[p]Hey everyone![/p][p]I’ve been working hard in the past months on some big improvements for [i]Explorers of Esmar[/i], and I’m excited to share what’s new. This update focuses on making battles more strategic, the world more nice to look at, and the game overall smoother to play — and you can try some of it right now in the [b]updated free demo[/b].[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]NEW BATTLE SYSTEM[/h2][p]Combat in Esmar has evolved quite a bit! You can now [b]garrison soldiers inside your towers[/b] to provide them with various buffs depending on the soldier type. Positioning also plays a bigger role — [b]units on higher ground gain advantages[/b] in attack strength.[/p][p]Behind the scenes, I’ve also reworked how [b]territory is calculated[/b], which should make borders feel fairer and more dynamic around contested territory.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45067536/d35c2b66d24b0dec084851465d4ef953f3d3d7c4.png"][/img][/p][p][/p][h2]IMPROVED MAP GENERATOR[/h2][p]The terrain algorithm got a major overhaul. The world now generates [b]plateaus and varied elevations[/b], adding more depth (literally!) to maps.[/p][p]I’ve also added [b]climate variation[/b], so you’ll now find snowy regions, temperate areas, and hotter zones. These might affect the fertility and productivity of farms in the future.[/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45067536/a6e6decbd995a989f171134ddff507e274b308b0.png"][/img][/p][h2]NEW BUILDINGS[/h2][p]To support deeper strategy and resource management, there are two new buildings:[/p][list][*][p][b]Tannery[/b] — produces new materials and supports your economy.[/p][/*][*][p][b]Outpost[/b] — helps secure distant territory and expand your influence.[/p][/*][/list][p]I’ve also reworked the [b]build menu[/b] to make construction smoother and easier to navigate.[/p][p]The plan is to introduce new late/mid game materials for building and production which can't be used right from the start.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45067536/0d76d8ec3c8d3c0c175a9c6eede237aaf258e82c.png"][/img][/p][p][/p][h2]PLAYER PROFILE[/h2][p]You can now [b]create a player profile[/b] with a custom name and icon which will appear throughout the ingame UI and also [b]on the flags on your towers[/b]! It’s a small addition, but it makes the experience feel more personal.[/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45067536/2d2609d27efd3a417b2b528e7f277989fbe313df.png"][/img][/p][p][/p][h2]UI UPDATES[/h2][p]I’ve added [b]advanced graphics settings[/b], so you can adjust texture and model quality depending on your hardware.[/p][p]There’s also a [b]new statistics UI[/b] for a clearer overview of your settlements and economy, plus a few interface tweaks to make gameplay flow better. These are still work-in-progress.[/p][p][/p][h2]UPDATED DEMO AVAILABLE NOW[/h2][p]The [b]demo has been fully updated[/b] with all these new features, systems, and visuals. (But there are still some limitations of course!)[/p][p]If you haven’t tried [i]Explorers of Esmar[/i] yet, or if it’s been a while, now’s a great time to jump in and see how far the game has come.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3659320/"][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]WHAT'S NEXT?[/h2][p]I’m still developing [i]Explorers of Esmar[/i] solo, and your feedback really helps me prioritize what to work on next. This update was a big step toward refining the core gameplay loop and world generation.[/p][p]Thanks so much to everyone who’s played the demo, left comments, or wishlisted the game — it really keeps me going.[/p]