Development Log #43

Welcome once again to the weekly Development Log for Lionhearts, an up-and-coming project on Steam created using Unreal Engine 5.

This week, Lionhearts: Melee demo development focused heavily on bug fixes, combat polish, UI improvements, and level polish.

Numerous fixes and enhancements were implemented by the programming team to refine gameplay and multiplayer consistency.

Alert messages now disappear in proper order, best-of-three match logic has been corrected, and a central white dot was added to indicate combat lock.

Combat mechanics were improved with guard breaks on low block defense, extended parry stun animations, clashing mechanics for attacks from the same direction, and stamina costs added to jumping.

Weapon handling received polish across all weapon types: bow SFX was added, charging attacks were fixed, spear recoil now functions correctly, and shield blocking SFX and hand positioning were improved.

Stamina regeneration, tab targeting, infinite sprinting, and movement during attacks were all adjusted or fixed for smoother and more predictable gameplay.

Multiplayer replication was strengthened for outfits, weapons, and audio, while ragdoll physics for NPCs were significantly enhanced. Visual feedback improvements include consistent color updates for attack/block indicators and HUD rank icons.

Meanwhile, the level design team focused on polishing environmental visuals. The fence/"lists" area was filled to create a more dynamic combat space, and the windmill blades were revised to reflect more historically grounded designs.

The 3D art team corrected outfit and weapon hand positions for player and NPC models, improving immersion during combat interactions.

Lastly, the game design team continued their work on the Jerusalem duchy map, conducting further research to define historically grounded resource, agriculture, residential, and notable zones. This foundation supports both gameplay balance and authentic environmental storytelling.

If you haven’t gotten a chance to check it out yet, our Kickstarter campaign is now accepting late pledges! Even if you only have a few bucks to spare, it helps us more than you know!

Reminder: We have begun handing out Discord rewards to Kickstarter backers, such as roles and other special permissions. Check your Kickstarter messages if you're a backer for info on how to claim these rewards!

Please join us on our Discord server where you can ask questions and participate in our growing community!

Be sure to wishlist the game on our Steam Page, too!