The Magicka thread

[TurinTur]

Changelog for Patch #5 (1.3.3.4)- January 31st

Fixed issues/bugs

* Fixed save games disappearing when disconnecting from online game. (For real this time)
* Fixed crash for alternative character models appearing in cutscenes. (Chapter 7, Chapter 12).
* Fixed crash caused by conjuring large quantities of elements.
* Fixed crash due to beams merging.
* Fixed crash where Chapter 11 boss collided with shield.
* Fixed crash where Clients and servers would send old messages when reconnecting.
* Fixed high-end machine jitter.
* Improved network batching. (should result in serious network performance increase).
* Improved startup routine to prevent threading problems.
* Improved authentification on connect. (should result in fewer auth-failed)
* Fixed a missing file that resulted in french text not appearing correctly.
* Fixed immovable objects jittering.
* Fixed issue where characters would get stuck during cutscenes.
* Fixed issue where scripted player movement would remain after a cutscene.
* Fixed missing boss titles.
* Steam join through overlay fixed.
* Fixed Chapter 1 collision. (behind door)
* Fixed Chapter 3 collision. (you can now fall down the well)
* Fixed Chapter 7 cutscene lockups and other issues.
* Fixed Chapter 8 cutscene lockup.
* Fixed Chapter 8 navigation fixed.
* Fixed Chapter 9 cutscene lockups.
* Fixed Chapter 11 teleport issue.
* Fixed Chapter 12 cutscene lockup.
* Conflagration is now properly synced over network.


New features/balancing

* Chapter 3 now has proper pirates by the picnic.
* Chapter 8 now has manual exit at the end of level.
* Fire Damage increased from 40 to 60.
* Spawned summons now capped at 16 per player.
* Goblin Pirate damage reduced from 155 to 72.
* Added server list filter option for “Password”.
* Removed obsolete port option of game hosting (always hosted on 27016 anyways).
* Sever list sorting added (klick on the header).


Known Issues

* Self-shields sometimes get out of sync
* Network uplink bandwidth, while improved, can be demanding
* Steam attempts to install XNA framework every time game is launched or rare occasion
* "Too fancy for fireballs" achievement is sometimes not awarded
* Quitting the game while the credits are rolling will not award a game complete.
* Mouse outside screen in full screen with multiple monitors will minimize the game.

[Wade42]

Changelog for Patch #5 (1.3.3.4)- January 31st
...
* Fixed Chapter 3 collision. (you can now fall down the well)
...

I remember trying to fall down just for giggles... anything down there, or is it just another way to die?

[Tman]

Even then, the game have a mode to play alone, in single player. Like most games. If they put that mode, it shouldn't be that much to want a somewhat balanced and fun experience in that mode.

Not saying the game is too hard or too whatever in singleplayer. I had fun with it in single player, and while the game is in general a bit hard, it's not that much, at least until you reach the end where is more frustrating.

The thing with the game, it's imo not a problem of pure overall difficulty. Even in single player. It's a problem of

a) balance. In retrospective, the game have a few problems in the balance. You are fine using normal, tactical spells in 80% of the game. But there are some hard zones (some boss fights, the last 2 levels, a few big fights) where you have to use the ubergood spells (steam murder beam, thunderbolt + rain, etc). The problem with these spells is that they are too good, they reduce an interesting and challenging encounter into a few seconds of spamming the same 2 spells (perhaps before a shield, haste and time warp). At first it's only in a few hard fights. Later, when they throw at you tough enemy after tough enemy, it's just doing these two spells one and another time, putting shield on you, or doing another cheap magic like running with haste or invisibility and skipping fights. And of course, there is always the temptation to just use these spells even in the easy fights. Some players are like water, they run and flow using the path with least resistance. I can't blame them: lots of game have trained into search and use the path, that was the game.

b) bullshit moments. i.e they hit you and you fall to the sky. Repeatedly. That fight in level 6... grr...

c) annoying checkpoint save system. The game have both sparse checkpoints and "only really saving if you finish the level". This point is what aggravates the moments and zones that are annoying and turn them into very frustrating. In some moments if you are stuck in a boss fight but have to go and have to close the computer you want to kick the developer's face.

So imo the game is a diamond in the rough. Just fix these three points, fix the netoce, and i will be very happy.

Really excellent points.

I like that you bring up A) as this game could be really improved if you were forced to learn more than a small number of spells. Well put.

C) is where it magnifies the frustration. You can't take a break, otherwise you get to do it all over again. And chapter 6 would have been better if it had checkpoints at least on every other island in the sky instead of forcing you to rehash every single one every single time. AAAAAAARRRRGGGG!!!!!

[Blips]

Did the main menu's table disappear for anyone else since the patch?

[Telefrog]

* Quitting the game while the credits are rolling will not award a game complete.

That would certainly go a long way to explaining the 3% completion stat.

[Morberis]

Crashes still seem to be prevalent. Several multiplayer games all ended in crashes.

[Jab]

The good news, connectivity seems better, the bad news the game is still crashing. We were at the chapter 11 boss fight and it crashed. Not sure if it was from our beams or just the game acting up.

Chapter 11 is a low point for single player, too many enemies who can kill you quickly. Even in multi player we died constantly.

[Morberis]

Seriously, and the amount of times where you're incapacitated is uh rather large. Almost every enemy seems to be able to do it (except skele's), and in the case of yeti's they instant kill you.

[Reldan]

I finished the game in single player last night. I actually ended up using fully charged Rockx5 with Invisibility quite a bit to get through Chapter 11. The only reasonable way I found to deal with the yetis was Steam Lightning though - they just regenerate too fast to wear them down with anything that does less damage than that.

To be completely honest, the most fun I've had with the game was Challenge mode with friends. Feel free to attempt to use as much bullshit as possible, as you absolutely need it (but also doing nothing but steam lightning beams and thunderbolts won't just win the fights for you).

[Noterist]

I can anecdotally confirm that the jitter bug has been fixed.

I just hit the yeti level myself and I'm determined not to use the steam beam to defeat it.

My tactic so far has been to throw a quick Water + Rock to soak them, then trap them in a forward arc of Lightening + Ice + Shield. This will freeze them long enough to easily charge up a full Rock x5 to kill them off. Still, I had to take a break from the level just now due to frustration :(

I noticed that the odd yeti will drop me after I discharge a spell, but I'm struggling to find the combination that reliably works. Anyone know why they're putting me down?

[Reldan]

I found teleport is the most reliable way to get out of their hold.

[Tman]

I noticed that the odd yeti will drop me after I discharge a spell, but I'm struggling to find the combination that reliably works. Anyone know why they're putting me down?

I hear that Yeti's don't like fire. Maybe you put yourself on fire?

[Noterist]

I found teleport is the most reliable way to get out of their hold.

I tried this, but alas I am not always quick enough.

I hear that Yeti's don't like fire. Maybe you put yourself on fire?

Yep, this works a treat thanks! Fire + Middle Mouse either before they've picked you up or after is exactly what I was looking for.

It seems I've picked up a charm spell though, so all I have to do now is cast a shield, then Life + Shield + Earth renders yetis useless.

[Hanacker]

As of the last patch my middle mouse button doesn't work for self cast anymore. Odd.

[maxle]

This game is hilarious

[Sarkus]

Did they advertise that it was primarly a co-op game and you can't beat it in single player? If I had seen/known that I'd probably have passed (or at least held off until some of my friends picked it up).

EDIT: Not that it matters, since I seemingly CAN NOT beat the chapter 6 boss...

I did very little research on it before buying the game, basically reading some early comments in this thread and looking at the Steam info. But I came away with the impression it was more geared towards multi-player. And listening today to the Flash of Steel podcast, which was recorded last week the day the game came out, one of the guests said the exact same thing.

I wish it was more single-player friendly, I'm just not sure where people got the idea that it would be.

[Jab]

I think I'm done playing this on single player until they start working on balance patches. If you guys want to play co-op definitely send me a pm but otherwise I'm putting this aside.

[Marcin]

I did very little research on it before buying the game, basically reading some early comments in this thread and looking at the Steam info. But I came away with the impression it was more geared towards multi-player. And listening today to the Flash of Steel podcast, which was recorded last week the day the game came out, one of the guests said the exact same thing.

I wish it was more single-player friendly, I'm just not sure where people got the idea that it would be.

Yeah, same. I figured single is good for an extended tutorial until you're ready to dive into the real deal. Anything else is at your own masochism threshold, kinda like L4D.

[rhinohelix]

Holy downhill directionals, <generic superhero>:

Stage 1: I read the first page of this thread, go to Steam and buy it. It's great! I love the physics based consequences. It makes the games seem like one of those flowing sand dioramas and Myth (I see the comparison, i.e. Fetch + wight=explody good time). 8 bucks well spent. Look, Fire Lighting! Arcane Lightning! Wait, Water + Fire + lighting? I LOVE THIS GAME.

Stage 2: I died and had to go back to the last check point? Awww, Ok. Wait, how far back is that? Well, that wasn't so far and I can redo these fights pretty quick.

Stage 3: The game just crashed while fighting that serpent. No big, I think I finally figured out how to reliably damage him...what do you mean check points aren't saves? You mean I have to replay the whole chapter? Sonofa.... Oh well, let's do this.

Stage 4: Ok, these airship battles suck since they keep killing me with what looks like the last two goblins and a bomb. DAMN, another crash, I swear if I have to replay the whole...

Stage 5: WHERE IS MY SAVE GAME? WHAT! (reads the rest of the thread about the issues and 9 more chapters to the game) <Charlie Brown scream> I HATE THIS GAME.

[Lazy Shiftless Bastard]

A tip for anyone struggling with a horde in singleplayer: Time Warp is amazing and you should use it constantly. Follow it with a Blizzard and everything will be moving in slow motion while you molest it however you want.

Finally got to play a bunch of multiplayer tonight. It really is the most hilarious thing I've played in forever. Trying to organize first-timers in a bossfight is like herding cats.

Exploding cats.

[Tman]

A tip for anyone struggling with a horde in singleplayer: Time Warp is amazing and you should use it constantly. Follow it with a Blizzard and everything will be moving in slow motion while you molest it however you want.

Finally got to play a bunch of multiplayer tonight. It really is the most hilarious thing I've played in forever. Trying to organize first-timers in a bossfight is like herding cats.

Exploding cats.

Oh sure, I love how people say to use spells you can't even get till level 5 or level 6.

Now how does that help someone on level 2 or 3??

just given you grief lazy, I keep meaning to use phoenix during coop because it's supposed to kill a grunt AND revive a fallen wizard. Two spells for one!

Meowr....BAM...staff and sword falls to the ground in frothy red mass.

[Blips]

Ok so I was finally able to enjoy some multiplayer tonight and WOW is it chaotic. 4 person multiplayer is honestly more difficult than singleplayer.

The game was moderately laggy but playable. But playing it made me realize that if versus mode is ever implemented, they're going to need to use some sort of lives or point system because making one mistake will make you dead in a matter of seconds.

Also, nothing is more frightening than shooting a steam + lightning beam at a troll, only to have 2 other players join in halfway through, each firing a beam of a different color!

[Morberis]

Just played some 3 people co-op tonight. Using pheonix to see what it looks like when you're all bunched up together will kill all of you. Using lightening shield and then thunderbolt is an extremely effective way of killing tough enemies. 4-7k every 2 or 3 seconds, I'm not sure steam+lightening matches that but I haven't looked too closely at the numbers. It sure is a heck of a lot more satisfying though hearing that crack and seeing something explode, possibly a team who just had his lightening shield fall.

[Lazy Shiftless Bastard]

Oh sure, I love how people say to use spells you can't even get till level 5 or level 6.

Now how does that help someone on level 2 or 3??

just given you grief lazy, I keep meaning to use phoenix during coop because it's supposed to kill a grunt AND revive a fallen wizard. Two spells for one!

Meowr....BAM...staff and sword falls to the ground in frothy red mass.

Do we even need to mention spoilers at this point?

Time Warp is in either level 3 or 4, and Blizzard at the very start of level 5. In levels 3 and 4 I made a lot of use of spamming ice+ice+lightning+lightning/arcane+shield walls while running from hordes. One tip is that those beastmen that charge you and suck your blood? The ones that shake off water whenever you get them wet? In the Rain they basically stand still trying to shake off water until it ends. You can still fry them for double lightning damage while this is going on. Casting Rain and firing ice+ice+cold+whatever else you want into crowds as a shotgun blast will then freeze masses of them solid. This works when those stupid druids constantly summon Rain too, since you don't need lightning for it.

Level 2 was... uh... really easy.

My favorite moment in multiplayer so far was in the arena, where I summoned a black hole that sucked in half the monsters in the wave attacking us. Followed by sucking in all of us too as we tried to run around it.

Tomorrow I look forward to fighting Yetis!

[maxle]

My favorite moment in multiplayer so far was in the arena, where I summoned a black hole that sucked in half the monsters in the wave attacking us. Followed by sucking in all of us too as we tried to run around it.

First you murdered me with your singularity, then you resurrected me within the grip of its homicidal gravity. Jerk.

[Tman]

Level 2 was... uh... really easy.

Just because you thought of the right spell and I (and dozens of others as I read it), raged trying to down that bastard, no need to mock and degrade us with your exploits of how you solved it in 30 seconds.

The problem with the game is it doesn't reward you for stepping back and taking a break to rethink the problem. Aha! Take that you bastard! If you quit now, I'm gonna fuck you over and make you redo the entire level!!!! ahahahahaha (say it in your best Scottish accent aka Craig Ferguson)

[Mink Staccato]

I'm a soloist, all the way. I am intrigued, but is this worth buying if I'm not going the MP route?

~mink~

[Blips]

no need to mock and degrade us with your exploits of how you solved it in 30 seconds.

Being a bit dramatic aren't we?

I'm a soloist, all the way. I am intrigued, but is this worth buying if I'm not going the MP route?

50/50. I'd strongly recommend playing the demo at least first.

[Tman]

Being a bit dramatic aren't we?

I keeeeed I keeeed, I though the Craig Ferguson reference would have clued you in.

[Fenris99]

I'm a soloist, all the way. I am intrigued, but is this worth buying if I'm not going the MP route?

~mink~

At thus point, unless you love really difficult games, absolutely not.