Author Topic: AI War Beta 5.061-5.063 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!  (Read 18070 times)

Offline keith.lamothe

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AI War Beta 5.061-5.063 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« on: August 15, 2012, 05:24:42 pm »
(Crossposted from this blog post)

This one adds the first two bonus ship types of the Ancient Shadows expansion: the Zenith Medic Frigate (from one of RCIX's ideas) and the Tackle Drone Launcher (we invented that pain ourselves).  Both boldly fill roles where no fleet ship has filled before.  Particularly the "push the enemy's ships around like a jerk" role.

This update also adds a third nebula scenario, another step towards the kind of variety we want for champion "offroad" gameplay.  This scenario introduces a second Neinzul splinter faction, but it takes a bit of a backseat to the player in this scenario.  5 more champion hull types have been added, including the next size-step  up from what's been available previously.  There's also 4 new scenario-unlocked module lines for champions available, all of them at least a bit off the wall.

Oh, beating the new scenario can also unlock the Neinzul version of the Modular Fortress.  It's pretty similar to the human one right now, but as fortress-versions of some of the champion modules get implemented there'll be more distinction.  There's already a pretty big one: the neinzul fort doesn't have multi-repair, but it does have the MkI Cloaker Starship's ability (no, it doesn't cloak turrets, turrets are immune to cloaking ;) ).

Several bugfixes and a few balance changes round out the update.  Notably, MkV Younglings no longer self-attrition, making their fabricators far more useful.

Update: 5.062 hotfix is out include the language file updates I accidentally omitted from 5.061, sorry about that!

Update: 5.063 hotfix is out because tackle drones were doing friendly-fire damage with their explosions.  A few other fixes in there too :)

Enjoy!

This is a standard update that you can download through the  in-game updater itself, if you already have 4.000 or later. When you launch the game, you'll see the notice of the update having been found  if you're connected to the Internet at the time.  If you don't have 4.000 or later, you can download that here.
« Last Edit: August 16, 2012, 11:54:39 am by keith.lamothe »
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Offline doctorfrog

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2012, 05:29:23 pm »
New units! New backwoods area for my enraged space redneck unit to tromp around in!

Offline Lancefighter

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2012, 05:34:22 pm »
odd to see you doing all this stuff (posting updates, youre the only one whos edited that wiki page in a long time..)

I suppose Chris is busy doing all the srs bsns work on shattered haven? (any hints? >_> )
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Offline TechSY730

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2012, 05:35:21 pm »
Looks awesome. One thing though

Several bugfixes and a few balance changes round out the update.  Notably, MkV Younglings no longer self-attrition, making their fabricators far more useful.


I'm not sure I ever posted this idea, but what about making MK. V younglings self-attrition only when not in stand-down mode on enemy planets? That seems like it would still make them fit youngling "lore", but keep Mk. V fabricator younglings useful.

Thanks to this change though, are the Mk. V versions now eligible to be spawned as AI reinforcements or in exo-waves (the second one only if the self-attrition at change remains), even if the lower marks do not?

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2012, 05:36:14 pm »
odd to see you doing all this stuff (posting updates, youre the only one whos edited that wiki page in a long time..)

I suppose Chris is busy doing all the srs bsns work on shattered haven? (any hints? >_> )
Yea, Chris did a lot of the art for AS, but is now focusing on Shattered Haven :)
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Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2012, 05:37:12 pm »
Thanks to this change though, are the Mk. V versions now eligible to be spawned as AI reinforcements or in exo-waves (the second one only if the self-attrition at change remains), even if the lower marks do not?
No, they're still omitted from that (iirc), this is basically just a buff to those specific fabs as there's rather few other ways that core younglings can get spawned.
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Offline Lancefighter

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2012, 05:41:44 pm »
is that a no to hints :(
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Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2012, 05:49:25 pm »
is that a no to hints :(
Oh, sorry, forgot to reply to that part.  I wouldn't like it if Chris gave hints on the stuff I was doing without asking, so I won't do it to him either ;)
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Offline Eternaly_Lost

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2012, 05:56:14 pm »
Bug found (see screenshot).

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2012, 06:06:03 pm »
Update: 5.062 hotfix is out include the language file updates I accidentally omitted from 5.061, sorry about that!
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Offline Cinth

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061-5.062 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2012, 07:21:25 pm »
Wow. If you were looking to create a sense of urgency with the new encounter, bravo. Not an encounter I want to see first  ;)
Quote from: keith.lamothe
Opened your save. My computer wept. Switched to the ST planet and ship icons filled my screen, so I zoomed out. Game told me that it _was_ totally zoomed out. You could seriously walk from one end of the inner grav well to the other without getting your feet cold.

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061-5.062 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2012, 07:26:30 pm »
Wow. If you were looking to create a sense of urgency with the new encounter, bravo. Not an encounter I want to see first  ;)
Glad you like it :)  Yea, I was able to do pretty well with a fresh level 1 champion (popped 4 of the spawner-things all at one go towards the middle and made it through the end with 26% health left on the base) but I lost a few times too.  If you have a more powerful champion you can be a bit more gutsy about it, but either way doing well tends to involves tactics you may not have discovered during the other scenarios.
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Offline Cinth

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061-5.062 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2012, 07:41:47 pm »
Well, the first run in was without the localizations lol. Took a quick look and was like, hmmmm ok, Kill those. ugh.... yeah swarmed. Then I was like.. I've seen this before. Then it is about finding that balance that you can handle.
Well done IMO.

And a comic moment with the new fort. Cloak and shields heh.
I hide. I see the enemy, FIRE!!!! OH CRAP! They see me, SHIELDS UP!
Sir, the cloak generator is back online.
Shields down Cloak UP!
Fleet ships in the vicinity "What the hell is he doing"

Me at the PC.. LOL X-mas tree.

Reminded me of training... I'm up, they see me, I'm down.
Quote from: keith.lamothe
Opened your save. My computer wept. Switched to the ST planet and ship icons filled my screen, so I zoomed out. Game told me that it _was_ totally zoomed out. You could seriously walk from one end of the inner grav well to the other without getting your feet cold.

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061-5.062 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2012, 09:01:11 pm »
There don't seem to be any more hotfix-provoking reports coming in, and I gotta go; if something comes up it'll probably be morning before I can patch it, but hopefully that won't be necessary :)
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Offline Cinth

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Re: AI War Beta 5.061-5.062 "*Tackled*, Medic!" Released!
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2012, 09:06:07 pm »
There don't seem to be any more hotfix-provoking reports coming in, and I gotta go; if something comes up it'll probably be morning before I can patch it, but hopefully that won't be necessary :)

I haven't noticed anything. Running smoothly  :) TC
Quote from: keith.lamothe
Opened your save. My computer wept. Switched to the ST planet and ship icons filled my screen, so I zoomed out. Game told me that it _was_ totally zoomed out. You could seriously walk from one end of the inner grav well to the other without getting your feet cold.