Heroes of Steel 4.4.13 - Patches

[fallen]

This week, we've rolled up a set of patches that have been brewing for a while. This is allowing us to clear the decks in preparation for the next set of small story expansions that will give Episode 4 groups full access to the entire Underdeep once again.

We fixed some bugs with Tuning crafted items -- +HP, +MP, and +Res stats were not being correctly counted when tuning newly crafted items. For shields and armors, this is especially important.

For anyone stuck in the Necromantic Sanctuary, we fixed the stairs!

For those groups hitting issues with the final story encounter with Nikolai, we've fixed the bug for all future groups coming through that area. We still have some work to do for groups that have already passed that event, but we'll get there.

A longstanding issue that you could take two separate guides into the Otherworldly Haven has finally be fixed. Thanks to the users who provided the saved games that made this fix possible!

v4.4.13 -
- Fixed issue with Tuning items in crafting not consider +HP, +MP, +Res
- Fixed issue exiting Necromantic Sanctuary
- Fixed issues with Nikolai resolution in E4
- Fixed map issues in Ruins of Ember
- Fixed issue with multiple guides taking you to Otherworldly Haven

On App Store
Heroes of Steel RPG
Heroes of Steel RPG Elite

On Google Play
Heroes of Steel RPG
Heroes of Steel RPG Elite

On Amazon
Heroes of Steel RPG
Heroes of Steel RPG Elite

On your PC, Mac and Linux
Steam

[Deleted]

Any word on when these updates can be pushed through on Amazon? I realize it's not necessarily a profitable platform for you guys but I have two groups that have been waiting in Freeport for over a year now on patch 4.2.33 and I'd love to play the new content. Is it still the plan to keep Amazon updated? If not, I think you should remove the Amazon links on your patch notes.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

[fallen]

Jul 5, 2017 12:06:32 GMT -5 @rearick said:

Any word on when these updates can be pushed through on Amazon? I realize it's not necessarily a profitable platform for you guys but I have two groups that have been waiting in Freeport for over a year now on patch 4.2.33 and I'd love to play the new content. Is it still the plan to keep Amazon updated? If not, I think you should remove the Amazon links on your patch notes.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

We do hope to resume updates on Amazon. We were able to resume updates for Templar Battleforce at the start of 2017.

We are working down our priority list of infrastructure issues as fast as we can. There is always more incoming. Amazon is currently ranked second on the list.

[Cory Trese]

We have been working behind the scenes trying to find other ways around Amazon's issues and the forced policy changes they made.

Unfortunately, we've been denied by Amazon at every turn, in spite of the clear support from our shared customers for continued updates to Heroes of Steel.

As fallen said, we do have a plan to move forward with game updates for Amazon. We can point to one game that we've already successfully ported to the new Amazon platform -- Templar Battleforce earlier this year.

You are, of course correct, in your assessment of Amazon's profitability. They've made it impossible to make any money on that platform, while at the same time dramatically increasing the cost for developers to maintain a presence on the store. It is a lose-lose situation for us, but we're still committed to supporting the customers that chose Amazon for their purchase.

The version that is on Amazon may not be the latest, but it is stable, secure and still very playable. In addition, we are not permitted to remove the applications from the Amazon App Store and the promotional responsibilities from our Developer Agreements are still in force for these titles.

We are doing what we can within the constraints of our contracts, personnel and budgets.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2017 12:43:37 GMT -5 Cory Trese said:

You are, of course correct, in your assessment of Amazon's profitability. They've made it impossible to make any money on that platform, while at the same time dramatically increasing the cost for developers to maintain a presence on the store. It is a lose-lose situation for us, but we're still committed to supporting the customers that chose Amazon for their purchase.

So sorry to hear this, that must be maddening to try to work through. I too have become personally disillusioned as an Amazon App Store customer.

I will double down on my Steam copy of the game and get a group through to the new content. I'm no stranger to forming a new group in Heroes.

Thanks for the response and for all the great work over the years! Looking forward to ST2 when it comes out of Alpha!

[fallen]

Thanks for your patience with us. We have a commitment to get it working, eventually. But, considering the state of the market (Amazon Underground no longer accepting new apps, etc) we can't see the current trend changing.

[tran]

I used the old save files to see Nikolai again, it was worth it! I am just glad that our precioud demigod is still kicking, despite everything that happened

[fallen]

Jul 5, 2017 21:53:40 GMT -5 tran said:

I used the old save files to see Nikolai again, it was worth it! I am just glad that our precioud demigod is still kicking, despite everything that happened

Great to hear it worked! This fix has also had some benefits to the scenes at Gholla Outlook, though not all of the bugs there are confirmed fixed.

[tran]

you mean the scene when you meet baron Tazer and the ninth son after Nikolai is dead right?

[fallen]

Jul 5, 2017 22:14:19 GMT -5 tran said:

you mean the scene when you meet baron Tazer and the ninth son after Nikolai is dead right?

Yes, that one. This fixed about half of the problems there.

[baconmaster]

Jul 5, 2017 21:50:39 GMT -5 fallen said:

Thanks for your patience with us. We have a commitment to get it working, eventually. But, considering the state of the market (Amazon Underground no longer accepting new apps, etc) we can't see the current trend changing.    

I believe you have been one of the best developer at maintaining amazon updates until last year. Amazon really should have given you an award for that. The general state of Amazon Appstore just isn't that good. In fact, I would have bought your games on Google Play if Amazon didn't give me $25 worth of free coins many years ago.

While on this Amazon subject, can you tell me if the in-app purchases are tied to the Amazon account or the device? If I buy the base game on Google Play, will my in-app purchases done on Amazon be transferable to the Google Play version?

Now that Google Play allows developers to give out limited number of promotional code. Would that be a valid path for people who made the initial purchase on Amazon?

[fallen]

@baconmaster - the purchase made on the Amazon store are linked to the Amazon store. Much like Walmart (etc) would not honor things bought on Amazon, Google Play is a competitor and does not recognize purchases made on a competitive store.

There are thousands of users who have bought the game on Amazon, far more than we have promo codes.

[Cory Trese]

Also ... that promo code idea wouldn't be an option we could pursue, given our Developer Agreements. So no, that would not be a valid path.

[baconmaster]

Jul 6, 2017 11:29:39 GMT -5 fallen said:

@baconmaster - the purchase made on the Amazon store are linked to the Amazon store. Much like Walmart (etc) would not honor things bought on Amazon, Google Play is a competitor and does not recognize purchases made on a competitive store.

There are thousands of users who have bought the game on Amazon, far more than we have promo codes.

No problem. I understand. Hopefully we can play with the new updates as a Christmas gift =)

I was asking about it because a few apps I have linked the in-app purchases to a separate account, making it transferable. For example, Hearthstone.

[fallen]

@baconmaster - that requires a lot of infrastructure we simply can't afford as a small company, sorry.