influence on action timings
• Lizard skill tree adjusted, many more unique options on level up
• Fae skill tree adjusted, Fae’s main attack changed to Fae Blast an upgradeable, unique spell
• Mage and Priest skills adjusted, now more difference between classes
• Skill descriptions now show stat adjustments
• Ice Storm skill fixed, Ice Elementals should behave better
• Skill selection now keyboard selectable
• Fixed crash when player had 100% resistance
• Fixed bug where Golem, Fae and Lizards could become Adventurers

Beta 2.0 is here!

This update fixes a few important bugs and adds some new objects to dungeons.  This should help make each dungeons more varied and make exploring them less predictable.

• Fix town alliances (broken in Beta 1.0), towns should give out quests again
• Fix dungeon layout changing on reload
• Added altars: pray for help, you may be ignored, receieve a blessing or even a curse
• Added map jammers: magic pillars that prevent automapping an area (makes labyrinths much more fun!)
• Added secret doors, so keep your eyes out!
• Added jails: they contain monsters or heroes, but which one?
• Plus lots of minor tweaks and fixes

Beta is a major milestone for the game, but there’s still lots to do!

The game is also now on Steam’s Greenlight, and hopfully with you help will one day be available for purchase from Steam.  Don’t forget to vote Yes, it’s appreciated!

Between Beta and the Final version dungeon variety will be improved, with new traps and interactive objects. The game needs some balancing work, espeically with non-human classses and the end game.  Of course all bugs must be squashed and there are 100s of little issues to address before the final version can be released.

Changes:

• World tiles art updated
• Farm & Inn art updated
• Downloadable demo version added, Demo versions have level cap
• New music, longer loops
• Credits screen added
• Message log ordering & fade tweaked
• World Generation settings tweaked (larger worlds mostly)
• Fix crash when party is defeated in first dungeon, on first turn
• Fix Witch’s Hut
• Fix Weak spell castable outside of combat
• Fix 1st level recruits not having selectable classes
• Fix corrupted save game issue
• Fix issue with doors and switches disappearing (hopefully)
• Fixed bug when switches share a wall
• Numerous minor bugs and tweaks