Of Ash and Steel : Quick Development Update #2

Quick Development Update #2

Hey everyone,
Here’s an update on Patch 1.05 , which we’re actively preparing for release.

The main thing slowing us down right now is the game’s intricate save system. It has been producing inconsistent results – items disappearing, objects duplicating, and even NPCs appearing twice with broken logic.

To solve this, we brought in experienced external developers to help us get everything into a stable, working state. The biggest challenge is making sure the new system also works correctly with existing saves – especially for those of you who’ve already played a lot. That means we need to carefully test and verify that everything now loads correctly, no matter where you are in the game. Once we’ve locked down saving and loading, future patches will arrive much faster.

We’re also working in parallel on two other areas:

• Performance Optimization •
This means better use of memory (both RAM and VRAM), which should help reduce « Out of Memory » crashes and random critical errors. It’ll also improve load times and reduce FPS drops over time. We’re focusing mainly on performance-intensive areas, such as the main city. Ideally, this work will also help the game run more smoothly on Steam Deck down the line.

• Bug Fixes •
We’re actively gathering bug reports and prioritising the most critical issues. Some of these will be fixed in Patch 1.05, including story-blocking bugs and workarounds for broken quests.

To give you a better idea of what’s coming, here’s a preview list of confirmed fixes for Patch 1.05. These are not yet live in the game – just a sneak peek.

Quests:

• Updated logic for Khutsut’s quest “A Five-Minute Venture” – he can no longer die to monster attacks.
• If Khutsut dies but the compass has already been delivered, his quest will now properly close.
• Mazhar’s dialogue about Rukh has been expanded.
• Adjusted Hald’s hunter reward.
• Fixed logic in the “Dregs of Society” quest with Pascal and Shay.
• Fixed Corodelius’ dialogue about the Petalophore.
• Fixed Corodelius’ dynamic task for creating a super potion.
• If you get a better outcome with the hungry lumberjacks, Akim now gives the proper reward.
• Fixed the pig Stipay’s name.
• Updated Irji’s quest logic in the Banker’s quest.
• Fixed Fox’s pouches.
• Fixed rewards in the quests « Best Snack Ever,” “Hides for Gustav,” and “The Hunters’ Contest.”
• Fixed Brok’s quest logic when his stomach growls.
• Fixed one of the dialogue options with Mustard.
• Fixed “Buns for Tibor” quest logic.
• Fixed being unable to attack cultists in the cave.

Gameplay:

• Fixed item duplication/swapping issues in equipment slots.
• Fixed combat stance toggling while unsheathing without the required skill.
• Crossbows are now working properly.
• Fines have been reduced by 75% (temporary adjustment).
• NPCs now react properly to theft – calling guards or fighting back.
• Added a detailed town map stand.
• Guards now tag bandits as enemies correctly.
• Fixed Steam Cloud save file pathing.
• Fixed a collider issue near Nerest’s house.
• Fixed auto-use of torches after purchasing from merchants.
• Fixed headshot damage for bows and crossbows.
• Lockpicks are now twice as durable.
• Added a post-fishing animation.
• Equipped torch remains active after loading a save.
• Storage chests and weapon racks now save items correctly.
• Fixed monster bleed damage calculations.
• Fixed transition loading layers when exiting Boorma.
• NPC followers now step back if you stand too close – helping prevent them from getting stuck in narrow areas.

Sound & Music:

• End-of-combat sound is now categorized as combat music and affected by the corresponding volume slider.

World:

• Fixed several NPC interaction issues.
• Fixed post-processing effects in the swamp.

Improvements:

• Guards now show the fine amount when arresting you.
• The fine amount is now displayed when committing a crime.

UI/UX:

• You can now pause cutscenes with the spacebar.
• Bleed damage is now shown on enemy health bars.
• Empty inventory slots now auto-shift toward available space during trade.
• Health bar HUD has been updated – fatigue markers removed (hydration now governs stamina).
• Fixed arrow display in combat mode.
• Notes can now be picked up from bulletin boards with a click.
• Items that belong to someone else are now marked in red.

Localization:

• Fixed shovel localization in several languages.

Please keep in mind that this is just a preview of what will be included in the patch. We’re still actively working on additional fixes, and the final patch notes will be posted once Patch 1.05 is released.

One of the most important features coming in Patch 1.05 will be a debug panel to help recover progress if you’ve been soft-locked due to a broken quest or bug. You’ll be able to use simple commands to insert quest items, revive dead NPCs, or set quest flags – without having to start a new game. We’ll collect the most common cases into a pinned post for easy reference.

We hope for your understanding and promise to work as hard as we can to fix all the issues as quickly as possible.