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Patch Notes - Build 2.1.1210 (15/10/2015)

Hey all,

Below are the main highlights for the latest Block N Load update.

Free Rotation

  • Sarge Stone is being removed from the Free Rotation and replaced with Cogwheel, our stomping heavy metal robot.

Heroes

We saw on the forums that some players thought the “Bloody Bleeding” Hero Perk was a touch on the powerful side. We looked both at the kill rates, and the overall damage that it added, and we have now brought it more in line with the other Hero Perks.

We also noticed that even in newer players hands O.P. ‘Juan’ Shinobi (and to a lesser extent Sweet Science) were getting hit and damage rates higher than other Heroes in similar level of skilled players. Looking at the data we realized that their current swing “arc” was way too generous and players could basically just spam the attack button and even if only an elbow of the enemy was in screen it would “hit”. The reduction of the arc will have absolutely no impact on most players, but the “just attack all the time, don't worry you will hit” aspect is now reduced.

For the specific numbers and information on these changes please see the sections for O.P. and Sweet Science below..

O.P. 'Juan' Shinobi

  • Effects of the “Bloody Bleeding” Hero Perk have been slightly reduced. The DPS inflicted by the Bleed effect when the Perk is equipped has been changed from 4 at level 1, 4.5 at level 2, and 5 at level 3 to 3.5 at level 1, 4 at level 2, and 4.5 at level 3. The Bleed effect remains at 5 seconds in length.
  • The description of the “Bloody Bleeding” Hero Perk has been changed to make the effects clearer.
  • Arc of the Katana has been reduced from 60 degrees to 45 degrees. This means it will no longer hit targets on the edges of the screen.

Sweet Science

  • Arc of the Blitz Stance attack has been reduced from 60 degrees to 45 degrees. This means it will no longer hit targets on the edges of the screen.

Sarge Stone

  • The “Just a Scratch” Hero Perk no longer affects the rate at which Sarge's Passive Ability heals him and now only affects the maximum HP that his Passive Ability can heal up to.

Vander Graaf

  • Out of ammunition audio will no longer trigger when switching to Ball Lightning with a partially filled clip and ammo pool.
    Astarella

    • The Sonic Drill tool no longer points sideways when the Hero is moving sideways with it equipped.

    General Perks

    • The description of the “Dig that Health” Defensive Perk has been changed to better explain the effects.
    • The description of the “Dig that Ammo” Offensive Perk has been changed to better explain the effects.
    • The “Greedy” Defensive Perk has had the amount of extra bricks earned from 12% at level 2 and 15% at level 3 to 15% at level 2 and 20% at level 3. The longer build times have also been changed from 12% at level 2 and 15% at level 3 to 15% at level 2 and 20% at level 3.
    • The “Killer Bricks” Defensive Perk has had the extra bricks for killing a Hero changed from 25% at level 2 and 30% at level 3 to 30% at level 2 and 40% at level 3. The longer build times have also been changed from 12% at level 2 and 15% at level 3 to 15% at level 2 and 20% at level 3.
    • The name of the “Quick Fingers” Offensive Perk is now correctly capitalized.

    Menus

    Play

    • A "First Win of the Day" bonus has been added. For the first match you win each day you will receive 100 extra Gold and, if you are in Bronze League or above, double the amount of League Points.
    • The claxon sound effect when a match is found has been re-added to the pop-up for joining a match through short handed games.

    Profile

    • The last Hero in the "Your Heroes" tab is no longer partially hidden behind the “Buy More Heroes” button.
    • When viewing a level 0 Hero in the “Your Heroes” tab the XP to reach level 1 is now correctly displayed.
    • The "Blocks Built" section should now correctly update.
    • Matches which were joined using the “Join Shorthanded Games” backfilling system should now be displayed as a neutral result in the “Match History” tab.

    Shop

    • Prices for the Featured Hero are now displayed in the correct order.
    • Hero Perks can now be viewed even if you do not own the Hero for them.
    • The icon for Gold is now correctly greyed out on items when you do not have enough Gold for.
    • The next level of a Perk becomes visible automatically when the previous level of it has been purchased.
    • Clicking on a second weapon or ability in the "About" section of a Hero's information will now correctly de-select the first one that had been selected.
    • When viewing skins for Heroes the button to purchase the Hero themselves will no longer be present under the preview image. Heroes will only be available to purchase from the “Heroes” tab of the shop.

    Custom Game

    • The menu for joining Custom Games has been rebuilt so that the last game in the list cannot become obscured behind the buttons.
    • Game names can no longer have their size or colour changed.
    • The preview of the Custom Game settings such as build time and respawn time now correctly updates for players browsing the list of games.
    • The arrow buttons to change a map are no longer visible to players browsing the list of matches.
    • The "Start Game" button no longer becomes hidden behind your player level if you have previously visited the Shop.
    • An asterisk (*) is displayed after the name of a game which has already been started.
    • The join game button is replaced with one stating the game has already been started if the match cannot be joined.

    Friends List

    • Opening the Friends list when you have a large number of Block N Load or Steam friends no longer causes a significant pause.
    • When removing a Block N Load friend from your friends list the confirmation message no longer stays open after confirming you wish to remove the friend.
    • Friends who are online in Steam but not currently playing Block N Load should now be able to be invited to play again.

    Messaging

    • The correct reward text should now be displayed on the end of game fanfare when you reach Gold League.
    • The message displayed on the end of match fanfare when a player has completed the match after joining it to fill in for a player that dropped out no longer stretches over the edges of the screen.
    • Messaging on the end of match fanfare for when a challenge is completed should no longer overlap the edge of the screen in any language.

    Results Screen

    • Players are no longer incorrectly marked as offline when they leave the results screen at the end of a match.
    • The number of blocks built and destroyed are now displayed on the end of match results screen.

    HUD

    • Your own ping (latency) will now be displayed on the scoreboard if you activate it up during a match.
    • Icons for your Hero’s current health and ammunition have been updated.
    • The Hero tips displayed when playing with a low level Hero can now be seen when waiting to respawn as well.

    League

    • Players no longer gain League Points for losing a match whilst in Bronze League.
    • Players who reach Pro League should now have this correctly displayed on their player card.

    You can read the full patch notes here