Supporter newsletter 70

Issue
This is a copy of Eternal and Diamond Supporter Newsletter #70, published by Grinding Gear Games.

Hello Supporters,

This week my key task is getting 1.1.5 ready to being deployed next week. It contains some cool things, as well as some cool things players know about that we have been keen to get in for a while.

Prior to the completion of 1.1.5, we were working on both 1.1.5 and 1.2.0 at the same time. Releasing 1.1.5 means everyone can focus on 1.2.0 (well, aside from those working on Act 4).

This week Rory is going to discuss one of the upcoming unique items in 1.1.5

Pledge of Hands

Today we’re revealing a unique that was originally intended to drop from Atziri. It was waiting on us to be happy with a support gem before we could deploy it in a patch.

http://i.imgur.com/9llys6V.jpg

The art was originally concepted as an option for a supporter unique, but the supporter chose another style instead. We loved Campbell’s concept so much that we wanted to use it for a unique anyway, so the art inspired the design of the rest of this unique item.

Insider Info

This week I am posting the oldest concept art I can find for both the Rhoa and the Devourer. The Rhoa image was called Rhoa4 so I assume there are 3 iterations I can’t find from earlier. The Devourer art was back from when the monster had quite a different concept. The art has not changed that much, but the monster is no longer a “Root Spider”. Originally it was attached to trees. There was a shaking animation as it emerged from the ground at the roots of the tree. In playtesting we found them more fun if they could move freely.

http://i.imgur.com/woGG4P0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8ksTD1F.jpg