EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

March 21, 2025

EpicDuel is back with some incredible new Gifter rewards and a light helping of balance changes and bug fixes. Plus, there is a special announcement and explanation concerning the upcoming Battlepass progress.

Balance Change and Fixes:

• Skill/Core Changes
  • Jack Frost Fury P/E: 25% robot damage as MP poison --> Flat -50 MP for 2 turns; keeps initial energy drain based on damage; Can't stack with other MP poison effects
  • Darkeater's Impaler: 3 --> 2 turn duration; 85% --> 100% damage
  • Minotaur's Rage P/E: 25% --> 30% defense reduction; removed stun chance
  • Icy Overkill (gun and aux): 110% --> 100% damage
  • Revolver Revolution: Animation updated to use existing sidearm instead of revolver
  • Bot summon animations: Hide sidearm and auxiliary to improve performance while bot and skill animations play.
• Bug fixes:
  • Primary/Gun/Auxiliary Mastery are not correctly adding +10% damage on normal attacks
  • Vigor x30 (aux): Visual bug displaying +7 Dexterity and +7 Support 
  • NPCs will use Brace sometimes when they cannot use an action instead of freezing and timing out
  • 16 Year Alpha Achievement text error

There is also a known issue in which NPCs can still target users with Lionhart's Shield active. This is mainly seen in 2v2. As a failsafe, the shield has extreme damage reduction forcing the minimum damage values (30-50 depending on attack type). This will have to be the case until an ideal solution is found.

Battlepass and Gifting Rewards Update

Remember when we mentioned in an earlier DN post that the next Battlepass would be ready in March. Well, it's almost April, and still no Battlepass. What's the deal? We knew Gifting rewards would take up a big chunk of the year, but we had no idea until the event ended that we would still owe so many rewards. Lodrian and I have been working constantly for the last 2 months to complete the rewards as efficiently as possible, and while we've made good progress getting the list down to a more manageable level, there are still about 20 more to go.

I thought initially that I could work on rewards during the "day shift" and the Battlepass content on the "night shift." That clearly didn't go as intended and both shifts were devoted to Gifting rewards. I know it seems like these things are taking forever, but please keep in mind it's just Lodrian and I making all the content you see in game, with occasional help from Tomcat and Bido. Even with others helping with content production, old crusty Nightwraith is still the only one who can implement the items in-game. EpicDuel's artists work hard and are very efficient with their time, but the fact remains that I'm THE bottleneck to anything new being added to the game. With that consideration, I will be shifting to focus on the Battlepass almost exclusively until its launch, after which I will shift back to rewards.

I understand that this decision has the potential to upset both Gifters who were expecting their rewards soon AND everyone else in the community who expected a new Battlepass (or any new content, really) soon than later, but it has to be done for the overall health of the game unless folks are willing to wait until Summer for the next Battlepass.

As always, thank you for your patience and understanding. I hope to have the new Battlepass ready as soon as I can before returning in earnest to the Gifting rewards. I wish I could do both at the same time, but we are all confined by the physical bounds of this reality.

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Tags: Nightwraith

March 14, 2025

The most recent balance update made some big waves! This week we made further adjustments while reverting some changes from the previous update.

Balance changes:

• Reverted Primary damage scaling: 0.41 --> 0.46, 0.52 --> 0.58, 0.58 --> 0.65, 0.75 --> 0.85
• Focus: +1% stat bonus for Focus 1/2, +2% for Focus 3/4, +3% for Focus 5/6
• Double Strike: Improves with Strength --> Dexterity
• Maul: Removed healing reduction
• Overload: +15 --> +20 energy cost per level
• Smokescreen: -5 dexterity reduction for all levels after the first
  • OLD VALUES: 4 7 10 12 14 16 18 19 20 21
  • NEW VALUES: 1 2 5 7 9 11 13 14 15 16
• Proton Cannon: Unaffected --> Affected by Achilles' Phalanx/Color Blast/Consecrated Ground
• Supremacy (Primary) x30: +4 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology, +3 Support --> +5 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +2 Support
• Supremacy (Sidearm) x30: +3 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +3 Technology, +3 Support --> +2 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +2 Support
• Supremacy (Auxiliary)x 30: +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology, +4 Support --> +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +5 Support
• Eternal Enhance: +3 --> +4 to all stats
• Radiation Burn: 35% --> 15% activation chance

Bug fixes

• Vigor (Armor): Properly set to +6 Dexterity and +6 Support
• Techstalker Bot E: Damage type properly set to Energy
• Malfunction can now stack with other tech debuffs aside from itself
• Debuffs applied by NPCs while the debuff is already active will no longer double stack

Gifting Rewards Update

While a few new custom hairstyles and items went out this week, one new prize is being offered generously by CactusChan: His custom CacBot 9001s are now available at Valestra for all to purchase!

New Achievement

The Fifteen Year Alpha achievement has gone rare permanently to make way for the new Sixteen Year Alpha achievement, celebrating over 16 years of EpicDuel!

Tags: Nightwraith

March 06, 2025

That's right, it's time for the first balance update of 2025! People either dread or rejoice these updates, but this one hits on enough general areas that there should be enough for everyone to chew on regardless of build. As usual, balance is subject to constant change so if you really hate these adjustments, we can always adjust in the future.

General Changes

• Divisor change to adjust Primary, Sidearm, and Auxiliary damage:
  • Primary Damage Divisors: 0.46 --> 0.41, 0.58 --> 0.52, 0.65 --> 0.58, 0.85 -- > 0.75
  • Auxiliary Damage Divisors:  0.42 --> 0.38, 0.65 --> 0.58, 0.75 --> 0.67, 0.95 --> 0.84
  • Sidearm Damage Divisors: 0.42 --> 0.38, 0.75 --> 0.67, 0.75 --> 0.67, 1.00 --> 0.88
• Successful stuns install Brace on the target.
• Brace: 15% --> 10% damage reduction.
• Max stats from items increased to 71:
  • 21 in one stat for primary
  • 18 for armor
  • 16 for sidearm
  • 16 for auxiliary

Class Skill Changes

• Tech Mage
  • Concentration 10% --> 7% damage reduction
  • Overload: Improves with Dexterity --> Support; 1 --> 2 turn cooldown
  • Deadly Aim: 10% buff to Technology --> Support
  • Plasma Rain: Improves with Support --> Dexterity

• Mercenary
  • Double Strike: Improves with Dexterity --> Strength

• Blood Mage
  • Energy Parasite: 2 --> 3 turn duration; 150 --> 100 initial energy drain
  • Plasma Cannon: 15% --> 20% defense ignore
  • Fireball: Improves with Dexterity --> Strength; scaling value 0.28 --> 0.32
  • Fire Scythe: Replaced with Bludgeon

• Bounty Hunter
  • Stun Grenade: Improves with Support --> Dexterity; requires Dexterity --> Strength
  • Static Grenade: Improves with Dexterity --> Strength; deals 70% --> 80% primary damage

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Frenzy: 40% lifesteal at level 1, +2% per level; New values: 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58
  • Suppressing Fire: Added 15% defense ignore

• Cyber Hunter
  • Adaptive Offense: Added 20% defense ignore
  • Proton Cannon: 26% --> 20% energy drain
  • Kernel Panic: Added Technology debuff: Base values -9% Resistance & -9 Technology at level 1, -18% and -18 at max level; scales per 8 Dexterity

Cores/Robots:

• Asgard's Fury P/E: Bonus damage based on energy present instead of missing energy (higher target energy remaining = higher damage) ✔
• Captain's Charge: 40% --> 35% lifesteal
• Revitalization: 6 --> 5 turn debuff; 25% --> 35% defense reduction
• Domination (Primary) x30: +6 Strength, +3 Dexterity --> +7 Strength, +4 Dexterity.
• Domination (Sidearm) x30: +3 Strength, +6 Dexterity --> +4 Strength, +7 Dexterity.
• Domination (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity --> +4 Strength, +4 Dexterity.
• Infinity (Primary) x30:  +6 Strength, +3 Technology --> +7 Strength, +4 Technology.
• Infinity (Sidearm) x30:  +3 Strength, +3 Technology --> +4 Strength, +4 Technology.
• Infinity (Auxiliary) x30:  +3 Strength, +3 Technology --> +4 Strength, +4 Technology.
• Destruction (Primary) x30:  +6 Strength, +3 Support --> +7 Strength, +4 Support.
• Destruction (Sidearm) x30:  +3 Strength, +3 Support --> +4 Strength, +4 Support.
• Destruction (Auxiliary) x30:  +3 Strength, +6 Support --> +4 Strength, +7 Support.
• Fortitude (Primary) x30:  +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology --> +4 Dexterity, +4 Technology.
• Fortitude (Sidearm) x30:  +6 Dexterity, +3 Technology --> +7 Dexterity, +4 Technology.
• Fortitude (Auxiliary) x30:  +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology --> +4 Dexterity, +4 Technology.
• Vigor (Primary) x30:  +3 Dexterity, +3 Support --> +4 Dexterity, +4 Support.
• Vigor (Sidearm) x30:  +6 Dexterity, +3 Support --> +7 Dexterity, +4 Support.
• Vigor (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Dexterity, +6 Support --> +7 Dexterity, +7 Support.
• Absolution (Primary) x30:  +3 Technology, +3 Support --> +4 Technology, +4 Support.
• Absolution (Sidearm) x30: +3 Technology, +3 Support --> +4 Technology, +4 Support.
• Absolution (Auxiliary) x30:  +3 Technology, +6 Support --> +4 Technology, +7 Support.
• Supremacy (Primary) x30:  +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +2 Support --> +4 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology, +3 Support.
• Supremacy (Sidearm) x30:  +2 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +2 Support --> +3 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +3 Technology, +3 Support.
• Supremacy (Auxiliary) x30:  +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +3 Support --> +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology, +4 Support.
• Prime Strength Boost: +6 Strength --> +8 Strength.
• Prime Dexterity Boost: +6 Dexterity --> +8 Dexterity.
• Prime Technology Boost: +7 Technology --> +10 Technology.
• Prime Support Boost: +6 Support --> +8 Support.
• Strength Boost (Armor): +3 Strength --> +8 Strength.
• Strength Boost (Sidearm): +3 Strength --> +5 Strength.
• Strength Boost (Auxiliary): +3 Strength --> +5 Strength.
• Strength Boost x30: +6 Strength --> +8 Strength.
• Dexterity Boost (Armor): +3 Dexterity --> +8 Dexterity.
• Dexterity Boost (Primary): +3 Dexterity --> +5 Dexterity.
• Dexterity Boost (Auxiliary): +3 Dexterity --> +5 Dexterity.
• Dexterity Boost x30: +6 Dexterity --> +8 Dexterity.
• Technology Boost (Primary): +3 Technology --> +5 Technology.
• Technology Boost (Sidearm): +3 Technology --> +5 Technology.
• Technology Boost (Auxiliary): +3 Technology --> +5 Technology.
• Technology Boost x30: +7 Technology --> +10 Technology.
• Support Boost (Armor): +3 Support --> +8 Support.
• Support Boost (Primary): +3 Support --> +5 Support.
• Support Boost (Sidearm): +3 Support --> +5 Support.
• Support Boost x30: +6 Support --> +8 Support.

Battlepass Preview

We're still working hard on the next Battlepass: Azrael's Doombringer! Though our progress has been slow, we're still chipping away at this next event to replace the current Deltamancer Showcase. If you still have several more levels to grind, you should still have plenty of time to complete the current BP before the next one arrives later in March!

Tags: Nightwraith