"Winds Of Trade" Update Brings Dynamic Sailing To BitCraft Online

The latest BitCraft Online update, “Winds of Trade,” changes how sailing works by implementing a global wind system. Players of the free-to-play sandbox MMO that's currently in buy-to-play Early Access can now see wind across the entire world, represented on the map with a toggleable overlay, on flags mounted to boats, and through environmental effects like smoke and falling leaves. Wind direction directly impacts sailing: traveling with the wind grants bonus speed, which scales further with higher Sailing skill levels, topping out at nearly double speed at level 100. Sailing against the wind does not slow boats, but players miss out on these bonuses. 

To encourage players to go sailing, the update also introduces Lost Flotsam, a new type of resource scattered across the ocean. Collecting flotsam grants a large amount of Sailing EXP, and when brought to a new sailing station, it can be opened for further experience and additional rewards. These resources respawn regionally.

Another experimental change is the boat and deployable progression. The raft and skiff now have sidegrades crafted from new sailing materials found in flotsam. In the future, there might be boats and mounts that can be modified into different versions with unique stats and appearances.

Logistics and trade are also affected by the wind system. Winds change slowly over the course of days, allowing merchant players to discover and take advantage of optimal routes. However, a smaller, more frequent shifting layer ensures voyages still require active steering. Clockwork Labs plans to monitor and adjust how dynamic the wind should be to balance gameplay.