Editing Patch Notes 1.2 (section)

==From the developers:==
'''Ara: History Untold 1.2 – Modders Paradise'''

Welcome to the Ara: History Untold Modders Paradise update! In addition to a new nation leader, features, balance changes, and UI improvements, the Modders Paradise release includes easy access to mod support through integration with [https://mod.io/ Mod.io]! We are excited to share the new features in this release with players and look forward to your feedback. Have fun!

(NOTE: Confucius will be made available for free shortly after the 1.2 update appears.)


===New Features===

* New Leader Confucius: The spiritual and wise Confucius is now part of the leader roster, offering unique philosophical and governance-based abilities.
* Integrated Mod Manager (powered by [https://mod.io/ Mod.io]):
:* Players can now create and customize units, city improvements, technologies, game rules, and more.
:* Easily share mods with the community or explore and download player-created content.
:* Sample Mods include a new unit, new improvement and new graphics.


===Highlights===

* '''Greater Nation Distinction:''' Starting unit visuals updated based on the geographic location of the world.
* '''City Improvement UI Tagging:''' New tagging system for filtering and managing units, improvements, and amenities based on gameplay objectives.
* '''Performance Optimizations:''' Users with lower-end hardware should notice a significant increase in turn performance as well as visual performance.
* '''Visual Fidelity Update:''' In addition to optimizing the game engine for even better performance, we’ve upgraded the lighting system. Explosions are now twice as visually impressive, adding a new layer of immersion to battles and gameplay.
* '''Major AI Update:''' The AI has been updated to be data driven to help designers and strategy testers shape the way different AI players play like.
* '''Accelerated Start:''' Players can optionally start in the Middle Ages or the Machine Age and be seeded with resources and items to ensure the early game gets moving quickly.
* '''UI Improvements:''' The Trade Screen and Government Management Screen have been updated to be more intuitive to use.
* '''Player Requested Features & Changes:''' Long game setting is now 9,999 turns, cities gain a land claim every level up (though the population requirement has been increased), and new audio notifications help players keep track of what’s happening by sound.
* '''Leader Trait Updates:''' Andean Masonry, Agrarian, Perfectionist, Woodsman and other leader traits updated to be more interesting and balanced.
* '''Improved Balance:''' Fewer nations are culled per act, Coins are more challenging to produce but are now used extensively throughout the game, tech pacing and population growth are much more pleasing.