ForgeTax

Hello, this is the developer of ForgeTax.

After reviewing your reports about startup problems and difficulty following the update, I have released this hotfix. I am sorry for the disruption to your play.

Startup fixes

Fixed an issue that prevented the game from starting in some environments with the SteamInit-1 error. Local play and saving can now continue even if the Steam connection fails.
Recovery handling has also been improved for errors during startup or save restoration that could leave the game on a black screen. If you encounter a similar problem after updating, please let me know. I will investigate and respond as quickly as possible.

A better chance to recover after missed tribute

• You now receive the three basic swords the next day even if you fail to meet the tribute requirement.
• Rage still accumulates, and the dragon still throws your swords angrily.
• Tutorial guidance has been updated to match.

Better access to recovery and defensive relics

Too many ways to deal with broken swords depended on a small set of relics that could be hard to find when needed.
During days 2–6, Black Knot, Iron Hoop, Undertaker's Chalice, Broken Holy Sword, Cracked Splice, and Wirebound Scabbard now appear more often. Their individual minimum-day and unlock requirements still apply.

• Undertaker's Chalice: costs 1 sword and can appear from day 2. When a sword breaks, 30% of its peak value is offered as scrap tribute.
• Scorched Charm: price reduced to 1 sword; available from day 3.
• Third Hand and Golden Nail: available from day 3.
• Worn Grip: available from day 4.

Let a broken sword help your next attempt

• Broken Holy Sword: passes 30% of a broken sword's enhancement to the next unforged +0 sword. Inheriting enhancement grants 3 Frenzy charges.
• Dawn Scabbard: passes 40% of the enhancement and grants 4 Frenzy charges when enhancement is inherited.
• With both relics, the effects add together: 70% enhancement inheritance and 7 Frenzy charges. The descriptions now explicitly explain that they combine.

Stronger mid- and late-run protection

• Dragonscale Tongs: the reduction to Break chance at +6 or higher has increased from 20% to 25%.
• Lightning Mark: after a Great outside Frenzy, the next strike's Break chance reduction has increased from 35% to 40%.
• Phoenix Ash: the sword value lost when preventing a Break has decreased from 50% to 40%.

Relic cleanup and descriptions

• Relief Sack and Burial Coin have been temporarily removed from the active pool. Existing owned copies are refunded as 1 and 2 relic-shop sword credits respectively.
• Updated effects and inheritance rules are reflected in the descriptions across supported languages.

In planning around the power that future relics and content might add, I did not leave enough recovery options and room for choice in the game as it exists today.
This hotfix focuses on giving you ways to manage danger and try again after losing a sword using the content currently available. Recovery relics have been strengthened. As more options are added, I will use actual play and feedback to avoid making any one relic feel essential.

I am continuing to monitor balance through play records and your feedback. My priority is to reduce excessive frustration and dependence on specific relics, and restore a healthier balance between challenge and growth as quickly as possible.

Thank you to everyone who has played and reported problems. I will keep working to make ForgeTax a better experience.

• Added three save slots (title screen → ESC → Saves). Existing progress stays in Slot 1; codex discoveries and unlocks are shared.
• Improved startup handling in Steam Offline Mode. Complete initial installation and launch setup while online.
• Improved sword-drop collisions and recovery from out-of-bounds positions, including affected saves.

Please close the game before updating. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for your reports.

Hello, this is the developer of ForgeTax.

First, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has played ForgeTax.

The game launched without a demo or enough playtesting, and your time with it has brought many problems to light. I am sorry to everyone who has experienced frustration. I am reading your reviews, bug reports and candid criticism with gratitude.

In less than a week since release, we have worked on bug fixes, optimization, controls, clearer explanations and balance. I also know there is still much to improve.

This update focuses on strengthening the game's foundations. We have reworked relic roles and overlapping effects so that you can better feel their strength when your chosen relics work together.

Difficulty has also been adjusted. The goal is not simply to make you fail more often, but to make finding a way forward with the relics and resources of each run matter. Some parts may be harder than before. We will keep reviewing your feedback and gameplay records from those who opt in, and continue making adjustments.

We are also preparing what comes next.

Hasn't it felt wasteful—and infuriating—to hand over every sword you worked so hard to forge?

For the next major update, we are preparing content where you can wield the swords you made yourself and use each sword's distinct abilities to stand against the dragon.

Perhaps one day, in the dragon's vast lair, the sword you have hammered and hammered into shape will let you take revenge on the dragon that has been exploiting you.

While we prepare that content, improvements to existing systems, relics, controls and balance will continue. We will share more about how combat will work and its schedule when we are ready.

Thank you again to everyone who has played. Your feedback is being put into fixes and tests as we work toward a better ForgeTax.

— The developer of ForgeTax