[img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/d45af6a54b4fb1817bdcda7391a38570349b8b32.png[/img] Hello! There was a period of silence recently, but for a good reason – we are very busy adding and calibrating new skills. There’re still some tweaks to be done, so in meanwhile we decided to show another important aspect – equipment. So let's not protract the introduction any longer and jump right to the interesting stuff. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/4b0c9093a405a03f4f72f7c8fe3c691416a42558.gif[/img] [i]Press F for Fashion[/i] All this time our game’s setting was smoothly drifting towards a rather realistic and gritty low fantasy – which of course affected the equipment. Over the past weeks we have added a huge number of new items ([b]100+![/b]) – and most of the old ones you’ve encountered during your Prologue runs were reworked from scratch. Now we try to rely mostly on historical sources for references and inspiration: specialized literature, museum exhibits or some historical re-enactment. Of course, there are exceptions too – this is especially true for various legendary and set items, which will feature a more fantasy-ish design. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/27a14a4bc279ca27a823ba5d44a1c48924c71d3a.png[/img] [b]Chestpieces [/b]are, of course, the most important part of your armor. We gave up the idea of independent light, medium and heavy armor rosters, and instead decided to take a more logical approach, redistributing all armor by the defense level in a single roster. Thus, the high-level Royal Ranger’s Gambeson won’t protect your better than some starter tier heavy armor – it will be superior to the rest of the light armor but won’t match even mediocre chain mails or brigandines. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/19a92c28dfaaa15ad3aa50dffefd09438ca6862b.png[/img] In addition, different armor will [b]differently protect[/b] against various types of damage – for example, chain mail is very resistant to slashing blows, but is almost useless against spears; while plate armor offers well-balanced protection against most physical weapons. But be wary: plate armor is incredibly expensive, so maintaining it in good condition will cost a pretty penny too. There are some other disadvantages as well: hostile pyromancers and electromancers will possess much more danger to you. Heavy secondary equipment will also have some drawbacks: visoreal helmets reduce visibility (though you’ll be able to lift the visor up), the sabatons are significantly noisier, and plate gloves make fencing a bit more difficult. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/c0229f84a22add4ba5f8edacfa3a15ce7380211d.png[/img] The same applies for [b]weapons[/b]. Swords, for instance: home-made blades and cheap falchions will be your starting point, but in the endgame you’ll have a possibility to wield some mighty arming swords. We’ve also created a whole bunch of so-called [b]Exotic[/b] items – equipment of non-Aldor origin in other words. The idea is to encourage world exploration: randomly met elven merchant may offer you some famous Jibean scimitars, and a group of dwarven hirelings may be armed with some well-crafted nordic swords. Such items are usually slightly superior to their Aldor counterparts stat-wise. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/706e327f41883d5858d6be27f12c3a85ae694d5b.png[/img] And now something for all you shield-lovers – [b]shields [/b]initial roaster is represented by unpretentious wooden samples, but at high levels there will be more choices: from elaborate bucklers and heater shields to pavises and kalkans. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/3a020631c767c233602fdd1e9341388e1b5b9f53.png[/img] [i]Could you guess the magic schools these staves belong to?[/i] And, of course, [b]mages[/b]. At the game’s start their equipment progression isn’t very diverse; however, everything changes during endgame, when you will be able to purchase more expensive garments. A wizard dressed in his Circle’s [b]mantle[/b] and wielding an appropriate [b]staff [/b]will receive a significant boost to his school’s spell power. [img]https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/35289249/4052e7785fae50fa7c5e7c4e4cb8539cd1962339.png[/img] [i]From left to right: apprentice, arcanist, pyromancer, electromancer, geomancer, psimancer, cryomancer[/i] That’s all for today! Well, not quite: here comes this sweet little GIF, demonstrating [b]swords skill rotation[/b] in action (WIP). By the way, what weapons skills would you like to see next? Let us know in the comment section! [img]https://i.imgur.com/iKxw3Uk.gif[/img] See you soon! ================================ Follow us on Steam so you won't miss any updates from us! [list][*][url=https://store.steampowered.com/developer/InkStainsGames]Ink Stains Games[/url][/list] Also you can follow us on: [list] [*][url=https://discord.gg/stoneshard]Discord[/url] [*][url=http://twitter.com/stone_shard]Twitter[/url] [*][url=http://facebook.com/stoneshard]Facebook[/url] [/list] [url]https://store.steampowered.com/app/625960/Stoneshard/[/url]