While the studio is still trying to recover from the exertion of the last couple of weeks (or months, really) leading up to the release of At the Heart of Ruin, we are patching and updating the game with hotfixes to iron out any outstanding issues. A detailed list of updates and fixes are below at your perusal, but we’ve also started to conceptualize our next cosmetic pack because of how popular the first one turned out to be – go check it out!

At the Heart of Ruin Hotfix 1 Patch Notes (v1.255)

First and foremost, we upgraded from Unity 2021 to Unity 6, which impacted performance and stability somewhat, as expected. We already fixed some of these impacts, but more is to come.

Bug Fixes

• When reaching Tier 4 Reputation with a nemesis faction in At the Heart of Ruin, the other two will irrevocably become hostile now, blocking access to their bases and preventing interactions with them (as it was originally intended); the wrong states that can currently be achieved will auto-fix upon the first new reputation change with the gangs
• Fixed various Exploration Encounter issues, including hotkey overlaps with other game states
• Fixed an issue that caused a part of Crew Combat loot not to be added to the Cargo
• A bunch of Node visibility issues after loading a game were fixed
• The issue that caused Companion Combat victory to become a defeat in the Event path was fixed (though there might be edge cases, so please report this issue if it resurfaces)
• Missing effects for certain Gear were added, including the Runed Tongs, Runed Armorsmith Hammer, Kernel of Zhar, and the Basilisk Eye Charm
• Fireshield Crystal no longer unequips when Movement Points fall to or below 1
• Equipment that advertised Outpost effects will now actually provide them
• Falcons and Hunting Animals no longer only work in Varnurud
• Fixed an issue that caused Companion Combat to lock when a character using Acrobatics was struck by the Raptor Skill ‘Come Over Here’
• Fixed the issue that prevented Orc Spirit Shamans from summoning Ancestral Spirits
• Fixed the default artwork and settlement description of Scrapheap
• Various tooltip clarifications and updates were applied (a few remain on our list, though)
• Various errors under the hood were fixed (that may or may not have impacted gameplay)

Event Fixes (be wary of spoilers!)

• Fixed several issues with the Ember Mines quest, including soft locks and doubled choice issues
• Fixed an issue that allowed players to conclude the Black Stalker quest on a path they did not choose (for those who got stuck with the Black Stalker this way, and want to keep on this path, there is a new choice to get rid of him)
• A rare case of a crash in Phlegetos Bridge was fixed
• A number of missing/wrong NPC portraits fixed in Events
• Various smaller fixes and text improvements

Miscellaneous Updates

• Glossary was updated with entries on Exploration Encounters and the Throw-out mechanic

Supporter Pack Vote

We’ve also become aware recently that the Ruinous Supporter Pack has become quite popular among our players.

First and foremost: a huge thank you for picking it up!

When we came up with the idea of the Companion cosmetics, our goal was to give something worthwhile and cool to those of you who very kindly decided to support us this way, so we can continue enriching the Riven Realms and improve various aspects of the game.

Thus, we decided to create at least another such pack, which will further diversify Companion looks. So we put our heads together, checked notes, old concept artwork, shared some ideas, and came up with two distinct frameworks for possible packs:

“Cultures”

The concept of this pack is that each Companion would receive attire from a (more or less exotic) culture from the Riven Realms. It doesn’t have to be one that they are related to, but one that matches their archetype, rather. You can see some early concepts around this idea. Can you guess whose stuff you can see?

“Vocation”

The idea for this pack is that each Companion’s new look is based on a career, role, or vocation that they neglected or passed up to instead become what they are. Something they could have been, but instead chose a different path, or it chose them. Sometimes this vocation is still a part of their current identity, at least partially.

You Decide

We would like YOU to vote on which pack you’d like to see realized from the two above, based on the concepts and the thematic outlines! Let us know which one you would prefer on our Discord server where you will be able to find the poll.

If time permits, we’d like to release the second one in the foreseeable future, too, of course, but there are no guarantees. Also, be mindful that some details about the looks (and the above images) might change as we’re developing them. As with the Ruinous cosmetics, these are also non-canon appearances for the Companions and should be seen as cool, fun alternative appearances – more options for those who like such things. Let us know what you think by voting or commenting!

Free Future Content Updates

As we’ve previously said, we are still not done with At the Heart of Ruin. We are working on a series of free content updates for it, mostly expanding on the expedition storyline. The first of these additions, however, is going to go elsewhere: it’s a sprawling quest titled “The Gangs of Varnurud”, and it will provide some closure concerning the three most despicable and dangerous scavenger gangs of the Mountains of Fire. Keep an eye out for updates on that, because it’s coming sooner than you think!

Until next time – stay vigilant, stay safe, stay awesome, and conquer the wasteland!

– The Lost Pilgrims Team

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