VERSION v1.3 

Major Game Update Dev Log

This major update revamps the gear system, introduces a new audio system, enhances game state management, and boosts performance. Here's a concise overview of the changes.

Gear System Overhaul

Revamped gear mechanics for deeper strategy and progression.

• Merging: New gold-based formula: base_gold[T] × ((M₁ + M₂)/2 + 5 × (T−1)) (base_gold: [10, 15, 25, 40, 75] for Tiers 1-5). Example: Tier 3 (M=7, M=3) costs 375 gold. Encourages strategic merging.
• Salvaging: Recover resources with forgesteel: base_salvage[T] × (M/2 + 2 × (T−1)) (base_salvage: [3, 5, 8, 12, 20]). Example: Tier 5 (M=8) costs 240 forgesteel. Supports failed merge recovery.
• Selling: Yields forgesteel: base_sell[T] × (M + 3 × (T−1)) (base_sell: [2, 4, 7, 11, 18]). Example: Tier 3 (M=12) gives 126 forgesteel. Balanced to prevent exploits.
• Item Leveling: New system boosts stats per level. Item level/XP bar UI awaits styling in next hotfix.
• Economy: Gold for merging, forgesteel for salvaging/selling. Higher tiers offer better returns but cost more. Linear costs with diminishing returns ensure balanced progression.
• Future-Proofing: Placeholders for new currency and item locking to prevent corruption in future updates.

Audio System

New audio features for immersion and control.

• Service: Smooth fade in/out transitions, persistent volume/track settings, and audio preloading.
• Controls: New header UI with mute toggle, volume sliders, and first-time setup guide for permissions.

Game State

Improved reliability and persistence.

• Persistence: Saves audio settings and track position. Enhanced save/load with versioning and error handling.
• Security: Separate permission storage. Added wipeSaveData() for full resets.
• Reliability: Full page reload on reset, better audio cleanup, and robust handling of corrupted save data.

Performance & UI

Optimized gameplay and visuals.

• Chest & Forge: Improved performance; forge styling in progress.
• UI: Item level/XP bar styling to be finalized in hotfix.

Technical Notes

• Compatibility: Item locking placeholder ensures no corruption in next update.
• Hotfix: Will polish item level/XP bar and forge styling.

Closing

This update deepens strategy with the gear overhaul, enhances immersion with audio improvements, and ensures a smoother experience. Expect a hotfix soon to refine UI and prep for more content. Thanks for playing—share your feedback!