Hello again, Weavers! 👋🏼

In our second Developer Update last August, we gave you more insight into Eternal Strands’ weapons system and what unique abilities Brynn’s magic-imbued weapons have in store for you. Today, we want to touch on the topic of spells and how they can be cast & combined creatively in combat, exploration and navigation. 👀

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CAST & COMBINE

So first things first, what do we mean by “cast & combine”? Our gameplay mechanics are meant to synergize, meaning that we want you to be able to cast spells and combine them strategically with other mechanics at your disposal for maximum effect. You’ll be able to form spell combinations with:

✨Other Spells:

* Example: Casting ice magic at one enemy to constrain it, then combining that with Weaver’s Grasp to launch the ice-covered enemy like a projectile at another foe.

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️ ⚔️The Unique Abilities of Magic-imbued Weapons:

* Example: Using your kinetic-imbued bow & arrow to trap your enemy in a forcefield bubble, then casting flame magic at it to create an inferno (brutal).

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🌳 The Environment

* Example: : Using ice magic to pin a Drake to the ground or nearby structures, preventing it from taking flight to attack you from above.

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WHY COMBINE?

Well, to be honest, it’s pretty fun. We think you’ll want to do it for that reason alone! But, there are of course net strategic advantages & benefits to well thought out and well-timed combinations too. Each spell on its own can give you great results if you become proficient enough with it. However, the unnatural weather of the Enclave can suddenly shift every time you venture out, changing the battlefield advantage in unpredictable ways. This means that good knowledge of your arsenal, your foes, and your surroundings will allow you to find creative ways to win no matter the circumstances.

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For example, the Ark of the Forge is a hammer wielding flame giant that can set its environment on fire. It’s in your best interest to avoid being near him on the ground for too long. While you could try to get up close with the right heat resistant gear, avoiding its attacks to get a climbing grip on its leg – it’s a risky bet.  

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An alternative approach, using the Cast & Combine system to your advantage, could look like casting an Ensnaring Blast on the Ark to create a bubble of gravity that attaches itself temporarily to your enemy. Then, combine that with an Ice Wall spell aimed at the kinetic bubble. The kinetic spell will pull in and hold the ice spell’s cold right against the Ark, causing the creature’s armor to become brittle and more susceptible to damage. You could also use the same spell combination on the ground to cool the flames propagated by the Ark’s hammer, allowing you to remain close by without risking heat damage.

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CREATIVE COMBINATIONS IN EXPLORATION & NAVIGATION

Finally, another way to use the cast & combine system in Eternal Strands is to help your traversal. As you travel further into The Enclave, you’ll stumble across extreme weather events, environmental obstacles and navigational challenges. To progress through these, you’ll sometimes need to experiment with your powers. For example:

❄️Some areas of The Enclave are permanently frozen. Accessing them (and their loot) will require creative spell & weapon combinations!

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🚀 As mentioned earlier, you can launch yourself through your kinetic stream to navigate quickly from point A to point B. If you level up the spell, you can keep creating streams while in flight to traverse a map in no time, or to leap instantly onto an Ark!

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TOKYO GAME SHOW

Tokyo Game Show this weekend! Those who visit our booth get a chance to play our first Eternal Strands public demo 💫. Make sure to stop by if you’re planning to be at the event, we’d love to meet you and get your thoughts on the game.

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What would you like us to do a deep dive on next? Follow us on social and comment to let us know!

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Thanks again for your continued support! We’ve reached our beta milestone and are heading into the final stages of development. Very soon (Q1 2025), we’ll be able to share our game with you and we CAN’T WAIT!  

Until then, see you in the next update.  

The Yellow Brick Team 💛

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