========================Version 1.3.3 updated on October 1st========================
Special thanks to BloodyPork for their invaluable assistance with the translation!
Main Update Contents:
I. Story & Structure
New Chapters: Added Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 to the main story (previously 8 chapters, now 10). To access the new content, you need to load a save from before the final battle with Cao Cao and defeat him again. (Saves from the final stage in Chengdu will not work). If you haven't progressed too far, starting a new game is recommended to experience the full flow.
Dialogue & Text Overhaul: The overall narrative has been revised, and a massive amount of text translation has been optimized. This includes significant improvements to the dialogue in Chapter 3 (Suanzao Camp), as well as numerous skill descriptions, item descriptions, and UI text to enhance clarity and player understanding.
Note on '命格': We are still seeking a good translation for this core concept ('Fate Core' is the current placeholder). We are unsure if it clearly conveys the intended meaning to non-Chinese players. We welcome your feedback and suggestions on our Discord/forums!
Functional Optimizations: Various quality-of-life improvements detailed below.
II. New Hotkeys (Keyboard)
M or C Key: Opens a Selectable Map Menu. You can view the maps of all major provinces. (Function: View Only - No Fast Travel. Maps must be purchased before they can be viewed.)
Acquisition: The item shop in Chengdu sells all maps except for the Nanzhong map. Item shops in other provincial capitals will sell their own regional map.
Available Maps: Ji Province, Si Province, You Province, Jing Province, Yang Province, Yi Province (Western Shu), Four Commanderies of Southern Jing, Nanzhong Map ("Pacifying the Barbarians Guide"), Liang Province, Combined Qing & Yan Province Map.
Acquisition Methods: Primarily from relevant provincial capital item shops. Some maps are also obtained through story events (e.g., Zhang Song's Map Offering, the Nanzhong map during the southern campaign).
(P.S.: These maps are hand-drawn! Please be kind - I did my best! TT)
V Key: Directly opens the Dragon-Slaying Platform interface (bypassing the need to navigate through the main menu, making it much more convenient).
F Key: Directly opens the Qianyan Treasure Tome interface (for the same convenience reasons as above).
RB Button: Opens the Selectable Map Menu (View only, as above).
- (Minus) Button: Directly opens the Dragon-Slaying Platform.
+ (Plus) Button: Directly opens the Qianyan Treasure Tome.
Improved Navigation Logic: Pressing the 'Back/Cancel' button now immediately exits the Qianyan Treasure Tome or Dragon-Slaying Platform interfaces. Previously, some actions would default to selecting the second menu option; now, it consistently cancels and returns to the previous layer.
Reduced Clutter: Streamlined redundant tutorial prompts. The two reinforcement prompts in the Dragon-Slaying Platform have been consolidated into one, and the forging prompt has been removed entirely, keeping only essential information to reduce menu depth.
Goal: These optimizations aim to make gameplay more fluid and less cumbersome (e.g., no longer needing to navigate three layers just to enhance an item) and to help with navigation issues. (If you still get lost with the maps... we might be out of ideas!).
Streamlined Enhancement: You can now fully enhance a single piece of equipment continuously within the Dragon-Slaying Platform without the interface closing and requiring you to re-enter after each step. Once enhancements are complete, you can directly retrieve the equipment. (This highly requested QoL change is finally here!).
Note: You still need to purchase Fire-Tempering Stones as enhancement materials beforehand.
Qianyan Treasure Tome Expansion: The third section of the Tome now includes "In-Game Attribute Explanations" - providing detailed descriptions of character stats, similar to the initial tutorial tips about basic enemies.
III. Difficulty (Note: This might be quite challenging for non-Chinese players, but the settings are synced with the Chinese version. Recommended just to try it out casually.)
A new Fourth Difficulty: Nightmare has been added. You must select it at the game's start or actively choose to challenge the Nightmare Difficulty via the Qianyan Treasure Tome during gameplay for it to appear.
This difficulty is truly hard. For characters like Tong Yuan and Shi A, who are already quite tough on Hard difficulty, it took an average of around 50 attempts on Nightmare. This should give you an idea of the challenge. Therefore, unless you are a true masochist, I advise against selecting it, or perhaps just try it briefly and switch back if it's too much.
All in-game challenges no longer allow manual difficulty selection for the challenge itself; this feature has been removed. No matter how you fight, there will be no story prompts indicating a "challenge difficulty storyline" or offering extra rewards for selecting a harder option. This mechanic is gone. (Now you don't have to worry about missing something because you didn't choose a specific challenge difficulty!).
The benefit of higher difficulties now is a slight increase in drop rates (does not affect key items), money, and experience gain. This is the only reward. There are no longer any "Challenge Point" rewards. (Challenge Points are now primarily obtained automatically by completing each chapter, so you won't lack them).
IV. Formations
Fixed an issue where characters would not reappear in the formation UI after adding members back following a reduction, requiring a save/reload to make them visible again.
V. Cuisine-Related
Fixed an issue at the Yangzhou Chef where consuming the \[Eight Delicacies of the Zhou Rites] might prevent its trigger. It is now guaranteed to trigger whether you consume it or not. (Please contact me if issues persist).
Overall Cuisine Optimization:
Reduced the number of dishes with overlapping effects that increase Fighting Spirit.
Changed the effects of previously identical dishes:
Mapo Tofu now restores 55% MP, distinguishing it from the effects of Fish Filets in Hot Chili Oil.
Braised Turtle now restores 80% of HP (Troop Count), differentiating it from other items that recover Fighting Spirit.
Improved and standardized the color/rarity display for some dishes that were inconsistent.
New Special Dish Buff Rule: Only ONE special dish buff can be active at a time. This means each character can have, at most, one purple (Fine) dish buff OR one orange (Exquisite) dish buff displayed (multiple cannot be active simultaneously).
Activating any Purple (Fine) dish will remove other Purple dish buffs AND any Orange dish buffs.
Activating any Orange (Exquisite) dish will remove other Orange dish buffs AND any Purple dish buffs.
Current Orange (Exquisite) dishes: "Lamb with Fish" (Yuyang Shuangxian), "Clear Soup with Yellow Croaker".
Current Purple (Fine) dishes: "Steamed White Fish", "Dry-Braised Carp", "Roast Suckling Pig".
Essentially, only one of these five special dishes can be active.
Standardized prices for dishes of the same rarity:
White (Common): 500
Blue (Uncommon): 2000
Purple (Fine): 4000
Orange (Exquisite): 8000
Categorized dishes, primarily by color/rarity, with the "Zhou Li Eight Delicacies" as the ultimate exception:
Basic Dishes (Green/Common): Wheat Rice, Jujube Cake, Steamed Cake, Sweet Bean Paste.
Intermediate Dishes (Blue/Uncommon): Grilled Fish, Chinese Yam Congee, Scrambled Eggs with Chives, Glutinous Rice Balls, Mouth-Watering Chicken, "Thunder Duke" Duck.
Advanced Dishes (Purple/Fine): Chilled Chicken, Roast Suckling Pig, Steamed White Fish, Dry-Braised Carp, Fish Filets in Hot Chili Oil, Sliced Fish in Sauce, Mapo Tofu. (Note: Roast Suckling Pig has been changed to Purple).
Special Dishes (Orange/Exquisite & Purple/Fine): Golden Fried Rice, Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Belly, Braised Pork Ribs with Radish, Spicy and Fresh Bamboo Shoots, Braised Turtle, Steamed Perch, "Lamb with Fish" (Yuyang Shuangxian), Clear Soup with Yellow Croaker. (This category contains both Orange and the Purple "Golden Fried Rice").
Top-Tier Dish (Exception): Eight Delicacies of the Zhou Rites (This is the only one in this category. Previous orange dishes have been moved to "Special Dishes").
Changed the effects of "Clear Soup with Yellow Croaker" and "Lamb with Fish" (Yuyang Shuangxian):
"Clear Soup with Yellow Croaker" now grants: "In the next battle, all allies' Restoration Effects are increased by 20%" (i.e., healing from Tactics and items is improved by 20%).
"Lamb with Fish" (Yuyang Shuangxian) now grants: "In the next battle, all allies' Fighting Spirit Gain is increased by 50%" (previously granted +10 per attack, now grants +15).
VI. Overall Attribute Allocation Optimization The system has been changed as follows (e.g., "Dexterity" no longer adds "Tenacity" – now "Physique" adds "Tenacity". "Might" and "Wisdom" now both additionally add a small amount to "Charisma"):
Each "Tempering Point" now improves three different base attributes.
Physique: HP + Defense + Tenacity
Might: Attack + Force + Charisma
Wisdom: Tactics + Intelligence + Charisma
Insight: Attack + Accuracy + Critical Rate
Dexterity: Attack + Speed + Evasion
VII. Character-Related
Fixed an issue where Da Feiyan (Big Feiyan) would join the party with a 50% Hostility rate. Optimized the descriptions of Feiyan's skills to make them easier to understand.
Strengthened Ma Chao's skill potency and the effect of his passive ability "Sharp Edge". Added additional detailed explanation within his unique talent "Brooding Scale".
