Update #53 lands with an all new Job, new types of Talents, exciting new weapon rules, improved enemy AI and a pile of UI quality of life improvements. It's a big one and there will be big ones to follow! The v2.2.x family of development is churning out some major improvements now that we've cleared the v2.1.x hurdles.
First, a huge thanks to all of our KickStarter backers, Patreons and every captain who has left a review on the game. You are all helping make this possible!
Sniper Job
Sniper is the first new Job released during EA and adds a new level of tactics and build choices to the Rifle-based combatant. Specializing in Stealth, massive Piercing %, and single-shot abilities, the Sniper prefers to take a target out in a single hit from the 4th position. Snipers may live much of their life in Initiative Penalty, so their shots will ring out at a staccato rhythm.
Sniper's also introduce a brand new type of Talent -- the On Initiative Debuff. Once a round when Initiative is rolled, one On Init Buff or Debuff will activate from each team. Snipers bring one of these automatic debuff to the field of battle. More Jobs will gain On Initiative Debuffs down the line, but this is a great start in deepening the decision matrix around what On Init Talents to invest in!
Weapon Limitations
Improving the tactics of Rifle-based combat also requires additional rules for the major weapon variations -- Sniper Rifles and Snubbers. New position limitations have been added for both, preventing the sniper from firing from up close and the snubber from firing from far away. In short -- regardless of your Talents a Snubber can never fire from the 4th position and a Sniper Rifle can never fire from the first position, unless that crew member is the last surviving crew. While this will have little impact on most builds, it helps reinforce the position from which theses weapons are best used.
UI Improvements
Now that we've reached the v2.2.x family, we have a long list of UI improvements that we are coming back around to finishing. We've added more details to the Talent detail area describing its specific rules, about how crew and ship combat buffs and debuffs work, and any weapon limitations impact on the Talent's abilities.
We've also been fixing issues with mousewheel scrolling not working as expected. We've started this process with the System Atlas, Contacts, Missions, Factions and Rumors list.
In prep for customized keybindings, we've been adding more and fixing issues with them.
Any filter that involves Stars is now using OR logic, allow you to see both the red and yellow starred contacts quickly.
v2.2.31 - 4/15/2018
- Added new specialist Job: Sniper! Backline, take cover and one-shot!
- 10 new Talents, many new combinations for Rifle Skilled combatants, new Stealth Talents
- New Talent Type "On Initiative Debuff" drops a debuff on the enemy at start of turn
- Most "On Init" Talents adjusted to have 3 Turn Duration to their Buffs/Debuffs
- Snipers can be recruited from Contacts: Erik Faen, Weapons Smuggler, Court Assassin
- New Contact Trait "Ruthless" spurns all peaceful missions and hires out Snipers
- New limitation on Sniper Rifle Weapons -- cannot be fired from the front rank unless last crew alive
- New limitation on Snubber Weapons -- cannot be fired from the 4th rank ever
- Improved enemy crew combat AI's thinking about changing positions
- Fixed issue with enemy crew combat AI cheating when it comes to moving Pinned
- Star filters for Contacts, Crew List and Atlas all function on an "OR" rule
- Added useful details to Talent leveling screen about each Talent type
- Added personal objective in regards to Valencia being aboard your ship
- Fixed Mass inconsistencies for Medium sized Torpedoes and Plasma Cannons
- Fixed scrolling issues with screens with multiple panels, weapon/armor/gear screens
- Fixed crashes in "Undisclosed Location" mission
- Skip Off the Void no longer grants an XP to crew upon use
- Escape key closes game menu