Finally we can say that we are getting happy about how the game is looking from a technical standpoint. Deeply buried engine problems that were driving us mad by causing random crashes have been mostly identified and patched up, parts of the network engine have been optimized and are behaving more reliably, and optimizations of the resource loader have given us much more satisfying loading times. Of course there is much left to be fixed and tweaked in the engine, but current situation has allowed us to finally step out of the "this must be fixed NOW" mode and divide our manpower between technical fixes and content generation.
As a result, with this patch we bring you 2 new missions, one legendary (for experienced players only) and one secondary. We are also introducing one bio signature mission featuring a new boss.
Weapons have been tweaked a bit. Arclite damage cap has been removed (should provide a nice buff to hellfire class), and pistol has been given an ammo costly but high damage burst mode.
Among monsters, holers will be seeing greatest changes with this update. They will burrow now, and while they are burrowed will move underground, ignoring all obstacles, damaging everything above them. Everything includes turrets and other items. With these holer changes, different tactics will have to be used to eliminate them efficiently, increasing the importance of the seismic resonator items.
Follower AI has been greatly changed. They will no longer linearly follow a player they have been assigned to, but will have their own move patterns, avoiding monsters and explosives, while still keeping in a certain radius around their assigned player. They can still be assigned, unassigned and ordered to hold position, but will also automatically follow a player that comes near them when they are discovered. This new AI system will require further tweaks, but we are very happy about how this change has impacted gameplay so far.
Ironward team wishes you happy hunting!
Full changelog:
MISSIONS
- added 2 new missions(1 legendary and 1 secondary)
- added 1 more bio-signature mission with new boss
- extended duration for hatchling missoin by 2 minutes
WEAPONS
- removed Arclite damage cap
- pistol has Auto and Burst mode now
GAMEPLAY
- huge overhaul to holers and their functionality
- burrowing cratures will no longer be targeted by autoaim
- increased PDA on terra 4 reading time from 1 to 7 seconds
- players who disconnect will drop all items now
- recon flare gun working again
- increased nest HP from ALL nest missions from 400 to 1000
- amount of rockets spawn increased by 2
- nerfed Achlys a bit, and changed his behaviour
FOLLOWERS
- added additional AI to followers
- followers CAN still be used normally with CTRL + LMB/RMB and ASSIGNED/UNASSIGNED
- if player comes into their range they will automatically start being near player
- if player places explosives they will do their best to move out of the way by
a) following player with sprint
b) moving towards mid section of closest teammembers
- if there is boss near, they will run in opposite direction of the boss
MISC
- "Press Ctrl for more info" will be only displayed above mouse traget instead of all objects on screen
- items can be picked up from distance now(1.5m)