It's been over a month since the last update, because I was stuffing so much into this one patch! Here's the TLDR:
- Omnipipes! These are a very expensive but powerful end-game transportation option that lets you move any item through a pipe. They can also be researched to have infinite speed upgrades.
- You can now build pipes in 3D space! (including Omnipipes.) So you can attach pipes directly to buildings,and build them vertically! The 3D pipes can join up with the underground 2D layer at any point on the terrain using Connectors.
- Pipes can now cross over each other in the 2D layer
- Many improvements to the Packager so it works better when handling multiple items
- Buildings will now round-robin output between all available output paths
- Lots more high-priority bug fixes & improvements
PLEASE NOTE
One important change is the 2D connectors now connect through the terrain. Previously they connected 'from above' (very mysteriously). So if you have a lot of elevated buildings with mana connectors, you will have to re-wire those using 3D pipes - for example, by placing a Mana Connector on the terrain, then dragging a pipe from the connector to your building.
Here's the full patch notes:
CHANGES TO PIPES:
- Added Omnipipes - high-end path structure that can transport any item above or below ground
- Added OmniConnectors - used to input and output items from buidlings into Omnipipes
- Added Omnipipe unlock research, and Omnipipe speed infinite research
- Omnipipes, Mana Pipes, and Steam Pipes can be built above-ground in 3D space
- The 2D pipe layer now ONLY connects to buildings at terrain layer, not to the highest building
- OmniConnectors and ManaConnectors can connect to each other between the 2D layer and positions on terrain
- Dragging a pipe from a building to another building will now automatically add correct connectors
- Mana Transmitters and Mana Receivers now work with plain Mana Connectors
- Pipes on 2D layers can now cross over without intersecting. To create an intersection, end the path drag on the other pipe.
MISC IMPROVEMENTS:
- Item slots show as grids if 4 or more of that slot type
- Buildings will cycle outputs between all available paths (including grabbers, belts, chutes, and omnipipes)
- Alternate structure toggle added to switch between pillars & arches (default key: TAB)
- Transmitted Mana and Elemental crystals now have a new icon to differentiate from terrestrial crystals
- Packager forces item uniqueness in slots so it doesn't get full of item A and be unable to process item B
- Packager unpacked item capacity increased to 4 slots of 8 items each
- Packager will alternate items to pack
- Packager assigns Input and Output attributes to its inventory (based on active recipe) for more consistent behavior
- Auto-path tool will use the last existing support structure when automatically adding new support structures to path
- Directional paths (belts, omnipipes) can deposit into a building's default output node
- Removed particle FX on mana pipe items
- Agent Triggers and Inventory Sensors can be enabled or disabled
- Logic Signal gates can now be opened / closed from menu
- Bottom toolbar shows selection state for active menus / tools
- Can directly access & edit Number Blocks value
- Added icons to represent Agent Trigger Type (Enter or Exit)
- Improved visibility of many Computational blocks, especially on 2D layer
BUG FIXES:
- Fixed being unable to delete connectors if not on a pipe
- Fixed bug where computational blocks on the Mana Grid layer would only work if the Mana layer was active
- Inventory sensors will correctly identify filtered items in packages
- Fixed packager allowing input items to be grabbed as output when they weren't being actively processed
- Fixed belt items getting stuck if belt direction was reversed
- Fixed some cases where slot uniqueness was overridden
- Fixed schools spending an extra set of resources when research completed
- Fixed Grabber trying to output invalid items onto Chutes
- Fixed overhead path blocking not being calculated for terrain-level paths
- Fixed path planner tool sometimes displaying wrong build count
- Selecting a new item slot, while the item filter panel is open, will correctly update UI
- Deleting rails no longer deletes minecarts
- Fixed bug that was resetting historical star counts
- Fixed fruit/filter/knowledge slot filters on storage slots converting matching physical items into the filter type
- Fixed infinite research processing without sufficient stars
BALANCE CHANGES:
- Necklace cost of 4 polished stones reduced to 2 polished stones
- Removed Infinite Belt Speed research (so that Omnipipes have late-game priority)
- Packager no longer allows selecting multilpe recipes
- Increased capacity for Fuel slots from 20 to 40
- Grabbers won't pull items onto chutes if there is no chute inlet facing the building
- Removed non-functional 'Add Water' tool from Creative mode
- Omnitemple height is now 4 grid units like other buildings
Next up I'll be adding the long-awaited Fishery building! Then I'll start working on some Steam Workshop goodies.
As always thanks for playing and let me know what you think!