EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

July 19, 2019

This week we continue celebrating Charfade with new weapons, styles, and balance updates!

Balance

This update many cores have been buffed to increase their usefulness and viability for a number of builds

Cores

• Hawk Guardian: 130% instead of 125%
• Yeti Fury: 110% instead of 105%
• Legion/Exile strike: Additional +50 instead of 20
• Chomp (Omega Yeti and Gold Yeti) : 100% damage
• Deep Plague: 0 cost
• Molten Bullet: 0 cost
• Monkakazi Special: Raised minimum bonus to +10, max bonus to 100
• Curse: Reduce support by 50%; no warmup
• Curse Aura: Reduce support by 50%; 25% chance to trigger
• Frost Aura: 25% chance to trigger instead of 15%
• Tremor Blast: 30% reduction instead of 20%
• Feast of Flesh: Sacrifice 110 health instead of 125; +35% highest stat; 4 turn duration 

Skills

• Cyper Hunter:
  • Static Charge: Blockable
• Tactical Mercenary
  • Atom Smasher : increase cost by 30.

Charfade Gear

Find several new weapons and a super-shiny new bike at Charfade in the Barrens!

• Charfade's Battlegear P
• Charfade's Battlegear E
• Charfade's Battle Blade P
• Charfade's Battle Blade E
• Charfade's Battle Blaster P
• Charfade's Battle Blaster E
• Charfade's Battle Rifle P
• Charfade's Battle Rifle E
• Gold Charfade's Cruiser

We've also posted a fix for Charfade's Blaster P and E. The P and E should now have the proper name and damage. Charfade's Blaster P's color was modified to more clearly reflect the fact that it's an energy weapon.

Legendary Gear

For the most Epic of the Legendary duelists, we've stocked the Epic Legendary Arsenal with a platinum set to complement the Platinum Cyber Spartan Armor!

• Platinum Spartan Sword P
• Platinum Spartan Sword E
• Platinum Spartan Blades P
• Platinum Spartan Blades E
• Platinum Spartan Mace P
• Platinum Spartan Mace E
• Platinum Spartan Staff P
• Platinum Spartan Staff E

Charfade Styles

Check out the style changer for a CC and non-CC Charfade helmet!

Next Week!

Join us next week for Bido's Birthday Shop and a nightmarish surprise from Charfade!

Tags: Nightwraith

July 12, 2019

Charfade has arrived fully powered-up in her new evolved form and is ready to offer a serious challenge to the most powerful duelists on Delta V!

Charfade's Challenge

Charfade now offers her ultimate challenge in her legendary form. Who will be the first to conquer this latest legendary opponent?

Charfade Items

In her downtime, Charfade has developed several new weapons and an armor to complement her new advanced form.

• Evolved Charfade Armor
• Charfade's Blaster P
• Charfade's Launcher E
• Charfade's Sword P
• Charfade's Staff P
• Charfade's Club E
• Charfade's Claws E

Charfade's War Prize

Shortly before today's release, the most recent regional war came to an end, awarding the top prize that was very badly bugged for anyone who got to see it. It appeared as an armor that wasn't loading. Typically, war prizes are setup well in advance, and it was setup as Arbor Armor months ago, but because it coincided with the Charfade update, it was switched to Gold Little Gear (/fire to backflip and launch fireworks) as a reference to her cute, mechanized travel form. This switch was unfortunately never pushed to the live server so people receive an item that didn't exist.

In the most recent update, this was corrected. Those who received the armor should have Gold Little Gear. If it was "equipped" it would be unequipped with armor set to the default, otherwise characters would fail to login as the game would freak out if it saw someone with a vehicle equipped as an armor. The few who upgraded their armor prize had their currency refunded in full.

Legendary Items

The legendary shops have seen some love with new items available to the highest ranked Legendary players!

Exquisite Legendary Arsenal

• Cyber Spartan CC
• Gold Cyber Spartan
• Cyber Spartan Sword P
• Cyber Spartan Sword E
• Cyber Spartan Blades P
• Cyber Spartan Blades E
• Cyber Spartan Mace P
• Cyber Spartan Mace E
• Cyber Spartan Staff P
• Cyber Spartan Staff E

Epic Legendary Arsenal

• Platinum Cyber Spartan

Balance

Some small balance updates were also included in this release.

• Frenzy: Reduced max to 60%; starts at 32%; increases 2% per level
• Screaming Soul Spears: Curable with Medic; Can't use Venom Strike or Toxic Grenade to stack poison

Tags: Titan

July 08, 2019

The bonus Varium promotion has officially ended for EpicDuel. Congratulations for all those who could be a part of this great, limited Summer deal! The Infernal Gear will still be available to purchase until the next promotional package is ready to take its place. While Charfade's main release is still in development, we've included a few balance tweaks and a new achievement to keep things interesting until the main event on Friday!

Balance Changes/Fixes

General

• Sidearm: Damage scales at the same rate as primary weapon damage

Tech Mage

• Deadly Aim: requires 42 Tech at max level

Blood Mage

• Fireball: Requires 42 Dex at max level; Reduce base damage by 10
• Deadly Aim: requires 42 Tech at max level

Cores

• Blood bullet: Reduce damage to 115% from 125%
• Icy Overkill: Reduce defense reduction to 30% from 40%
• Infinity Power Strike: Reduce damage to 120% from 130%

Bots

• Infernal Android: Special starts at 85% dmg going up by 5% turn, 120 max
• Gamma Bot: Special attack increased to 108% damage
• Phantasm Droid: 2 turn warm up for special attack

New Achievement

In celebration of the Women's World Cup, we've snuck in an achievement to commemorate this event, and epic victory for the US team!

This Friday!

The "real" release is still in development and on schedule for this Friday. In the meantime, you can visit a newly redesigned Charfade at Mirv's and preview her new armor in battle!

Tags: Titan

June 28, 2019

Balance Changes/Fixes

General

• Sidearm : Improves with strength. We've had Sidearm set to improve with Dexterity for years, but ultimately determined that it made the stat too powerful compared to Strength. We hope this change encourages more build diversity and improves utility of the Strength stat.
• Field Medic: Improves with every 2.5 Support; Improves with every .1 levels over 20
  • Level 1: 165 Health Points
  • Level 2: 190 Health Points
  • Level 3: 215 Health Points
  • Level 4: 240 Health Points
  • Level 5: 265 Health Points
  • Level 6: 290 Health Points
  • Level 7: 315 Health Points
  • Level 8: 340 Health Points
  • Level 9: 365 Health Points
  • Level 10: 390 Health Points

Bounty Hunter

• Smoke: Increase base cost by 10 energy
• Stun Grenade: Improves with every .4 Dex instead of .45
• Shadow Arts: Removed damage reduction aspect as it was viewed to be too strong

Mercenary

• Blood Commander: Increased lifesteal to 80% of strength from 70%

Tech Mage

• Overload: Improves with every .3 Dexterity; Improves with every .3 levels above 20
• Plasma rain: Improves with dextery
• Assimilation: Now absorbs 100% of  energy drained

Tactical Mercenary

• Frenzy: 0 Energy requirement
• Field Commander: 10% Crit boost was only applying to primary damage. Will now apply to sidearm and auxiliary.

Cyber Hunter

• Malfunction: Improves with every 3.5 Support instead of 3.7 Tech
• Shadow Arts: Removed damage reduction aspect as it was viewed to be too strong

Blood Mage

• Overload: Improves with every .3 Dexterity; Improves with every .3 levels above 20
• Plasma rain: Improves with dextery         

Cores

• Health booster:  300 health  ; Energy booter: 300 energy
• Absorption: Changed from 50% to 40%

Next Week!

"Hey! Where's the meat?" You may be asking. Next week, we'll kick off the 4th of July Week with an Epic Charfade Evolution release. Charfade has been on Delta V for nearly a decade and while that harsh environment has made her gruff and gritty, it hasn't hardened her heart toward the sparce wildlife remaining on her adopted planet. Join us next week for new achievement, new bosses, new weapons, new armors, and all the burgers you can eat!*

*Last part may not be true.

Tags: Nightwraith

June 21, 2019

This week in EpicDuel, get ready to boost your rating points as we introduce 3 new, long-awaited, evolving achievements. While your stacking your ranks and trying the latest round of balance updates, try downloading the latest Artix Game Launcher for the best dueling experience!

Balance

As of the latest balance update, Mercenaries were punished hard and Hunters surged while Mages languished somewhere in the middle. This update will introduce some changes to soften the other passive armors, reduce the spam-ability of Venom Strike, and increase the stat cost of Shadow Arts. Mages should see a bump with a boost in Plasma Bolt and a change to Supercharge which can provide a huge boost to Rage depending on the target's Rage.

General

• Auxiliary damage rate improved slightly to encourage Support builds

Bounty Hunter

• Smoke Screen: Improves with every 4 Tech instead of 3.7
• Venom Strike: Cooldown 3
• Shadow Arts: Changed requirement to Support
  24 Support(+2 per skill level increase)
  Level 1: 24 Support
  Level 2: 26 Support
  Level 3: 28 Support
  Level 4: 30 Support
  Level 5: 32 Support
  Level 6: 34 Support
  Level 7: 36 Support
  Level 8: 38 Support
  Level 9: 40 Support
  Level 10: 42 Support

Mercenary

• Artillery Strike: Improves with every .35 support instead of .4

Tech Mage

• Plasma Bolt: Boosted defense ignore to 15% from 10%
• Supercharge: Caster receives bonus Rage based on target's current Rage
• Deadly Aim: requres Strength instead of Support

Cyber Hunter

• Venom Strike: Cooldown 3
• Shadow Arts: Changed requirement to Support
  24 Support(+2 per skill level increase)
  Level 1: 24 Support
  Level 2: 26 Support
  Level 3: 28 Support
  Level 4: 30 Support
  Level 5: 32 Support
  Level 6: 34 Support
  Level 7: 36 Support
  Level 8: 38 Support
  Level 9: 40 Support
  Level 10: 42 Support
• Plasma Armor:
  Level 1: 10% Resistance
  Level 2: 12% Resistance
  Level 3: 14% Resistance
  Level 4: 16% Resistance
  Level 5: 18% Resistance
  Level 6: 20% Resistance
  Level 7: 22% Resistance
  Level 8: 23% Resistance
  Level 9: 24% Resistance
  Level 10: 25% Resistance

Tactical Mercenary

• Artillery Strike: Improves with every .35 support instead of .4
• Toxic Grenade: Cooldown 3
• Mineral Armor:
  Level 1: 10% Defense
  Level 2: 12% Defense
  Level 3: 14% Defense
  Level 4: 16% Defense
  Level 5: 18% Defense
  Level 6: 20% Defense
  Level 7: 22% Defense
  Level 8: 23% Defense
  Level 9: 24% Defense
  Level 10: 25% Defense

Blood Mage

• Supercharge: Caster receives bonus Rage based on target's current Rage
• Deadly Aim: requres Strength instead of Support

Bots

• Pyro Fly:Chooses from top 3 skills rather than top 4 

Achievements

Win Rank: Awarded for wins, corresponding to rank icon on stats page. This will default to hidden and will update after one PvP victory.

Buy Backer: Now an evolving achievement with 12 levels. Will take some time to update, but can be updated instantly with a Buy Back purchase.

Banker: Awarded for buying bank slots (doesn't include the 20 free slots). 10 levels. This will take some time to update, but can be updated isntantly with a Bank Slot purchase.

Get the Artix Game Launcher V2

If you didn't know already, very soon most major browsers are discontinuing support of Flash! You may notice that browsers already disable Flash by default and require you to give special permissions to enable Flash. The best way to play EpicDuel and all the other Flash Artix Entertainment games is with the Artix Games Launcher 2.0! This app is the best way enjoy all your favorite AE browser games with easy access ot the latest news on each game's ongoing development. Ideally, all these Flash games will be ported to alternate platforms (like Steam, iOS and Android), but that project will take a bit more time and resources considering many of these games have decades of content!

In the meantime, get the latest Artix Games Launcher and Duel On today!

Get the Moglins on BackerKit! New stretch goal unlocked! 

You can still get the Moglins for a limited time on BackerKit!
The Moglins Kickstarter was a success! We have been using a service called BackerKit to send out the in-game codes to backers months ahead of schedule. If you missed out on the Kickstarter, you can still pledge and get your Moglins through BackerKit until the end of December. For more details, check out the complete Design Notes post about it!

Tags: Nightwraith

June 11, 2019

Surprise! To get out ahead of the ongoing security updates to the servers, which did cause some downtime earlier today, we're rolling out some significant balance changes today! Currently, Mercenaries and Tactical Mercenaries are extremely power, partially due to passive shield bonuses like Hybrid Armor. Other classes that are underperforming due to lack of damage or limited build diversity will receive signifant buffs to make them more competative.

Balance Changes

• General
  • Field Medic: 3 turn cooldown

• Bount Hunter
  • Venom strike: Reduce cost -20; Cooldown 2; Poison 4 turns.   
  • Cheap shot: +3 % per lvl
  • Shadow Arts: Damage reduction added
  • Stun Grenade: Reduce energy cost 20; Improves with every .45 Dex instead of .5

• Mercenary
  • Hybrid Armor: Reduced Defense/Resistance % to 6-15% 
  • Surgical Strike: Improves with every .35 Tech instead of .3

• Tech Mage
  • Supercharge: Reduce cost -30 per lvl
  • Bludgeon : 20% Crit chance; Reduced cost -20
  • Plasma rain: Improves with every .35 Support instead of .4
  • Overload: Improves with every .4 Dex instead of .45
  • Malfunction: Improves with every 3.7 Dex instead of 2.4 Supp; Improves for every 2 levels over 20

• Cyber Hunter
  • Cheap Shot: +3 % per lvl
  • Venom Strike: Reduce cost -20; cooldown 2; Poison 4 turns 
  • Malfunction: Improves with every 3.7 Dex instead of 2.8 Supp; Improves for every 2 levels over 20 
  • Shadow Arts: Damage reduction added
  • Multi-shot: Improves with Dex

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Surgical Strike: Improves with every .35 Tech instead of .3
  • Poison grenade: Cooldown reduced to 2 turns; poison lasts for 4 turns
  • Stun Grenade: Reduce energy cost 20; Improves with every .35 Dex instead of .4

• Blood Mage
  • Supercharge: Reduce cost -30 per lvl
  • Fireball: Removed warm-up
  • Plasma rain: Improves with every .35 Support instead of .4
  • Overload: Improves with every .4 Dex instead of .45

Bug Fix

• Hairstyles
  
  • Male Bounty Hunter style 209 should now be purchaseable. 
  • Bug that prevents you from equipping a purchased style after a class change until you log out and back in again persists

Tags: Nightwraith