Greetings scientists…
As per the title, the Combat Update is now live on our beta branch and can be played RIGHT NOW!
EA.1.6.0 features two new location variants, combat mechanics, new resources, story route changes, performance improvements, bug fixes, and a few QoL improvements, including the highest-voted request on Feature Upvote regarding moving storage boxes!
More cool items will be added when the Combat Update goes live on the main branch, but for now let's get stuck into what you can expect from the update in beta.
🔽Combat Feedback Survey🔽
https://forms.gle/mTj9K4Hm8wEnLN6G6
Our team put a lot of work into the combat aspect of this update, so we're asking our avid beta testers to please fill our survey after playing.
This way we can dig deeper into your feedback and thoughts on how the game is shaping up.
Introducing Combat & Changes To Story
As always, we recommend starting a new game with this latest update, as EA.1.6.0 makes significant changes to the “golden path” in the game, which becomes apparent towards the end of your first visit to the Underdust.
Previously players had to find ingredients such as the Mantis Glands, Dust Daisies or Patats, and a Medical Reagent to make an Immunity Booster to enter 3 different Infected Garden locations to acquire the research on the cure, this is no longer the case with the EA.1.6.0 update…
After failing to enter the Infected Garden, players are now tasked with finding ingredients for the Immunity Booster at two different locations nearby. Players also now only need to visit the one Infected Garden, instead of three.
The two new locations are Underdust variants but with a slight difference. There are no surface lifts in sight here. Instead, you will be descending on foot!
The Crossbow has received an overhaul with new sound effects and a reload animation. As well as the standard Crossbow Bolts, players will also be able to get their hands on Poison Bolts, Explosive Bolts, and Throwable Mines, giving them quite a few options when facing hostiles.
But we also understand that not every player wants to engage in lethal combat, as such there are a few passive ways to deal with threats, players will also be able to craft Chirping Decoys and Stunning Traps to overcome enemies non-lethally.
If players choose not to start a new game to experience the story changes, and have completed all current objectives, then a unique quest will be available where you can experience some of the new content.
The challenge level in these locations is based on your difficulty settings, but will also get harder as you progress the story. So be sure to craft plenty of Oxygen Boosters, Endurance Boosters and Blood Coagulator Boosters if you plan to head to other “Combat Arena’s”, they’re sure to come in handy.
Finally, combat has been added to the Underdust - Suburbs location as we originally promised when we released the Gardening Update back in Spring.
Moving Filled Storage Boxes & More
At the time of writing, the suggestion to move Storage Boxes is sat at the top of the pile of your feature requests with 500 upvotes on our Feature Upvote Site.
We are excited to announce that this QoL feature is available with EA.1.6.0! Players can now move Storage Boxes with contents and move them wherever they like onboard their Airship, making customization easier than ever. Just hold down Q on the box you want to move and a “ghost” of the storage box will be created in your hands. Simply place it in your chosen spot and the box and its contents will be instantly transported! This will also work with Freezers and Cookers containing food and Engines containing fuel.
We have worked on overall performance in the game as many had reported a significant drop in frames while playing. Please let us know how the game is running for you now!
We’ve also added a Quick Select Wheel menu to make your life a little easier (very handy when fending off a deadly Mantis), eating and drinking animations and Airship Builder crafting from storage QoL among other additions. And you can expect even more items when we come out of beta!
IMPORTANT REMINDER
If the game is played from an older save (from the ending of the 1st Underdust questline up to creating the Evolved Flora Hologram), some issues might appear in the progression. We recommend starting a new save or playing on a save in which the main questline has already been completed to avoid these problems.
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Here are the full patch notes below:
NEW CONTENT:
New Locations:
- Forbidden Garden
- New Nature Territory
Combat added to existing locations:
- Underdust Suburbs
Enemies:
- Mantis
- Webling Larva
- Webling Larvae Nest
Tools & Devices:
- Crossbow bolt: Explosive
- Crossbow bolt: Poisonous
- Chirping Decoy
- Throwable Mine
- Stunning Trap
Player:
- Radial UI menu added for quick interactions with consumables and Crossbow ammunition select (hold C/D-pad Down)
- Crossbow auto-reload
- Using Consumables animation added
- Ability to relocate devices with items inside added (for now bound to hold Q/D-pad Down)
- Craft from Storage QoL is now available for the Airship Builder
New resources:
- Fiberglass
- Motion Detector
- Liquid Oxygen
- Liquid Neon
- Moss
- New plants:
- Eelair
- Sulfur Plant
- Diver Pearls
- Summer Balm
- Siren Crown
- Moss Plant
- Boiled Summer Balm
- Boiled Siren Crown
Consumables & Customizations:
- Speed Booster - Mobilty Booster
- Advanced Medkit
Other:
- Show Virus effects toggle in Settings
- PS5 Controller features (adaptive triggers, haptic feedback)
- Overall performance improved
- Additional quests guiding through combat update locations for players who have finished the storyline
CHANGED:
- Main Quests changed from the 1st Underdust to include combat locations
- Stamina consumption while using Knife/Aircutter buffed for combat
- New model for Crossbow Bolts
- Crossbow ammo clip size changed from 5 to 10
- Crossbow Bolts inventory stack size has increased from 5 to 20
- Crossbow shows indicators when reload or shooting is not possible
- Crossbow shows “Reload” widget only when reload is possible
- Crossbow automatically starts reload after shooting last loaded bolt
- Crossbow differentiates ammo spread between default and aiming mode
- Crossbow has a new set of animations and sounds
- Wrecked Crossbow has been moved in progression and can now be found in the Underdust: Tunnels location
- Pyrexia visual effects decreased when stamina is depleted
- Crosshair swing while being infected with Pyrexia reduced
- Raw Breathnut no longer infects player with Gastroenteritis virus
- Some posters were resized
- Quest log is scrolling when there are many unfinished quests on the screen
- Immunity Booster recipe resources changed to include new plants
- Bloom Airship modules’ recipes changed–they now require Fiberglass to build
- Fuel Tank’s recipe changed–it now requires Fiberglass to craft
- Moth Aquarium’s recipe changed–it now requires Fiberglass to craft
- Big Water Tank’s recipe changed–it now requires Fiberglass to craft
- Decorative Wings’ recipes changed–they now require Fiberglass to craft
- Moss Furniture set recipes changed–they now require Fiberglass to craft
- Lamps’ recipes changed–they now require Liquid Neon to craft
- Major sounds and music update
- Chitin now grants Hemorrhagic Fever sample when put into VSA
- Mantis Gland resource was removed from the 1st Underdust location (it is yet to be removed from the 2nd Underdust location. Item now has no purpose)
- Wrecked Engine added to the Starting Location. Players now need to scan the Engine instead of floating debris to acquire the Engine & Fuel blueprint
FIXED:
- Fixed issue with Pipes rotating with the airship movement
- Missing mass / weight of decorative Wings added
- Infected Garden performance tweaks
- Overgrown Lift performance tweaks
- Wind Farms performance tweaks
- Small Town performance tweaks
KNOWN ISSUES:
- Languages other than English lacks translation yet
- New locations are not finalised yet
- Some icons and proper names are missing
- The Throwable Mine, Stunning Trap and Chirping Decoy meshes are placeholders
- Throwing the Throwable Mine, Stunning Trap or Chirping Decoy inside the Airship is broken
- The radial UI is a work in progress
- If the game is played from an older save (from the ending of the 1st Underdust questline up to creating the plant's hologram), there might appear some issues in the progression. We recommend starting a new save or playing on a save in which the main questline has already been completed to avoid these problems.
- The pet's behavior in combat locations is currently a work in progress
- Crafting from Storage for Research Station is not supported (yet)
- Holding mine in crouch has a wrong idle animation
- Ant enemies do not work on Underdust
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How To Access the Test Branch
- Open the Steam application on your PC and locate Forever Skies in your games library
- Right click - PROPERTIES- BETAS
- Put in the password: BlimpWorkshop
- From the dropdown menu select the beta branch tilted: beta_flight
- Press the blue “Opt into beta_flight…” button
- In your Games Library click on Forever Skies [beta_flight]
- Install the Test Branch
How To Create and Load Existing Saves into the Test Branch
- Your existing saves for the main game are stored in a different folder compared to your saves on the test branch. If you want to continue and test the game using your existing progress, you’ll need to do the following:
- Locate your save files on your PC. By default they should be stored in the following file path:
- C:\Users\\AppData\Local\ProjectZeppelin\Saved\SaveGames\
- Select the save file that you want to test your progress on, right-click, copy.
- Located your Test Branch save file folder. By default they should be stored in the following file path:
- C:\Users\\AppData\Local\ProjectZeppelin\Saved_BetaFlight\SaveGames\
- Paste your copied save file into this location
- As a precaution make a 2nd copy of your save file and paste it somewhere on your desktop or in a safe folder. This way you can ensure you have a clean, backup save just in case.
After you have done the above, you can start the Forever Skies Test Branch from Steam and your save will be present when you select “CONTINUE”
Existing Saves Won’t be Affected but use an Imported Save To Play the Test Branch
Your existing saves, progress, and any custom settings you’ve set in from the main game won’t be carried over to the Test Branch. Your pc will see this as if you are installing and playing the game for the first time ever. Likewise, by playing on the Test Branch, your main saves should not be affected at all.
This also means any progress on the test branch will not be carried over to the main game once the update is live. The test branch is designed to allow you to explore and test new features without impacting your current progress.
Players can opt to play the test branch starting a fresh save, however, if you want to test new content with your existing progress, airship, etc (and we suggest you do) you will need to make a copy of your main game save and import it into the test branch. Instructions on how to do it can be found below.
Where to Submit Bugs
All bugs or issues that you encounter while playing should be submitted via the FEEDBACK TOOL that you can find in-game when pausing the game. Subsequently, you can find the tool under this link too:
https://www.farfromhomegames.com/en/playtests
You can also submit bugs and keep up to date on features via our Feature Upvote site -
https://forever-skies.featureupvote.com/
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That's all for now. And a reminder to please fill in the survey once you've played!
🔽CombatT Feedback Survey🔽
https://forms.gle/mTj9K4Hm8wEnLN6G6
This will also be pinned in our discussion board for you to fill in later.
Speak soon!
- Team Far From Home