That’s a really smart structure, honestly. Using predefined parties like Slay the Spire’s classes as an extended tutorial, then handing over the keys with a build your own party unlock tied to its own leaderboard, gives players a reason to master the basics before the real freedom opens up. The leaderboard angle also gives the best runs something to compete over, which tends to keep people coming back.
Decisions like cutting warbands and contracts to give the party a clearer identity are exactly the kind of story players love hearing about. Have you thought about sharing updates like this on social media too? Short posts or clips showing a party in action, or explaining why you rebuilt progression around individual skills, could let potential players see the thinking behind the game while it’s still being built. Deckbuilder and roguelike fans really follow development closely, and the ones who find a game early often become the people who spread it later.
Do you think that kind of ongoing visibility would help Before We Fall find its audience before launch, or have you already got a plan for that?