The Infrastructure Update
With the release of Alpha 1.4.0 comes a brand new networking system for The Wall along with other changes to the general flow of the game's infrastructure.
Networking Overhaul
The Switch from UNet to Mirror
The long-requested reconnect feature demanded a complete overhaul of all networking functionality in The Wall. Because Unity is deprecating UNet I decided to bite the bullet and switch the entire project over to Mirror, using the Telepathy network transport layer. Mirror is both faster and more reliable than UNet so matches should be more stable and feel more responsive.
Reconnecting to Matches
The Most Important Button Ever Made
This feature is the most intense feature I have worked on in the entire life of the project. Along with stripping all scripts of the old UNet systems, all server and client logic had to be reconfigured for reconnecting to matches.
New Skills System
Tactical and Intuitive
Skills themselves are not being redone (though they do need some balancing, looking at you "Grit"), but rather the way they are selected and brought into matches. As opposed to loading them into your hotbar before matches, you can now select up to nine to bring into match lobbies. During the planning phase in the pre-game lobby, you can now coordinate with your teammates to narrow down your selection of skills to bring into the actual match.
Improved Custom Matches
Quickly Organize Matches
Custom matchmaking has received some love, with the new match browser being introduced and the ability for match hosts to set their lobbies as public or private.