So, the new arena mode is not quite complete yet, but we're almost there and it's quite functional, so we thought we'd provide it optionally in its current state.

This is an optional beta version of the game. To play it you must right click on Exanima in your library inside the Steam client, select properties, then betas and opt in.

Most of the planned features for the first iteration are implemented or almost, notably the following things are still incomplete:

• You cannot yet hire NPCs to fight with you or for you
• Only some of the match types are implemented
• Things like values, ranks and points still need adjustment
• Some assets are incomplete, missing or placeholders
• Many tweaks and ease-of-use enhancements to come

In case you missed the original post, here's the list of features we promised:

• Persistent arena mode with progression
• Create a main character who manages your affairs, but can also fight
• Bid into matches and lose your bid or win more money
• Numerous match types with varying participants and teams
• Character and equipment rank system for match participants
• Hire NPCs to participate in matches with you or for you
• Recruit additional player characters to play
• Shop for items using the money you earned
• SKill progression for player and NPC characters
• Permanent death. Rest characters who are seriously injured or risk their death
• Procedural characters. There are always new characters to fight or hire
• A variety of arenas for matches to take place in
• Pugilism matches

There are numerous other improvements to the game in general. We've improved lighting and other effects, made optimisations, improved AI, fixed many issues and added many new items and nice little features.

GETTING STARTED

The new arena mode is fairly complex, there will be some in game instructions to explain how everything works, in the meantime please consult the following text to understand the basics.

You will start in your base of operations. For now there are three main things of interest here: a shop, a roster and a match board. The roster and match board appear as notices pinned on wooden boards, click on these to open them.


ROSTER

This is where you can view and manage all your characters. Select a character and click manage or simply double click them to get a detailed view.

When managing a character you will see their match loadouts, their inventories, an arsenal where you can store and manage all your gear and their skills.

Your character will progress a rank for every two skill techniques trained. A higher rank will give you access to higher rank matches in which you can use higher rank equipment. There is an equipment loadout per rank, even when you achieve a higher rank you can still participate in matches with reduced equipment ranks and the corresponding loadout will apply. Every rank also has a point limit towards which every piece of equipment contributes.


RECRUITS

Recruits are additional player characters that you can control yourself during matches in place of your own. It is useful to cycle between characters so that the others have time to heal. When a character suffers full red damage during a figh they will die and be lost forever, if this is your main character you will lose everything.


MATCHES

The match board is where you can view and choose what matches to participate in. Select a match and then enter characters into it by dragging them into the space on the bottom right, then click "Enter" to begin the match.

Characters must meet the rank requirement of the match to enter. This rank is also indicative of what rank equipment is allowed in the match. If the rank requirement is suitably low, you can enter higher tier matches, these however feature more skilled and experienced fighters, but also award larger prizes and provide faster training for your skills.

Be careful entering high tier, low rank matches as these can be the most deadly, also challenger matches which are devoid of rank restrictions. Elimination matches work similarly to the old arena, but with five consecutive fights and no red bar healing inbetween. These present a very tough challenge but also great rewards in prize money and experience.


THE SHOP

This is pretty self explanatory really. Drag items you want to buy from the shop's stock on the centre right pane, items you want to sell on the left. The paperdoll on here is so you can try items on and view them before you buy them.

Invest your money wisely and as early as possible, even basic clothing can offer much needed protection and all rank gear is useful throughout the game.

Update: items you buy now go directly to your arsenal (in the manage screen) to make equipping recruits and hirelings easier.


That should hopefully be enough to get you started. We'll be updating all this soon with many improvements and new features.


Happy new year!