Development Update_2: Visual Evolution

Hello everyone, it’s been a little while since the last update on the game. Between the holidays and other responsibilities, posting slowed down—but the work didn’t. The artists and I have continued refining and improving Epochia, and there are some significant changes compared to the previous prototype that was shown publicly.

We’ve created an updated map featuring new icons for defense values on capital cities, historical sites, and fortresses. This means you no longer need to memorize numbers—everything important is now displayed directly on the map, making planning clearer, faster, and more intuitive.

We also introduced a new army icon, so play cards now clearly distinguish between attack, army, and defense symbols. This removes any ambiguity and ensures that every symbol communicates exactly what it’s meant to.

After some iteration, I’ve also redesigned the Prestige Point symbol. The new version is flat, minimal, and distinctive: a gold number one combined with the prestige emblem and a green olive branch. It stands out visually while still fitting naturally into the overall design language.

Map readability received another major improvement—we enlarged all symbols by 30%, giving players much clearer orientation at a glance. On top of that, we added several new naval tiles to expand sailing tactics and strategic options. One has been added near Carthage to give the nation more flexibility when launching naval missions, another in the north-western Peloponnese to open new landing opportunities, and a third in Anatolia. Sea routes are now more open—and more dangerous—giving players even more reason to watch the coasts carefully.

Nation cards have also been updated with additional icons, making it easier to quickly understand which resources are needed for building ships, recruiting armies, or managing spices.

Event cards and Secret Task cards received redesigned backs as well. Event cards now combine black marble with a bronze Minoan symbol and hieroglyphs, while Secret Task cards feature a papyrus background with the Egyptian god Seth, symbolizing chaos and disorder—setting the tone for exactly the kind of surprises these cards bring.

As a bonus, we’ve created new illustrations for each nation. I’ll tease one addition to the Phoenician family in particular: a magnificent lighthouse, merchant ships at sea, and Queen Elissa herself.

There are many other parts of the game still in progress, and we’re steadily moving from a solid foundation toward a fully polished experience.

More coming soon.

OJ