Greetings, Platform Managers!
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the newest update for Drill Core is now available. As you may have seen in our previous company-wide communication, there are various new features now available in Drill Core which we believe will improve productivity for all employees. You can read more about these updates below, skip straight to the end of this post for the full patch notes, or simply update the game in your Steam library to enjoy them for yourself!
The Dwarf Platform
The HR Department is pleased to share that Drill Core Inc. has now entered into a strategic partnership with the Dwarves of planet Explosia. This partnership has allowed us to incorporate a whole new platform type, which can be unlocked with a new permanent upgrade, and will introduce the Dwarves into your workforce.
Of course, Dwarves will behave slightly differently to your existing workers; bomber miners spawned in through the Dwarf Platform will utilize TNT to obliterate target mining zones, and Dwarven Guards will operate at night using heavy-duty jetpacks to rise from the mines and defend the platform.
Aside from the differences in your workforce, you’ll also notice that the new Dwarf Platform will bring with it two new buildings to help you manage your employees, as well as some unique upgrades.
Icewarden Boss
Frost Planets now have a unique boss which will pose its own challenges to your employees - the Icewarden. This frosty foe has powerful shields and distinct attacks, so you’ll want to prepare your turrets with this in mind.
Planet Conditions
Each planet now has its own unique conditions which will alter how you manage your workers whilst drilling. With 33 unique conditions now added, they’ll have a range of impacts on your mining operations and will vary each time you begin a new contract - we think you’ll be up to the challenge, though, Platform Managers.
Platform Bonuses
There are now 28 individual platform bonuses for you to utilize, which can have a range of impact on both your workers and your mining operations themselves. You’ll want to optimize these bonuses to make the most of them each time you start a contract - this is Platform Management, after all!
New Technology Type
You’ll notice a new technology type that is now available to unlock whilst undertaking your contracts: Boost Technology. This new type will offer you 30 unique bonus technologies to discover as you drill.
Quality of Life Updates
Of course, we had to include some quality of life features in this update; you’ll notice improved pathfinding AI for your workers, controller support (this is still in beta), new achievements for you to unlock, and lots of bugfixes to make for the most streamlined experience possible.
This is far from everything that’s included in the update, so head to the full changelog below if you’d like to find out more, or simply update Drill Core in your Steam Library to try them out for yourself!
The Board of Directors would also like to remind you of some of the additions that have been made in previous updates to Drill Core: the introduction of the Steam Cloud saving system, windowed mode, and saving during a Contract have all been included in recent patches since Early Access release.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to keep up with all things Drill Core, or come over to our Discord to discuss the game!
Best regards,
Drill Core Inc. R'n'D department
Full Changelog:
Features:
- The Dwarf platform has been added, which includes:
- New platform
- Permanent upgrade that opens the platform
- 10 upgrades of Dwarf platform
- New workers
- New orders system for bomber miners
- New laboratory upgrades for bomber miners
- New building (Dwarves barrack)
- New building (Ore Extractor Factory)
- Icewarden boss for Frost planets has been added.
- The conditions of the planets have been added (33 unique conditions).
- New type of technology (30 unique bonus technologies) has been added.
- Platform' bonuses are unlockable now.
- 28 unique platform bonuses has been added.
- Unique upgrades for platforms has been added (The Lucky Number and Efficient Distribution).
- The logic of bypassing places where a fire/ice jet from the block can hit has been added to all workers.
- Added a "Manual" button with a link to the game wiki.
- Added hints when hovering over buildings and turrets. Hints include the name, type, and speed of work(%).
- Gamepad support.
- Added the ability to change key mapping.
- New icon for workers who can't find a way to the platform has been added.
- Changing the main building button added.
- When hovering at the core HP, the percentage is now also written.
- The name of the turret is now written in the turret upgrade window.
Balance:
- The minigun has been redesigned. Now it overheats.
- Fury turret damage increased from 5 to 7.
- Saw drone damage increased from 9 to 12.
Bug fixes:
- Fixed a bug when some miners could ignore retreat.