Deep within the heart of a mystical kingdom lies the cursed royal woodlands. This once enchanting and prosperous land has now become a haunting and treacherous place. Legend has it that a powerful witch cast a spell upon the forest, vowing to bring misery and misfortune to anyone who dares to enter. The cursed royal woodlands were once known for their lush greenery and vibrant wildlife. The forest provided a sanctuary for the kingdom's inhabitants, offering a respite from the chaos of the outside world. However, all of that changed when the witch's curse took hold.
Biomes
Biomes define the base conditions of a settlement. Each biome has a unique set of baseline effects, as well as a unique makeup of available resources in its trees, and as resource nodes.
Royal Woodlands [ ]
Trees give more wood
Coral Forest [ ]
Each type of tree provides distinct bonus resources
Inspiring Pressure
Villagers have a 5% chance of earning bonus yields
from production and gathering for each hostility level
Scarlet Orchard [ ]
You gain access to a new essential building:
Archaeologist's Office
Buried Mysteries
Ancient excavation sites can be found here
Marshlands [ ]
Gathering speed is increased by 10% for every 2
workers assigned to gathering camps
Giant Organisms
Giant resource nodes can be found in Forbidden Glades.
Each glade will have a different one
Note: Marshland maps have exactly three forbidden glades. The giant resource nodes within each correspond to an upgradeable camp, and require that upgraded camp. They have 1000 charges each, and produce an assortment of interesting materials.
Cursed Royal Woodlands [ ]
It is impossible to recognize the danger of the glades,
which are now all of even size
Restless Spirits
Restless Spirits can be found in the forest
Cursed royal woodlands
It’s already the 23rd bi-weekly update to Against the Storm, and as always, we have some exciting stuff for you! This time it was a bit more challenging to prepare because some of us went to gamescom last week (cheers to all the amazing AtS players we met there!), but we hope you will not be let down by the new content that’s coming into the game. Most notably – a Cursed Royal Woodlands revamp, 5 new perks, one new Glade Event, and a major Cornerstone rebalance.
First off – the Cursed Royal Woodlands revamp. This biome has been in the game for a long time now. It was introduced almost a year ago, in the first ever update just after the Early Access launch (and before that it was teased in the first public demo of Against the Storm), but it was never really that exciting or unique (aside from its visuals). What’s more, after introducing World Map Modifiers, it simply became redundant and had no effect attached to it whatsoever. So today we decided to change that.
From now on, the Cursed Royal Woodlands will have two unique effects. The first one, Cursed Battlefield, will reshape the forest – all Glades will be the same size, and no dangerous or forbidden markers will be visible. The second one, Restless Spirits, will spawn ghosts in some of the Glades. The ghosts will have special assignments and small tasks for you to complete.
The ghosts’ requests can range from trivial busywork (like cutting down more trees and delivering goods) to malevolent tasks of questionable moral quality (like starving villagers). Every ghost will reward you for your efforts, and some might become vengeful when you ignore them.
Ghost of Blight Fighter Captain’s request
Overall, this biome is designed to be a bit more challenging and surprising than others. We wanted to give exploration a bit of a different spin in this environment and focus more on the lore and flavor of the region (as lore-wise it’s the place where the most tragic battles during the Great Civil War happened). With the Cursed Royal Woodlands done, we now also only have the Scarlet Orchard left on our list of underwhelming biome mechanics – this means that once we get around to fixing that, you can expect some brand new environments in the game.
But the biome revamp isn’t everything we bring you today. There’s also one new Glade Event – the Harmony Spirit Altar (it can be converted into a decoration!), and a major Cornerstone rebalance. Let’s talk a bit more about the latter.
Harmony Spirit Altar
For a while now we’ve felt that there are many perks in the game that fall into one of two categories: overpowered, and almost worthless. Such a division forms naturally in most balance scenarios, as players find meta builds and optimal tactics, but we wanted to at least shake up the most notorious ones.
Our philosophy is by no means that of total standardization – it’s good to have powerful synergies and perks you are genuinely excited about (and these wouldn’t be possible without some less optimal choices). But at the same time, we care about giving players a lot of different interesting options. It’s always more fun to choose between three Cornerstones you want, rather than always going with the one no-brainer perk with the best output. Our aim was exactly that – boost underperforming perks, nerf some overpowered ones, and encourage more diverse playstyles. The full list of perks can be found in the changelog below.
We hope you’ll enjoy the new changes. And if you’d like to share your ideas for upcoming updates, here are some useful links:
- Discord & Reddit – discuss the game with the community and share your impressions
- Feature Request Tool – suggest specific new features
Have fun and may the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games
Explore the Cursed Battlefield in the new Update! news
Discover the gruesome mysteries of the Cursed Royal Woodlands and play around with the new Cornerstone balance. Find Restless Spirits in the forest, fulfill their requests, and collect valuable rewards. But beware, the forest has reshaped itself, and Glades are even deadlier than before!
Posted by EremiteGames on Sep 1st, 2022
Greetings Viceroys!
Today’s intro is dedicated to players with a short attention span.
What’s new:
- Cursed Woodland’s unique mechanic: Restless Spirits
- Rebalanced Cornerstones
- New event: Harmony Spirit Altar
- And more!
That’s all the essential stuff you need to know. Now you can play and discover the rest by yourself!
But if you want to learn a little bit more, continue reading for our design notes, the full changelog, and the community corner.
If you like the game and the updates, you can support us by letting your friends know about Against the Storm .
Play the game:
- Out now in Early Access
- Demo available
However, all of that changed when the witch's curse took hold. Now, the forest is shrouded in an eerie darkness that seems to suffocate any trace of light. Thick fog lingers between the gnarled trees, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
DEVELOPER NOTES
It’s already the 23rd bi-weekly update to Against the Storm, and as always, we have some exciting stuff for you! This time it was a bit more challenging to prepare because some of us went to gamescom last week (cheers to all the amazing AtS players we met there!), but we hope you will not be let down by the new content that’s coming into the game. Most notably - a Cursed Royal Woodlands revamp, 5 new perks, one new Glade Event, and a major Cornerstone rebalance.
First off - the Cursed Royal Woodlands revamp. This biome has been in the game for a long time now. It was introduced almost a year ago, in the first ever update just after the Early Access launch (and before that it was teased in the first public demo of Against the Storm), but it was never really that exciting or unique (aside from its visuals). What’s more, after introducing World Map Modifiers, it simply became redundant and had no effect attached to it whatsoever. So today we decided to change that.
Ghost of Blight Fighter Captain
From now on, the Cursed Royal Woodlands will have two unique effects. The first one, Cursed Battlefield, will reshape the forest - all Glades will be the same size, and no dangerous or forbidden markers will be visible. The second one, Restless Spirits, will spawn ghosts in some of the Glades. The ghosts will have special assignments and small tasks for you to complete.
The ghosts’ requests can range from trivial busywork (like cutting down more trees and delivering goods) to malevolent tasks of questionable moral quality (like starving villagers). Every ghost will reward you for your efforts, and some might become vengeful when you ignore them.
Cursed Royal Woodlands Glades
Overall, this biome is designed to be a bit more challenging and surprising than others. We wanted to give exploration a bit of a different spin in this environment and focus more on the lore and flavor of the region (as lore-wise it’s the place where the most tragic battles during the Great Civil War happened). With the Cursed Royal Woodlands done, we now also only have the Scarlet Orchard left on our list of underwhelming biome mechanics - this means that once we get around to fixing that, you can expect some brand new environments in the game.
But the biome revamp isn’t everything we bring you today. There’s also one new Glade Event - the Harmony Spirit Altar (it can be converted into a decoration!), and a major Cornerstone rebalance. Let’s talk a bit more about the latter.
Harmony Spirit Altar
For a while now we’ve felt that there are many perks in the game that fall into one of two categories: overpowered, and almost worthless. Such a division forms naturally in most balance scenarios, as players find meta builds and optimal tactics, but we wanted to at least shake up the most notorious ones.
Our philosophy is by no means that of total standardization - it’s good to have powerful synergies and perks you are genuinely excited about (and these wouldn’t be possible without some less optimal choices). But at the same time, we care about giving players a lot of different interesting options. It’s always more fun to choose between three Cornerstones you want, rather than always going with the one no-brainer perk with the best output. Our aim was exactly that - boost underperforming perks, nerf some overpowered ones, and encourage more diverse playstyles. The full list of perks can be found in the changelog below.
We hope you’ll enjoy the new changes. And if you’d like to share your ideas for upcoming updates, here are some useful links:
- Discord & Reddit - discuss the game with the community and share your impressions
- Feature Request Tool - suggest specific new features
Have fun and may the storm be gentle on you,
Eremite Games
The once beautiful flowers and plants have withered away, leaving behind only twisted and thorny vines that ensnare any intruder. The creatures that once called the forest their home have been twisted by the curse. Innocent woodland creatures have transformed into grotesque and menacing beasts, thirsting for blood and revenge. The howls and screeches that echo through the woods are enough to send shivers down the spine of even the bravest souls. Those who have ventured into the cursed royal woodlands recount stories of their harrowing experiences. They speak of being chased by shadowy figures, of hearing whispers that seem to come from nowhere. Some claim to have seen the spirit of the witch herself, her wicked cackle ringing through the air. The curse has also affected the kingdom beyond the borders of the forest. Crops fail, wells run dry, and illness spreads like wildfire. The once prosperous kingdom is now crumbling under the weight of the witch's curse. Despite the danger and despair that surrounds the cursed royal woodlands, there are brave individuals who still attempt to penetrate its dark depths. Some are driven by curiosity, while others seek to lift the curse and restore the kingdom to its former glory. But many who enter never return, forever lost in the clutches of the cursed forest. Until the curse is broken and the witch's hold on the woodlands is lifted, this once majestic and beloved sanctuary remains a dark and twisted shadow of its former self. The cursed royal woodlands serve as a chilling reminder of the power of magic and the consequences of meddling with forces beyond our control..
Reviews for "Seeking Redemption: Breaking the Curse of the Royal Woodlands"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I really wanted to like "Cursed Royal Woodlands" because I am a fan of fantasy novels, but I found this one to be lacking in many ways. The characters were poorly developed and felt one-dimensional, and the plot was predictable and uninteresting. I also found the writing style to be choppy and disjointed, which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this book to others.
- Alex - 1 star - "Cursed Royal Woodlands" was a complete waste of time. The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution was terrible. The pacing was incredibly slow, with unnecessary filler scenes that added nothing to the overall story. The dialogue was cheesy and forced, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The world-building was also poorly done, with inconsistencies and gaps in the mythology. I struggled to finish this book and was left feeling unsatisfied.
- Mark - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Cursed Royal Woodlands" as I am a fan of fantasy novels, but unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. The plot was disjointed and lacked a clear direction, making it difficult for me to become invested in the story. The writing style was also mediocre, with excessive descriptions that slowed down the pacing. Additionally, the characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard for me to root for any of them. Overall, this book was a disappointment and not one I would recommend to others.