Manor Lords Patch 1: Open Testing Begins

Manor Lords Version 0.7.960 Patch Notes

Slavic Magic, the developer behind the popular city-builder Manor Lords, has unveiled and released the first major patch, version 0.7.960, for public testing. This exciting update, available on Steam, brings a plethora of improvements, bug fixes, and new features. While not yet a full release, players can now experience the patch’s potential benefits, knowing that some adjustments, particularly balance changes, might still be subject to fine-tuning.

Key Features and Improvements

This patch focuses on a multitude of areas, addressing issues and introducing innovative elements to further refine the gameplay experience. Players are encouraged to back up their saves before installing this pre-release version. The patch notes highlight that some features, like the King’s Tax, might not be fully polished, and balancing is still in progress.

  • King’s Tax: A new annual tax, collected from both the player and AI settlements, is introduced to the game and sent to the liege. It is designed to counter hoarding by players with large sums of wealth. Initial implementation allows for debt without penalty, but future iterations will incorporate penalties for non-payment, such as intervention by the liege’s army.
  • Trading Post Enhancements: A local trade option within trading posts allows players to conduct business solely within their controlled regions. Merchants prioritize trade routes with the best pricing, impacting regional wealth and encouraging inter-regional trade. The implementation addresses initial stability issues.
  • Gameplay and Balance Adjustments: Numerous adjustments touch upon various aspects of the game’s mechanics, aiming to optimize farming, trade, warfare and more. These include changes to food consumption, crop yield, and resource transport. These changes are marked as experimental and may be subject to further revision.

Detailed Patch Notes (Gameplay & Balance)

The developers have implemented significant changes to address crucial gameplay and balance elements, making the game more engaging and challenging. A major focus of the patch was efficiency improvements to reduce bottlenecks in resource gathering, trade, and worker management. Experiments with resource handling, merchant traffic and market supply have been introduced, with feedback from players expected to guide future updates.

Category Description
Gameplay Randomized food consumption, adjusted fertility mechanics, and optimized harvesting processes. Oxen prioritization for plowing.
Balance Decreased ale consumption, adjusted warbow damage, trade route cost adjustments, reduced Baron region claims, and market oversupply adjustments.

Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements

The patch notably addresses numerous reported bugs and enhances the game’s stability. Many aspects related to the optimization of the game’s engine and AI behaviour were tackled. The patch also aims to address recurring issues reported by the community, improving overall user experience.

Cosmetic Enhancements

Visual improvements include new banner graphics, updated models, and corrected animations. These enhancements aim to further polish the visual appeal of the game and reduce visual inconsistencies.

  • Visuals: New helmet variations and body armor pieces, revamped granary models and accurate debris generation.
  • UI: Improved UI clarity, such as a mourning period indicator in residential plots and consistent visual cues for interactions.
  • Animations: Enhanced animation quality, smoothing of animations, and corrected door orientation in buildings.

Accessing the Test Version

To experience the 0.7.960 patch, players can access the test build through Steam. Right-click the game in their Steam library, select “Properties”, navigate to the “Betas” tab, enter the password “veryNiceBasket”, and choose “pre_release” from the Beta Participation dropdown.

Conclusion

The 0.7.960 patch represents a significant step forward for Manor Lords. The significant gameplay adjustments and comprehensive bug fixes aim to provide a smoother and more engaging experience. Players are encouraged to actively engage with the testing phase, providing feedback on their experiences to assist the developers in fine-tuning the game for a polished final release. The feedback gained from the public testing phase is crucial for achieving the best possible final product.

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