^ Introducing Tactical Zoom Mode ^
Get further into the game with the push of a button!
See everything at twice its previous size.
Press [Backspace] , roll your mouse-wheel , or click the new magnifying-glass icon.
And the "map legend" turns into a mini-map, so you'll always know where you are:
(If you're still wondering, that was the secret feature!)
Here's what else you can expect in 1.6D
Watch your away team die in real time!
No more cheating the system :D
When the landing party's health drops below 40%, someone dies immediately. But if the away team survives that encounter, they can rest for a few turns and heal back to their (now lower) full HP.
Field medic, ship's surgeon, self sealing suits, and other previous means of healing have been adapted to work with this new method.
And not only that, but there is also a quick melee attack animation, showing which monster is hitting you (or which one you're striking). It's a great piece of simple visual feedback that players have enjoyed in the beta.
Empty Slot Listing
Now, when your ship can have an extra weapon or shield, or if you haven't fully equipped your away team, you'll get visual feedback about it. It says "Empty Slot", and tells you what should go there.
It even works for officers:
Terrain Affects Movement Speed
Makes sense...
This is mostly important in tactical situations, because speed is a measure of how long your actions take, versus that of other beings in the world. If you're "slower", then another entity might get to make an extra move. If you're particularly fast, you might get to hit twice for every time a certain big slow creature hits you.
Walking on water and mountains (which require special skills or equipment) incur the biggest speed penalties. You can find this information by tool-tipping or using the Peer/Look command. If it doesn't list an affect on speed, then there isn't one.
Hypno-Flowers
There's a new life-form out there, and all it wants is to be admired.
Your crew has no defense against it: They just can't help stopping to stare at the wonderful pulsing colors...
Of course the other creatures on the planet just don't appreciate beauty like you do, and they have no trouble ignoring the flowers and taking a bite out of your away team.
Melee weapons have damage types
From now on, all melee weapons you find, buy, or craft will use the game's damage types. Knives do piercing, swords do slashing, hammers do crushing, and eviscerators do hybrid damage, which is very hard to resist. Your old weapons won't obey these rules, but you'll find something better ;)
More!
You can look through the other news items from the recent beta to see what other changes have been made...or you can just try it for yourself!