This patch brings Modifications into the game. A new game feature, intended to give the player a long-term goal, as well as providing some interesting choices when it comes to tweaking the aircraft!
What is a modification?
Modifications are small buffs that you can slot into the planes. They are similar to Traits, in the sense that you equip them from the menu (not during a match). However, the effects only provide the buff to the aircraft in which it's equipped.
Cool, how many can I have? A million?
Each aircraft has four modification slots. Gun, Tech, Airframe and Engine. In other words, if you equip a modification that increase gun ammo, you can't also equip one that increases gun damage on that same plane.
And how do I get them?
Modifications are unlocked by playing matches against other players. The same way you collect wings really. You'll only get modifications for the planes that you have in your decks (and only for the side you're playing, i.e NATO or PACT). Winning the match increases your chances of unlocking one (currently you'll always get one if you win).
Uhm, I'd have a ton of these after a couple of matches...
Yes, but modifications that you don't want can be turned into Scrap in the new Scrapyard (in the Hangar). In the Workshop You can also spend this Scrap along with old modifications to craft new, better ones.
Wait, won't this be unfair to newer players?
Good question! This was a big design concern. I don't want to go down the road where a player who has played for a long time has an unfair advantage over a beginner. At the same time, I want to give players a sense of long-term progression. In a way, this is an almost impossible equation.
The way I have approached it, is that it should go really fast to collect a base set of modifications for the aircraft you primarily use. This first upgrade tier will bring a small but significant performance boost to the airplane. Later, as you turn your less powerful modifications into better ones, the differance will be much more subtle, with just a few percent total increase. So the differance between the lowest tier modification and the highest, won't be that important.
For comparison, even the most powerful version of a gun damage upgrade, only gives a small fraction of the increase the High-Explosive Bullets upgrade gives.
Think of it as small tweaks, rather than game changers.
Most importantly, player skill and team tactics should always over-shadow all stats, numbers and what not. I believe it still does, but if it doesn't, let me know. Because this is priority number one!
Are they carefully balanced?
No, honestly I haven't spent that much time on modification balance yet. I have tried to be quite conservative, so things don't get completely crazy. Please give me feedback in Discord, so we get these numbers where they should be! :)
Also, since this is a major patch, with lots of technical changes, chances are one or two bugs might have sneaked in. Let me know if you experience anything weird!
You done soon? Can we fly yet?
Yes! Let's fly! Hope you'll enjoy this update! See you in the skies!
If you haven't already, please join us on Discord!
Best regards
//Bankler
Patch notes
1.3.0