Vellum News

Welcome, Scribes! With Summer fun in full swing, we're pumped to release today's Interlude Patch: Quenched - introducing a new Generator Spell and an updated Ping System!

We're continually excited to be influenced by community feedback - today's new spell and last week's balance patch are both important pieces of that process. This patch also brings some balance and tuning adjustments as we move toward our goals outlined in last week's Difficulty Overhaul patch.

In-game, take a gander at the updated Vellum Roadmap to keep up with our progress and see what inky content awaits on the horizon.

[h2]New Spell - Concoct[/h2]

Tired of all those potions taking up space in your bag? Concoct is here to bring potion-hoarder catharsis!

Toss unlimited bottles of magic to splash and dazzle your foes! Did we mention they bounce?!

[h2]Ping System Update[/h2]

Sharing the joys of discovery and the burden of challenge is core to the Vellum multiplayer experience. The magic of a team working intuitively and fluidly together is a magic we just can't get enough of! We're making a significant update to our ping system to help give those moments a little nudge in the right direction.

Communication is key to great teamwork - but so is pinging "Danger!" after your buddy gets absolutely erased by a Boss ability. Perfect balance.

[h2]Steam - Sales & Stickers![/h2]
As part of Steam's Summer Sale 2024, Vellum is 20% off! To celebrate the summer season, we've added stickers, trading cards, and more profile customization. We'll be adding more Steam digital goodies over time! Our Discord server will also be seeing some fun new emotes as we go - we love us some signature style!


[h2]Balance & Tuning[/h2]
Last week, we dropped a patch overhauling difficulty in Vellum. Like we said in that update, continuing to gather and digest feedback is hugely important for us. Today's interlude patch brings a series of smaller, targeted nerfs to over-performing Torn and some danger areas.

Difficulty and danger are headed in the right direction, but there's plenty of road ahead! We really appreciate the discussion and feedback we've seen so far as we calibrate the battles of Scribes and Torn. We'll be maintaining a close watch over the evolving balance with additional attention on Scribe power growth.

Quenched is just the start; Vellum has a fun-filled Summer ahead and we can't wait to dive into some good books!

- The Vellum Team


[h2]Features[/h2]
[h3]New Generator Spell: Concoct[/h3]
- Damage: 10 - 30
- Toss an inky Potion that bounces, then shatters to envelop nearby foes

[h3]Ping System Update[/h3]
- 4 New Pings have been added!
- Hold then Release the Ping command to select from radial menu
- Remove pings by re-selecting the same icon
- Ping is remappable in Settings

[h2]Tuning & Gameplay[/h2]
- Vignette: Tundra Pass adjusted platforming spacing and reward visuals
- Signature Challenge: Piercing Strands now requires 8 foes hit at once by a Red Tether (was 13)
- Binding: Toxic should now behave appropriately when killing Scribes
- Boss: "Big" Cap targeted area effect reduced in size by 10%
- Boss: Harvest Homing Scythe damage reduced by 20% and homing strength decays slightly faster
- Raving: Bear healing from Hibernate reduced and is now capped
- Splice: Ogre healing is now capped
- Splice: Ironclaw melee damage reduced by 25%
- Splice: Ironclaw leap damage reduced by 10%
- Font Power: Restrictive Mandate should no longer fail from effects that auto-cast spells
- Font Power: Measured Response should no longer fail from effects that auto-cast spells
- Page of Power: Undivided Attention should no longer fail from effects that auto-cast spells
- Page of Power: Green Thumb will now be filtered out of being automatically picked up

[h2]General & Aesthetic[/h2]
- Signature Ink: Pink clarity adjustment on visual effects
- Splice: Imp Flamethrower ability has visual adjustments
- Torn Page: Spinning Blades visual clarity adjustment
- Torn Page: Remnant visual clarity adjustment
- Added new icon for indicating a player is currently in the revive sequence
- Various map collision improvements
- Various visual feedback adjustments when damaging foes
- Increased performance by reducing tree costs
- Adjusted greyscale area behavior and performance
- Improved FluidFX performance

Hello, Scribes!

We're releasing a patch today to adjust issues and address feedback relating to difficulty. There are also fixes and enhancements to the recent Chapter III: Revelry & Respite update!

Overcoming satisfying hurdles is at the heart of Vellum; Scribes direct the hunger of their foes, apply dangerous Bindings to Tomes, and venture into the depth of the Appendices - all in a quest to battle and defeat the Torn.

In service of challenge that is consistently satisfying, we're making significant adjustments to Vellum's difficulty.

Today's patch adjusts how Vellum scales enemies across the board (Chapters, Bindings, Appendices). First off, we've fixed an important bug that had previously undercut the scaling factor of Bindings - so our intended difficulty curve had been 'leaking' a portion of its potency.

To combine with Bindings, we're substantially increasing the starting health values of Torn - with a small bump to their per-Chapter scaling. We're also adjusting the timing for Barrier regeneration for both Scribes and Torn to take slightly longer - giving more weight to Barrier-related powers and gameplay. We want a much more dangerous - but satisfying - iteration of the Torn:

Our goal is for difficulty to be a better partner for player power - keeping focus on the best dynamic relationships of the game.

This is an impactful step toward balancing the game, but it isn't the last step. We're eager to hear your feedback when playing with these changes and examining where Vellum's challenges find their brightest spots.

Thank you for playing!

- The Vellum Team



[h2]Balance/Tuning & Gameplay[/h2]
- Starting Torn health values increased by up to 100%
- Chapter-based Torn health scaling slightly increased
- Binding scaling for Torn health and damage should now apply properly
- Some Appendix health scaling has been shifted to Binding health scaling
- Appendix scaling of Boss health values has been reduced
- Multiplayer scaling has been adjusted to accommodate the above changes
- Increased the time delay before Scribe Barrier begins to regenerate
- Increased the time delay before Torn Barrier begins to regenerate
- Quillmark Rewards for Daily Quests have been increased (Dev Note: as difficulty increases, we want to open more flexible ways to get more Quillmarks)
- The first attempt at mending Of Scribes and Torn now spawns foes more frequently
- Torn Boss: Golgor will no longer deal ticking damage in preparation for Annihilation
- Torn Elites: Hunstman, Mummy, Smack o Lantern, Scarecrow deal up to 20% more damage with targeted attacks
- Generator Spell: Jot has a 40% increase to projectile interact size
- Page of Power: New Sponge will now deal more appropriate damage (Dev Note: this is a sizable buff)
- Page of Power: Downy Barbs has been reworked to grant increased damage based on airtime

[h2]General & Fixes[/h2]
- Postgame stats will now display the correct number of revives
- Multiplayer Region Selector should behave better on startup
- Low Health aesthetic effects will now fade over time while maintaining low health
- Font Power: Chrome, Sweet Chrome now interacts properly with Pink Signature Ink
- Page of Power: Monarchical should now behave properly
- Bonus Objective: Golden Ink should no longer complete instantly
- Bonus Objective: Hubris should now return Scribes to their correct size
- Bonus Objective: Bear the Burden beam effect now matches the size of the visual
- Dawn's Sunbeam effect now matches the size of the visual
- Vignette: A Forgotten Grotto now behaves properly in multiplayer
- Vignette: Refuge stillness effect will no longer persist outside of the Vignette (though we encourage finding stillness everywhere)

Welcome, Scribes!

Chapter III: Revelry & Respite is a big step for Vellum, bringing Vignettes, rotating Quests, a new Tome, and new Bonus Objectives. This also marks our sixth update since launching in Early Access!


This Chapter paves the way for more unique encounters, rewards, activities, and richer experiences as you mend the Tomes of the Illuminated Library!

[h2]Vignettes - Revel, Rest, and Ready Yourselves![/h2]

Vignettes are immersive pocket experiences interspersed within Tomes. These are not new battlefields for us Scribes, but brief windows - opportunities to enjoy and understand what we're fighting for!

Each Vignette has its own thematic activity or choice to engage with - be it a platforming puzzle, scavenger hunt, or some other mysterious feature! They also may reward Pages of Power that are your choice to take or leave behind.

These reprieves from the battle against the Torn appear three times in the course of a standard Tome (and once before the boss in each Appendix). With the length and pacing of Vignettes, Tomes will feel like a more dynamic adventure with reinvigorating detours along the way - all while keeping games quick!


[h2]Tome - The Lost Symphony[/h2]

Keep the music alive in The Lost Symphony! Vellum's newest Tome brings a rhythm-based mechanic to rehearse, master, and evolve! Unlock this new Tome on the third shelf by mending On the Nature of Seasons at any Binding level.

From the start, casting your movement spell at the correct moment (in line with the game's music) grants Sync: a movement speed buff! Using the power of The Font, Scribes will be able to gain Sync in new ways - and with monumental new effects!

[h2]Quests - Regular Readers[/h2]

The Quest Board in the Illuminated Library has expanded! Chapter III introduces a collection of Daily and Weekly quests to complete during your journeys against the Torn!

Augment your Quillmark collection by completing Daily quests and speeding up your Ink Research! Weekly quests grant a solid influx of Gildings to help expand your winning wardrobe!

[h2]Bonus Objectives - Agile Wordplay[/h2]
We won't overspoil the new Bonus Objectives - you'll just have to catch them on your own!

[h2]Epilogue[/h2]
Chapter III: Revelry & Respite is an exciting update for us as we both push forward with the thematic vision of the game and create another new platform for future content!

We're eager to hear about your experiences with Vignettes, the current state of the game, and what you might want to see next!

Thank you for playing and reading with us!

- The Vellum Team

[h2]Chapter III: Revelry & Respite - Full Patch Notes[/h2]

[h3]Vignettes[/h3]
- 20 New Vignettes - brief and engaging pocket experiences within Tomes
- Vignettes will now appear three times per Tome (once per Appendix)

[h3]Tome: The Lost Symphony[/h3]
- Tome Mechanic: Cast your Movement Spell with the correct rhythm to Sync, gaining +15% Speed.
- Font Powers expand your ways to Sync and increases the payoff
- The Lost Symphony can be unlocked by mending On the Nature of Seasons

[h3]Quests[/h3]
- There is now a rotation of Daily and Weekly quests at the Quest Board
- Quests award Quillmarks and Guildings

[h3]Bonus Objectives[/h3]
- Three new bonus objectives have been added: Hubris, Golden Ink, Go Long

[h2]General & Fixes[/h2]
- Binding: Excessive Edits is now unlockable
- The Font no longer awards Page choices when unveiling a new row of Font Powers (this Page choice has been moved to a guaranteed spot before Vignettes)
- Inscription unlock levels should now display correctly in the Scriptorium
- Page of Power: Perfect Cadence had an adjusted overhead visual
- Page of Power: Used Sparingly is now filtered as a tradeoff (won't be auto-picked up)
- Keyword: Primed VFX cleanup improvements
- Tome: On the Nature of Seasons has adjusted Appendices
- Tome: On the Nature of Seasons has adjusted power icons
- Torn Boss: "Big" Cap now appropriately lends his power to champions in Tome: Quarry
- Torn Boss: The Council should no longer immediately give up without a fight
- Torn Boss: The Council should now credit Scribes correctly for defeating a Boss
- Bonus Objective: Bear the Burden VFX adjustments
- Quest Board will now indicate if a reward has been collected
- Scriptorium Tutorials updated for new Scribes
- Adjusted the Sunfire cosmetic
- Various text fixes

Good day, Scribes - we hope you've been braving the seasons and studying up on your Inks since our last Chapter! We've heard a lot of excitement for Pink - thank you for your enthusiasm! Today, we're rolling out our newest Interlude Patch: Till Death!

This patch addresses community feedback on death, danger, performance, Bonus Objectives, and balance! We also introduce a tiny new Boss we found. Let's take a look at the patch! (And, as always, you can check out the roadmap in-game to track our progress - and see what's next!)

[h2]Revisiting Danger and Death[/h2]

We love high-stakes windows in games; skill, luck, instinct, preparation - you meet the challenge with everything you've got! Victory or defeat, you face your moment of truth head-on.

In Till Death, we're making targeted changes to improve these moments. Previously, these high-stakes windows came and went too quickly without us knowing we were in them. That makes it hard for players to excel in the spotlight - to come out with a clear and earned victory or satisfying and fair defeat. The goal: You must FEEL when the stakes are high and BELIEVE you can affect them.

Our major changes: One-Shot Protection, Last Stand Removal (Solo), Last Stand Rework (Multiplayer)

One-Shot Protection - High danger hits are more likely to leave you at low health, allowing for players to react and take more dramatic advantage of moment-to-moment strategy and long-term build-making. This affects all Scribes (any levels, solo and multiplayer) and will not prevent death from intentional "Annihilation-level" events.

Last Stand Removal (Solo) - We want the "fight for your life!" drama to happen in the naturally occurring dire moments carved out by One-Shot Protection and your defensives/builds. Ink Level revives still function and have new places in the Ink Level unlock order.

Last Stand Rework (Multiplayer) - Reviving other players functions similarly to the current behavior. Downed Scribes may now choose to activate their Ink Level revives or keep fighting to fill up their revive bar. This bar is still capped and requires a teammate to stand nearby to finish the process. All downed Scribes now use a ranged Ink Torrent spell to damage foes from any range and stay engaged with the game around them.


[h2]Splice Boss - "Big" Cap[/h2]

We've foraged for a new Boss to add to the Torn roster: "Big" Cap! This fun little guy is just a cute and cuddly Splice Boss.

It's probably best to let him plant all the mushrooms he wants...

[h2]Pages of Power, Balance & Tuning, and Bonus Objectives[/h2]
We keep expanding the Codex! Till Death (as always) brings new Pages of Power - including an avenue for some Generator-centric builds!

We've also spent some time tuning Blue, not only with some new pages and adjustments, but a buff to the Spread keyword! Blue's ability to tackle larger threats should be enhanced, while still keeping value on multi-dotting.

Bonus Objectives have all been tweaked! Based on some player feedback and a couple pieces of new tech, we've taken a light touch to nearly every Bonus Objective. Notably, we've also taken a performance pass to help clean up some wild and unwieldy combos (or strange occurrences with ally/foes tags getting confused).

Thank you for playing Vellum and sharing your thoughts with us!
- The Vellum Team


[h2]Features[/h2]
[h3]Danger and One-Shot Protection[/h3]
-- Being at low health is now a more visible and audible state
-- Heavy damage that would instantly kill Scribes is now more likely to leave Scribes in the low health state
-- This applies to all Scribes, has an internal cooldown, and does not save from "Annihilation-level" events

[h3]Last Stand[/h3]
-- Last Stand (Solo): removed entirely, Scribes will still use Ink Level Revives. (Dev Note: We want the "fight for your life!" drama to happen in the naturally occurring dire moments carved out by One-Shot Protection and your defensives/builds.)
-- Last Stand (Multiplayer): Downed Scribes may choose to self-revive, or partially fill their revive bar with a new ranged spell (replacing Generator while downed).

[h3]New Splice Boss: "Big"Cap[/h3]
-- This Boss may now appear in any appropriate Tomes

- New Tooltip Icons for major Keywords: Signature Inks, Varnish, Freeze, Marked, Weakened, Impervious, Invulnerable, Parry, Silence
- Ink Level perks have been re-ordered to speed up initial access to Revives
- Pause Menu now shows players in current game
- New Ping system icons
- Adjusted placement of Region Selector in Multiplayer
- Bonus Objective Adjustments and Dynamic Text: Flag, Escort, Bear the Burden, Header, Hungering Orb, Mana Bribe, Verticality, Hidden Folk

[h2]Scribes, Pages, Torn[/h2]
- Blue Keyword: Spread now transfers up to 10 stacks of Blot (was 5)
- Page of Power: Leach Shield now grants 2% of Blot damage as Barrier (was 1 flat Barrier per tick)
- Page of Power: Bleedthrough now grants between 25% - 200% bonus damage based on number of Blotted enemies (was when only 1 enemy affected by Blot)
- Page of Power: Seeped now increases damage dealt to Blotted targets (was Marked)
- Page of Power: Exposing Tether now applies Marked (was increases damage to Tethered foes) (Dev Note: This swap allows Blue to enhance Blot beyond and on top of sources of Marked - adding to the evolving potency of the debuff-centric focus of Blue)
- Page of Power: Light Leakage will now only show up in Page selection
- Page of Power: The New Author can now Flourish
- Page of Power: Abstract Details damage bonus increased to +50% (was +25%)
- Page of Power: Bounce Around should now bounce around in a more appropriate and performance-friendly manner
- Page of Power: Collecting My Thoughts performance improvements
- The following Pages of Power are now credited for damage dealt in the Post-Game UI:
Draining Force, Snap Judgement, Lasso, Set Up Shop, Crimson Slice, Molten Slag, Bolt of Inspiration, Ellipses, Ship It, Time to Duel, Damage Ramp, Exposing Tether, Blood Lance, Surge
- Torn Page: Thanks Phalanx should be more performance-friendly
- Splice Boss: Golgor should no longer inappropriately remove the Impervious status during Annihilation
- Splice Boss: Golgor should now appropriately launch ranged attacks from above ground
- Tangent Boss: Harvest ability hitboxes adjusted to be more accurate
- Tangent Elite: Huntsman's telegraph for aimed shot should now visually persist appropriately
- Tangent: Bold-er stone hand ability adjusted to impact Player Camera less often
- Tangent: Bolter powerful snipe ability now displays as High danger
- Tangent: Bold-er stone throw ability adjusted visual impacts
- Raving: Bear maul ability has more accurate hitbox and cleaner visuals

[h2]Fixes[/h2]
- Post-game UI now has additional buffer period before being interactable
- Fixed an issue with Player-summoned creatures counting as Torn (leading to some shenanigans)
- Fixed a bug allowing Sub-Binding activation without base Bindings activated
- Visual Adjustment to Dusk's Sunset ability, Torn Page: Singularity, Font Power: Ultimate Insult
- Scribes should now be safe between Chapters
- Signature Challenge: Virtuoso should now appropriately trigger for Yellow Ink users
- Fixed a time-scale issue causing improper targeting of Scribes

Welcome, Scribes!

Chapter II is here with Vellum's first new Signature Ink! Study up on Pink, Challenges, a new Tome, Boss, and more - but first, let's check out the roadmap progress:


This Chapter not only introduces expansions in three different areas for the first time (Ink, Tome, Boss) - it also brings Signature Challenges and the Quest Board - laying the groundwork for exciting future features!

As if that weren't enough - we're also excited to address some community feedback with Skimming and a pair of quality of life features: Page Damage Credit and Randomized Loadouts.

[h2]Pink Ink - Power, Potential, and Payoff[/h2]

Pink is the Ink of potential; strategic preparation leads to powerful results as you set up plans - then execute them at the perfect moment. Pink also breaks the rules with its Signature Spell - gaining 2 Charges and a 10s Cooldown!

OUTLINE - Spells that apply Outline also store their damage dealt around foes. Lingering Outlines on slain foes become Drafts.

DRAFT - Condensed potential damage created by Pink Mana.

FINALIZE- Purge all Outlines and Drafts, dealing stored damage.

[h2]Signature Challenges - Start of the Quest Board[/h2]

Mending The Quests and Trials of a Mercenary Band will unlock the Quest Board - and with it, the new Signature Challenges! These Ink-specific goals will incentivize playing with your Signature Inks in specific ways - and reward long-term dedication to your favorites!

The Quest Board will be home to more upcoming goodies in future updates. What else might make its way from Tome to Library?

[h2]Tome - On the Nature of Seasons[/h2]

Brave the winter cold, bask in the summer sun, and weather the Torn's relentless hunger in Vellum's first new Tome: On the Nature of Seasons! This Tome is available on the third shelf after defeating Quarry and reaching Attunement 15 (or completing any Tome/any Binding level if already meeting these requirements).

Scribes will venture forth to combat the elements and their foes as this new Tome cycles quickly through the seasons! The Font will aid you, making your favored seasons even stronger!

[h2]New Boss[/h2]
It won't sting you. Promise.

[h2]Quality of Life, Feedback, and Speed![/h2]
Feedback continues to drive us; from the stray ideas and musings to the more fundamental questions and feelings - we truly value and take to heart your responses to Vellum! We're making a move to address something we've seen a lot of feedback on: movement speed!

We've also heard the request for more information on builds - and after the last update - a way to shuffle loadouts quickly! Here's a quick summary of these new adjustments:

Skimming - Scribe movement speed increases significantly outside combat and directly after movement spells

Pages Damage Credit - The end of game screen will now show damage attribution to specific Pages (where possible)

Randomize Loadout - A strange box has appeared next to the Loadout Podium, allowing quick, randomized Loadouts!


Vellum continues its journey in Chapter II: A Study In Ink - and we couldn't be more thrilled for you to join us!

- The Vellum Team



[h3]Signature Ink: Pink[/h3]
-- Pink Ink: Spells that apply Outline also store their damage dealt around foes. Lingering Outlines on slain foes become Drafts.
-- Passive: Generator will apply Outline.
-- Mana: When a Spender consumes Pink Mana, they Outline foes hit and create a Draft.
-- Signature Spell: Finalize all Outlines and Drafts, dealing their stored damage. Starts with 2 charges and reduced cooldown

[h3]Signature Challenges[/h3]
-- Nine new Challenges for each Signature Ink
-- Rewards Cosmetics, Gildings
-- Introduces the Quest Board

[h3]New Tome: On the Nature of Seasons[/h3]
-- Awarded from beating Quarry and reaching Attunement 15 (or any Tome completion if requirements already met)
-- Cycles through the four Seasons, providing new environmental benefits against the Torn

[h3]New Raving Boss: Fractalux[/h3]

[h3]Quality of Life Features[/h3]
-- Skimming: Gain movement speed outside of combat and immediately following movement spells
-- Page Damage Credit: Endgame stats screen will now attribute damage to Page picks (where possible)
-- Randomize Loadout Chest: New button in Library fully randomizes equipped loadout

[h2]General + Fixes
[/h2]
- New Pages of Power can now be found!
- Tooltips that mention Spells now show Button Icons in addition to Spell name
- Loadouts now use the term "Bookmark" to add extra flavor
- Swoop homing has been adjusted to reduce likelihood of getting stuck
- Adjusted camera intensity for Quip (lowered)
- Adjusted camera intensity for Callback (slightly increased)
- Page of Power: Inflated Id now scales correctly with Flourishing Splash
- Page of Power: Rush of Memories now has SFX
- Page of Power: Bounce Around should no longer multiply shields
- Font Power: Mountain of Mana now grants mana based on when the power is unlocked
- Font Power: Footprints adjusted VFX
- Torn: Landslides have been renamed to Stalagmights
- Added Foliage Quality in Settings
- Volume settings when first playing Vellum should behave properly
- Rearranged some Signature Ink UI layout
- Adjusted collision in some Maps
- Various Icon adjustments