[b]Greetings, adventurers![/b] Thank you for all the questions you left for us on Steam and Discord for Of Ash and Steel. Welcome to Part 3 of the Q&A Session! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45307617/28cc688e97ac8d8ce98ec28727791efde63ef014.jpg[/img] [b]Q: How is Ancient Knowledge in your game different from the magic we're all used to seeing?[/b] A: Traditionally, magic is about casting fireballs left and right. In the Of Ash and Steel universe, magic is a very delicate matter that isn't used casually for combat. Every use of magical arts is a significant event. Ancient Knowledge allows the wielder to draw just a fraction of the power of the Seven. [b]Q: Approximately how long will it take to complete the game?[/b] A: We estimate about 30 hours for a quick playthrough, and twice as much for a more detailed one. [b]Q: Will there be Xbox controller support?[/b] A: Most likely, yes. [b]Q: Will there be visible damage from hits and/or blood on melee weapons?[/b] A: Blood remains on both the enemy and the player. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45307617/3b18be605234ec1b95750b186119828427152df7.jpg[/img] [b]Q: Will all equipment (clothing, rings, etc.) be visible on the character model?[/b] A: Everything except necklaces (though we might add those as well). [b]Q: Have you considered the option to fully or partially disable the HUD?[/b] A: For screenshots, we have a photo mode that disables the HUD, but we may add this as a general option in the future. [b]Q: Will there be helmets, shields, bracers, boots, etc., or is the armor unified?[/b] A: There will be helmets, upper body armor, lower body armor, slots for two rings, and a necklace. [b]Q: Will there be adventure stats displayed numerically?[/b] A: Yes. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45307617/f1915e727f68dae30e38e0dd007a2d621eb86ffd.png[/img] [b]Q: Will there be underwater enemies/combat?[/b] A: No, but the underwater world can be explored for treasures. [b]Q: Will damage and injury depend on body parts hit?[/b] A: A headshot with a bow is always a critical hit, and a backstab cannot be blocked. [b]Q: Will quests be logged in a modern-like system with written objectives, or will it be old-school, like in OG Gothic?[/b] A: Something in between. We display current objectives on the screen, but they are meant as reminders. For example, if you need to find a character, the task will simply say, "Find Crimson." Details can be found in the journal or by carefully listening to what characters say. [b]Q: Will there be SteamDeck support?[/b] A: We've already conducted some tests, and everything works well. We'll provide a final confirmation later. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45307617/2cf127aedc6b28544d69348fd5461571ef9e72c4.png[/img] [b]Q: Will there be shields?[/b] A: Enemies will have them, as well as spears. For the protagonist, swords, hammers, axes, daggers, rapiers, maces, etc., will be available. [b]Q: Why are longswords so slow?[/b] A: The sword's speed depends directly on its weight. You can find both heavy and light swords. As we’ve mentioned, damage numbers aren’t everything—sometimes a weaker but faster sword might better suit your build. [b]Q: Will there be a release on PS5 and Xbox?[/b] A: We’re not ready to comment on that yet. [b]Q: Will the combat system, as well as movement and facial animations, be refined further?[/b] A: We will definitely polish some elements, but for the most part, things are finalized. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45307617/c642feefa9074748c2ade4d73bb1af783f945cb8.png[/img] [b]Q: Will NPCs fight each other? For example, will creatures attack people or bandits attack travelers?[/b] A: Absolutely. In some cases, you can observe conflicts escalating into full-blown fights. [b]Q: Does it make sense to pray to the gods? Will there be bonuses?[/b] A: Absolutely! The more gold you offer, the more beneficial bonuses you’ll receive. [b]Q: Will there be weapon effects like bleeding, poison, or lightning/fire rune damage that stacks on the enemy or the hero?[/b] A: Unique weapons have their own effects, including semi-magical ones. In the survival skill tree, you can learn several levels of the bleeding skill. And you can even coat your weapon with poison! [b]Q: After the ending, does the game finish completely, requiring a new playthrough to re-enter the world?[/b] A: At the end of the game, the island will change to such an extent that it will simply be impossible to continue the game. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45307617/3fd4a9838c9a756f2d1460185c309e6eb7bb3b61.jpg[/img] Once again, thank you for your questions and interest in the project!