Welcome once again to the weekly Development Log for Lionhearts, an up-and-coming project on Steam created using Unreal Engine 5.

This week, we did the first large stress test for Lionhearts: Melee. Fortunately, no major optimization or performance concerns were found! A few outstanding bugs and issues were identified, and are already in the process of being fixed or have been fixed. Alongside this, the team made major progress and improvements to many other areas.

Camera zooming has been vastly improved. We have also streamlined switching between normal, mouse lock, and tab target camera modes. Additionally, we made Push-to-Talk a toggle and added a HUD element to notify when you are unmuted and created a more reliable Loadout UI.

Character-to-character collisions and combat hitboxes has been greatly improved. Parrying while at low block defense will now result in a Guard Break instead of still parrying. SFX has also been added more fully to bows and arrows. We've also notably improved the sensitivity of changing attacking/block directions, greatly helping the feel of combat. The team also made matches best of 5 (instead of 3) to make them last longer and be more impactful. Finally, the server list will now periodically refresh if there are no listings.

As far as fixes, we fixed not being able to move when using the HUD shortcut menu as well as mouse lock HUD being inconsistent between the server and clients. NPCs will also no longer just stare at you while you're blocking, but rather attack consistently.

Various other minor polish and bug fixes were accomplished, including:

• Fixed issue where, when taking block defense damage, it would always use the maximum charge damage of the weapon, regardless of how much was charged

• Fixed an issue where the take damage camera shake effect would only and always play on the server host, regardless of who did and received damage

• Fixed NPCs randomly dropping aggro

• Fixed NPCs failing to attack a new target after their current target dies

• Fixed NPCs targeting spectating players after their current target dies

• Fixed an issue where NPCs would sometimes not spawn with their full loadout

• Fixed an issue where if a teammate left mid-match, the round would not end if their team got wiped

• Fixed a fatal crash from killing an NPC

• Fixed tab target not switching and instead canceling after targeting a character

• Fixed being able to tab target dead characters

• Fixed being able to tab target while dead

• Fixed tab target not canceling after dying

• Fixed arrow trails remaining after hitting a shield

• Fixed arrows doing normal damage to teammates instead of half

• Fixed crouch prevention during combat not working for connected clients

• Fixed the issue where you were able to use your weapons while dead

Finally, to improve progression feel we've added a level up custom notification menu and sound that plays, as well as a favor tracker on the HUD so players can more easily keep track of their progress!

Reminder: We have begun handing out Discord rewards to Kickstarter backers, such as roles and other special permissions. Check your Kickstarter messages if you're a backer for info on how to claim these rewards!

Please join us on our Discord server[discord.gg] where you can ask questions and participate in our growing community!

Be sure to wishlist the game on our Steam Page, too!

Welcome once again to the weekly Development Log for Lionhearts, an up-and-coming project on Steam created using Unreal Engine 5.

This week progress was made primarily on the technical front with programming. These range from combat quality of life improvements to more general fixes for NPCs and other various systems.

Firstly, we have re-enabled character collisions, improving the feel of combat with other players.

We have also added a notice informing players of the state of the game (that it is a preliminary demo) in order to set proper expectations.

The way idle stamina gets applied has been improved. Stamina and Block Defense will now both also take 5 seconds to start regenerating if they drop to 0, rather than constantly passively generating.

'The classic Lionhearts main theme song now only plays in the main menu, and is the only song that plays in the main menu on loop. Continuing on the audio front, movement sounds are now linked to the SFX audio slider and UI sounds are now linked to the UI audio slider instead of SFX.

As far as NPCs go, NPCs now prioritize making a quick attack after stunning their attack target (guard break or parry). NPCs will now also attempt to block arrows if their attack target tries to fire one.

Lastly, we have fixed an issue where toggling sprint would break camera lock.

Moving forward through the weekend, we anticipate being able to quickly resolve these issues:

• Get Voice Chat working

• Fixing the camera being glitched in a build

• Fixing parry effects not showing up sometimes

• Improve player hitboxes for hit detection and arrow blocking

• Look into and possibly fix random crashing from killing an NPC

Thank you for reading!

Reminder: We have begun handing out Discord rewards to Kickstarter backers, such as roles and other special permissions. Check your Kickstarter messages if you're a backer for info on how to claim these rewards!

Please join us on our Discord server[discord.gg] where you can ask questions and participate in our growing community!

Be sure to wishlist the game on our Steam Page, too!