This update focuses on Performance, Journal and Harvesting changes.
1. General Game Improvements
- Reduced client memory usage
- Optimized performance
2. Graphical Improvements
- Added a shader to give the game world a dirtier look
3. Harvesting Improvements
- Added a minimum tool quality requirement for harvestables
All harvestables now require a tool of a certain quality to be used, with the required quality clearly shown. The necessary tool quality increases as players travel further from Junction. For example, in Junction, players can harvest with poor-quality tools, while harvesting in the outer rings requires a higher-quality tool. Higher-quality tools can still be used to harvest resources with lower quality requirements
- Added harvesting bonus for improvised weapons used as tools
Improvised weapons used as tools now come with a randomly rolled bonus that enhances harvesting (e.g., 25% faster harvesting). These bonuses have a limited number of charges, and once the charges are used up, the tool loses its bonus but remains usable. Bonuses cannot be restored.
This change only applies to newly looted tools; tools currently owned are unaffected
- Added “Hatchet” and “Skinning Knife” as improvised weapons and tools for Woodworking and Hunting professions
These are improvised weapons and therefore possess the previously mentioned bonus for the Woodworking and Hunting profession skill trees.
- Adjusted profession skill tree progression
Firstly, the overall progression of the profession skill trees has been adjusted so that all professions should now take roughly the same amount of time to level up compared to each other
Secondly, the progression of the initial levels is now faster, and harvesting in higher rings grants more skill XP. The higher the ring a player reaches, the greater the amount of skill XP they will receive.
- Updated profession passive skills: Rearranged and renamed skills and added another functionality to a skill
The maintenance skill in each skill tree has been moved from the beginner tier to the advanced tier and now includes the “Chance to retain a tool bonus charge”
Additionally, the “Master” and “Faster” skills have been swapped: there is now only one skill that increases harvesting speed (“Faster”), while two skills now increase the chance for additional loot (formerly “Master”, now called “Efficient”)
“Efficient 1” is part of the beginner tier and provides a 3% increase per skill point, while “Efficient 2” (Proficient tier) and “Faster” (Beginner tier) offer a 5% increase per skill point
- Added keyword descriptions to harvesting passive skills
Players can press ctrl for more information
4. Additional New Features
- Added introductory questline “Humble Beginnings” for new characters
Existing accounts must either complete the “Back on your feet” quest or skip the starter quest to access the bunker
- Added ingame journal
This journal provides information about various aspects of the game, covering everything from controls to weapons and the skill system and more
- Added immediately adding cash to family’s cash balance instead of gaining the cash item
5. Faction Changes
- Added faction-neutral and hostile Raider NPCs across Ashwater
- The Dustmen and Hauler factions are removed
- The Cult of the Atom faction has been temporarily removed
- Added two new factions to the game: The Heritage Society and The Thatcher Cooperative
- Added several NPCs to both new factions
- Added new introductory quests and mechanics for both new factions
- Added new questline “The Weight of Tradition” (The Heritage Society)
- Added new questline “Operation: Silent Harvest” (The Thatcher Cooperative)
- Added faction-related harvestables and quest items
- Added two new bunker entrances for testing around those factions
- Players must be at least neutral with the faction to enter the faction’s bunker
- Added new props and details around new faction strongholds
- Added new area to Beckwood for faction war between both new factions
- Added new factions to guild quest pool
6. Item Changes
- Added new model to wheat harvestable
- Renamed “Short Axe” to “Makeshift Axe”, “Reinforced Short Axe” to “Reinforced Makeshift Axe”, “Wooden Cross” to “Wooden Stake”, “.410 bore” to “8 Gauge”, and “360 EL” to “Model 1883”
- Renamed “Simple Boots” to “Tactical Boots”, “Simple Hoodie” to “Hoodie”, “Simple Gloves” to “Half Gloves”, and “Simple Pants” to “Jeans”
The renamed items will be removed from both the inventory and the bunker due to the renaming
- Updated all weapon, tool, and ammo icons
- Removed “Box Cutter”, “Charlie’s Wrench”, “Fishmaster Deluxe”, “Improved Wrench”, “Proper Fishing Rod”, “Reputable Fishing Rod”, “Shiv”, “Spade”, “Wrecking Bar”, and “Wrench Knife”
- Removed Milk Carton Junk item
- Removed the tool functionality from some improvised weapons
7. Map Changes
- Updated Park for a better camera view while walking
- Updated Farmland area by removing some undead and adding new NPCs (The Thatcher Cooperative – see point Factions), props and new Amber Farms stronghold
8. Further Changes
- Added QuestLog Hotkey “L”
- The former graphic setting “viewing distance” is now called “geometry rendering”
- Fixed effect on skill “All Armored Up” not being removed when shield is fully depleted
- Fixed NPCs not respawning at night after being killed
9. Balancing - Items
- Reduced repair costs for common and higher-quality items
- Crafting bandages now also costs a few chemicals now
- Increased all ammo stack sizes by 25%
- Reduced price for ammo 7.62 NATO and 7.62 R
- Increased accuracy and reduced reload duration, recoil and movement spread on all SMGs
- Reduced reload duration and recoil on all assault rifles
- Increased range of small and medium sized melee weapons
10. Balancing - Other Adjustments
- Adjusted starting reputation and reputation gained from faction war mechanics and quests
- Reduced the amount of shots needed with the starting pistol to kill R1 zombies around Junction
- Refined some guild quests (timers, kills needed, influence and difficulty)
- Removed some zombies around the chapel area in Waterfront to prevent conversations with Guardian Kai being disturbed there