I'll start this update out by saying, most of the content in this one is in Sector 2 so is not available in the demo yet.
Having said that, we're always looking for testers on our Discord. So if you've completed the demo and like to discuss ideas and improvements come join us. You might be able to help out!
Pantheon Faction
Part of Sector 2 is now occupied by a new Conclave faction called the Pantheon. They have some strange ideas about democracy and a strong dislike for military dictatorships... like you!
They have a full set of unique ship designs and you can unlock the alternate designs for use yourself.
Shadow Redesign
Having the Shadow faction of Skeran in Sector 2 just be essentially a hue shift on the regular Skeran felt a little disappointing. Now they have their own unique ship designs and weapons.
Sector Generation
The procedural generation is now unique for each sector. This should give each a distinct and unique feel. Sector 1 has been made more chaotic with longer paths and more dead-ends (which are now guaranteed to have caches in them). Sector 2 has been engineered by the Phantoms over their lengthy time in the galaxy and has a more artificially constructed layout.
Sector 1 - Chaotic
Sector 2 - Engineered
Assembler Crafting
Now when you upgrade an item in the Assembler to a higher rarity you'll get additional random modifiers added for free, rather than empty new slots. This should make the experience slightly more satisfying during the early game.
New Trailer
We have a new trailer with some updated footage. It also has some new music that'll also greet you in the main menu of the game now!
Lots of additional changes are listed below. Echo is now hanging out in Sector 2 and up to her usual suspicious activity and the story-line is now fully in for that Sector.
A new roadmap is being designed before the next update but I'm hoping to get Sector 3 content in and balanced as soon as possible. Enjoy!
Patch Notes
New Features / Content
- Pantheon enemies are now present in Sector 2 with missions, achievements, etc.
- Shadow faction in Sector 2 now has its own unique ship designs.
- Alternate Pantheon design added for Conclave ship parts.
- Junkers now use new Static Shields, Molecular shields moved to Pantheon in Sector 2.
- New weapon Impact Pulse added for use by Pantheon ships.
- Sector 1 generation completely rewritten to create a more chaotic layout.
- Sector 2 is now visually distinct from Sector 1 with an engineered layout.
- Species-XI are now present in Sector 2 and have infected a few Pantheon / Phantom ships.
- Echo now joins the player in Sector 2, doing her usual mysterious things.
- Our new title theme music now plays on the main menu.
Balance Changes
- Increasing item rarity now adds new modifiers to an item without replacing any that exist.
- Increase rarity now unlocks before replacing modifiers due to being easier to understand.
- Reduced average number of encounters per sector from 185 down to 155.
- Total number of caches per sector halved but contents doubled.
- Encounters in dead ends are now guaranteed to contain a cache.
- Weapons with a damage type now increase debuff chance +1% every 4 levels.
- Kinetic weapons now increase their critical chance +1% every 5 levels.
- Astralis where you rescue the Assembler now only ever has common rewards.
- Reduced amount of radioactive encounters in Sector 1.
- Reduced amount of shadow encounters in Sector 2.
- Hull leech weapons now increase their leech percentage +1% every 4 levels.
- Reduced maximum debuff chance from modifiers from 50% down to 25%.
- Reduced shield and hull of Skeran Hunter elite by 40%.
- Reduced max speed bonus from radiation thrusters by 1.
- Reduced damage and thruster speed slightly for enraged Hodr and Baldur bosses.
- Radioactive encounters in Sector 1 now contain more enemy variety.
- Reduced buy price of large consumables from 1,000c down to 800c.
- Improved expansion rate of all pulse weapons.
- Blast Wave Pulse no longer increases debuff chance with level.
- Electromagnetic Pulse no longer increases debuff chance with level.
Quality of Life / Accessibility
- Alternate designs section in ship design now expands to fill available space.
- Changed some faction colors to better match their ship designs.
- Increased brightness of corrosive debris in navigation display.
- Minibars under enemy ships no longer display for heat build-up alone.
- Lights from glowing ship parts (like cockpits) now reduce intensity when stacked.
- Moved 'run in background' setting out of the graphics section and into advanced.
- Total played time is now tracked in real-time and will continue to increase when in panels.
- Added unique sound effects when dialog opens and closes.
- Added some additional dialog from Engineer Relios in Sector 2.
- Drones in formation now stick closer and further forward so their range is more effective.
- Drones in roaming mode now stick closer to their parent when not in combat.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed null pointer in assembler panel when selecting increase level / rarity.
- Fixed incorrect slot display when selecting empty slots.
- Empty slots will no longer incorrectly appear in slot selection when modifying equipment.
- Upgrade levels are now clamped to valid ranges on player load in case of any past errors.
- Fixed item version data wrapping on item images.
- Fixed some null pointers relating to destroyed game objects.
- Neutral faction no longer shows in sandbox ship designer.
- Fixed bug where multiple empty modifier slots could be selected when replacing modifiers.
- Upgrading the rarity of an equipped item will now correctly update its display.
- Fixed error when pooled objects are destroyed during scene loading.
- Aiming enemies that are disabled by electric weapons will now cancel their aim.
- Orchid encounters will no longer clone non-elite enemies.
- Matriarch encounters will no longer count non-elite enemies towards HUD display.
- Low pass filter on music no longer engages on main menu when opening settings panel.
- Fixed null pointer when running 'editor' console command away from the main menu.
- Species-XI ships destroyed by Echo during cutscene no longer drop loot.
- Hyperdrive jump shader now renders correctly.
- Player can now always hyperdrive jump to wherever the fleet is located.
- Fixed bug where bosses would sometimes not target the player if out of range.
- Fixed bug where enemies with displacement could boost the same frame they're destroyed.