Our latest patch features a new Damage Boost terrain!

Damage Boost Terrain

You'll enjoy this new terrain if you're the type to charge up your attacks for big chunky damage. Once collected it'll add 10 damage to your next attack, making your characters more lethal than ever.

Community Game Night

Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (May 1st) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune into our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting!
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates on our project! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2021-04-28 21:04:32 CET ] [ Original post ]

Our latest patch features a new Speed Down terrain!

Speed Down Terrain

Turn order is essential for winning in Steamhounds. That's why we are giving you yet another tool to manipulate the turn order. Try forcing opponents into the new Speed Down terrain to slow them down!

Community Game Night

Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (April 3rd) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune into our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting!
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates on our project! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2021-04-01 04:58:11 CET ] [ Original post ]

Our latest update features post-battle statistics!

Post-Battle Statistics

Numbers don't lie. After every match, you can see just how well you did, thanks to our new post-battle stats feature! Be sure to read the report whether it's to analyze your game or to revel in victory with concrete details.

Community Game Night

Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (March 6th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune into our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting!
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates on our project! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2021-03-03 21:14:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

A small number of updates with big implications!

• New terrain object - "Flame Trigger"
• Bug fixes / stability improvements

New Terrain Object - "Flame Trigger"

Ever grow impatient waiting for a terrain object to come into play? Well here's an ideaOur newest object Flame Trigger is like a cannon that shoots when you tell it to. There's a big visible button on the battlefield, and when you move your character on it, it hurls flames at your opponents over an entire column. One should never play with fire, except when it means big damage to your opponents!

Community Game Night

Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (February 6th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune into our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting!
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates on our project! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2021-02-03 21:30:35 CET ] [ Original post ]

Happy New Years everyone! We hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday season. The team is really looking forward to 2021 and all the exciting new content we'll be adding to the game. We have lots of things planned and can't wait to show them to you. Meanwhile, the newest patch is a light update:

• All winter and regular maps are now playable.
• Major behind-the-scenes reworks.

All Winter & Regular Battlefields Are Now Playable

Add a little fun to your battles by choosing between winter-themed or regular-themed battlefields!

Community Game Night

Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (January 9th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune into our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting!
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2021-01-07 17:39:12 CET ] [ Original post ]

Coming at you with new content for you to try!

• New battlefield - Winter Forest Battlefield
• Improved terrain object stacking
• Bug fixes / stability improvements

Winter Forest Battlefield

We have a slick new battlefield for you to play with! It's winter themed and perfectly appropriate for the holidays. Have fun and remember to stay warm!

Community Game Night

Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (December 12th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune into our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting!
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-12-09 18:22:51 CET ] [ Original post ]

[https://i.postimg.cc/8zSd3PnW/patch-announce-2020-11-11-reduced.gif]
We have new features for you to play with!

• New terrain object - Collectable Heal
• New terrain object - Speed Boost
• UI tweaks

Collectable Heal and Speed Boost

[https://i.postimg.cc/kgQ6tQsR/content-feature-2020-11-11.gif]
Since our previous terrain objects were well received by the community, we wanted to throw more into the game! We have two new ones:

• Heal Pickup restores 10HP when collected, and respawns every few turns on a random tile.
• Speed Boost raises the speed of a character by 1 speed while standing in this tile.

The devs are having lots of fun testing these out. Hope you enjoy them as well!

Community Game Night

[https://i.postimg.cc/ZRV6v8Tx/playtest-announce-2020-11-14.png]
Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (November 14th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune in to our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting! Stream info: 14th November 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 14th November 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live coverage of matches [https://i.postimg.cc/2y1Lqg9C/stream-announce-2020-11-14.png]
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-11-12 21:48:29 CET ] [ Original post ]

[https://i.postimg.cc/sxRknx2m/patch-announce-2020-10-14.gif]
New features include:

• Pre-battle option selection
• Bug fixes / stability improvements

You now have the option to customize your battles! As this is just a first pass, you can expect to see more options in the future.

Pre-battle Option Selection

[https://i.postimg.cc/sfYdMYnN/content-feature-2020-10-14.gif]
At the moment, pre-battle options include terrain layout, battle stage, and turn-timer. When playing in a PvP match, both players will need to choose the same option in order for it to take effect; otherwise, the default setting will be used. We hope to implement more options in the future! Let us know what youd want us to put in!

Community Game Night

[https://i.postimg.cc/R0Wxh287/playtest-announce-2020-10-17.png]
Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (October 17th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune in to our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting! Stream info: 17th October 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 17th October 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live coverage of matches [https://i.postimg.cc/N0ZqHpqW/stream-announce-2020-10-17.png]
-- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-10-14 16:46:23 CET ] [ Original post ]

[https://i.postimg.cc/YSvh7tV9/patch-announce-2020-09-16.gif]
Here's what's new:

• New prototype character - Character 8
• UI improvements
• Bug fixes / stability improvements

Yes, we have new playable character! Character 8 really shakes up the roster by offering new, unique ways of dealing damage. Try them out, and let us know your thoughts!

New Prototype Character - Character 8

[https://i.postimg.cc/5tDjNZdm/content-feature-2020-09-16.gif]
Character 8 is good at punishing fast, trigger-friendly enemies. Equipped with abilities that inflict Shockwhenever the affected character deals damage, they incur elemental damage themselfthey can make fast opponents think twice before launching an all-out attack. Their stance "Ramping Strike" is also in line with this concept, having the ability to crush those who like to rapidly inflict damage. In our opinion, Character 8 is a strong counter to the Ranger and Totem. We want to know your thoughts on this so please try them out!

Community Game Night

[https://i.postimg.cc/ZKz3LvQL/playtest-announce-2020-09-19.png]
Come hang out with the Steamhounds community! Join us for a casual evening of battles, playtesting and chat this Saturday (September 19th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. To join, just show up to our Discord at the specified time! We'll all be there ready to have fun. Also, tune in to our Twitch channel during the event for a live coverage of the matches! Our sound designer Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) will be hosting! Stream info: 19th September 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 19th September 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live coverage of matches -- Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-09-16 22:23:09 CET ] [ Original post ]

Steamhounds version 0.4.8 "Pendulum" is here!

• Berserker abilities overhaul
• Warrior tweaks including a new ability
• New battle music
• Bug fixes / stability improvements

We really wanted to revisit some of our original characters and make them better. Through our community, we gained tremendous insight over the course of many tournaments, and we observed the gaps and spaces where our characters can shine even brighter. And we are definitely listening to your suggestions! Someone suggested new music. So we added a brand new battle theme! Hope you like it.

Reworked Berserker Abilities

In the latest patch, the Berserker has gone through some major changes, but its core concept remains the same a slow heavy-hitter whose desire to kill gives them tunnel vision and can make them reckless at times. Our new set of abilities really drives this home while making them even more dynamic and fun, overall. So try out them out yourself, and tell us what you think!

Tournament Announcement

We are hosting yet another Steamhounds tournament this upcoming Saturday (August 22th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. Prizes will include a custom in-game avatar and Steam gift cards! To take part, visit our Discord, and drop us a message in the #tournament-chat channel. Remember to tune in to our Twitch channel as we stream a live coverage of the tournament and talk about the updates in the new patch. See you there! Stream info: 22th August 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 22th August 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live tournament coverage begins Tournament prizes: 1st place - Custom in-game avatar, Discord role, in-game title 2nd place - 10 Steam gift card, Discord role, In-game title 3rd place - Discord role, in-game title
Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-08-19 19:03:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

Steamhounds version 0.4.6 has landed! Whats new you ask?

• New Feature Terrain Effects
• UI improvements

Terrain Effects has been on our radar for some time, and we are excited to finally share them with you! We believe they add another layer of strategy that supports our core gameplay we are looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Terrain Effects

Terrain Effects are effects positioned on a tile that trigger when a character steps on them. Beneficial in some situations, and harmful in others, they can quickly turn the tide of battle if used correctly. In our first wave of available terrain effects (more to come), we have two effects that youll encounter in your battles. Half Cover is defensive, mitigating incoming ranged attacks by halving their damage. Corrosion is a harmful effect that causes Poison at the start of the characters turn, theyll take 5 damage. We feel that terrain effects are an interesting addition to grid layouts. We can already see new strategies developing where positioning becomes an even more important factor in every battle. We cant wait to see you try them out!

Tournament Announcement

We are hosting yet another Steamhounds tournament this upcoming Saturday (July 25th) 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET. Prizes will include a custom in-game avatar and Steam gift cards! To take part, visit our Discord, and drop us a message in the #tournament-chat channel. Remember to tune in to our Twitch channel as we stream a live coverage of the tournament and talk about the updates in the new patch. See you there! Stream info: 25th July 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 25th July 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live tournament coverage begins Tournament prizes: 1st place - Custom in-game avatar, Discord role, in-game title 2nd place - 10 Steam gift card, Discord role, In-game title 3rd place - Discord role, in-game title
Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-07-22 20:04:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

Steamhounds version 0.4.4 Mantel has arrived! Heres whats new:

• New character prototype Character 7
• Ability and balance tweaks
• Bug fixes / stability improvements

Main news is that a new character prototype has landed (details can be found further below)! We are excited to have players try them out let us know your thoughts!

New Character Prototype Character 7

Character 7 is like the Warrior in that they perform the role of a tank. Their main stance Sweeping Guard is an alternate take on the Warriors Guard where they can guard not only the tile behind them but also to their sides, providing cover to more than one ally simultaneously. But thats not all. They can also dish out solid damage with row based attacks which can be effective in breaking up enemies formations along rows. While you may think they are overpowered, they have a major weakness. They are vulnerable to a stackable status effect called Fatigue which reduces both their physical and elemental defense by 1. They can gain Fatigue by performing certain skills or stances, and without paying close attention, their Fatigue can quickly pile up, making them susceptible to heavy damage. This is a prototype character! Theres much to be tweaked. We are really looking forward to everyones feedback please take them for a test drive, and let us know what you think!

Tournament Announcement

It's tournament time! Again, there are prizes up for grabs (such as Steam giftcards) so make sure to sign up by visiting our Discord, and dropping a message in #tournament-chat. And tune in to our Twitch channel as we stream a live coverage of the tournament and talk about the updates in the new patch! Stream info: 27th June 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 27th June 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live tournament coverage begins Tournament prizes: 1st place - 25 Steam gift card, Discord role, in-game title 2nd place - 10 Steam gift card, Discord role, In-game title 3rd place - Discord role, in-game title
Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-06-24 17:22:03 CET ] [ Original post ]

Steamhounds version 0.4.2 Lighthouse has released today! Here are the changes: New feature: Alternate Battlefield Layouts Ability and balance tweaks Minor bug fixes / performance improvements Yes, we now have the ability to tweak our battlefield for different layouts! This means that the battlefield is not only restricted to a 33 grid, but can have rows or columns blocked off, or even have specific tiles be inaccessible. We are currently experimenting with different layouts so please help us find the most interesting ones!

New Feature: Alternate Battlefield Layouts

With the introduction of alternate battlefield layouts, certain characters may have an advantage when fighting on certain grid patterns. Take, for example, the Berserker where they may be well suited in a stage that restricts movement to only two rows this narrows down the number of rows that can be targeted with Tunnel Vision, making that stance easier to pull off. With this in mind, the battlefield layout for each battle will be shown while players are in the character selection screen so that characters can be chosen accordingly.

In addition to our normal layout, we currently have two alternate layouts in the game which are chosen at random when a match is created. As you may see above, the layouts basically block off a single row or column. We felt that we should start simple before it evolves into something more complicated. Please try these out yourself, and help us discover what other interesting patterns we can put in the game! And to let you know, these new layouts will be implemented for our upcoming tournament so be ready!

Tournament Announcement

Time for another tournament! Again, there are prizes up for grabs (such as Steam giftcards) so make sure to sign up by visiting our Discord, and responding to the tournament post in our #announcement channel using an emoji or by dropping a message in #tournament-chat. And tune in to our Twitch channel as we stream a live coverage of the tournament and talk about the updates in the new patch! Stream info: 30th May 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 30th May 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live tournament coverage begins Tournament prizes: 1st place - 25 Steam gift card, Discord role, in-game title 2nd place - 10 Steam gift card, Discord role, In-game title 3rd place - Discord role, in-game title
Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-05-27 17:18:27 CET ] [ Original post ]

We just dropped the first big patch in a while for our game, Steamhounds! Here's a breakdown of the updates:

• New character prototype - "Character 6"
• Ability and balance tweaks
• Bug fixes / performance improvements

The main update here is the introduction of a new character: Prototype 6 (name not permanent =P). This is part of the teams effort to start dropping new content every few weeks for players to try out. So be on the lookout for more content in the weeks to come...

New Character Prototype: Character 6

The new charcter's main tactic revolves around a skill called Place Totem, which drops an object onto an enemy tile. This object can then be manipulated to deal damage and inflict debuffs on nearby targets. One major bonus to this skill is that the object will block enemies from occupying the tile that its placed on. We're interested to see what players will do with this, and how it'll affect positioning in play, or be used to disrupt enemy formations. We'd also love to hear any feedback people have about the concept!

Tournament Announcement

We're also trying something else new - running regular developer streams and tournaments! We'd love to have people take part, and we also have a bunch of prizes (like Steam credit) lined up. Stream info: 2nd May 2020, 5:30pm UTC / 1:30pm ET - Developer update with Andrew (@andrewrtrahan) 2nd May 2020, 6:00pm UTC / 2:00pm ET - Live tournament coverage begins Tournament prizes: 1st place - 25 Steam gift card, Discord role, in-game title 2nd place - 10 Steam gift card, Discord role, In-game title 3rd place - Discord role, in-game title
Steamhounds is currently in prototype phase, and right now we have a free / open playtest running via our Discord (https://discord.gg/StrayBasilisk). This is also where we'll be running tournaments! And for regular updates on our project, follow us on Twitter! (https://twitter.com/StrayBasilisk)

[ 2020-04-29 18:46:14 CET ] [ Original post ]