Patch Notes Page 86

v0.0.683

Added Steam milestone regression tests for stats/achievements and leaderboard config loading.
Added steam_stats_tests to validate threshold and boolean achievement unlock evaluation against Steam configuration data.json`.
Added steam_leaderboard_tests to validate leaderboard key normalization and submission queue behavior from Steam configuration data.json`.
Improved Steam service testability without requiring live Steam runtime.
SteamStatsService now exposes deterministic evaluateUnlockedAchievements(...) logic used by tests and runtime sync.
SteamLeaderboardService now exposes lightweight config/query helpers for deterministic validation.
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.683.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.683.

Added Steamworks runtime foundation and service integration scaffolding.
Steam runtime now initializes before renderer setup and pumps callbacks each frame.
Added game-layer Steam services for identity, rich presence, stats/achievements, leaderboards, cloud sync, input, and workshop polling.
Added data-driven Steam contracts and achievement milestone coverage.
Added Steam configuration data runtime, presence, stats, achievements, leaderboard, input, and workshop config files.
Added achievement milestone mappings for waves/rounds, kills, bosses, pickups, copper, gold earned, escorts, assassins thwarted, enemies-on-screen peak, salvage/crafting counts, and dragon no-direct-damage clears.
Added run stat hooks required by Steam achievements and leaderboards.
Added tracking for best round, gold earned, items salvaged/crafted, dragon no-direct kills, and max enemies on screen.
Added run-end leaderboard queue submissions for best wave and best round.
Updated build/version alignment and Steam docs.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.682.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.682.
Added Steam documentation.md, Steam documentation.md, and Steam documentation.md`.

Tuned Jade’s Lightning Bolt VFX brightness for better sprite readability.
Reduced Lightning Bolt segment tint/alpha so the blast no longer over-brightens the source art.
Slightly reduced Lightning Bolt per-segment light intensity/radius to keep the effect strong without washing out nearby details.
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.680.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.680.

Fixed Dragon Pylon burn effects persisting indefinitely.
Dragon Pylons now continue processing status timers while remaining stationary, so burn duration and burn VFX expire normally.
Pylons still skip movement/AI pathing behavior and remain static encounter objectives.
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.679.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.679.

Fixed Jade’s Lightning Bolt pathing so it behaves consistently at cursor aim range.
Bolt range now traces along the shot center line and no longer truncates early from side-wall probes.
Bolt can clip/graze obstacle edges while still passing through enemies in the lane.
Direct shots into projectile-blocking collision still stop at the nearest valid point.
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.678.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.678.

Fixed Jack’s in-run visual footprint so he reads as a frontline tank.
Added data-driven archetype renderScale support for hero sprite presentation.
Jack (tank) now uses renderScale: 1.5 to compensate for extra transparent padding in his 24x24 sheet frames.
Applied the same archetype render scaling for local and remote hero visuals while keeping collision hitbox sizing unchanged.
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.677.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.677.

Fixed Jack (Tank) sprite rendering to preserve 1:1 24x24 presentation in-game.
Jack now renders at a strict square 24x24 world size instead of inheriting movement-sheet aspect scaling.
Prevents stretch/squash artifacts on Jack while preserving aspect-based rendering for other heroes.
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.676.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.676.

Added visible enemy-healer spell feedback and Dragon kite-heal feedback.
Goblin/Orc healer casts now spawn Sally-style heal visuals on their healed target.
Dragon self-heal while disengaging now triggers a Sally-style heal visual with internal throttling for readability.
Hardened enemy-healer cooldown behavior.
Runtime healer cooldown now enforces a non-trivial floor to prevent continuous cast spam.
Healers continue to prioritize Dragon first, then same-faction allies (Goblins heal Goblins, Orcs heal Orcs).
Updated build/version alignment.
Updated player-visible build string to Pre-Alpha | Build v0.0.675.
Updated Discord join-service test build-tag fixtures to v0.0.675.