It has been over one year since the last release of Ananias in Android.
Another Android released prompted by a critical unavailability, this time it was Google Play pushing for API level 33 target for all of its apps, else no new users would be able to install it.
Well, in any case I had promised to release the 2.5.0 changes to Android as well, including the optional weapon degradation, more visible damage modifiers, and a lot of small important tweaks. This is an update from 2.4.4, and I decided to do it for the web version as well.
The changelog diff compared to 2.5.0 is pretty tiny; just some texts tweaks that I found out from very old bug reports that were gathering dust in the Steam forums. The biggest change is upgrading cordova-android from 10 to 12, to target the mentioned API level.
You can find Ananias 2.5.1 at the following places
Standard Edition
Any Device via the Official web version, just point your browser there and you’ll always get the latest version.
iOS is still pending… I still don’t have access to a reliable dev station I can use for this. Luckily it doesn’t seem to be in danger currently. But still will attempt to do the release before December.
It has been almost 6 years since the last release of Ananias on Steam.
Well, here we are. After recovering control of the tech stack used to build the game, and prompted by our participation in the Roguelike Celebration Celebration Steam Sale (yay!), I am finally able to offer you this long promised maintenance version. It comes packed with a lot of small, but highly valuable changes. And maybe some bugs. Get it now on Steam!
Are you ready? Here we go!
Ananias 2.5.0 has been released on Steam!
Let’s being with a BIG one, the long requested option to disable weapon degradation. Yes, this is now completely optional and turned off by default and it’s a complete game changer, you can now use these cool weapons you find without remorse (just be careful of enemies that spit acid, these are still an issue).
This didn’t come out as a lightly-taken decision. After a lot of discussion I believe it’s the best for the game given the format of the runs and their difficulty. I figured it didn’t made sense to punish the players even further (am I not merciful?)
You will still find weapons of varying quality laying in the dungeon, and the spells and scroll that restore them have been increased in power as well. Note that the setting only applies for New games (you cannot change it for an ongoing game).
Then there is a number of small, high impact gameplay changes:
Alchemy is now safe for all classes. Yes, no more explosions in your face. The elements of the universe have stabilized so alchemy is now more useful!
Ammunition should be more readily available. Bows (and especially crossbows) should be much more useful.
Scrolls with magic attacks will now never backfire and they are also much more powerful now (hence more useful!).
Spellcasting backfire chance when you are not an expert spellcaster has been lowered to 5% (was 20%), thus making spells more useful to all classes.
However, some tweaks were made to the failure chance when attempting to cast higher circle spells. (20% chance of failure on top of 10% for each difference between spell’s circle and caster magic power). Note that this is failure change (no effect), not backfire!
The barbarian can now select combat and hit-points heavenly patrons without any cap, so he doesn’t have to spend level ups in useless magic skills.
One area that was often overlooked by players was the fact that depending on the weapon you are wielding, and the material of your target, there are important bonuses applied to the damage caused. This has been addressed by displaying the attack effectiveness along with the damage caused, when there is a bonus. The manual has also been improved with a new complete section on these “Damage Multipliers”.
Speaking of the manual, several mistakes and omissions on it have been fixed, especially in the Alchemy and Magic sections. The class descriptions were also updated to reflect their current abilities.
Finally, another big usability improvement long requested: The inventory window will no longer close after using an item, provided you are in a “safe” room. This makes equipping and dropping items especially a much smoother experience, but also applies to using items on self and performing alchemy.
This version also inherits the fixes made on v2.4.5, which had a mobile and web-only release on 2022. The most important fixes were preventing friendlies from using skills outside of combat, and handing gifts directly from NPCs if no available room space.
Many thanks to SlashwareKnight Stoltverd, who has been pushing for improvements and fixes on Ananias since he joined Slashware, and is constantly testing and spreading the evangelion of Ananias in the net.
Ananias is part of the Roguelike Celebration Celebration Steam Sale!
We have been selected to take part of the Roguelike Celebration Celebration event, we are joined by speakers both present and past, and a selection of excellent roguelike games of all kind. Go now and check them out! Ananias has a -20% discount in case you still don’t have it.
It has been almost 5 years since the last release of Ananias.
Well, prompted by a critical situation where the Android version was completely broken due to Crosswalk no longer working in Android 10+, I decided to release a new minor version, fixing that as well as including some minor fixes that had been in the repo for years, see below for the full changelog.
Standard Edition
Any Device via the Official web version, just point your browser there and you’ll always get the latest version.
In addition to removing Crosswalk and doing some tweaks around to modernize the deployment to 2022 standards, I uncovered a couple of interesting things that will be seeing the light of the day soon enough; the HD layout and the support for localization.
Also, I’ve started the work required to reestablish the iOS version, which had been down for some months. The store listing is available again but the game is crashing on start on the latest iOS versions.
v2.4.5 changelog
Technical
Remove crosswalk dependency from Android build.
Update to cordova-android 10 including updating build scripts for signing automatically.
Update the build process to accommodate with 2022 Google Play deployment process.
Fixes
Prevent issue with window.prompt not available
Prevent playing SFX before initialization
Prevent bug when sorting monsters or player without sprite (dead)
Prevent issue with using alchemy with a single reagent using keyboard
Prevent issues when using items from an old version save whose Spell no longer exists.
Prevent friendlies from using skills outside of combat
Hand gifts directly if no available room space
Disable pet command button as soon as pet is killed to avoid invalid commands
Known issues
The manual is currently pointing to an online version due to an issue with the InAppBrowser loading of local pages.
Since the HTTPS setup for the game server is still pending, some tweaks were done to be able to connect to it via HTTP which is no longer the default or acceptable in 2022.
Share your Gravestone page, including a screenshot of your journey, via twitter using the #ananias18 and #roguelike hashtags. (See here for a Gravestone page)
You are also encouraged to share it on reddit but it’s not required
You can submit your character any time before October 7, 4PM PST
Participate playing in any valid official 2.4.4 version of the game, including Android, iOS, Steam and Web. No Fellowship Edition required.
You can also participate playing in person in the Roguelike Arcade at the Celebration (but it’s not required)
Winners will be picked based on the standard scoring criteria (depth level, then kills)
You can use any class / pet combo
Notes:
Money Prizes to be awarded via Paypal
Ananias Box and Manual – No diskette
T-Shirts available in limited sizes – To be awarded as available.
Sticker set will contain assorted characters as available.
Physical prizes will be delivered in person at the Roguelike Celebration on Sunday October 7. If you are not attending then they will be sent to you for an additional Shipping cost to be paid via paypal.
FAQ
How can I get the gravestone page for my character?
Just create an account in the game, and then when your character dies or ascends use the “Gravestone” button
I missed the date, but we hit the 1K milestone for the paid version of Ananias on Android, last February 23 🙂
We also surpassed the 1K mark on steam about 3 months ago (for sales), activations are waaay higher now (over 5K!) I wonder where I got that many? (maybe some bundles which I forgot to deactivate unused keys) while it took about 4 years in Android, it took less than a year on Steam. The Free edition on Android is now close to 60K cumulative installs
Meanwhile, on the Apple Store, Ananias has sold a bit over 300 units, in about the same period of time than Steam. So far, all of this has been without marketing campaigns or major advertising (besides some minor and useless facebook ads).
In other news, I decided to make the project board public, take a look if you feel curious 🙂
It was about time to make a release for iOS. The last release was 2.4.1 from July 10, 2017! I was hoping to pack more into it but since there are many good gameplay changes (including a new class), a critical UI fix, and it’s unlikely I’ll be able to work on it in the next couple months, I figured it was a good time to do it.
Standard Edition
Any Device via the official web version, just point your browser there and you’ll always get the latest version.
It was about time to make a release for itch.io. Last release was 2.4.1 from July 10 2017! I was hoping to pack more into it but since there are many good gameplay changes (including a new class), and it’s unlikely I’ll be able to work on it in the next couple months, I figured it was a good time to do it. I also packed a new version to Steam (which had 2.4.1 from October 31 2017)
Standard Edition
Any Device via the official web version, just point your browser there and you’ll always get the latest version.
It was about time to make a release for Android. Last release was 2.4.1 from July 10 2017! I was hoping to pack more into it but since there’s an important UI bug and many good gameplay changes (including a new class), and it’s unlikely I’ll be able to work on it in the next couple months, I figured it was a good time to do it.
Standard Edition
Any Device via the official web version, just point your browser there and you’ll always get the latest version.
Halloween comes with a new version of Ananias including a new class: the Lunar Witch! In addition of being experts concocting potions, they have access to a whole new school of magic: Witchcraft.
Witches cast spells (or hexes) sacrificing their own blood. However, if they have a familiar they will share the burden with him, causing him small harm in exchange for much less pain for the witch.
Hurry up and get it now from Steam‘s halloween sale! (coming soon to other outlets)
Other changes include:
UX
Allow continuing games from older version, warn game wont be saved.
Bugfixes
Prevent issue with sprite positioning when morphing floating enemies
Prevent issue with summons sprites being misplaced
Fix achievements relying on count number of levels
Make sick fountains reduce attack instead of contracting it (allow recovering)
Prevent items from disappearing when dropped and no space
Fix issue with confirming spell selection on mobile
Slashie's Journal 