New beta build! https://wiki.arcengames.com/index.php?title=AI_War_2:Multiplayer_Alpha_And_Beta#Beta_2.733_Arks.2C_Reprogramming.2C_And_FRS

You need to use the current_beta branch on Steam or GOG to play this one. If you have trouble with it, there is a most_recent_stable_beta, now, too.

Right... so I'm still plugging away at the hacking overhaul work and related balance. It's taking longer than expected, but the results are, frankly, pretty glorious.

Last build, golems got the ability to be buffed by you hacking them to give them much more hull durability. This build, arks join in the fun. Some can get buffs to their shields in the same way, while others get firepower buffs. You can really beef out these ships if you want to, now.

On the other hand, competing for your hacking points, you can now "reprogram enemy units." There were previously some one-off "hack ion cannon" and mass driver hacks, but this is a more generalized version of the same thing (capture an enemy unit and bring it to your side). It scales how much it costs by what the unit is and how high a mark it is. You can capture the ion cannons and mass drivers, are well as black hole machines, magnifiers, fortresses, and superfortresses. Or you can sabotage them for less HaP, or you can just fight them.

The FRS structure has had a HUGE revamp in its units. They are all marks 5-6 now from the get-go, and are very powerful just as regular ships; basically the experimental fabricator from the first AI War. These cost far less AIP to take, so are actually viable. Their fleet-wide bonuses are still there, but only work on very small fleets now. It says the size of the fleet for each one, and what units are good to pair with them. If you like to main frigates, a couple of formerly "useless" FRS ships are now a goldmine for a small fleet like that.

Most of the hacks that allow you to get science via odd ways are gone (spire archive aside). Bad balance. More hacks will be added tomorrow!