Big New Arc Line update adds dwarves and two classes to the steampunk CRPG

The hole left in your soul upon finishing Baldur's Gate 3 is one of those itches that you can never truly scratch, but there are certainly some worthwhile ways to satisfy the rich, lore-led CRPG craving. The steampunk world of New Arc Line has been one such winner for me, dropping you into a clash between magic and technology in a land afflicted by wealth diversity, prejudice, and plague. Currently in early access, its first major update 'Smoke and Mirrors' has just landed, bringing a new playable race and two classes to the table.

The New Arc Line Smoke and Mirrors update marks just its first big stop along Dreamate's early-access roadmap as it aims to join our best tactical RPGs, but there's already a big serving to dig into. Dwarves join the fray as the newest playable race; hardy and stubborn, they're very much the crafting experts you'd expect, bearing a "deep bond to stone, steel, and the arcane." Along with them comes two extra classes, the Hellfire Mage and Steam Mechanic, both of which are currently dwarf-exclusive but will later become available to all races.

Dreamate teases the Hellfire Mage as "the most brutal school of magic yet," channeling dark energies into devastating, destructive arcane powers. They're not ones for negotiation, preferring to stride onto the battlefield with heavy maces or morningstars, invoking searing flames or summoning demonic forces into the fray. "In the eyes of a Hellfire Occultist, might makes right, the ends justify the means, and mercy is for the weak."

The Steam Mechanic, on the other hand, is a "juggernaut of invention." They lean more into the constructive side of dwarven tendencies, crafting steam-powered gear to further enhance their already-resilient bodies to turn into walking fortresses. At their peak, they can pilot full exoskeletons "built to smash, crush, and survive anything the world throws at them." Back that up with a toolbelt full of cunning gadgets, and you'll be ready for any situation.

Finally, Smoke and Mirrors also introduces a fresh questline that will see your party travel to a new location, the Sacred Tree. There, you'll "have the opportunity to meet a mysterious new friend who will prove to be important in future updates." Alongside this update, you can get New Arc Line at a 20% discount as part of the Tacticon Steam sale, and you'll want to do so, as its base retail price will be raised from $19.99 to $24.99 once the discount ends on July 21 as part of the early access rollout.

The Smoke and Mirrors update launches Thursday July 17. New Arc Line is available now in early access via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG, with a 20% discount from Thursday July 17 until Monday July 21 meaning you'll pay $15.99 / £14.49. Find it right here.

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