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We are pleased to announce our newest member of the Earthwork Games team, 42 scientist!

42 is a longtime member of the Forts community who has taken on a variety of roles over the years. Winner of Tournament XII with teammate Sgitkene, unofficial and official Forts Statistician, creator and curator of The Spreadsheet, 6 x 9, Discord moderator, Tournament Organizer, host and replay Caster, French translator, tester, and now Community Admin overseeing the Forts Pro and Amateur leagues.

So let's give 42 a big Forts Community welcome and congrats on becoming an official part of the EWG team!

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If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.

Cheers,
EWG

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This update contains several quality of life improvements and general fixes. See below.

The multiplayer loading screen has been upgraded to show the map, the players on each side - including their medals and loading progress, and the logos and names of the sides.


See how fast your rig is at loading compared to others.

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Replays can now be given a short description in the pause menu, and be tagged as a favourite. The description is shown in the replay selection screen, and can be changed later. This will help you keep track of replays of interest.

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As always, there are a bunch of other fixes and improvements. The observer tools especially have been polished after feedback. Ranked players will be happy to know that matches with players with ping above 300ms are now rejected. There are also a few additions and fixes to the scripting API. See the full list of changes below.


Add: multiplayer loading screen with map preview and player details
Add: description and favourite option replay details to pause menu
Add: GetLocalClientIndex and GetClientTeamId script functions to get the local client index and client team ids
Add: \resave_replay command with observer tools customisation override
Add: -stripchat option to \resave_replay command
Add: Pin checkbox for observer tools filters
Add: Show stats of relative resource gain per sec in observer tools
Add: GetBlockOwner and SetBlockOwner script functions
Add: GetWeaponMinFireSpeed script function

Fix: Particle effects are released from idle weapons due to cursor movement
Fix: Placing any struts during simulation makes projectiles despawn
Fix: (Orbital Laser) fires twice when the beacon hits a device under water
Fix: (Orbital Laser) fires when launched up from under water (thanks Squet)
Fix: \save command fails to copy packed files
Fix: when projectiles exist, the \save command reproduces them as structural joints
Fix: stuttering during before first game due to preloading large textures
Fix: clients drop out when watching instant replay after host quits
Fix: Observer Tools override changes not saved correctly to local replays
Fix: passing neutral structure will allow weapons to fire without opening doors
Fix: propellers and turbines facing wrong way
Fix: (ModManager) rare crash when searching for mod dependencies in un-terminated file buffer
Fix: (Trail effect) redundant memory allocations are made: Keyframes parameter no longer used
Fix: crash when editing a map with a missing ground texture
Fix: Custom observer tools textures not propagated to existing non playing clients in a lobby chatroom when changed
Fix: DLCs sometimes fail to load
Fix: IsPropType and GetPropName crash or return invalid results if index is out of range
Fix: Observer Tools Reactor Labels are rendered over the top of the replay HUD and other UI elements
Fix: Observer Tools visibility state only saved when observer hud customisation is enabled
Fix: Observer Tools visible over normal HUD after restarting match during instant replay
Fix: the invalid texture is freed when loading a map with a missing ground texture
Fix: crash when Log* functions are passed text longer that 1024 characters
Fix: (TerrainEditor::CreateBlock) sets block owner according to local team, without converting to side
Fix: BeamMaxTravel is clamped to the world diagonal distance, limiting beams fired from outside the world bounds

Improve: (ranked) fail match if ping is over 300ms
Improve: Save observer tools filter settings between matches and sessions
Improve: (map editor) only draw structure bounds when a node is selected
Improve: (LoadControl) the callback is automatically set for all buttons, with code -1
Improve: (replay HUD and upload map dialog) disambiguate name of root controls
Improve: (scripting functions) parent can be the name of the root control
Improve: Changed countdown and match timers to use improved readout font
Improve: Changed replay timer to display current match time
Improve: Layout of Observer Tools Reactor Labels to remove unnecessary UI clutter
Improve: Layout of Observer Tools team names, commander, commander gauge and avatar UI elements
Improve: Observer tools shows current match time instead of countdown time while there is no active countdown
Improve: Re-add team colours to chat system message player names
Improve: Replace Observer Tools number readout with better font
Improve: Replace Resource Panel number readouts with better font
Improve: Shift Observer Tools reactor labels an additional 100 units away from the reactors
Improve: Switch observer tools badge and timer positions
Improve: Observer Tools Filters auto hide in a similar fashion to the unpinned replay HUD
Improve: Observer Tools Reactor labels for other powered devices (barrels, control) are minimised be default
Improve: Observer Tools Reactor Label positioning improved for other powered devices (barrels, control)
Improve: Observer tools relative resource rate field changed to individual resource rate

Optimise: remove redundant trail keyframes

Remove: (AddSpriteControl) documentation of non-existent 'style' parameter
Remove: "Filters" checkbox for observer tools filters (redundant now that we can unpin filters)


Fix: players can select or suggest local mods in public lobbies

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If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.

Cheers,
EWG

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Congratulations to Speckfanatiker for winning the inaugural season of the official Forts Pro League!



Capping off a day of drama, tension, and even a touch of controversy, Der Benzinpreisvergleicher and Naomi emerge as champions of the first season of the FPL and take the winner's medals. The Playoffs began with the relegation match between FPL team YES (Flinnshadow + Taichu) defeating FAL team Clockwork Titans (Hallrassy + Schuka) to retain their spot in the FPL roster for next season. Then the top 4 FPL teams faced off to determine the ultimate winner.



Amburulo of Danke Merkel delivered the standout individual performance of the tournament against Eagle Die. After losing their teammate Finn at cannon o'clock and being pummeled by warheads they battled back 1v2 in a match lasting nearly 20 minutes. This earned them the MVP nod from the judges and casters, but would not be enough to hold off Speckfanatiker in the Grand Final.


Playoffs


In one of most baffling moments of the competition, and perhaps the most controversial, a member of team Eagle Die missclicked in the opening seconds of their match vs Speckfanatiker and inadvertently collapsed their base. It happened so quickly that the cause was initially assumed to be a malfunction of some sort. After an examination of the replay showed it to have been accidental, the ruling was made for the match to continue with Eagle Die down a player.

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Speckfanatiker

• Der Benzinpreisvergleicher
  
• Naomi

Danke Merkel

• Amburulo
  
• Finn

Pro Aim

• Helicopter
  
• mcc72k

Replays from the FPL group stage and Playoffs will be made available in the Featured tab of the Replays menu in-game and viewable until next update

Full English Cast with Incursus and Noze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2p1BMT_MfQ

Full German Casts with Salzwerk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLJKcdAbZ84

and DerGoldjunge
DerGoldjunge

Relegation match from Salzwerk and DerGoldjunge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y01kE8Jsc1c

Cheers,
EWG

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Amidst all the recent excitement the Season 22 results are here! And for the first time in 10 seasons we crown a new victor. Congratulations to Malme, the first player since Matteo to supplant EtaN atop the leaderboard. Vitas would be proud. It came down to the wire, with with only 6 points separating them from our second place finisher Der Benzin in the final minutes of the season. Rounding out third on the podium and taking bronze is mcc72k. Der Benzin and mcc72k will also be competing against each other in the upcoming FPL Playoffs you can watch live on April 15th,

While the top 3 places receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze, every player finishing within the top 20 will receive a Season 22 Medal. Congratulations to all medalists as well!

Some Season 22 trivia;

• Mortars, rockets, and missiles saw much heavier usage in top 20 matches with Ledge Grab and Pillars in the rotation.
  
• Commander pick rates among the top 20 changed radically as a result of the new features and balance updates, with Architect and Firebird being the biggest beneficiaries.
  
• People still persevere in their attempts to core swing on Pillars, and some even succeed.

And finally a reminder that good sportsmanship is always appropriate and to respect your opponents. We're all here to have fun!

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1. Malme
   
2. [BOG]#Der Benzinpreisvergleicher
   
3. [PA]mcc72k
   
4. Hallrassy[CMV]
   
5. EtaN
   
6. Armordillo
   
7. pur
   
8. ドミー
   
9. zebdww
   
10. [CMV]Vert1ks
    
11. WIG_籽岷妙妙屋
    
12. neoboletus.erythropus
    
13. Dranistian
    
14. kulipa0627
    
15. Злая Дрозд
    
16. Goldjunge
    
17. [Anime]greatwo
    
18. felixwoelmuis
    
19. Murt
    
20. CSS

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Season 23 is already underway and will run through May 31st. This season's map pool consists of the following battlefields:

• Abyss
  
• Hang Time
  
• Moorings
  
• Pillars
  
• Stalactites
  
• Battlegrounds 1v1

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If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.

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Cheers,
EWG

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We have good news for anyone who has picked up Forts recently or are a long-term fan: we are running a four-day sale on all Forts DLC!

Enjoyed the Forts campaign, and fancy expanding your experience? Grab Moonshot or High Seas and see what fiendish challenges the nefarious Black Penguin Oil company has in store for you!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1033530/Forts__Moonshot/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1811550/Forts__High_Seas/

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Got one of the catchy tunes from one of our DLCs stuck in your head? Why not scoop up an original soundtrack and listen to it while playing other games?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1103420/Forts__Moonshot_Soundtrack/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1944190/Forts__High_Seas_Soundtrack/

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Are you a long-time Forts player looking for a way to refresh your experience? Maybe you're enjoying the benefits of one of our many updates and want to support us in our endeavours? One of the HUD supporter packs might be what you're after!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1335840/Forts__Pro_HUD/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2278070/Forts__Elite_HUD/

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Hope you enjoy playing Forts, and thanks for your support!

Cheers,
EWG

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The first Forts Pro League (FPL) regular season is nearing its end and soon four finalists will emerge. As with the recent Forts Amateur League (FAL) playoffs, the four top teams in the league will battle it out for eternal glory in the FPL playoffs. The ultimate winners will earn themselves $100 in Steam gift cards, bragging rights as the reigning champions, and the FPL Winner's medal!

As with the FAL playoffs, the best player of the FPL playoffs will receive the MVP medal in recognition of their finals-shaping performance!

In addition to the headline act described above, the opening act will be the Promotion Battle between the FAL playoffs runner-up ProBruh Team and the second-last qualified FPL team. The winner of this match will earn the right to participate in the FPL season 2, while the loser will be a contender in the FAL for next season.

Hagelslag Maten, having already secured an FPL season 2 berth by winning the FAL playoffs, will take the place of the bottom team from FPL regular season 1.

Once the FPL regular season has been completed in the coming days and the league places finalised, we will update you all on who is in and who is out of these events. Stay tuned!


English Cast with Incursus and 42 scientist

German Casts with:
Salzwerk
and
Der Goldjunge


Cheers,
EWG

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Congratulations to Hagelslag Maten for winning the inaugural season of the official Forts Amateur League!



The FAL medal is theirs to proudly display until the next season concludes and a new winner is crowned. felixwoelmuis and FreekandelBroodje have also earned a spot in the next season of the Forts Pro League to compete for the FPL trophy. In addition, felixwoelmuis was unanimously chosen by the league officials and casters as the playoff MVP for his standout sniper play and one of the greatest clutch performances of all time in the final, and will be recognised with the medal below.



FAL Season 1 Playoff bracket

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ProBruhTeam was the first to take a game off of Hageslag Maten, knocking them down to the lower bracket in round two before facing them again in the best of 3 finals. They were on the cusp of victory before falling in heartbreaking fashion, battling network conditions and the indomitable felix. The replay of this match is now available in the Featured tab and we highly recommend watching with the new Observer tools (icon in the very lower left hand corner) enabled.

Their FPL dreams are still alive though, as they will have one final opportunity to face the next lowest FPL team after relegation to take their spot in next season. Stay tuned for more information!



English Cast with Incursus and 42 scientist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj29MJ8W25Q

German Casts with Salzwerk and Armordillo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joi_-JXfv5M
Salzwerk


Cheers,
EWG

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The first season of the Forts Amateur League (FAL) group stage has come to an exciting end! Twelve teams have been battling it out over the last two months, and it has now come down to the final four to compete to be the inaugural FAL Championship and receive the coveted FAL Champions medal...




The winner of the FAL playoffs receives a medal and entrance into the next season of the FPL. The runner up will also get a chance at an FPL spot. But they must earn it by defeating the next lowest ranked FPL team after relegation.


Hallrassy & Vert1ks (sub schuka)

Winners of Group A, dropping only a single game to knight of round table.

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felixwoelmuis & FreekandelBroodje

Winners of Group B with a perfect 10 wins out of 10 games played.

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Shadow Knight Wolf & Island b0y (sub ??zzz)

2nd place in Group A, the only team in their group to take a game off of ProBruhTeam and force a best of 3.

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LastPaladin & LPGK

2nd place in Group B, tied with Genesis on points but advancing on their head to head match win tiebreak.

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Here's the completed group stage ladder...



Heading into the playoffs, this is how the teams are matched up...

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The FAL Playoffs will take place Saturday March 25

• 12PM EST (East Coast US)
  
  
• 4PM UTC (London)
  
  
• 5PM CET (France, Germany)
  
  
• 2AM AEST Sunday March 26th (Australia)

• Challengermode - FAL Season 1 Playoffs
  
  
• Discord - Forts Official Discord

Armordillo

Project Incursus

Salzwerk

Cheers,
EWG

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The Season 21 results are here! If you've been following past seasons it will come as no surprise to see EtaN once again atop the rankings. Extending his streak to 9 consecutive seasons and 12 overall, will 13 prove to be his lucky number? In second place is Klapperschlange (better known as Der Benzin) reaching the top 3 for the first time after finishing 7th last season. And in 3rd, zebdww repeats their Season 20 placement and earns a second bronze medal.

While the top 3 places receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze, every player finishing within the top 20 will receive a Season 20 Medal. Congratulations to all medalists as well!

For even more competitive Forts be sure to follow the Forts Pro League with casters Project Incursus (Eng) and Salzwerk (Ger). Stay tuned to their channels as they upload highlights and match commentaries each week until the live finals.

Some Season 21 trivia:

• Over 30,000 ranked matches were played making this our most active season yet.
  
• Mortars continued their resurgence, aided by a favorable map pool they became one of the go to openings amongst the top finishers.
  
• Balls replaced Pillars in the rotation and also as the most popular map to attempt the riskiest of core swings.

Pay respects in the comments.

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1. [SoC] EtaN
   
2. [SF] Klapperschlange
   
3. zebdww
   
4. [HAM] felixwoelmuis
   
5. WIG_籽岷妙妙屋
   
6. [WTK] Bowser
   
7. Malme
   
8. Luvigcn
   
9. [PA] Helicopter
   
10. pur
    
11. [Die] Firework
    
12. [DM] Finn
    
13. [GRL] Dranistian
    
14. [PBT] Vert1ks
    
15. I am myself
    
16. [KON] Cloud
    
17. Spinix愛
    
18. [DS] Jim_M99
    
19. [PBT] hallrassy
    
20. Armordillo

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Season 22 is already underway and will run through March 31st. This season's map pool consists of the following battlefields:

• Balls
  
• Hillfort
  
• Ledge Grab
  
• Desert Ruins
  
• Vanilla
  
• Pillars

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If you fancy an upgrade of your Forts user experience, pick up the new Elite HUD. This fighter cockpit-inspired UX grants players with a whole new graphical upgrade, complete with sound effects, and a supporter's medal to add to their in-game collection.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2278070/Forts__Elite_HUD/?beta=0

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If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.

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Cheers,
EWG

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G'day Forts Fans!

We hope you had a great festive end to 2022! To get 2023 off to a great start, we are bringing you a big multiplayer update, consisting of four new exciting features: Observer HUD, Streamlined ranked multiplayer system, sprite construction kit and a new Elite HUD paid DLC. Read on!

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To coincide with the start of the Forts Pro League we have invested some development time in implementing a built-in observer HUD. This new system incorporates customisable stat panels for up to eight human players, combined with team name, avatar and commander readouts. The observer HUD can be toggled on an off as an observer in the lobby of a live game, or in the replay viewer. Now there should be no need to press the F8 key ever again!


Built in Observer HUD allows players to see real-time stats for all combatabts.

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The second facet of this multiplayer update is to make the process of getting into a ranked multiplayer match a smoother experience. We have reduced friction from the point of electing to take part in a ranked match to the start of the battle. During this time, players will only have to make a choice of commander, having been told of the auto-selected map they are to fight upon. Chat has also been disabled in the console. This should help reduce players opting out or having the opportunity to troll each other, making the whole experience more enjoyable for all involved.


Getting into a ranked multipalyer game is now smoother than ever.

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It's been a while since we have added to the pool of weapon sprites available for modders. With the sprite construction kit we're giving you multiple weapons, bases, barrels and projectiles for all multiplayer factions. These are supplied in .tga format and are, with the odd exception, ready to slot into existing weapon formats, such as small (MG), tall (EMP), large (cannon) & turret (deckgun). Download them for free here.




Download the FREE palette of new weapons sprites to spice up your modding.

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Rounding out the multiplayer update is the release of the new Elite HUD. This fighter cockpit-inspired UX grants players with a whole new graphical upgrade, complete with sound effects, for the in-game HUD, including the main console, reactor readouts, commander gauge and replay panel.


Refresh your multiplayer experience with the new paid Elite HUD DLC.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/2278070/Forts__Elite_HUD/?beta=0
Supporters will receive a bonus medal to add to their in-game collection, so head over to the store page now and receive a 20% discount for the first week.

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Forts Ranked Season 21 is already underway. The ranked map pool is as follows:

• Balls
  
• Hillfort
  
• Ledge Grab
  
• Desert Ruins
  
• Vanilla
  
• Pillars

[/b]
[/list]

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Add: Elite HUD DLC
Add: Observer HUD in multiplayer and replays
Add: streamlined ranked UI, see map before selecting commander
Add: SetNamedScreenByZoom, SetNamedScreenByHeight, and DeleteNamedScreen script functions
Add: Language() script function to allow localisation of strings when using AddStrings

Balance: (Spook) remove device construction notice delay
Balance: (Scattershot active) reduce 20mm cannon spread from 0.012 to 0.0108 (-10%)
Balance: (Scattershot active) reduce 20mm cannon deviation from 0.08 to 0.072 (-10%)
Balance: (Armourdillo) remove reflective shields
Balance: (Armourdillo) shields have 20% lower run cost again
Balance: (Armourdillo) shields cost 20% less to build and repair again
Balance: (Hurricane) remove 5% repair cost debuff
Balance: (Caverns, Snow Leopards, Wingman, Wingman 4v4, Vanilla 4v4) wind floors better for lower forts

Improve: Workshop items available in Steam offline mode
Improve: (Shockenaugh) move barrel to the end of the HUD item list for consistent key access to regular devices
Improve: Move medals, and profanity options to new "Online" Options tab
Improve: increase symmetry test threshold to avoid false negatives
Improve: increased resolution of pause menu background
Improve: show 'away from keyboard' notice to host in multiplayer lobbies and ranked waiting screen
Improve: reduce mouse movement necessary to be no longer 'away from keyboard'
Improve: (AlienFX lighting) prevent future attempts if loading or initialisation fails
Improve: when an invite fails a message shows 'the host quit' or 'you are banned'
Improve: change 'Disable left-click panning' to 'Enable left-click panning' for clarity

Optimise: enable use of compressed DDS textures
Optimise: sparks rendering

Fix: friends can connect to a lobby without password
Fix: Warmup animation state doesn't trigger when FireDelay > 0
Fix: (dlc2_CreateProjectile) crash when teamId is invalid
Fix: (Eagle Eye) repair resets reload bank
Fix: (Scattershot) error spam when team 1 has more reactors than team 2
Fix: When autodoor is off, foreground struts in front of weapons are still backgrounded
Fix: Control ammo is inconsistent with shield, door and portal behaviour
Fix: (UpdateLinkState) crash when currLink is NULL
Fix: chat HL end tag disabling adds an extra ']' character
Fix: crash when CreateNode and then SnapLink is called in same frame structure destruction
Fix: disconnection message is handled twice, causing unnecessary warning
Fix: (CastRay) doesn't set values for GetRayHitLinkNodeIdA() and GetRayHitLinkNodeIdB() to return
Fix: memory leak when joining a game in progress
Fix: unnecessary status update messages are sent at load completion, causing traffic and processing
Fix: crash when returning from a featured replay
Fix: degenerate rotation of props can produce an invalid angle
Fix: degenerate generation of tiled props can produce an invalid angle
Fix: props can have invalid angles, causing screen sized rendering
Fix: Alienware LightFX.dll fails to load due to being 32-bit version
Fix: (Lobby Select) lobby highlight touches righthand border and doesn't cover report button
Fix: RestoreScreen, RestoreSystemScreen, CancelCameraMove and SetViewExtentsByName don't work for observers
Fix: (Input) update exits prematurely if keyboard fails to acquire
Fix: (Orbital Laser) doesn't recognise shields that are off as friendly structure
Fix: Profanity filtering can break player name team colouring in chat system messages
Fix: OnKey console spam in Black Gold mission
Fix: (Up & Down 2v2) some internal terrain edges have surfaces
Fix: (No Obstacle) hit with mortar objective isn't awarded when it goes through a portal
Fix: (Moorings) Side 1 is unable to snap to the top left terrain corner
Fix: (Flotsam & Jetsam, hard) AI build gets stuck
Fix: (Abyss 2v2 MS) map not symmetric
Fix: (Abyss 2v2 MS) some blocks have surfaces outside of view
Fix: (Abyss 2v2) map is not symmetrical
Fix: (Abyss 2v2) some blocks have surfaces outside of view

Remove: obsolete textures

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If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.

Cheers,
EWG