This update introduces the ability to fine-tune AI opponent difficulty in Skirmish and multiplayer modes, adds a new skirmish/multiplayer map.


Skirmish AI opponent level of play can now be adjusted by changing its various skill levels. It can be quite useful when testing new units, tactics and strategies. This feature may receive further expansions in the future.




Notable additions, changes and improvements:

• New skirmish/multipalyer map called Sunken Ruins;
  
• Multiplayer improvements: better performance for suboptimal network conditions, stability improvements.
  
• Various interface improvements and bug fixes.

The update features expanded naval base building, a new propulsion module (Ballast Tank) that allows for creation of submarines, two new weapons, a new naval-oriented skirmish map called Islands, as well as many other less major improvements and additions.

The previously announced advanced AI difficulty customization still requires some work, and will come out on May 4th. Sorry for the delay.


Submarines can be built with the help of a new propulsion module called Ballast Tank. Equipped with enough of these modules, a unit can freely submerge and surface at any time when in water.



When submerged, submarines are less vulnerable to some types of damage (kinetic weapons do less damage, lasers and EMPs have no effect at all). These units can be very advantageous on maps with large bodies of water.


Marine Factories are factories that can be built on build pads which are placed in water. They act the same as field factories with the exception that they can be used to deploy units that cannot move on land.



In addition to the factories, almost all other buildings can be built on water. The exceptions are - Repair Pads and Resource Chutes. In order to repair units directly on water, a new building has been introduced - the Repair Bay. It can be built on water, and will repair, recharge and restock all units that surround it (one by one). If placed close enough, multiple repair bays can target a single unit, which will increase the repair speed.


The update also introduces a new railgun-type weapon - Large Railgun. The new railgun, like the artillery gun, inflicts a lot of damage per single hit, it is relatively slow to aim, and has a significant cost. Unlike the artillery gun, the new weapon shoots very fast projectiles that can reach their targets almost instantly.



The EMP Gun, instead of inflicting damage, drains the energy of its target by a set amount per hit. Its projectiles also immobilize the target unit for a few seconds. EMP guns are very useful against fliers, which can be trapped and destroyed with a few well placed shots.

• New skirmish map (Islands);
  
• Sandbox changed to include the Marine Factory;
  
• Regular Railgun balance changes (decreased range to 7.5);
  
• Various interface improvements and fixes.

The upcoming update is scheduled to arrive on April 27th. It will bring a set of naval-related features including naval bases, submarines, and naval skirmish maps. It will also introduce two new weapons, AI difficulty customization, as well as many other less major improvements.


Submarines can be built with the help of a new propulsion module called Ballast Tank. Equipped with enough of these modules, a unit can freely submerge and surface at any time when in water.



When submerged, submarines are less vulnerable to some types of damage (kinetic weapons do less damage, lasers and EMPs have no effect at all). These units can be very advantageous on maps with large bodies of water.




Naval Factories are factories that can be built on build pads which are placed in water. They act the same as field factories with the exception that they can be used to deploy units that cannot move on land. More information on naval base-building will be posted when the update arrives.




The upcoming update will add two new weapons - EMP Gun and Large Railgun. The new railgun, like the artillery gun, inflicts a lot of damage per single hit, it is relatively slow to aim, and has a significant cost. Unlike the artillery gun, the new weapon shoots very fast projectiles that can reach their targets almost instantly.



The EMP gun, instead of inflicting damage, drains the energy of its target by a set amount per hit. Its projectiles also immobilize the target unit for a few seconds. EMP guns are very useful against fliers, which can be trapped and destroyed with a few well placed shots.



More information on all the new features and additions will be posted when the update arrives!

The upcoming update will focus on adding new water-based unit related features. Currently, it's possible to build units that float and move in water, but because all units are constructed on land -- strictly naval units have to rely on transport and are of very limited usability. To improve this, the next update will add the ability to construct factories and most other buildings directly on the water surface.

Additionally, a new propulsion module (Ballast Tank) will be introduced; with this module a unit will be able to control its buoyancy, making it possible to design a new class of submarine units. New naval focused skirmish maps will also be available.

The update will also feature a new weapon, advanced AI difficulty customization for Skirmish and Multiplayer games, multiplayer performance improvements for slower connections, and other less major additions. It is expected to arrive sometime in April. More information and previews will follow closer to its release!

The upcoming update will focus on adding new water-based unit related features. Currently, it's possible to build units that float and move in water, but because all units are constructed on land -- strictly naval units have to rely on transport and are of very limited usability. To improve this, the next update will add the ability to construct factories and most other buildings directly on the water surface.

Additionally, a new propulsion module (Ballast Tank) will be introduced; with this module a unit will be able to control its buoyancy, making it possible to design a new class of submarine units. New naval focused skirmish maps will also be available.

The update will also feature a new weapon, advanced AI difficulty customization for Skirmish and Multiplayer games, multiplayer performance improvements for slower connections, and other less major additions. It is expected to arrive sometime in April. More information and previews will follow closer to its release!

The update introduces a new propulsion module (Large Walker Leg), a much improved automatic unit stability model, as well as the ability to control its influence. Furthermore, it adds a few new structural modules; various other minor fixes and improvements are also included.


This update adds a new walker leg class propulsion module - Large Walker Leg. It can support greater weight and is more stable than the regular walker leg. Like the regular leg, the larger leg is retractable.



In addition to the new module, walker leg physics model has been tweaked and improved upon. As of this update, walker units of all types should have better overall handling.

Other walker leg related changes and additions:

• Extend/Retract Legs - extension and retraction of legs and telescopic beams are no longer combined into one command. In order to extend and retract legs use the new Extend/Retract Legs command (default hotkey: C);
  
• Legs are now auto-extended when the unit wants to move - but only when no wheels, tracks or screws are present and the walker is not currently in water with working water jets.
  
• Leg energy consumption has been changed, so that lighter units consume slightly more energy than they used to.

The new Stability Control model greatly improves the handling and viability of lighter units. It may also improve the performance of heavier units, but the effect will most likely be not as drastic.



The unit on the left has its stability control disabled. Too much power delivered to its wheels cause it to roll excessively. The unit on the right with the stability control enabled has no trouble moving at normal speed.

Stability Control influence is set to 100% for all ground propulsion devices by default; it is the recommended setting for most units. However, reducing it may improve speed and acceleration for some light units with non-standard wheel configurations. This setting can be set on a per-wheel basis (accessed via Configure Modules from the Unit Designer).



The maximum power the wheel can utilize can also be adjusted; the recommended setting here is 100% as well.


The update adds two new structural modules: Spherical Hull and Half-Spherical Hull. Both modules have colorable and reflective versions, and both can be modified.




Minor fixes and improvements include:

• Air Fans can now be configured: as before, the fans are engaged only when no wheels, tracks, screws or legs touch the ground by default; though now they can be configured to drive the unit at all times.
  
• Unit and building indicator bar size reduced when the camera is zoomed out;
  
• In-game chat has been improved;
  
• Larger tall units are no longer delayed upon deployment when transported on belts;
  
• Minor campaign balance changes.
  
• Other minor interface fixes and improvements.

The update introduces a new propulsion module (Large Walker Leg), a much improved automatic unit stability model, as well as the ability to control its influence. Furthermore, it adds a few new structural modules; various other minor fixes and improvements are also included.


This update adds a new walker leg class propulsion module - Large Walker Leg. It can support greater weight and is more stable than the regular walker leg. Like the regular leg, the larger leg is retractable.



In addition to the new module, walker leg physics model has been tweaked and improved upon. As of this update, walker units of all types should have better overall handling.

Other walker leg related changes and additions:

• Extend/Retract Legs - extension and retraction of legs and telescopic beams are no longer combined into one command. In order to extend and retract legs use the new Extend/Retract Legs command (default hotkey: C);
  
• Legs are now auto-extended when the unit wants to move - but only when no wheels, tracks or screws are present and the walker is not currently in water with working water jets.
  
• Leg energy consumption has been changed, so that lighter units consume slightly more energy than they used to.

The new Stability Control model greatly improves the handling and viability of lighter units. It may also improve the performance of heavier units, but the effect will most likely be not as drastic.



The unit on the left has its stability control disabled. Too much power delivered to its wheels cause it to roll excessively. The unit on the right with the stability control enabled has no trouble moving at normal speed.

Stability Control influence is set to 100% for all ground propulsion devices by default; it is the recommended setting for most units. However, reducing it may improve speed and acceleration for some light units with non-standard wheel configurations. This setting can be set on a per-wheel basis (accessed via Configure Modules from the Unit Designer).



The maximum power the wheel can utilize can also be adjusted; the recommended setting here is 100% as well.


The update adds two new structural modules: Spherical Hull and Half-Spherical Hull. Both modules have colorable and reflective versions, and both can be modified.




Minor fixes and improvements include:

• Air Fans can now be configured: as before, the fans are engaged only when no wheels, tracks, screws or legs touch the ground by default; though now they can be configured to drive the unit at all times.
  
• Unit and building indicator bar size reduced when the camera is zoomed out;
  
• In-game chat has been improved;
  
• Larger tall units are no longer delayed upon deployment when transported on belts;
  
• Minor campaign balance changes.
  
• Other minor interface fixes and improvements.

The upcoming update will add another, much larger Walker Leg class propulsion module. The larger leg can support greater weight, and it provides even more stability due to its increased size. In addition to the new module, walker leg physics model has been improved, making walker unit handling and efficiency better.



Just two large legs are more than enough to support a tall unit firing two Artillery guns.


The next update will introduce more module configuration options. Specifically, wheels and tracks will have the option of controling and disabling the automatic stability system that controls their power -- that will allow for better performance with more unusual designs. Wheel and track power output will also be adjustable directly. As always, advanced module configuration is optional, and usually is not required even for optimal unit behavior.

The update is scheduled for March 15th. More information will be provided in the update notes when it arrives!

The upcoming update will add another, much larger Walker Leg class propulsion module. The larger leg can support greater weight, and it provides even more stability due to its increased size. In addition to the new module, walker leg physics model has been improved, making walker unit handling and efficiency better.



Just two large legs are more than enough to support a tall unit firing two Artillery guns.


The next update will introduce more module configuration options. Specifically, wheels and tracks will have the option of controling and disabling the automatic stability system that controls their power -- that will allow for better performance with more unusual designs. Wheel and track power output will also be adjustable directly. As always, advanced module configuration is optional, and usually is not required even for optimal unit behavior.

The update is scheduled for March 15th. More information will be provided in the update notes when it arrives!

This update introduces a new propulsion module - Walker Legs. Walking units are compact, agile, and quite stable. While not the fastest propulsion method around, legs are retractable, and can be combined with other propulsion devices when needed. Legs also have greater energy requirements than wheels, which is important to consider when designing heavy units.



To learn more, you can find some examples of walker units in the sample repository!

• Improved physical stability for smaller units;
  
• Other minor bug fixes and improvements.