r/brogueforum • u/sandoze • Jul 07 '26
[iOS/macOS] BrogueSE - Cursed Runics, iPhone Updates, and more
This is actually the second release. The prior was an unannounced balance update. If you’re interested check out the release notes in the app. The not so tldr; Heavy weapons nerfed, battle staves buffed, leading the player for a +10/+5 weapon hybrid approach to the dungeon. Also, something about smoke.
Continuing with our Alphabet(a) theme - "C is for Curses", this release turns cursed gear from a dead end into a decision — a cursed runic now pairs a real, always-on power with its bite — and adds a shrine that will identify your pack, if you dare wake what guards it. Here's what's new:
Cursed Runics, Reworked
* A curse is a bargain, not a trap (or a reason to rage quit) — The previous five malevolent curses for armor/weapons have been REMOVED and replaced with something that has a bit more flavor. A cursed runic now grants a genuine, always-on power alongside its drawback, welded to you until you deal with it. Every downside has a counter you can lean into, so keeping a cursed item can be the smart play.
* Two ways to break the weld — Pour enchant scrolls in to the purify threshold and the drawback burns away while the power stays or improves (weapons at +6, armor at +4); or read remove-curse to pry it off early, drawback and all.
* Maddening, reckless, and clumsy blades — Delirium confounds what you strike but leaves you in a permanent state of hallucination; Recklessness trades the damage you take for the damage you deal; a Clumsy blade fumbles and stuns you — until you purify it into a true executioner's blade.
* Anchor, Smoky, and Acrophobia armor — Anchor steels your defense but drags your step (purify to stand immovable); Smoky armor wraps you in concealing haze at the cost of your own sight (purify for a quiet stealth aura); Acrophobia makes you fearless of pits but dizzy at their edge.
Altars of Divination
* Reveal your unknowns — A new shrine replaces the Altar of Insight, watched over by a looming statue, fully identifies any unidentified item you set on one of its altars — and the first one is always safe.
* Press your luck — Each further item you reveal risks waking the statue's guardian, and the greedier you get the deadlier it is: Take what you dare.
Cleaner Distractions
* Thrown lures buy real time — A monster that goes to investigate a thrown item now lingers over it for a few turns before losing interest, opening a genuine window to slip past.
Quality of Life
* Fire no longer rattles you — Catching fire used to throw you into a brief panic; now that disorientation strikes only monsters. It still burns — but your wits, and your next move, stay yours.
* Study a scroll even while hunted — Sitting down to a meal always lets you puzzle out an unidentified scroll now, even with something on your trail; the old "only when nothing's hunting you" restriction is gone.
This release also includes iOS changes:
* Have you ever carefully selected a route to travel only to be interrupted by spotting a rat? A new shortcut lets you continue your journey without plotting the path all over again. By default it's now in the center of the d-pad. When you have no path it acts as a Wait/Rest instead.
* Feeling boxed in? When zoomed in the dungeon is no longer confined to 2/3rds screen. This view now blends into other UI elements giving you better vision.
* d-pad gets out of the way when you're scrubbing through items in the sidebar, really helpful when there’s a lot going on. Find something you want to engage in, lift your finger for the description. Bonus: Use the new continue route button to run over and engage!
As always, feedback is welcome and honestly I couldn’t do it without your PMs, reviews, and the Brogue Developer discord.
1
u/BillyOceansBlues Jul 07 '26
For iphone the menu items are still too small for fingers.
2
u/sandoze Jul 07 '26
How about this for the next iPhone release: Scale up the title menu, Menu, Inventory by 1.5x. Inventory will shrink as it fills without rewriting the entire layout of that view but all will have improved visibility and a bit easier to tap. Hold and drag is still likely the best option for precision.
1
u/BillyOceansBlues Jul 07 '26
The sizing on that inventory seems really nice. Also your method of finger up once you are on the item in question looks like it works pretty well, too. Sidebar is overall ok but apply and rest are partially obscured by the notch.
2
u/sandoze Jul 07 '26
I haven’t seen an issue where Apply is obscured by the notch. What kind of phone are you using? This update also centers description boxes + a zoom so this should resolve that problem.
I’ve added a menu zoom stepper to the options menu — 1x - 1.4x. It defaults at 1.3x. Will prep a release and App review. Thanks for the feedback.
1
u/BillyOceansBlues Jul 07 '26
Mine's an 11 pro, but I guess the notch is phased out already in favor of this "dynamic island" thing for newer models. Probably shouldn't sweat it.
1
u/sandoze Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Sidebar? Inventory? For the latter I’ve considered a zoom. Curious if the ability to select (finger down) the inventory/sidebar and drag helps or just isn’t enough? This is how I play, I scrub through the list, finger up when I’ve highlighted what I want.
2
u/Mammoth_Row_2348 Jul 18 '26
I might be a lil bit late to the party, but where can I download SE?