Greetings, Star Seekers!🌟

After our initial playtests, one feature clearly stood out as needing the most improvement: the crafting system. While combining multiple materials to create wild and unique items was fun, the process itself required too many steps, and the interface wasn't as intuitive as we wanted.

Let’s break it down.

In the earlier versions of the system (we had a few iterations...), crafting a new item required the player to:
1. Find the correct crafting station on the level.
2. Place it in the Briefbase.
3. Gather the necessary resources.
4. Access the crafting station physically or through a large crafter selection screen.
5. Select a recipe or set up a new composition of materials.
6. Click OK once you’ve created something with a specific composition for the first time.
Too long!

The new version, internally called "Item Creation v4," simplifies the process significantly:
1. Find* an appropriate crafting base item—like a cupcake with slots.
2. Gather resources.
3. Drag the resource onto the base.
It’s that simple!

Our setting allows players to mix any kind of ingredients, so if you want to combine cotton candy with rusty nails, go ahead—just maybe don’t eat it yourself! 🧁📌🔨

*NOTE:
The current version of the game does not have the option to create base items on your own. This will be included in future updates. For the time being, we scattered plenty of them across the Sanctuary for you to try out the system itself.

The key is convenience. The easier the system is to use, the more likely it will be used often. That’s why we’ve added two alternative ways to make the process even smoother:

I. Interactive Details Panel
You can now select a slot-filler directly from the details panel of any base item.
II. Precise Crafting
If you love experimenting or testing combinations before hitting the craft button, simply right-click on a base item to bring up a dedicated crafting window with a "Randomize" option for extra fun.
Lastly, if you’re unhappy with your creation or need those materials elsewhere, you can always Clear Slots without any cost. We want to encourage experimentation, so there’s no penalty for trying out new combinations. :)

To get even more satisfaction from mixing various ingredients, we are also focusing on alternating the visual representation of the base items. We have a prototype that works on changing colors, but it doesn't seem to cut it. If we are making a Cotton Candy Jacket, we want to see a character covered in cotton candy!!!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this new crafting system! What wild combinations are you excited to try? Let us know in the comments, and share your favorite creations with the community. Your feedback helps shape the future of To the Star, so don’t hesitate to tell us what you’d like to see next!

P.S.
Kudos to Damien Monnier from Exit Plan Games, who co-designed this mechanic!

Slugs got you down in Across the Wonderlands? Fear not, Star Seekers! Here’s your quick guide to handling those slimy pests:

One of the best ways to deal with slugs is by shrinking them. Throw a dish packed with Electricity (supplied by Cotton Candy) at them! That’s why you’ll notice so many Rabid Candies running around the Sanctuary. ;)
Place a Popping Poppy near a slug and watch it explode! But be careful—the blast can hit you, too. If you throw a Waterberry at the Poppy before it detonates, the explosion will be even more powerful!
Got flash-banged by a big slug’s detachable tentacle? No worries! Stun them back by shooting Colorful Sprinkles at them. You can collect these from Flying Fish. Either… you know… ahem harvest the fish quickly, or feed them Slug Meat and wait until they poop it out. ;)
If you’ve built the Puff Propeller, use it to send smaller slugs flying into the air and watch them bounce joyfully. Then, recall your Briefcase while they’re high up. It’s not the most humane method, but it’s highly effective!
Slugs don’t like those pink Rabid Candies. Just place one nearby to distract them. You can even throw a Popping Poppy with glue onto a Rabid Candy near a slug for a makeshift kamikaze attack!
Mix up some ingredients that reduce a target’s armor and throw it at the slug. Then bash away while they’re weakened. #TheBoringMethod
Got a Briefcase Vortex? Use it to suck in the slugs, but beware—they’ll still be alive, roaming inside your Briefbase, so stay alert! It only works on small and tiny slugs, though.
P.S.
Fire makes slugs grow—great for harvesting their shell fragments (very sharp)! Combine the Burning status with a Surprise emotion to make a bigger slug spawn loot without needing to fight!