Balance, Polish, and QoL

This game was initially released after a short 1 week development time. A lot of corners had to be cut in that mad dash to the finish. This new update brings the game to a more complete state and improves a lot of the core features. 

The lobby now includes character selection options as originally intended. The character can be selected before the match starts and can also be changed from the pause menu during the match. This version also adds a character stat visualizer that is displayed during the selection process. 

Each character has their own stats that that affect how they play. The stat system was in place for the first release but has been completely rebalanced for a more fair experience. This includes adjusted health and stamina values as well as the addition of a new Back Stab bonus. Other balance changes include stamina drain while blocking and the removal of a bug that allowed block while attacking. 

The character animation system has also seen a number of changes. Many of the locomotion animations have been adjusted to look more natural in different states. Additional animation layers have been added to show when the character is low health and vulnerable. Each character has also been given their own idle animation to better differentiate them from each other. 

There were also changes to make combat feel more reactive. New visual effects have been added for hits and blocked attacks. There's also a new blood system that dynamically paints the battlefield red. A bug has been fixed to also allowed voice lines to trigger in more scenarios. 

Players can now respawn after death. The original release was single elimination due to development time restrictions. Players now steal loot from each other after each death. Once a player has run out of loot they can no longer respawn. This should lead to tug-of-war matches with climatic elimination finishes.

There are too many small but significant changes to list. The development of this game was a huge learning experience and hopefully players will enjoy it.