PATCH 8.3.1 (minor updates & fixes)


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Mist Elementals (summon) damage increased to 12, up from 7; hit points increased to 32, up from 16; upkeep increased to 6 mana, up from 3; now a stage 2 unit, up from stage 1


OTHER UPDATES
==============
» Lower the Land (spell) moved up in research tree; may be researched at start of game
» Cold Wind (spell) moved up in research tree; research time reduced slightly
» Icy Water (spell) moved up in research tree
» Summon Mist Elementals (spell) moved back in research tree {requires Icy Water}; cost increased to 60 mana, up from 30; research time significantly increased


FIXES
=====
» The changes above minimize the occurrence of the AI casting bug in the core game, which prevents an AI player from completing the casting of various spells
» Removed 'Raven Spymaster' unit from human capital cities at start of game {this was intended as a temporary change in the last patch to test the unit, but I failed to remove it until now}

------------------------------

PATCH 8.3 (updates, fixes & new content)


NEW CONTENT!
=============
» Raven Spymaster (usual hero) quick, far-seeing scouting/utility lord; can summon crows; deals melee/elemental damage
» Eyes in the Skies (starter perk) grants unit: Raven Spymaster


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Triton Settlers (naga) 'Water Dowsing' action cooldown reduced to 2 turns, down from 4 {helps with starter world changes noted below}
» Faerie Dragons (naga) added +10 elemental & +10 spirit resist; hit points increased to 70, up from 65
» Skittering Settlers (dremer) renamed 'Skitterers'
» Crows & Old Crows (svart) unit models swapped {old crows have white feathers; more appropriate}
» Stubborn Crusaders (allied) renamed 'Stubborn Holy Knights'; added +15 elemental & +25 spirit resist; now feature full sound effects
» Mr. Thief (usual hero) added +10 melee & +10 missile resist
» Chosen Warrior (usual hero) added +20 melee & +20 missile resist
» Mountain King (famous hero) gains access to 'Skillful Cleave' rather than 'Summon Old Crows' on level up
» Grand Stubborn Master (usual hero) replaced by new 'Raven Spymaster' lord

DEVELOPER NOTE: Grand Stubborn Master was replaced primarily due to the modding unit cap. While he's been a decent tier 1 lord with fairly good resistances, there are other similar melee lords that serve more specific roles and dole out more damage as they level. So he seemed the best choice to replace with something new and unique -- the first (and only) dedicated scouting lord.

Keep in mind, the Grand Stubborn Master's model and high resistances endure with Stubborn Holy Knights (added by Renaissance Mod), the tier 3 upgrade to Stubborn Knights. He may be gone, but his spirit *stubbornly* lives on. ;-)


SPELL UPDATES
==============
» Wind Walking - relocated to be earlier in research tree; cast time decreased to 1 turn, down from 1.2; effect now also helps tritonic units on flat land
» Haste - relocated to be slightly earlier in research tree; cost lowered to 40 mana, down from 50
» Magic Flight - relocated to be later in research tree; effect increased by 2 turns; cost raised to 50 mana, up from 40
» Magic Web - renamed 'Lightning Web' & given updated icon {works better thematically within research tree}

DEVELOPER NOTE: Until now, the only early way to permanently speed up your units through enchantments required pledging allegiance to Lunord. All the mobility enchantments were grouped together, deep in the research tree ... not good.

This patch changes that by moving Wind Walking up to a much more appropriate location for its utility. Meanwhile, Magic Flight was pushed back and its duration was nearly doubled. This makes it a stronger late-game utility spell and a welcome poor man's substitute for the very mana-intensive Levitation.


OTHER UPDATES
===============
» Strange Brew (perk) power boon increased to 25%, up from 20%
» Dremer's Castle (hostile/AI) renamed 'Dremer Garrison'; hit points reduced to 125, down from 150
» Glutton (starter perk) food production increased to +4, up from +3
» Homestead (starter perk) food production increased to +12, up from +10
» Magical Genius (starter perk) replaced by new 'Eyes in the Skies' {Magical Genius granted unit: Leya Inverse-Gabriev}
» In non-Sandbox modes, naga players will now randomly begin in ANY starting world, as opposed to only Tropical
» In non-Sandbox modes, Tropical starting worlds are now standard size (small) with normal land coverage


FIXES
=====
» In non-Sandbox modes, AI players that randomly begin in Topical worlds should no longer get stuck there
» Naga AI players that would occasionally not spawn in non-Sandbox modes should now always spawn properly
» A few typos in various descriptions have been corrected

------------------------------

PATCH 8.2.3 (minor updates)


NEW BUILDING!
=============
» Golden Egg Dealer (all races) +40 gold; no upkeep; requires Gold Dragon Eggs


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Iril Bowmasters (elves) may now be upgraded to Spirit of Darkness
» Daughters of Helia (sylvan) base damage increased to 22, up from 20
» Polar Bearman (hostile, summon) given 'Maul' ability {consistent with other strong bear units}
» Shadow of Vendral (hostile, summon) given +4 regeneration {consistent with other dragons}
» School of Piranhas (hostile, summon) upkeep reduced to 4 food, 2 mana (was 5 food, 2 mana)
» Fey Serpents (summon) hit points increased to 10, up from 8; upkeep increased to 1 food, 3 mana (was 1 food, 2 mana); 'Flee/Survival' perk now available at level 4, up from level 2
» All dedicated scouting units 'Flee/Survival' perk now available at level 4, up from level 2 {prevents certain early-game exploits}


BUILDING UPDATES
================
» Volcanic Manufactory (infernal) gains 4x 'Capital Ship' perk for naval units
» Void Conduit (infernal) loses 'Seafaring Scout' perk
» Elmental Nexus (elves) build time increased to 4 turns, up from 3


OTHER UPDATES
==============
» War time negotiation cooldown increased to 10 turns, up from 9
» Summon Fey Serpents (spell) swapped with Summon Mist Elements (spell) in research tree; both spells' glyph slots reduced to 1, down from 2
» Alchemical Reversal (spell) cast time reduced to 1 turn, down from 1.5
» Oak Panelling (ship perk) renamed 'Reinforced Panelling' & given updated icon {helps differentiate from similar 'Thick Hull' perk}


FIXES
=====
» Quest to build an Infernal shipyard now properly requires Volcanic Manufactory rather than Void Conduit
» Free towns and religious cities of new races now include various visual doodads within the surrounding city hexes
» Corrected a few typos in various descriptions

------------------------------

PATCH 8.2.2 (Dremer changes & minor updates)

Patch 8.2 began an overhaul of the Dremer faction. This patch concludes that overhaul based on community feedback, making additional changes that are more consistent with their lore and improve their overall flavor.


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Dremer Workers (dremer) 'Work the Land' action renamed 'Terra Mutate', icon updated & spell sprite changed; unit upgrades no longer require paying the higher tier unit's full price
» Elder Gorgons (naga) cost increased to 600 gold, up from 500; 'Petrifying Gaze' action removed {'Piercing Scream' remains improved, affecting target plus next hex in line}
» Gorgon Champion (usual hero) gains 'Petrifying Gaze' action; may also gain new 'Bladewhirl' action on level-up
» Holy Sentinenls (neutral) 'Holy Prayer' action renamed 'Healing Prayer' & may target friendly units 1 hex away rather than self-only; healing power reduced
» Destructor (svart) base damage increased to 17, up from 15


BUILDING UPDATES
=================
» Crystal Resonator (dremer) renamed 'Biogenesis Crystals'; production raised to +75% gold, +50% mana, +25% research | upk = 5 food (was +10% gold, +10% mana, +10% research); level 10+ city required (was level 5+); a nearby flat-terrain hex is contaminated once per turn
» Crystal Refractory (dremer) renamed 'Crystal Corrupter'; 'Refracting Touch' perk renamed 'Ravaging Touch'; a nearby flat-terrain hex is contaminated once per turn
» Dremer Hoard (dremer) production lowered to +25% gold, +25% food (was +50% gold, +50% food)
» Stronghold cities (dremer) a nearby flat-terrain hex is contaminated once per turn
» Freetown cities (dremer) a nearby flat-terrain hex is contaminated once per turn
» Mutant Pig Farm (dremer) production lowered to +7 food, down from +8
» Adrenal Chamber (dremer) renamed 'Adrenal Shell'


SPELL UPDATES
==============
» Contaminate Land (spell) ranamed 'Contaminated Lands'; changed to an AoE spell; cost raised to 100 mana, up from 20; cast time increased to 1.2 turns, up from .5
» Clean the Land (spell) cost lowered to 30 mana, down from 40
» Far Sight (spell) area of effect increased by another ring of hexes
» Locust Swarm (Grum-Gog) food production debuff increased to -75%, up from -60%


OTHER UPDATES
==============
» The descriptions of a number of Dremer units & Great Mages have been updated to explain their interest in conquering Ardania and acquiring living lands
» Neutral Dremer cities are much more rare outside of sub-worlds in Sandbox Mode
» Drawn to living lands, smaller neutral Dremer cities have been spotted on elven worlds... beware!
» Koatl Village resources are more abundant on tropical worlds
» Staunch Defender perk renamed 'True Defender' {consistent with other Holy Sentinels perks}
» Salty Dogs perk XP/turn increased to 3, up from 2


FIXES
=====
» Destructor (svart) 'Wall Destroyer' action now properly hits the target & 2 adjacent hexes, like its base attack
» Gizmo Gearheart (famous hero) 'Alchemize' action now properly lasts 5 turns, as stated in its description

------------------------------

PATCH 8.2.1 (minor updates)


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Triton Settlers (naga) get NEW 'Water Dowsing' action {terraforms land to clear water}
» Dremer Workers (dremer) hit points increased to 18, up from 16
» Dremer Scouts (dremer) cost changed to 2 food, 2 mana (was 1 food, 3 mana)
» Dremer Stalkers (dremer) cost changed to 5 food, 5 mana (was 3 food, 7 mana)
» Dremer Invokers (dremer) cost changed to 12 food, 18 mana (was 10 food, 20 mana)
» Ancient Liches (undead) hit points reduced to 38, down from 45; build time increased to 4 turns, up from 3


OTHER UPDATES
==============
» Water Spring (naga building) requires city level 5+ to build {Triton Settlers may use 'Water Dowsing' early on to create water}
» Beggar's Secret (quest) stealing the ring now awards a 'Ring of Regeneration' instead of 100 gold
» Population Decrease (city debuff) applied through various quests has been lowered to -75 pop, down from -90 pop
» Fishliver Oil (perk) loses +10 melee & +10 elemental resist; gains +1 movement; cost increased to 150 gold, up from 100
» Corrupting Vapours (spell, grum-gog) damage increased to 8, up from 7; cost raised to 35, up from 32


FIXES
=====
» Ace Harpy (usual hero) 'Terror' action now features a working spell sprite
» Thunderlord Krull (legendary hero) 'Inspiring March' action will now work on units with spirit immunity

------------------------------

PATCH 8.2 (Dremer overhaul; general updates & tweaks)

Recent patches have overhauled the Infernals and the Sylvan Order with an eye on balance and improved racial identity. Now it's the Dremers' turn!

Patch 8.2 makes the Dremers the truly voracious race they are. Now much more food-dependent, they have updated buildings and mechanics that facilitate a stronger food-based economy.

In addition, Dremer units have been rebalanced to be a little easier for opposing players to handle when they go on the offensive.


NEW CONTENT!
=============
» Dremer Workers (NEW unit - dremer) tier 1 basic fighter; has 'Work the Land' action {terraform to lands of life; works on contaminated lands}; can be upgraded to Dremer Grunts, Dremer Throwers & Dremer Summoners for FULL COST
» Mutant Pig Farm (NEW building - dremer, pigs) +8 food, +15 population | upk = 3 gold; replaces 'Pig Farm'
» Dragon Rot Farm (NEW building - dremer, dragon eggs) +15 food, +15 mana | upk = 10 gold
» Barrow Tree (NEW building - sylvan, barrow) +5 mana, +3 research, 4x 'Nature's Chosen' perk for healer, creature {+2 XP; 10% chance to self-res}; replaces 'Tent Researchers'


DREMER UPDATES
================

GENERAL
-------------
» Dremer players begin with Dremer Workers instead of Dremer Grunts {Workers may be immediately upgraded to Grunts or Throwers}

UNITS
--------
» Dremer Workers (NEW!) tier 1 basic fighter; has 'Work the Land' action {terraform to lands of life; works on contaminated lands}; can be upgraded to Dremer Grunts, Dremer Throwers & Dremer Summoners for FULL COST
» Dremer Settlers renamed 'Skittering Settlers'; upkeep changed to 1 food, 1 mana (was 1 food, 1 gold); model & portrait updated
» Dremer Grunts hit points reduced to 36, down from 38; upkeep changed to 3 food, 3 mana (was 3 food, 3 gold)
» Dremer Throwers can no longer be upgraded to Dremer Summoners; cost reduced to 125 gold, down from 135; upkeep changed to 2 gold, 3 food, 2 mana (was 3 gold, 2 food, 2 mana)
» Dremer Bombers base damge reduced to 15, down from 16; upkeep changed to 4 gold, 7 food, 4 mana (was 7 gold, 4 food, 4 mana)
» Dremer Summoners base damge reduced to 21, down from 23; upkeep changed to 6 food, 9 mana (was 3 gold, 5 food, 7 mana)
» Dremer Invokers base damge reduced to 23, down from 26; hit points reduced to 35, down from 38; upkeep changed to 10 food, 20 mana (was 7 gold, 8 food, 15 mana)
» Dremer Smashers base damge reduced to 19, down from 20; hit points reduced to 52, down from 55; upkeep changed to 3 gold, 9 food, 3 mana (was 4 gold, 7 food, 4 mana)
» Dremer Reavers base damge reduced to 18, down from 20; hit points reduced to 56, down from 60; upkeep changed to 9 food, 6 mana (was 8 food, 7 gold)
» Colossal Dremers base damge reduced to 25, down from 28; upkeep changed to 5 gold, 20 food, 5 mana (was 8 gold, 15 food, 7 mana)
» Sea Dremer Hatchlings start with 'Seafaring Scout' perk; cost raised to 90 gold, up from 85; upkeep changed to 3 food, 1 mana (was 3 food, 1 gold)
» Sea Dremer starts with 'Seafaring Scout' perk; upkeep changed to 7 food, 3 mana (was 7 food, 3 gold)
» Dremer Stalkers upkeep changed to 3 food, 7 mana (was 4 food, 7 mana)
» Spitting Defilers base damge reduced to 13, down from 14; 'Contaminating Spores' action damage increased slightly & range increased to 3
» Defiler Widow death damge reduced to 50%, down from 100%; loses survival & gains bonus to weakened units
» Shadow Enchanters, Miners & Seers 'Scrub the Land' removed {similar action added to new Dremer Workers}; portraits updated

BUILDINGS
--------------
» Mutant Pig Farm (NEW! requires pigs) +8 food, +15 population | upk = 3 gold; replaces 'Pig Farm'
» Dragon Rot Farm (NEW! requires dragon eggs) +15 food, +15 mana | upk = 10 gold
» Nidus Farm renamed 'Dremer Farm'; allows recruitment of Dremer Workers; added upkeep: 1 gold
» Pulp Extractor upkeep increased to 2 gold, up from 1
» Energy Crystals mana production increased to +4, up from +3
» Refining Matrix upkeep increased to 2 gold, up from 1
» Energy Matrix upkeep increased to 2 gold, up from 1
» Revealing Matrix upkeep increased to 2 gold, up from 1
» Pool of Evolution added production: +1 research
» Defiler Nest added production: +1 mana
» Defiler Hive added production: +3 mana
» Spawning Port 'Seafaring Scout' perk no longer available
» Sensory Node 'Chameleon Receptors' perk no longer available; upkeep reduced to 2 gold, 1 mana (was 2 gold, 2 mana)
» Den of Fangs upkeep increased to 10 gold, 10 food (was 10 gold, 5 food)
» Dremer Forge renamed 'Adrenal Chamber' no longer offers 'Fine Armor' perk; instead offers 5x 'Metabolic Stim' perk {+5% power}
» Crystal Refractory 'Refracting Touch' cost increased to 100 gold, up from 75
» Dremer Hoard adds 50% food production

------------------------------


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Rrat-Prince (usual hero) starts with 'Survivalist' perk in place of 'Unhindered'
» Chosen Warrior (usual hero) hit points increased to 50, up from 45; upkeep changed to 10 gold, 3 food (was 10 gold, 2 food)
» Grand Stubborn Master (usual hero) hit points increased to 42, up from 40
» Lifemsith (famous hero) renamed 'Gizmo Gearheart'
» Dremer Dragnoth (legendary hero) base damage increased to 24, up from 22
» Turtle Hatchlings (sylvan) cost raised to 70 gold, up from 65; start with 'Seafaring Scout' perk
» Elder Turtles (sylvan) start with 'Seafaring Scout' perk
» Ancient Turtle (sylvan) starts with 'Seafaring Scout' perk
» Dragon Bearmen (sylvan) damage increased to 27, up from 25
» Glade Wardens (sylvan) 'Mass Regrowth' cooldown increased to 5, up from 4
» Daughters of Helia (sylvan) movement points restored to 4 (was 3 as of patch 8.0)
» Adjudicators (infernal) damage reduced to 18, down from 19; movement points reduced to 3, down from 4; melee resist reduced to 50, down from 75; loses 'Water Lethargy' debuff
» Royal Guardsmen (allied) cost increased to 500 gold, up from 450
» Black Minotaurs (allied) cost increased to 700 gold, up from 600
» Dwarven Overcomers (allied) cost increased to 700 gold, up from 600
» Koatl Atlatls & Koatl Hunters (allied) 'Trailblazer' given new icon & spell sprite

------------------------------


BUILDING UPDATES
================
» Barrow Tree (NEW! sylvan, barrow) +5 mana, +3 research, 4x 'Nature's Chosen' perk for healer, creature {+2 XP; 10% chance to self-res}; replaces 'Tent Researchers'
» Healer's Hamlet (sylvan) 'Seasoned Herbalist' perk no longer available to caster class
» Terrapin Harbor (sylvan) 'Seafaring Scout' perk no longer available
» Butchery (monsters) food production increased to +10, up from +8

------------------------------


OTHER UPDATES
==============
» Challenging difficulty setting should be slightly easier
» Frosty Archer (starting perk) replaced by 'All Fired Up' which gives Flamedancer instead of Snow Ranger
» Dragon Incarnation (starting perk) cost reduced to 9, down from 10
» Gold Dragon Eggs (resource) are slightly less common in all worlds
» Lab Assistant (looted perk) renamed 'Research Assistant'
» Tal Kalessil (great mage) begins with 'Lesser Healing' spell
» Dremer Queen (great mage) loses 'Master Training' & gains 'Archon'
» Vashara the Beguiler (great mage) artwork restored to pre-patch 8.1.2 artwork
» Lord Tharayn (great mage) artwork quality improved

------------------------------


VARIOUS FIXES
=============
» Dragon Bearmen (sylvan unit) properly use bearmen levelup scheme rather than standard fighter scheme
» Three Questions (portal quest) updated with a more manageable stage 3 Polar Bearman to defeat, rather than stage 4 Nightmare Wolves

------------------------------

PATCH 8.1.2 (minor updates)

While portal event spam is irritating in Exiled mode and the campaigns, the change in 8.0 to help reduce it made the game harder to play. This minor patch rolls that change back.

A few additional changes are included here, too.


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Flayers (infernal) build time decreased to 2 turns, down from 3
» Dragomort Guardsmen (svart) hit points increased to 31, up from 29
» Destructor (svart) can hit the target plus adjacent units, rather than just the target {makes sense -- this unit has two heads and needed a buff}


OTHER UPDATES
=============
» Vashara the Beguiler (great mage) given new artwork that better suits her personality
» Far Sight (spell) casting time lowered to 0.5 turns, down from 1


FIXES
=====
» Portal events rolled back to trigger every turn, not every 3
» Pit Imps & Pit Demons (infernal) now use phalanx formation {visual change only; helps further differentiate them from summoned imps & demons}

------------------------------

Oops... a bug sneaked in. Republished moments later.

PATCH 8.1.1 (minor updates)


VARIOUS UPDATES
===============
» Scholar (starting perk) adds +1 research
» Evangelist (starting perk) cost reduced to 2, down from 3
» All revolutions (faction perks) population bonus decreased to +10%, down from +20%
» The Great Renaissance (event) trigger upper limit increased to turn 110, up from 105
» Renaissance Celebration (faction perk) unrest changed to -3, down from -5
» Colosseum (common building) decreased to +25 population, down from +30
» All allied unit tier 2 buildings for level 10+ cities upkeep changed to 6 gold, up from 5
» Basic Dispel (spell) no longer has a combo effect {Greter Dispel (dauros) retains its combo effect}
» Transfer Capital (spell) casting time increased to 2 turns, up from 1.5
» Helia's Emissary (mage) gains 'Scryer' starting perk


BUG FIXES
=========
» Ice Trap (spell) combo effect should now properly apply the 'Frozen' debuff

------------------------------

PATCH 8.1 (updates & tweaks)

This patch mainly helps the AI to create allied units (like dwarves and koatls) and upgrade those units. Some adjustments were also made to the Dauros line of divine spells.


UNIT UPDATES
============
» Inquisitor Witches (infernal) gains 'Spectral Footsteps' {waterwalking}; melee resistance reduced by 10; cost increased to 200 gold, up from 190
» Stubborn Crusaders (common) hit points increased to 75, up from 70
» Elder Witch (legendary hero) melee resistance reduced by 10


BUILDING UPDATES
================
» Serpentarium (common) +1 research removed; upkeep reduced to 3 gold, down from 4
» War University (common) +1 research removed; renamed 'School of War'; upkeep reduced to 3 gold, down from 4
» Training Arena (common) adds +2 research; upkeep increased to 5 gold, up from 4
» Crusader Sanctum (common) adds +2 research; upkeep increased to 5 gold, up from 4
» Training Course (common) adds +2 research; upkeep increased to 5 gold, up from 4
» House of Itzpapalotl (common) adds +2 research; upkeep increased to 5 gold, up from 4
» Corrida Pen (common) adds +2 research; upkeep increased to 5 gold, up from 4


SPELL UPDATES
==============
» Harvest Blessing cast time reduced to 1.5 turns, down from 2 turns
» Blessing of the Sun (helia) cast time increased to 1.5 up from 1.2
» Protective Shield (dauros) now grants 'Shielded' status
» Total Protection (dauros) cast time decreased to 0.8, down from 1
» Shield of Dauros (dauros) cost increased to 300 mana, up from 250; casting time increased to 1.5, up from 1
» Spell Lock (dauros) rep required reduced to 50, down from 75; moved to stage 3, down from 4; research time reduced
» Mass Dispel (dauros) renamed 'Mass Purify'; now displels ALL enchantments (harmful and beneficial) from ALL units in range; rep required raised to 75, up from 50; cost increased to 270 mana, up from 160; moved to stage 4, up from 3


OTHER UPDATES
===============
» Evangelist (starter perk) population bonus increased to 10%, up from 5%
» The cost of artifacts from artifact merchant has been decreased {change made in 8.0, but not noted}
» Many divine spells of all gods & stages have had their glyph slots increased to be in line with non-divine spells of same level


VARIOUS FIXES
=============
» Spear of Chaos (fervus spell) is now correctly a stage 1 spell (from stage 3)
» Summon Great Bears (fervus spell) is now correctly a stage 3 spell (from stage 2)
» A few spelling & grammar errors were corrected

------------------------------