Hello everyone!

In todays devlog, well conclude the topic of Caravan Upgrades by revealing the final upgrade path - Communication.

Interesting fact: Caravan Upgrades are not Abilities and therefore DONT require Ability Points. Instead, they are unlocked with items and materials.

Its main focus is staying in touch with civilization. Lets take a closer look at what this entails:

[h2]COMMUNICATION[/h2]



[h3]Caravan Banner[/h3]



A symbol of fellowship and hope.

Requirements: Foldable Flagpole (acquired during the Caravan introduction quest)
Effect: adds a flagpole to the Caravan Camp that can be used to raise Banners found in dungeons or while exploring the world



All raised Banners will slightly increase your Reputation Gain and also provide some additional benefits: for example, the Wolf Banner will grant you a bit of Pain Resistance, and the Owl Banner - a bonus to Experience Gain.



[h3]Messenger Pigeons[/h3]



Messenger pigeons are trained to return home regardless of the distance, even if said home never stays in one place for too long.

Requirements: Cage with Pigeons (x1), Sack of Grain (1), Bucket (1)
Effect: allows to take a Carrier Pigeon with you
While not in immediate danger, the Pigeon can be released to send a message to Verren, which will open the Caravans Travel Menu, allowing to move it to a selected location



[h3]Old Favors[/h3]



Verren has lots of acquaintances. Many of them still remember their old friend and won't mind vouching for him to the right people.

Requirements: Pile of Letters (1), Inkpot
Effect: killing enemies near settlements improves your Reputation there by 20% of the received Experience
Increases the time limit for contracts by 1 day

[h3]Web of Contacts[/h3]



The war made people's allegiances crystal clear - good fame is much more valuable right now than gold.

Requirements: Signed Permit (1)
Effect: grants 50% more Reputation when completing contracts in settlements affected by negative Situations
Grants +5% Reputation Gain for each settlement youve achieved Respect with
The Common Cause Reputation perk now works all the way up to Amity instead of Benevolence



[h3]Local Informants[/h3]



Rumors and hearsay are not to be brushed aside. What at first may appear as empty talk can eventually pave a path to riches.

Requirements: Directives (1), empty Coin Purse (5)
Effect: decreases the chance of being Ambushed by 25%
Setting up the Caravan Camp reveals the location of all Points of Interest within 5 tiles
Reveals some of the ongoing Settlement Situations and Dungeon Modifiers, showing them in Global Map hovers

[h3]Trade Preferences[/h3]



In these uncertain times, most folks aren't brave enough to continue trading - their loss might as well become someone's gain.

Requirements: Letter of Trading Authority (1), achieving Respect with any settlement
Effect: +10% Trade Favorability when buying or selling Commodity Goods
Selling Commodity Goods in settlements improves your Reputation there by 5% of the received sum (15% if a settlement is affected by a negative Situation)



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Thats all for now. The next devlog will be dedicated to Global Map changes, including a new settlement of the Grand Magistrate:



Until next time!