ELbab news & patch notes

Thank you for always playing ELbab. In response to the many requests we’ve received from players, we’ve implemented several new features. This post introduces those changes. ELbab version 0.0.3.0 is scheduled to be released tomorrow, January 3rd (approximately 24 hours from now), assuming there are no issues. Because there is a high likelihood that progress made in versions prior to 0.0.3.0 will not be recoverable after the update, we strongly recommend completing your current run before updating. In this update, we’ve addressed the following concerns. Some of these changes may not directly solve the issues, but they reflect our own interpretation of the feedback. - What is Papyrus used for? - We want even stronger enemies - We want to check nodes when acquiring Runestones - Too many bad Runestones is discouraging - Too many blocked routes is discouraging - Negative mods are boring - It’s tiring to inspect every dropped item - We want to respec Runestone points

-------------------------------- Library Catalog --------------------------------

This feature was implemented as a new way to use Papyrus. It allows you to customize the library you explore in ELbab to better suit your preferences. Examples of available nodes include: - Double the amount of Ink gained when entering Treasure Rooms - Allow previewing node and Notable details in Runestone Rooms - Prevent Negative Mods from appearing on Notables attached to the first Runestone - Remove a Notable from a Runestone using n Ink from the status screen, converting it into a normal socket - Remove Enhancement Rooms from the map, allowing enhancements at any time Enhancements that increase ★ will have an n% chance to fail - Allow rerolling in Runestone Rooms by consuming n Ink - Prevent Negative Mods from appearing on Normal Books and Runestone Notables with an n% chance - Reduce the appearance rate of walls that block movement between rooms by n% While ELbab is influenced by build simulators, it is still developed as a roguelite game. We do not want a single run to achieve everything. Although we’ve received requests to allow full Runestone point respecs, we currently have no plans to implement this directly. However, allowing players to remove already-acquired Runestone Notables (gem-like elements occupying sockets) serves as a partial answer for situations where players want to respec. Players frustrated by too many bad Runestones can unlock “Reroll Runestones in Runestone Rooms,” while players stressed by map restrictions can unlock “Reduce the appearance rate of blocking walls.” We also plan to rotate the contents of the Library Catalog with version updates or seasonal changes. The Library Catalog can be reset for free any number of times, so feel free to experiment and build the library that best suits you each time.

-------------------------------- New Ascensions Added -------------------------------- Players have been clearing Library Ascensions at a pace far beyond our expectations. As a result, we’ve added Ascension 5 and Ascension 6. Both significantly increase difficulty. Ascension 6 is designed with the final boss having over 5 billion life. (The changes aren’t dramatic, but the boss does evolve—look forward to it.) Due to additional balance adjustments, it may now be slightly harder to achieve the same high damage as before, but we encourage you to give it a try. For truly exceptional players who still break through, we’re also planning to implement an Endless Mode. We’d also like to add rankings based on how deep players progress in Endless Mode.

-------------------------------- Item Filter Update -------------------------------- One of the most exhausting aspects of playing ELbab is the sheer number of item drops. Many players have told us that checking every dropped item is tiring, so we’ve improved the item filter system.

- Item filter presets can now be overwritten - Overwritten presets can be recalled at any time - Negative Mods can now be specified in item filters - Items that do not match the filter can now be automatically converted into Ink These improvements should make library exploration much smoother. We hope they help reduce even a little bit of stress.

-------------------------------- Other Balance Adjustments -------------------------------- Full details will be listed in the release notes after launch, but we’ve made a large number of minor balance adjustments. The main change is an increase in Ink costs for enhancements, requiring more careful selection of which books to enhance. This should make it harder to simply raise every acquired skill to level 5. In exchange, the amount of Ink gained from converting books has been increased, and the Library Catalog allows for additional ways to earn Ink. We’ve also strengthened the Nova attribute and Life Steal.

-------------------------------- Future Plans -------------------------------- Our highest priority next is adding more Skill Books and Unique Books. Once we’ve added a substantial number of new books, we plan to release another mid-sized update. After that, we’re considering implementing Endless Mode and rankings, though the details are still undecided. Until then, enjoy your ELbab life.