Knights of the Chalice 2 Update - Augury of Chaos Content Complete

The latest Kickstarter update for Heroic Fantasy Games' CRPG Knights of the Chalice II is a big one. It lets us know that the game's Augury of Chaos module is now content-complete, which means that a proper commercial release should be following shortly, while the developers are already setting their sights on the game's subsequent modules.

Here's a couple of excerpts from the update:

Hello everyone! Version 1.19 of KotC 2 Augury of Chaos is now available for download here for both Windows and macOS. The main addition to the game is new village content and I'm very glad to say that Augury of Chaos is now Content-Complete! That's a major milestone in my eyes and it could only be achieved thanks to your awesome help and support!

New Content in KotC 2 Augury of Chaos

All of the new content is optional. In the initial part of the game, it includes the Dryad encounter, the Cursed Man encounter, the Thieving Magpie quest, the Jagernaut encounter, the Sun Monk companion, extra wilderness monsters, new Nature / Herbalism skill checks, extra dialogue with the Blue Cloaks, and a number of NPC groups travelling through the village from time to time to improve immersion.

In the late part of the game, the new content includes a brand new map which is the ruined version of Finchbury, a couple of tough encounters, the Doomsdayer, new artifacts and magic items, and extra dialogue with the residents of the inn.

I've also added a couple of containers in the Moon Crypt Death Snare as well as extra steel ingots in various places in order to allow you to craft arrows and crossbow bolts as needed.

Please note that some of the content in the initial part of the game only appears after resting once: Halric in Finchbury, Xantrix and Dunwell inside the inn.

If you've opened Rothgar's chest in the first part of the game, then when you return to Finchbury after escaping from the sewers, you will probably be able to trade with Rothgar. Among other things, he will have two artifact weapons.

[...]

Next Steps for Knights of the Chalice 2

Hurray! I've finally finished adding all of the content that I wanted to add to the Augury of Chaos adventure module. Version 1.19 is the first 'Content-Complete' version of Augury of Chaos. Bearing that in mind, the most urgent remaining tasks are the following:
  • Prepare the Steam and GOG versions, and in particular the Steam and GOG achievements.
  • Create a two or three minute video in particular to showcase the isometric and sprite graphics, since they're missing from all the material I created earlier.
  • Prepare some new screenshots in order to showcase the isometric and sprite graphics.
  • Work on all the other requirements for the Steam and GOG launch.
  • This is not super urgent, but the PDF Guidebook needs a section about Finchbury, another for the ruined version of Finchbury, and another for the Tutorial Adventure.
Hopefully the official release of KotC 2 will take place in December 2021 or at the latest in January.

Once the game is on Steam and GOG the next steps will be:
  • Hire one or two graphic designers to create new sprites and tokens, story images and adventure maps, as well as any needed new item icons, weapon icons, spell icons, dialogue icons, skill icons and combat-action icons.
  • Start working on KotC 2 The Dark Arena, the first module of the upcoming trilogy. To begin with, I'm planning to create a starting hub map - probably Crossroad Castle - and a regional map. As in Augury of Chaos, I think that the starting map will be isometric while dungeon maps will be purely top-down maps.
  • Implement the Character-Class upgrades for the Barbarian, Mage Knight, Rogue and Monk.
  • Implement new options for NPC dialogue boxes in order to make them easier to read particularly in full-screen mode. This may also allow module creators to customise the NPC dialogue interface.
  • Implement the Iconised Combat-Actions Menu as promised during the Kickstarter campaign.
  • Implement the new feats, new items, new spells, and new races or subraces, as detailed in the Kickstarter updates.
  • Implement a new 'Terrain Death Throes' monster ability inspired by Champions of Krynn. While the Death Throes ability is an energetic explosion that deals damage to nearby creatures, the new ability would allow a dying creature to alter the squares it occupies. Essentially, it would be like an Energy Wall spell effect applying only to the squares of the creature when it dies. Combined with the Bull Rush combat manoeuvre, Gust of Wind spell effects, and additional enemies arriving in waves, the new monster ability may create some really interesting tactical challenges when more and more dangerous squares appear in the battleground as you defeat the enemies. Ideally, we'll be able to set the number of d6 of energy damage of the affected squares.
Phew! That took a while for me to write. But now you're completely up-to-date with all the KotC 2 development plans! I will let everybody know once the release date has been set and I will Count On Everyone to Help Spread the Good Word when the time comes! ^_^

As always, if you find bugs or if you have any feedback, thoughts and suggestions, please feel free to let me know here, or in the Forums, or by email at enquiries [at] heroicfantasygames.com. I will be very interested if you have any suggestions for Steam and GOG achievements.

Thank You For Your Steadfast Support, Brave Knights of the Realm! Enjoy!! :-)