Greetings Viceroys!

In the THIRTEENTH Early Access Update, we undertake an enormous effort to prove that number 13 is not as bad as it seems. We also tackle a similarly broad endeavor of creating an entirely new, modern UI. Phew.

What’s new:

• New Interface
• Orders Rebalance

It might take a little getting used to, but we hope you’ll love it as much as we do! We can’t wait to hear your impressions. If you enjoy the new updates, please consider rating the game on Metacritic. It helps a lot!

Continue reading for our update notes, or jump straight into the changelog:

• Developer Notes
• New UI Gallery
• Changelog
• Suggestions Tool

DEVELOPER NOTES

This Update may feel a bit less packed when it comes to features, but behind the scenes, the entire team was working by the sweat of their brows. On top of that, we spent the whole last week on the paperwork, accounting, and legal work. Goodness gracious, making games feels like the easiest part of game development!

The main focus this time was the overhaul of the game’s UI. We know this isn’t really the most exciting change for many of you (especially for all the veterans who are eager for new things to do), but it has to be done. The old UI was pretty, but a bit unreadable in places, and not very well optimized, so we decided to take a completely new approach. This new style might not have as many elaborate ornaments as the old one, but will be a lot easier on your CPU, and we hope it’ll be a solid foundation for any future improvements to the user experience of Against the Storm.

Before / After

Please keep in mind that there might still be some places where the new UI meshes with the old one, or places where some adjusting and fixing needs to happen. We will work on all these possible issues in the coming weeks.

But that’s not all! In this update, we also included some balance changes inspired by you, the community! The main focus was on evening out the difficulty in some Orders (especially after the recent Species and Resolve changes), and adjusting some underutilized buildings and their recipes. To quickly sum up these changes: 

• Orders requiring needs to be satisfied in a certain time frame were a bit too demanding. We decreased their numbers slightly and boosted their rewards.
• Orders based on exploration were too easy and too rewarding at times. That’s why most of them were nerfed.
• Orders with Resolve and population were too hard on higher difficulties. We reduced their requirements and boosted the rewards slightly.

When it comes to building balance, we found that there were certain workshops not chosen as often as others (I’m looking at you, Cooperage). To combat this, we increased their recipe rating, so now most of them now have one recipe of each grade (3 stars, 2 stars, 1 star). We also took a look at the Greenhouse and Clay Pit, and in our opinion, the gameplay of these buildings was overall a bit too boring. They took a very long time to produce things, and simply created goods out of thin air. So in this update, we tried something new – the Greenhouse and Clay Pit now require Sparkdew. Hope your Rain Collectors are ready!

Enjoy the new additions to Against the Storm, and as always, feel free to share your feedback on our Discord server or using the official feedback tool. We also want to wish you a happy sunny Easter. We hope you’ll have some egg-stra relaxing time!

NEW UI GALLERY

CHANGELOG

Changes marked with ⚡ were inspired by community.

Balance

• ⚡ Rebalanced 47 Orders to be more in line with the current state of Species, Resolve, and Exploration balance. Orders that require fulfilling needs or keeping high Resolve are now a bit easier to complete and give more rewards, whereas Orders focused on exploration now give fewer rewards in general.
  • Amber Trade
    • Rewards: removed Pottery, added Quick Deliveries Cornerstone
  • Rain Protection
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Fabric from 10 to 20
  • People’s Resolve
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve on higher difficulties
    • Rewards: added 3 Parts
  • The Guild
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: increased the number of Roots from 20 to 30, added 3 Parts
  • The Clan
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Meat from 20 to 25, added 6 Simple Tools
  • The Flock
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: added 3 Parts
  • Lost in the Woods
    • Rewards: removed Coats, added 30 Roots
  • Exploration
    • Rewards: removed Simple Tools, added 10 Bricks
  • Beaver Population
    • Objectives: increased the number of villagers required on higher difficulties, lowered the amount of required Resolve 
    • Rewards: increased the number of Pickled Goods from 35 to 40
  • Clothing the People
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of the Clothing need required to finish the Order on higher difficulties
    • Rewards: added the Reinforced Needles Cornerstone
  • Risky Expedition 
    • Rewards: removed Reeds and Eggs, added 40 Insects
  • Into the Wilds
    • Rewards: removed the Reinforced Axes Cornerstone, decreased the number of Simple Tools from 12 to 10
  • Happy Beavers
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: removed Amber and the Ancient Sewing Technique Cornerstone, added Reinforced Axes, 30 Biscuits 30, and 10 Simple Tools
  • Happy Humans
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: removed Vegetables, added 30 Pie and the Human Friendship Cornerstone
  • Happy Lizards
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Amber from 10 to 15, replaced the Cornerstone giving +1 to Jerky with a +2 bonus, and added the Lizard Friendship Cornerstone
  • Happy Harpies
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: removed Insects, added 40 Pigment and 30 Fabric
  • Human Population
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Pie from 30 to 40, Amber from 10 to 15, and changed the Weaver Blueprint to a Brick Oven Blueprint
  • Harpy Population
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Skewers from 30 to 40
  • Meat Treats
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled complex food needs
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Meat from 30 to 40, added 2 villagers
  • Meat Diet
    • Rewards: removed Simple Tools and villagers, added 30 Oil, 10 Amber, and the Sahilda’s Cookbook Cornerstone
  • Lizard Population
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: increased the amount of Skewers from 30 to 40, and Simple Tools from 6 to 10, changed the Brickyard Blueprint to the Butcher Blueprint
  • Serving Ale
    • Rewards: Added 40 Pottery
  • New Clothes
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled Clothing
    • Rewards: removed Jerky, replaced the Cornerstone giving +2 to Coats with a +3 bonus, added the Pottery Delivery Line Cornerstone
  • Trailblazing
    • Rewards: removed the Ancient Artifact Cornerstone
  • Basic Rights
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled Leisure
    • Rewards: added the Ancient Artifact Cornerstone
  • Luxury
    • Rewards: removed the Heavy Millstone Cornerstone, added 3 Beavers, replaced the Cornerstone giving +1 to Wine with a +2 bonus, and increased the number of Barrels from 30 to 40
  • Cleanliness
    • Rewards: removed the Heavy Press Cornerstone, added 3 Harpies, and replaced the Cornerstone giving +1 to Cosmetics with a +2 bonus
  • Rations for the Citadel
    • Rewards: removed the Mold Supply Cornerstone, added the Quick Deliveries Cornerstone, and increased the number of Barrels from 30 to 35
  • Beaver Resolve
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: added the Steel Penknives Cornerstone
  • Human Resolve
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: removed Berries and the Fungal Growth Cornerstone, added 40 Flour and 4 Humans
  • Lizard Resolve
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: added Drainage Ditches Cornerstone and replaced the Cornerstone giving +1 to Meat with a +2 bonus
  • Harpy Resolve
    • Objectives: lowered the amount of required Resolve
    • Rewards: removed the Advanced Press Cornerstone, increased the amount of Harpies from 3 to 4, and added 12 Simple Tools
  • Folks gotta eat!
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled complex food needs
    • Rewards: added 40 Flour
  • Playing with Fire
    • Rewards: removed Stone
  • Serving the People
    • Rewards: removed the Flavor Enhancer Cornerstone, added the Viceroy’s Survival Guide Cornerstone
  • Pastries
    • Rewards: removed the Bread Peels Cornerstone, added 50 Coal, and increased the amount of Parts from 8 to 10
  • The Cult of Fire
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled Religion
    • Rewards: removed Wine, increased the amount of Parts from 8 to 10, added 4 villagers
  • Bloodthirst
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled Bloodthirst
    • Rewards: replaced the Cornerstone giving +1 to Training Gear with a +2 bonus
  • Knowledge
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled Education
  • Beaver Majority
    • Objectives: lowered the population requirement on lower difficulties 
    • Rewards: removed Copper Bars and the Advanced Coopering Cornerstone, added the Beaver Clan Support Cornerstone and the Working Hard and Smart Cornerstone
  • Leisure
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled Leisure
    • Rewards removed the Mold Supply Cornerstone, added the Root Delivery Line Cornerstone, and increased the amount of Pottery from 30 to 40
  • Human Majority
    • Objectives: lowered the population requirement
  • Harpy Majority
    • Objectives: lowered the population requirement
  • Rainproof Coats
    • Rewards: removed Reeds 50 and the Builder’s Pack Cornerstone, added 40 Fabric and 5 villagers
  • Lizard Majority
    • Objectives: increased the population requirement
  • Utopia
    • Objectives: lowered the requirement for simultaneously fulfilled needs
    • Rewards: added 24 Simple Tools
  • Happy Brewing
    • Objectives: changed the requirement for building a Tinctury to building an Artisan instead
• ⚡ Tweaked the balance of recipes in a few buildings.
  • Leatherworks – changed the Fabric recipe from 1 star to 2 stars.
  • Cooperage – changed the recipe for Training Gear from 1 star to 2 stars. 
  • Grove – increased the Resin output for a single field from 4 to 6. 
• ⚡ Changed the construction cost of the Workshop from 20 Wood to 4 Planks, 4 Fabric, and 4 Bricks.
• Changed the way the Greenhouse and Clay Pit work. These buildings no longer produce something out of nothing over a long period of time.
  • Greenhouse – now uses Sparkdew to grow Mushrooms and Herbs. Production time was reduced from 150 seconds to 90, and there are 3 worker slots instead of 4.
  • Clay Pit –  now uses Sparkdew to create Clay and Reeds. Production time was reduced from 150 seconds to 90, and there are 3 worker slots instead of 4. Construction cost was changed from 20 Wood and 1 Part to 2 Planks and 2 Fabric.
• Adjusted building drafting based on the species present in a given settlement. 
  • Brick Oven – will only be available in Reputation Reward picks if Humans are present in the settlement.
  • Cooperage – will only be available in Reputation Reward picks if Harpies are present in the settlement.
  • Tinctury – will only be available in Reputation Reward picks if Beavers are present in the settlement.
• The Market Carts effect in the Market will not be active if one worker is assigned to the building.

UI/UX improvements

• ⚡ Overhauled the entire UI of the game. Almost all user interface elements were updated or replaced. Some of the highlights include:
  • Overall, the UI is now cleaner and more minimalistic. There are fewer big decorative elements which didn’t really help the user experience. 
  • Most backgrounds (in panels, tooltips, windows) are now dark, making it easier to read text. 
  • Most fonts in the game have been changed to improve readability. 
  • Big windows (such as the Orders Panel, the Recipe Panel, the Trade Panel, etc.) now have tabs on top for easy access to other panels in the game. 
  • All building icons are now more zoomed in, so it’s easier to distinguish between buildings based on them.
  • The construction panel at the bottom of the screen now displays smaller building icons instead of big building cards. This also means that even with a lot of buildings, none of them are going to be off-screen. 
  • The layout of the calendar in the top part of the screen was updated to display necessary information in a more concise way.
  • The Species panels and portraits were updated. They now display the exact amount of Resolve right away and show the Target Resolve.
  • The Forest Mystery panel was updated to incorporate 24 slots for extra effects.
  • Citadel Resource icons were updated for improved readability.
  • Citadel screens (Deeds, Upgrades, Daily Expedition) now have tabs on top, allowing the player to easily switch between them.
  • Improved the spacing of multiple UI elements, so bugs like the Species Panel overlapping with goods icons should no longer occur. 
  • Changed frames for ingredients that can be changed in recipes to improve readability.
  • Added special icon overlays informing the player about insufficient goods in recipes.
  • Overall game performance was improved due to the new UI being lighter on the CPU. 
  • And much, much, much more!
• ⚡ The game now remembers the previously selected difficulty in the Embark View.
• Updated the screenshots and videos in the “Help” section in the Atlas to better illustrate the topics discussed. 

Bug fixes

• ⚡ Fixed a bug that caused newcomers to bring the same goods twice. 
• ⚡ Fixed the Blood Price Contract description to also mention leaving villagers.
• ⚡ Fixed the descriptions of all effects influencing trader prices. They now correctly state that the player’s goods are worth less, instead of saying prices are higher. 
• Fixed duplicated Order names for 3 Orders. They are now named The Grove, Trappers, Herbs instead of all three being named Help from the Queen. 

Other

• Updated the portrait for the Priest of the Forsaken Gods in the Altar.

We’re super grateful to everyone who contributed to this update. Your translations, suggestions, and reports are extremely appreciated!

Please make sure to update the game. Also, you can always track the progress of reported issues on our Public Bug Tracker.

SUGGESTIONS TOOL

If you want to request new features or suggest changes to the existing ones, please use our new suggestions tool.

Suggestions Tool

Posting suggestions is easy:

1. Go to feedback.eremitegames.com/
2. Login or use anonymously
3. Make sure your suggestion hasn’t been posted already
4. Start typing in the Create Post panel on the right
5. Submit

Make sure to vote on other players’ ideas as well to help us identify their priority. We treat it as the main source of information for the purpose of planning new content.

Please continue to report bugs via the in-game Reporting Tool or on our Discord and Reddit.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you want to help us grow the Against the Storm community, there are a few things you can do:

• Let your friends know about the game
• Share our content and announcements on social media
• Share your gameplays on relevant subreddits like r/Games or r/PCGaming 

Truth be told, we appreciate all kinds of support. Be it feedback, words of encouragement, or casual activity on Discord. It helps a lot and we’re very much grateful!

Now, enjoy the new update and let us know what you think!

May the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games team

Current Early Access version: 0.28.1R

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