Branching Out Update

[Bordyceps]

Fiction begins...

THE FLY'S THE LIMIT!

We’re excited to announce the branching out update! In this update, the oak tree gets a much-needed glow-up, and we expand on Grounded's mechanics in new exciting ways! Filling the niche of difficulty progression somewhere between Wasps & Infected Broodmother

 

WHAT'S NEW

LOCATIONS

ROTTING ROOTS

A small underground area now directly follows the exit to the Stump Lab Outpost. It introduces the players to two hostile new mobs, and a new explosive as a progression and combat tool. 

The B4 explosive is required to destroy the new purple-hued 'Heavy Rocks' and exit the Rotting Roots. Upon doing so the next time the player sleeps, Millipedes, Slugs, and Snails will enter the yard. Giving the garden a fresh layer of challenge and progression. 
The entrance to the Brawny Boy Bin is also now a Heavy Rock, making the entrance a little more visible, and obvious for progression. Players can destroy this with B4 as an alternative to angering the wasps, but the effect will be the same. There are a few new micro-locations across the yard that are blocked by Heavy Rocks with new trinkets and treats to complement the features of this update. 

OAKWOOD HOLLOWS

The interior of the tree now has a path up to the new canopy. We’re calling this intermediate zone inside the tree, ‘the Hollows’; A network of claustrophobic tunnels and galleries. Expect the xylophagous insects and detritivores to be making this place a home. They might not appreciate intruders! Expect all sorts of creatures that like the dark, both old and new. 

This is the primary location where players can get RESIN, an advanced building material. It's also a new central location for splinters. 

Players will need the B4 explosive to access the Hollows.  

OAKWOOD CANOPY

This location has a lot more substance to it. It’s now a fully playable area with roughly five times the walkable area of the hedge. It has a number of new mini areas and points of interest but comes with its own challenges., verticality only being one of them.
The main way to access this area is through the Hollows after the Stump Lab Outpost, but players can build up to this level at any point. Just be aware that Hornets patrol the tree, creating a sort of intentional ‘aggro-barrier’ between the upper trunk and the canopy. They will rain down hell on any climbing micronauts. These deadly wasp-counterparts are our way of saying “you SURE you want to come up here NOW?”. There are also additional voice lines to further indicate this might be a risky move.
Once the Brawny Boy Bin has been opened, the hornets will scatter across the garden and will occasionally be seen fighting wasps.

Players with existing bases in the tree may find it intersecting with the new meshes, but no changes have been made to the trunk exterior.

MECHANICS

FIZZ!

The classic radical sugary goodie seems to be landing across the yard.
FIZZBEES!
These rice paper disks of fantastic fizzing sugar are another upgrade material to enhance your weapons with. 

The fizzing elemental effect does no damage on its own, instead causing the “Fizzing” status effect. Fizzing enemies will take 50% more elemental damage (Including poison), and creatures with a vulnerability to fizz will take double. 

Fizzing will also prevent certain enemies from healing.

The paper Fizzbees must be cut open with any level III axe to reveal the delicious Sherbert nuggets within. These can be refined in the same way as the other elemental candies with a unique staff and sword, the Fizzfoil. 

WINGSUITS

We appreciate that we haven't given much love to fall protection despite the garden's verticality. We're creating a new accessory slot called the wing slot. This will only take wing accessories. Dandelion Tufts are now classified as wings. 
We don't want to completely remove falling as a hazard. The tier of wings will determine the speed, durability, and level of control while in the air. The Dandelion Tufts are relatively unchanged and fill the niche of a wingsuit that has no durability but lacks speed and control. Wingsuits will take damage like armor in addition to taking a little durability on landing.  The only minor change to Dandelion's is they take a longer to fully reduce a falling player's velocity.

The tiers of wingsuit are as follows:

Dandelion Tuff > Dandelion Parachute > Ladybird Wingsuit > Moth Wingsuit > Butterfly Wingsuit

 

GUNKBOOTS

GUNKBOOTS.

Gunge-Galoshers!
Ooze-Boots!

Once you release the gastropods into your yard, you're going to start seeing a lot of slime. The snail highways are not a nuisance unless you're trying to walk across them, well what if these gooey roads across the garden could be traversed? 

The Gunkboots let you do just that. An upgrade to the Aphid Slippers, these will not only protect you from the slowing effect of mucus, they will let you SURF it. Slip along at high speeds as an alternative way to travel the garden while shouting "Wahoo!", "Gadzooks", and "Radical!" 

But the fun doesn't end there. Gunkboots keep you stuck to mucus surfaces even upside down. Ever wanted to know what it's like for bugs to crawl up walls? Now you can! Essential for getting to those canopy secrets hiding just under your nose.... just don't jump if you're hanging upside down... They don't defy gravity. Having a pair just makes leaping around the canopy a little safer! 
 

CREATURES

SLUGS & SNAILS

 

Slugs and snails are not hostile. These giant beasts simply roam across the garden munching up grass and leaving a trail of mucus which can be collected with a shovel.

These new slime trails slow anyone crossing it but can double up as a new form of travel with the Gunkboots. Some snail highways go up walls!

If your base is still made of grass at this point you may need to put down some spikes to deter them from eating your walls and floors. 

Slugs and Snails drop tough gunk and Mucus, a new resource that is used in some more advanced tools and blueprints. It can also be combined with resin to make a renewable source of repair glue. 

Snails are larger, and more troublesome to kill; once they reach half health they will hide inside their shell and regenerate. Only explosives can break the shell; these fragments are a useful resource in some armors and furniture. 

Spoiler

The infected variant is less docile and the small becomes a slow-roaming Leucochloridium-infected fungal fortress. Beware!

CARPENTER WORMS

Think of these like the Grubby’s big scary brother, with a bite that can bore a hole in a tree (and you), but a soft backside! These larger, angrier grubs live inside the oak’s trunk and upper branches. They are an excellent source of grub goo, as well as their impressive tree-chomping mandibles!

MILLIPEDES 

These cyanide-laced skittering nightmares glow-in-the dark, so at least you can see them coming if you don’t hear them first. Packing a painful venom and an armoured shell you’re facing off against the tanks of the insect world. Players will need to take advantage of its long, snaking body and stay away from its head. 

It’s vulnerable to explosives, so the new sticky B4 will allow you to throw on some heavy ordinance and detonate at a safe distance. 

Millipedes crawl around the dark areas of the stump and Hollow Climb, but will venture out at night. They're also capable of climbing up walls and over short gaps, creating new challenges for base design & defence. 

BUTTERFLIES

Butterflies are found in the canopy and occasionally come down to smell the roses. They function very similarly to moths but will flee players unless directly engaged. They have a powerful gust attack that can send unprepared micronauts flying. 
They primarily drop twinkling dust, an alternative way of making jewels. 

HORNETS

These big orange cousins of the wasp are renowned for their painful sting. Thankfully these Hornets are more solitary (and less likely to sit at range healing).  They're vulnerable to the new Fizzing status.
You'll find them mostly up in the canopy and near the castle once the Brawny Boy Bin is open. Until then they fly around the upper trunk being very territorial. 

ITEMS & GEAR

Armor & Weapon Sets

There are three new armours designed to provide a more varied set of playstyles and utility for the endgame. 

Xylophage Set - Xylophage Winged Heaume - Xylophage Plackart - Xylophage Greaves 
This armor set is made from a number of the yards wood eaters, including Millipedes and Carpenter Worms. It has a Teutonic Knight aesthetic with a teal underglow and cloak fabrics. 

Tis But A Scratch - Debuffs to movement and damage are less effective. 
Parry Heal - Heal a small portion of health on a perfect parry.
Cleaving blow - Slashing weapons create a wide aoe that passes through enemies in the radius.

Carpenter Claymore - A two-handed sword that had a bonus to damage based on the more enemies that are near.

Stinger Set - Stinger Columbina - Stinger Suit - Stinger Boots
This armor set is made from parts of the wasp queen, hornets, and bees.  It has a superhero aesthetic with a bee-fur ruff; moving creates a yellow trail after the player. 

Extra Arrow - Grants an extra arrow before needing to reload with a crossbow.
Lightweight - Increased jump height, reduced fall damage and wingsuit are more effective.
Coyote Time - When using a ranged weapon in the air, the player will hang for a moment. Has a cooldown. 

Hornet Arbalest - A repeating crossbow that by default can load up to 3 arrows. The arrow type can be sequenced in the arrow selection menu. Allowing the crossbow to fire a variety of arrow types with each volley. 

Pixie Set - Pixie Crown - Pixie Tutu - Pixie Shoes
This armor set is made from parts of the moth, butterfly, and scarab, as well as Sherbert.  It has a magical fairy aesthetic with a sparkle effect.  

Fairy Power - Staff projectiles travel faster and the cooldown is slightly reduced.
Glittering - Butterflies and Scarabs are less likely to run away, and have a chance to drop more. Treasure spots glisten more often. 
Furious Fizz - All non-staff attacks apply fizz. 

Fairy Wand - Providing you have the requisite staff in your inventory, the fairy wand will have that damage type in a selection menu (like arrows), by default, the wand can perform salt damage. 

Wraith Set - Wraith Death Mask - Wraith Cowl - Wraith Wraps
This armor set is made by mixing various potent venoms and poisons with resin.  It has a grim reaper-like aesthetic, the player will appear translucent when remaining still. 

Cloak & Dagger - Recudes the range in which enemies aggro and adds sneak attack damage if you damage them before they aggro.
Tolerance - All poisons and venoms first detract from a recharging meter before doing damage.
Shady - You are invisible to enemies while staying still, provided you're not already in combat with them.

Mantis Sythe - A slashing weapon with an impressive reach. Increases the drop quantity from enemies. 

Other Gear

B4 - An explosive crafted from four splatburst, some gum, and gunpowder. Functions like a sticky splatburst with a little more oomph, but has to be damaged to begin the detonation timer. Also used to destroy Heavy Rocks found throughout the yard. 
Snail Sheild - A tower shield that vastly reduces player speed when blocking, but with a very large block gauge. On perfect block, inflicts the Mucus debuff, slowing the movement speed of the attacker. 
Carpenter Hatchet - Millipede Trowel - Hornet Pick - Three "miniature" tools that operate at Tier 3. They do reduced damage to enemies, but increase the upper drop quantity from harvesting. In addition, you can use the reload context menu to switch between them saving hotbar space, or set them to auto switch based on what you're harvesting.  
Spyglass - Made with resin! |Now you can finally get a long-distance look and see what all that blurry scenery is all about. 


BUILDINGS

ELEVATOR - After completing the Canopy lab you will get a few things to make life a little easier and expand on the possible base designs. One of these is the elevator. 
They require a permanent clearance between the two platforms but are an advanced way to scale heights once you're established... (rather than building 83 spiral staircases)

LOOM - The loom is an advanced version of the spinning wheel. It crafts more, faster. 

FRIDGE-FREEZER - A large fridge with three times the space. Raw food and jerky will stack to 10 while in the Fridge-Freezer. 

CASTAWAY COLLECTOR - Four drums around a large funnel. An upgraded blend of the Dew-Collector & Water Container combo. 

FORGE - The forge is required to craft Resin Ingots from tough gunk and resin. It is a larger oven. Additionally, it allows acorns to be crafted into ash. 

FLY PAPER - Hanging traps act as lures for flying creatures, which use mucus to glue these enemies in place, making them easier targets. 

TREE TAP - An upgraded Sap Catcher that uses carpenter mandibles. It can be toggled between sap or resin. It will gradually create up to three stalactites.

FURNITURE

BASE PARTS
New wasp-paper & bur wall set with a Japanese partition style, with Origami roofs in a pseudo-oriental style. 
Burnt Mushroom - Ash can be added to mushroom bricks to make them grey and cracked. This set is identical to mushroom but darker with some cracks and moss. 
Resin tiles & Bricks - A set of polished tile floors in shiny resin-yellow and resin brick walls combined with grey mushrooms. Employs an organic golden palace style you might expect from high elves. 
Mucus Windows - Grounded's very own disgusting version of glass. Stretched thin and dried these glossy windows finally keep the cold air out. 
Butterfly Stained Glass windows - for the castle builders butterfly wings can now be turned into stained glass style windows. 
 

Billipede Sofa - Several modular sections of sofa made from Billipede boss parts.
Grand Hearth - A large fireplace set made from mushroom and resin. 
Resin Table - Several modular sections of table.
Millipede Candelabra
Some new Mucus-glazed and butterfly-decorated vases. 
Bubble tube - A classic 90s bubble tube made with fizz

Fiction ends...

Thank you for reading. This is a work of fiction and entirely written as a "What if" Obsidian created another big update, or DLC for Grounded. 
I am out of work at the moment, so with some extra time on my hands I wanted to do a game design study practice a few design areas.
I find Groudned such a unique and inspiring game. Both relaxing and stressful of equal measure (in a good way!)

I definately went a little overboard, but Grounded makes my brain a faucet of ideas. 
I looked at deleted content, old concept art, and tried to think of what was a realistic yet interesting set of additions to the game.


TLDR: Grounded is great and I would love to see more of it.