[b]Greetings![/b] From the enchanting dunes to the mystic ruins, our journey together in Sands of Salzaar has been nothing short of magical - thanks largely to your incredible support! It's the stories you've lived, the battles you've fought, and the communities you've built within the vast desert landscape that have transformed this game into a living, breathing world. [b]As Steam Awards 2023[/b] nominations are now underway, we'd be so grateful if you would consider nominating Sands of Salzaar for the [b]Labor of Love[/b] category. It means so much more than just recognition, but also a celebration of the journey we've shared! Our regular updates, introducing new quests, characters, and gameplay systems, alongside the thriving modding community, stand as a testament to our dedication and your unwavering support. There’s an added perk too! By completing all the Steam Awards tasks during nominations, you can earn a special Steam Awards Nomination Committee Badge. It's a cool symbol of your engagement and love for the gaming community. If Sands of Salzaar has been a part of your gaming highlights, we’d be thrilled to read your reviews on Steam. Your insights are windows into your experiences and a guiding star for our future updates and expansions. Again, thank you all for being the heart of Sands of Salzaar. Let's continue to spin tales of adventure, mystery, and camaraderie in the sands of our beloved world! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35992768/978e27fb4a0c3fb9720a67a436d5b28ee0874262.png[/img] [h2]What comes NEXT[/h2] In our recent update, we rectified a multitude of issues that had been hurting "The Tournament" experience, we hope the fixes would have improved your enjoyment in Sands of Salzaar. For lingering challenges that require a more nuanced approach, we've been actively experimenting and will address them in our next update. Today, we're going to take this chance to talk more about our plans, thoughts on the game, and introduce the upcoming DLC, "Winter of the Hazy Realm." Updates [b]Refining "The Tournament": [/b] Expect adjustments to "The Tournament" as we tackle existing issues, fine-tune problems with specific rewards, and iron out bugs that prevent players from repeatedly participating in The Tournament. We're also contemplating the addition of more diverse and enticing reward types. [b]Optimizing Late-Game Team Battles: [/b] As the large-scale late-game team battles unfold, we've noted instances of frame drops and stutters. After meticulous performance analyses, we've identified that the bottleneck lies in the batching of damage/recovery text. The next version will have optimizations implemented in this regard, along with enhancements to the visibility of critical hits for a clearer gaming experience. [b]Revamped Mod Editor: [/b] Our mod authors, the stalwart pillars of the "Sands of Salzaar" community, have been a driving force. We will bring a fresh new look to the editor in the upcoming update, anticipate a revamped UI for the editor, complemented by additional built-in features such as a character portrait viewer and an icon viewer. December DLC "Winter of the Hazy Realm" Preview This exciting new DLC scheduled for this December unfolds in three distinct parts: "Mysteries of the Hazy Realm," "Foreign Travelers," and "Siege and Conquest." [h3]Confronting Challenging Bosses and Gaining Abundant New Equipment - "Mysteries of the Hazy Realm"[/h3] The term "Hazy Realm," coined by Sand Lizard scholars, refers to the nests of monsters. These elusive nests, akin to mirages, house coveted ancient texts, magical creatures, and deadly monsters. Enterprising adventurers, often audacious members of the Sand Lizard Explorer's Guild, risk their lives scouring the desert for treasures and texts sought after by scholars. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35992768/664da93f4d98bf4061c8b41602ff5fe600abad8d.png[/img] Traces of these daring adventurers are scattered across the desert. By providing clues obtained from local mysteries, players can procure intelligence from these adventurers. Submitting this intelligence triggers a guided journey led by the adventurer directly to the boss of the Hazy Realm. A successful defeat results in powerful weapons and equipment as rewards. [h3]Experiencing Exotic Clothing and Accessories - "Foreign Travelers"[/h3] Caravans of merchants from distant lands converge at the Golden Market, offering a plethora of exotic clothing and accessories. During character creation, players can adopt character models that seamlessly align with the aesthetics of these outfits. Furthermore, at the commencement of the game, players can choose an unlimited-use disguise tool during the inheritance phase, allowing them to reshape their appearance at their whim. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35992768/86106e6183339c63e17405af1943cd520366d0df.png[/img] [h3]Enhanced City Defense in "Siege and Conquest"[/h3] Despite being on the defensive, facing what seems like an insurmountable situation, players are forced into direct conflict with the enemy. While arrow towers provide some support, their output proves inadequate against the relentless tide of oncoming enemies. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35992768/42c087c94a513db2e54e72ebe5f1fec4219ede33.png[/img] In the new city siege mode, the final defense line of the base transforms into a fortified structure with a gate. Archers can take their positions on the wall, gaining strategic advantages. After breaching the gate, enemies must engage in combat at the entrance before having an opportunity to capture the city. Moving forward, we're committed to advancing the development of the upcoming DLC and will soon share more concrete details with all of you. Before the official debut of the new DLC in December, we're planning a round of small-scale testing very soon. If you're eager to get involved, feel free to sign up within our official group. Your participation and feedback are invaluable as we shape this exciting new chapter! [b]That's all for this update! Feel free to join our Discord to get in touch! Our managers will try their best to help you solve any issues you encounter in the game![/b]