In preparation for the next upcoming playtest, our new Pre-Alpha patch includes content updates, graphics and technical improvements, as well as several bug fixes.
1. Content Changes
- The Badge system has been updated.
- Developer Comments: After the recent progression changes we received a lot of valuable feedback from our internal test team as well as our permanent testing community. Many felt that they were too limited on where to spend earned badges with the new system – for example they received a “Skill Tree Level 20” badge while they actually needed a lower level one – that could lead to some frustration while playing. So after some internal brainstorming and discussions we decided to make the following adjustments to the badge system that will hopefully address those concerns and give players even more freedom on where to spend their newly earned badges:
- Removed the current Badge system where each earned badge could only be used for a specific skill tree level cap.
- From now on, characters still earn one new badge for each new character level (starting from level 10). These new “normal” badges have no specific skill tree level cap and can be used to increase any non-ultimate skill tree’s max level by 5.
- At character levels 45, 55, 65, 75, and 85, characters receive an “ultimate” badge, which can increase a skill tree level from 45 to 50, thereby unlocking ultimate skills.
- Developer Comments: After the recent progression changes we received a lot of valuable feedback from our internal test team as well as our permanent testing community. Many felt that they were too limited on where to spend earned badges with the new system – for example they received a “Skill Tree Level 20” badge while they actually needed a lower level one – that could lead to some frustration while playing. So after some internal brainstorming and discussions we decided to make the following adjustments to the badge system that will hopefully address those concerns and give players even more freedom on where to spend their newly earned badges:
- Mutant enemy changes:
- Hurlers now spawn starting from Ring 3.
- Spitters now spawn starting from Ring 4.
- Enforcers now spawn starting from Ring 6.
- Reduced the “Paralyze” debuff from Banshees to 4 seconds, down from 5.
- Reduced the “Disgusted” debuff from Spitters to 8 seconds, down from 10.
- The healing ability from Overseers now restores 60% of missing HP instead of max HP.
- Expired Faction Quests no longer need to be canceled manually.
- The visual effect for Neutralize will only be displayed when an active buff or status effect has been successfully removed.
2. Balancing Changes
- Reduced the amount of XP needed for characters (above level 10) to reach the next level.
- Increased the Labor reward from Faction Quests by 20%.
- Reduced the skill tree progression speed for Hunting by 20%.
- Reduced the base damage of the pistol “Desert Eagle” by 45% and increased its attack speed to 0.8 seconds per shot, up from 1.5.
- Reduced the amount of enemies in the Ashwater Medial Complex.
- Nodes changes:
- Reduced the amount of time Nodes remain in a depleted state to 10–60 minutes, down from 4–10 hours.
- Pristine Item spots now respawn individually within 4 minutes after the spot has been harvested.
- Reduced the drop chance of Pristine items by 20%.
- Reduced the amount of Pristine items received from the final in-game mail reward by 75%.
- The sell price of Pristine items has been reduced to 10% of their previous value
3. Graphics, Sound & Technical Changes
- Added a slider in the sound settings to adjust the volume of the radio broadcast.
- Added a new UI element for claimed Nodes that displays the remaining time and available harvestable Pristine Item spots.
- Added performance adjustments to address issues with stuttering NPCs and enemy creatures.
- Improved server stability.
4. Bugfixes
- Fixed a bug where, under certain conditions, enemy creatures would not drop loot or grant character XP.
- Fixed a bug where the icon for the Faction Board was not displayed immediately after reaching character level 10.
- Fixed a bug where player characters could not interact with certain NPCs during Faction Quests.
- Fixed a bug where the quest overview window for Faction Quest boards could start to jitter.
- Fixed a bug where, after death, the character’s inventory and dropped backpack could become broken.
- Fixed a bug where the remaining mails on the displayed mailbox page did not update correctly when deleting mails.
- Fixed a bug where players would always land on the first mailbox page when clicking the “Back” button within a mail.
- Fixed a bug where using a Weapon or Armor Treatment Kit would not increase the item level instantly.
- Fixed a bug where quest items were not removed correctly from the inventory after turning in the corresponding quest.
- Fixed a bug where eye patches were not displayed correctly for some character models.
- Fixed a bug where the quest tracker for the quest “Trouble in the Old Canal” would not update correctly.
- Fixed several bugs with missing or incorrect tooltips.
- Fixed several localization bugs.