Test Games/2024-02-24

Test games are special games occasionally launched by admins to test updates, experimental features and maps.

As test games are run to test specific things, they may not progress in the normal way (for example, heroes may be spawned artificially or monsters may be given additional mana) so that we can more easily test new features. They may be buggy or unbalanced, and may need to be restarted multiple times. Quest, achievement and stats progress may or may not be saved as normal. In-game tutorials and other text may not be updated to reflect changes being tested.

Test games help us ensure new updates work properly and allow us to get player feedback on possible new features and maps. If test games are running, anyone is welcome to join through the main portal in the lobby. We might miss some comments in game chat, so it's helpful to post feedback in the Discord afterwards.

What are we testing?

Today's test games include changes to skeletons in order to reduce their tankiness.

Skeletons

• Nerfed Healing Tonic health restore 100% -> 25%.

The healing tonic should no longer give skeletons a second life line in the middle of a melee. Instead the primary use will be for restoring some health once away from the melee.

Wither Skeletons

• Halved health restoration from Darkness Devours.

This change prevents wither skeletons from both having high dps and survivability. Withers will need to land more hits in order to benefit from the healing bonuses.

Impact Skeletons

• Increased charging time of Demolisher.
• Demolisher now roots in place once charged.

This change prevents Impact skeletons from only briefly peeking corners to fire Demolisher, instead they must commit to their Demolisher arrows. The increased charge time and rooting effect will make them more vulnerable to dwarves attacking them.