Last summer I set forth a plan to take NEStalgia from being a “hobbyist project” to a full-blown independent game. Although the overhaul of the code base and implementation of countless gameplay improvements took much longer than expected, we’re finally at the finish line. In other words, NEStalgia is now ready for widespread exposure and a much larger audience. The most recent (and most important) milestone was the release of the NEStalgia standalone client: if you haven’t seen it yet then go grab it on our new website. Hopefully we’ll start to see many new faces as I work to spread the word about NEStalgia in the coming weeks!
The next question is where the game itself goes from here. Players have been begging and pleading for new content for the better part of a year, and I’m finally ready to provide it. From here on out the primary focus of our development efforts will be regular content expansions, the first of which is already in the works:
NEStalgia: Key of the Exiles
We won’t be changing the title of the game itself, but all NEStalgia content expansions will be named. Key of the Exiles will expand the world of NEStalgia by adding new regions, monsters, items and quests while also bumping the level cap up to 45. As with all named content expansions, Key of the Exiles will also include a new level 45 “end game” dungeon with a wide array of daily quests and the next tier of epic set gear.
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The first order of business for players will be to obtain a ship that allows them to freely navigate the world of NEStalgia. The ship is more than just a cool new way to get around, as it also represents a philosophical shift in how the game is played. Up until now players have had a fairly linear path placed before them, but once you obtain a ship the entire game becomes much more open-ended. The order in which you complete the next main storyline objectives is completely up to you, and there will be no NPCs holding your hand telling you where to go. Exploration and discovery are the hallmarks of this content expansion.
So why is it called Key of the Exiles? Although the quest for the Luanan Runes will continue, the next rune is locked away in an ancient tomb behind a door sealed 10,000 years ago by the exiles of the ancient Luanan civilization. After sealing the door the exiles immediately destroyed the only means of opening it: a magical key capable of unlocking any door. The main storyline quests will have players scouring the world in search of fragments of that ancient key in order to reforge it.
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As with all major NEStalgia updates, I won’t be setting a hard release date for Key of the Exiles until I know for sure that I can hit my target. In the short term, however, players can look forward to a fun 4th of July holiday event next week alongside the release of the Black Sanctum companions (more details forthcoming). As development on Key of the Exiles progresses, I’ll continue to post previews here on the blog.
Is the plan still to expand the skill trees with the level cap change?
Yes, the skill trees for each class will be revamped and expanded, and each class will receive many new abilities.
Dayum is GK’s spider boss hawt
Lies! She’s SMEXY! XD
AWESOME!
Oh my… The day is finally here!
i gasmed
Yay! I can’t wait! =)
Well Ben, you did it! I can’t wait to see even more expansions…. and more…. and more. . . . Wouldn’t it be great if this became one of the biggest success’s in the indie game industries (Next to minecraft, or even greater) lol, maybe I set my hopes too high! Anyways, I haven’t been playing much… been having too much fun with redstone in minecraft. But I am always willing to help in any way I can with this game! 😀
Iv’e noticed the mouse as an avilable companion in one of the pictures.
Since you only fight it once per character, how are you exactly ging to recruit it?
I do believe that silk has the mouse as a pet for his personal enjoyment only. XD At least that’s what I think he told us when he requested the remake of the mouse overworld sprite.
The mouse and many other bosses will eventually be recruitable. It won’t be a matter of fighting them over and over again.
Is a 4party system being in consideration?
No, that will force Silk to re-balance the entire game.
Last year I posted a short Q&A where I explained why we’re sticking with a 3 person party system: http://www.byond.com/forum/?post=107435
Holy crap giant spider!
Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for a Reforged Key? XD
This is AWESOME news! I’m super pumped!
Are boats customizable?
If only this would happen…. 🙁