The survival game Enshrouded has rolled out its third major update for July 2024, titled Back to the Shroud. This latest patch brings exciting new areas, collections, skill adjustments, and additional features, all influenced by community feedback through the game's feature voting site.
New Content and Community Feedback
The Back to the Shroud update follows the previous Melodies of the Mire update, which introduced a new biome, musical instruments, and dual-wielding daggers. Despite some community outrage over visual changes, many components of the update were well-received. Now, the third major patch brings more community-requested features, aiming to enhance the gameplay experience.
Difficulty Settings and Character Customization
One of the standout features of the Back to the Shroud update is the introduction of difficulty settings and expanded character customization options. Players can now choose from four pre-made difficulty settings: Default, Relaxed, Hard, and Survival. Each setting offers a unique experience, catering to different play styles. Additionally, a custom option allows players to tweak over 30 game settings, providing a tailored adventure.
Character customization has also been expanded, offering more colors for eyebrows, hair, eyes, and skin tones, enabling players to create truly unique characters.
New Collections and Display Items
Exploration in Embervale has become even more rewarding with the introduction of new collectible items. These items, organized into Collections, can be displayed in player bases using new display items such as armor stands, weapon racks, and shelves. Each collectible comes with its own quest, aiding players in completing their sets. Some items are found in newly added locations, while others are hidden in existing areas like the Kindlewastes Hollow Halls.
Major Skill Adjustments
Significant changes have been made to the game's skill system, particularly affecting mage builds. Armor stats for mage sets have been increased, and wands now have improved durability. Spells like Ice Bolt have seen increased projectile speeds, enhancing their effectiveness in combat. Additionally, the Bloodletting and Blood Magic skills have been moved to the Trickster subclass, and a new skill, Life Essences, has been added to the Battlemage subclass.
Upcoming Patches and Future Content
The Keen Games team has announced that the next two major patches are already in development. These updates will likely include further skill adjustments and quality of life improvements. While the specific contents of these patches have not been confirmed, fans are hopeful that features from the Enshrouded roadmap, such as water and animal farming, will be included.
Detailed Patch Notes for Back to the Shroud
Highlights
Difficulty & Gameplay Settings: Adjustable difficulty settings have been introduced to cater to different play styles, including Default, Relaxed, Hard, Survival, and Custom modes.
Collectible Props: New craftable props allow players to display armor, weapons, and collectibles in their bases. Collectibles, such as fossils, can now be found and displayed on decorative shelves.
New Character Customization Options: Expanded options for skin color, eye color, eyebrow color, and six additional character presets.
Quality of Life Improvements: The crafting menu has been reworked for easier navigation, several points of interest have been improved, and blocking and parrying mechanics have been enhanced.
Gameplay Changes
- Difficulty Presets: Introduced new difficulty presets and customizable gameplay settings.
- XP and Leveling: Adjusted XP requirements for leveling up, especially in later regions.
- Weapon Upgrades: Updated costs for weapon upgrades to manage the runes economy.
- Consumable Use: Improved the use of consumables via action bar hotkeys.
- Grappling Hook: Adjusted the grappling hook to prevent it from attaching to off-screen anchors.
- Torch Mechanics: Torches can now be dropped while sneaking.
- Daggers: Reworked damage zones for daggers to hit smaller enemies reliably.
- Secret Doors: Improved interaction with secret doors while climbing ladders.
Combat Gameplay and Balancing
- Parry and Block Improvements: Enhanced block and parry mechanics for more control and consistency.
- Mage Gameplay Enhancements: Increased armor values for mage sets, improved projectile speeds for Fireball and Ice Bolt, and adjusted the Light Burst and Healer spells.
- New Skills: Added the Life Essences skill to the Battlemage subclass and restructured the Battlemage skill tree.
Building, Crafting, and Equipment
- New Furniture Types: Added mannequins for displaying armor, weapon stands, and decorative shelves for collectibles.
- Improved Armor and Weapons: Fixed clipping issues with armor and improved the collision and snapping of prison fences and doors.
Game World Enhancements
- New Quests and Collectibles: Introduced quests guiding players to search for and display collectibles.
- Food Sources and Loot: Increased food sources and loot chances in various regions.
- Environmental Improvements: Reworked several areas, including the jump pad canyon and trade outposts.
Technical Improvements
- Performance Enhancements: Improved stability and performance, especially on lower hardware specs and the Steam Deck.
- Global Illumination: Enhanced global illumination to reduce visible seams.
User Interface and Localization
- Character Customization: Added new options for character customization.
- Crafting Menu: Reworked the crafting menu for better navigation.
- Translation Fixes: Corrected typos and improved translations based on community feedback.
Conclusion
The Back to the Shroud update for Enshrouded brings a wealth of new features, improvements, and community-driven changes. From new difficulty settings and character customization options to significant skill adjustments and quality of life enhancements, this update enhances the overall gameplay experience. As the Keen Games team continues to work on future patches, players can look forward to even more exciting content and improvements in the coming months.