A lot of small changes in this one aimed at balancing the game. Also a few new things!

BETA 1.4 Change List

New Features

• Items unlocked via challenges in the Outfitter now have a tooltip explaining that they're unlocked via a challenge
• New bubble shield effect
• New bubble shield sound effects
• You can now travel downwards in ascension fields
• Boss souls can be absorbed
• New Altar destruction effect
• Orcs will drink potions that they pick up

Tweaks

• Less human characters spawn on each level
• Kullos are less bouncy
• Bosses have less health on lower levels & more health on higher levels
• Less down time on Medusa boss
• Chrono'boid can be hurt while in fire mode
• Magic projectiles (from Gold Wand & Magic Bombs) are less random & more intelligent
• Explosive projectiles can now also pierce & ricochet
• AI characters now have a better understanding of ascension fields
• Orcs can no longer melee mid-air
• Orc spears are slower
• Orcs have slightly slower ranged speed
• Spikes deal 80 damage instead of 100
• Blessing pickups now indicate whether the pickup will be tier 2
• Stat boost text now stacks instead of displaying on top of one another
• Damage resist is now percentage based (1 damage resist = 5% less damage taken)
• Item spawning is more procedural & less random
• Chargers shake a little before charging
• Crystal Skull shield now lets projectiles & throwables out, but not in
• Crystal Skull shield lasts longer, but takes longer to charge
• Crystal Skull shield now also blocks beams, lighting strikes & explosions
• Crystal Skulls can be combined at Altars
• Gold Wand charges faster
• Flying Eyeball, Fire Totem & Gold Skull no longer target pots, boxes, etc
• Fire Totem expires after firing a certain number of shots, instead of after a timer
• Gold Skull ranged increased
• Poison Ring now poisons targets instead of attackers, and increases your poison damage
• Crown Ring now stuns targets instead of causing explosions
• Fire Wand can no longer harm the user
• Skull Stick can be combined at Altars
• Demonic Eyeball fires red lightning instead of a small bolt
• Increased Butcher's Sword damage
• Lightning Blessing no longer goes through blocks
• Tenacious Blessing is now percentage-based
• Traditionalist Perk gives you an extra ring slot

Bug Fixes

• Fixed inventory not working with certain controllers
• Fixed Sticky Bomb crashing the game if sticking to something after the thrower dies
• Fixed Goliath fight starting before all characters have entered the room
• Fixed Lightning Blessing not targeting orcs & bosses
• Fixed multi-shot bows being broken by using Lightning Poles

There's still a few balance issues I want to iron out. Join the discussion about balancing the game over on the Steam forums: http://steamcommunity.com/app/452060/discussions/0/142261352640180164/

Thanks!