Deskrawl Demo and Beta: What Changed at Launch
Demo, beta and full game compared
| Demo | Full release | |
|---|---|---|
| Classes | Warrior | Warrior, Sorcerer, Hunter, Monk |
| Level cap | 20, then 25 | 70 |
| Map | 9 nodes at release, 4 more in 0.1.11 | 10 regions; over 70 nodes on Normal per a player |
| Final boss | Ancient Oak Treant | Lord of the Cinder is the last boss achievement |
| Minions | 12 at release | Not published |
| Gear | Over a hundred items | Not published |
| Difficulties | One | Several, up to Inferno |
| Trading | None | Steam Market for online characters |
What demo players received
- On July 4 the developers announced special perks for demo players; having a rank on the leaderboard meant you qualified.
- Participants in the Treant Boss event could claim closed beta keys.
- Before launch the developers said they would collect the leaderboard and send out Big Treant challenge reward minions.
The beta
The closed beta started on August 19 and was opened to everyone on August 26 through the Join the Playtest button. It ended on August 28. Videos from the period show the desert map, the mage class and the Monk being tested.
Launch-day complaints from demo players
A long forum thread compared the two versions. The points raised, and the replies:
- Life Skills look empty. Nodes and connectors appear as you unlock neighbours.
- The Warrior talent tree is shorter. Players guess later talents moved to Paragon; the developers have not said.
- The map has fewer nodes. Others count over 70 on Normal and note the map matches the trailer.
- Drops feel rarer. Several players agree, especially for reins and weapons.
Demo questions
Can I still play the Deskrawl demo?
No. The developers shut it down on the evening of September 26 (PDT) to focus servers on the full game.
Does demo progress carry over?
The developers did not announce a save transfer. They announced perks for demo players who had a leaderboard rank, and reward minions for the Treant challenge.
Why does the full game look different from the demo?
Launch players noticed a shorter Warrior talent tree, fewer visible map nodes and a Life Skills tree that starts hidden. Others point out that three difficulties and the Paragon tree were added, and that the map matches the launch trailer.
What was the demo level cap?
Level 20 at release, raised to 25 in patch 0.1.11 on June 19.
Demo facts checked:
Sources: developer announcements from June 8 to September 25; Steam forum thread "Why full release is so different, than the demo?".