Dev Interview: The Spear of Salvation

We sat down with the dev team at Round 8 Studio to ask a few questions about The Spear of Salvation update to Bless Unleashed. We have more information about the continuing story of Bless Unleashed, as well as more information about the new Fishing System! Check out the full interview:

Q: The Spear of Salvation is our first major story update in a few months. What are you most excited for players to discover in this update? Can you tease any favorite moments in the story for the players?

R8: In this update, “The Spear of Salvation”, players will find themselves venturing into a new region, the Ivory Dunes. And the story continues as it left off, where the players resolved the troubles in the Timeless Jungle and Zenkala regions. They now head to Madaan, the new of the Ivory Dunes, home to the Desert Elves

Located on the west of Gnoll Wastes, the Ivory Dunes is a stronghold of the long secluded Desert Elves. Players will see and experience different styles of architecture and the culture of the Desert Elves.

Since the Elves of Madaan are not fond of outsiders, players will have to navigate the city and earn the trust of the Desert Elves to uncover the plot associated with the Spear of Salvation while facing these challenges.

During their adventures in the region players will unveil the truth of the changes taking place in the world after the Nightspire has been opened. These challenges will have players wondering if the Desert Elves are allies or enemies of Lumios. Through this update, while chasing down Gideon, players will also come one step closer to finding the truth regarding the god of the Nightspire. We hope that our players can find the clues of the dark conspiracies that have spread around the world with the blessing of Lumios.

Q: This update has a lot of new features built in. What are you most excited about in this update, and what are you most looking forward to hearing player feedback on?

R8: That is correct! This update is our biggest one yet! It includes  new combat options and a Class Levels system that further enhances the current combat experience. There are also new dungeons that will further test the player’s courage and perseverance. Most importantly, we've added a new region that expands the storyline and other cool features in this update. We are looking forward to giving our players new adventures to tackle, and offer depths that reinforce existing storylines while constantly pushing out improvements to the game.

Because there are so many features in this update, it would be unfair to select just one, but if we were to choose, it would be the new Fishing System that our players have been patiently waiting for! With the current situation going around, this update required an extensive amount of development time and efforts from numerous teams so this update is particularly special to us and we are hoping for some great responses from our players. 

Q: People have been asking about fishing since beta, and we’re finally putting it in! What are some of the unique rewards players can expect to find while fishing? Are there any titles or other cool things aside from catching fish and selling them for gold?

R8: Players can expect 40+ new trials related to Fishing and titles to go with them. Through trials and Regional Fishing quests, players can obtain better fishing tools. In the near future update, players can expect a “Fishing Competition” feature where they will be able to receive better fishing tools and other rewards based on their performance. There are rumors going around the office that better fishing equipment may also “reel in” other things… Just rumors of course.

Q: When you talk about breaking a fish down at the Soul Pyre for materials, what kinds of materials can players expect to get from this action?

R8: Without going into too much detail, players can expect to see recipes related to fishing soon and can obtain better materials based on the rarity of the fish. The materials obtained when breaking a fish down at the Soul Pyre can be used in various crafting content for early/mid-level players and also in the new additions to the crafting system. Plus, many researchers are using bones and scales from the fishes for research purposes and the results may carry some impressive results. Who knows? Fishing in Bless Unleashed is just beginning!

Q: We haven’t yet started talking about Field Bosses and Dungeons yet, that’s slated for next week. But do you have a favorite new Field Boss you could share with the players?

R8: Well, in this update, players can now challenge themselves in the brand new 5 player dungeon, “The Nightspire - Entropic Descent”. The 5 man party will enter the belly of the Nightspire and survive the brutal fight between the demons lurking within. With some impressive visuals and new monsters, especially the last boss, “Carnixia the Capricious” a dangerous succubus that attacks its enemies with skills to confuse the enemy. Any party members who fall to her charms will surely face a difficult time. When teamed up with other courageous players however, they still may be able to defeat her. This dungeon requires a high-level of teamwork and we hope that our players will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed developing the dungeon.

Q: Finally, looking ahead to the next update, which should be The Winter Update, is there anything you would like to share with players about that update now?

R8: Unfortunately, we are unable to reveal any specific details at this time.  Our players can look forward to our upcoming winter event. As a teaser, players may find items that have never been revealed in the game through the event, including a powerful yet mysterious item that holds an Ancient Seal!