We’ve done a lot since the last update, and we wanted to save it up because we’ve got a cool new site and the big Google/Improbable announcement is so exciting too.
I’ll try to post more details (and spread them wider) soon, but for now, here’s what to expect when you update Lazarus via Steam and get playing.
New Enemies
Shield Mob: finds an ally and moves to envelop it in a shield. The shield blocks shots from every direction, but not movement.
Barracks Mob: spawns Fighters, and is pretty tough in itself. Currently has no direct attack of its own.
Melee Mob: tries to ram & munch the player. Fairly tough and fast, its attack is very strong.
Territory Warfare
Every AI faction wants to expand its territory
It will build up fleets and move them to capture Territory
Territory is captured over a period of 10 seconds, providing that the capturing force outnumbers the defending force.
Players can of course claim territory for the Player faction, using the same rules!
This warfare is ongoing, constant and persistent, even with no players playing.Factions
3 AI Factions act independently
1 Player faction that you auto-join
Each has a Faction Capital (you can find this with the map)Map
Displays location of Xenotaphs (dock with them to bank your Resources, swap Weapons & buy new Ships)
Displays Territories owned, and Territories yet to be claimed by the game’s Factions
Shows presence & count of Enemy and Player forces in each Territory
Shows route of attacks initiated by AI Factions (dotted arrows)
Shows gravitational forces of the world (generated by Xenotaph placement) which affect the travel of all AsteroidsMissions
The player will always have 3 Active Missions, tracked on the right side of the HUD
The player will be given a new Mission each time the complete an Active oneLazarus Wipe
We plan to make this happen every week, but for now (for testing) it happens once every hour.
When it does, you’re shown a screen of info on the play session.
Clicking through then shows you a placeholder screen.
Clicking through that, the game spawns you in the newly-generated world (check the map to see the difference).
A countdown for the last 15 minutes of each ‘Wipe’ is displayed on the player’s HUD.Fatter Bullets
We’ve made bullets fatter. They’re just better for shooting with now :DKNOWN ISSUES:
Resources sometimes can’t be picked up.
Loot Crates sometimes don’t collect correctly/get added to your inventory.
Loot Crates sometimes don’t open inside the Xenotaph.
If you die whilst capturing a Territory, the capture info (top left of the player HUD) does not update accurately.
Death Markers display upside down.
Some players are unable to connect to the game. We are working on a solution for this.
Some enemies seem to be going to sleep/ becoming inactive. They can still be shot.