After the Storm 0.8.1

Version 0.8.1 is out, right on schedule!

Just like the last time, this version will definitely not be exempt of flaws. You will most likely stumble upon dreadful bugs along the way, and I will need your help to fix them — make sure to report them in the campaign’s forum topic as usual!

Special thanks go to bumbadadabum for kindly providing a patch to integrate the changes to the Aragwaithi faction from his multiplayer add-on (The Aragwaithi in the 1.10 add-ons server) into AtS. 0.8.0 users shouldn’t have any game-breaking problems playing with their old units from saved games of E3S3 (Amidst the Ruins of Glamdrol), although some animations may not display correctly. If in doubt, restart from the start-of-scenario save for E3S3.

Also note that due to an internal change, if you load the start-of-scenario save for E3S4 (Outpost of Hell) from version 0.8.0, you will see the loadscreen twice. This is normal and intended, and only affects old saved games for that scenario.

This release is a turning point for various reasons I had already explained a while ago. The good thing is that once scenarios stop landing in SVN, I no longer need to worry about release schedules and pacing. I can now start pushing bug-fix releases as necessary, without affecting the development of the campaign finale.

It is also a turning point in other senses that attentive players will most certainly realize on their own. But in case someone feels disappointed by certain developments: I left enough clues scattered everywhere before, and everything is going according to plan. The bottom line is: if you don’t like the story and you can’t ignore it, don’t play the campaign. And just to be clear, it has never been my intention—at least since I resumed its development in 2011—for it to be eligible for mainline or anything like that.

The changelog for this version follows:

Version 0.8.1:
--------------
* Graphics:
* New or updated unit graphics: most Aragwaith units (wayfarer).
* Scenarios:
* E2S3.1 - Unrest in Raelthyn:
* Updated to use Aragwaith units.
* E2S8 - And then there was Chaos:
* Fixed elves who are initially Loyal getting a duplicate
trait when switching allegiances.
* E3S2.1 - Return to Raelthyn:
* Minor map balancing changes.
* E3S4 - Outpost of Hell (Gateway):
* New scenario.
* E3S5 - Pass of Sorrows (Gathering Storm):
* New scenario.
* Sound effects:
* Added hit and death sounds for Doors.
* Added additional explosion/thunder sounds.
* Added magic glyph sounds.
* Units:
* Balancing:
* Removed marksman special from the Demolisher Drone's ranged attack.
* Increased Sprite's impact resistance from -20% to 0%.
* Increased Fire Faerie's impact resistance from -20% to 0%.
* Increased Dryad's impact resistance from -10% to 0%.
* Increased Aragwaith Seer's HP from 39 to 44.
* Increased Aragwaith Seer's melee attack from 7-2 to 8-2.
* Increased Aragwaith Seer's ranged attack from 8-3 to 10-3.
* Decreased Shaxthal Razorbird's melee attack from 10-1 to 8-1.
* Decreased Shaxthal Thunderbird's melee attack from 13-1 to 10-1.
* Gave Doors a unit icon for the sidebar and the attack dialog.
* Updated Aragwaith units to match the faction from bumbadadabum's
"The Aragwaithi" add-on. This has resulted in the following changes:
* Protection only affects allied L1 and L0 units instead of any allied
lower level unit
* Ancient Banner abilities: +leadership, -protection, -steadfast
* Ancient banner resistances: impact 10% -> 20%
* Ancient banner stats: HP 55 -> 58, MP 4 -> 5
* Ancient banner attacks: sword renamed to scythe
* Archer attacks: melee 6-3 -> 4-3
* Captain abilities: +leadership, -protection, -steadfast
* Captain resistances: blade 20% -> 10%, fire 10% -> 0%, cold 10% -> 0%,
pierce 20% -> 10%
* Captain stats: HP 43 -> 55, MP 4 -> 5
* Captain attacks: spear renamed to glaive, 17-2 -> 18-2; sword renamed to
glaive, 9-4 -> 10-4
* Eagle Master stats: HP 48 -> 45, MP 7 -> 9
* Eagle Master attacks: blade 9-3 -> 10-3, impact 15-2 -> 16-2
* Eagle Rider defense: mountain 60% -> 50%
* Eagle Rider stats: HP 36 -> 34, MP 7 -> 9, cost 21 -> 23
* Eagle Rider attacks: impact 10-2 -> 12-2
* Flagbearer abilities: +leadership, -protection, -steadfast
* Flagbearer resistances: blade 20% -> 10%, fire 10% -> 0%, cold 10% -> 0%,
pierce 20% -> 0%, impact 10% -> 0%
* Flagbearer stats: HP 34 -> 45, MP 4 -> 5
* Flagbearer attacks: spear renamed to glaive, sword renamed to glaive
* Greatbow stats: HP 43 -> 46, MP 5 -> 6
* Greatbow attacks: melee 13-3 -> 10-3
* Guard abilities: +steadfast
* Guard resistances: pierce 20% -> 10%, impact 20% -> 10%, blade 30% -> 10%
* Guard stats: HP 40 -> 54, XP 78 -> 64, cost 27 -> 28
* Guard attacks: melee 12-3 -> 11-3
* Guardian resistances: fire 10% -> 0%, cold 10% -> 0%
* Guardian stats: HP 51 -> 62
* Lancer now has a female variation
* Lancer stats: HP 40 -> 48, cost 38 -> 34
* Longswordsman stats: HP 38 -> 46, MP 5 -> 6, XP 78 -> 88, cost 24 -> 27
* Pikeman resistances: blade 20% -> 10%, impact 10% -> 0%, fire 10% -> 0%,
cold 10% -> 0%
* Pikeman stats: HP 44 -> 50, XP 94 -> 70
* Pikeman attacks: melee 17-2 -> 16-2
* Scout now has a female variation
* Scout stats: HP 31 -> 36, XP 36 -> 40
* Scout attacks: melee 10-2 -> 11-2
* Shield Guard abilities: +protection, +steadfast
* Shield Guard resistances: pierce 30% -> 10%, impact 30% -> 10%, blade
40% -> 10%
* Shield Guard stats: HP 54 -> 66
* Shield Guard attacks: melee 16-3 -> 15-3
* Silver Shield now has a female variation
* Silver Shield stats: HP 54 -> 62, MP 8 -> 9, cost 38 -> 48
* Silver Shield attacks: melee 13-4 -> 12-4
* Slayer stats: HP 45 -> 53, MP 5 -> 6, cost 46 -> 62
* Slayer attacks: melee 12-4 -> 11-4
* Sorcerer renamed to Sorceress, no longer has a male variation
* Spearman resistances: blade 20% -> 0%, pierce 20% -> 10%, impact 10% ->
0%, fire 10% -> 0%, cold 10% -> 0%
* Spearman stats: HP 30 -> 34, XP 38 -> 43
* Spearman attacks: 11-2 -> 12-2
* Strongbow stats: HP 35 -> 38, MP 5 -> 6, XP 80 -> 85, cost 31 -> 38
* Strongbow attacks: melee 9-3 -> 7-3, ranged 8-4 -> 9-4
* Swordsmaster id changed, breaking old saved games with the unit
* Swordsmaster stats: MP 5 -> 6
* Swordsman resistances: blade 10% -> 0%
* Swordsman stats: HP 28 -> 32, XP 32 -> 39, cost 13 -> 14
* Warlock renamed to Witch, no longer has a male variation
* Witch stats: XP 44 -> 54, cost 18 -> 22
* Witch attacks: staff renamed to kick, 6-2 -> 7-1
* Wizard no longer has a male variation
* Wizard attacks: melee 10-2 -> 7-2, ranged 11-3 -> 10-3