Fourth Week of 1.6 Open Beta

Ahoy!

The Open Beta for Patch 1.6 has been running for a month now. I can't give you an exact end date yet - it all depends on your bug reports and feedback. Especially since we just rolled out a major update for the beta.

Here are the highlights:

• New model for the restored Caleuche with three paint variants.
• The restored Caleuche now features 42-caliber gun ports, boosted stats, and has become the best ship in the game. For now.
• The restoration cost for the Caleuche has increased significantly and is now one of the ultimate long-term goals worth saving doubloons for from the very start of your playthrough.
• William Patterson got a new haircut and can now wear displayable hats.
• More remastered towns: Santiago
  Havana
  Tortuga
  Belize
  Bluefield
  Porto Bello
  Panama
  Cartagena
  Maracaibo
  Caracas
  
  
  That brings us to 19 remastered towns in total. Almost there.
• Pirate threat level is now dynamic and increases gradually. Destroying pirate ships lowers it, and if you don't feel like fighting, you can always negotiate with one of the barons.
• Pirates and hostile squadrons are now less aggressive, making it much easier to escape from them early in the game.
• Added a perk reset potion (works for officers too!). Look for the recipe in graveyards, lighthouse keepers, and in alchemist shops.
• Added three new captain cabins: for the ghost Caleuche, restored Caleuche, and galleons. Currently placeholders without lighting for testing purposes. They'll be fully finished by the beta release.
  
• Returned missing chests to all captain cabins.
• Boatswain perks now work as intended, including for enemy captains. Factored into the Cayman boss fight too.
• The theft perk now works on Justice Island.
• Made significant changes to ship gunnery. Quick shot accuracy has been improved and balanced, so you won't have to struggle at the start and desperately search for a gunner - there's always a chance to hit. As a result, forts and AI ships also land hits more frequently.
• Reduced average cannon firing delay and decreased the influence of captain and crew experience - naval combat has become much more dynamic, which pairs especially well with the new gun sound system. Thanks to flashdeck for testing and reports.
• Musketeer officers no longer forget how to shoot.
• Sailors finally shoot pistols at each other during boarding actions.
• Redesigned character health and energy bars. Added new effects.
• Item descriptors and properties are now displayed when looting chests and trading.
• Amulets and charms in the inventory are now additionally highlighted for officers who can benefit from them.
• Fixed crashes and save corruption.
• Spyglasses now show approximate crew numbers according to their descriptions and increase the viewing radius on the global map.
• Added new cutscenes with increased levels of brutality to several old quests.
• (Hero of the Nation) You can now destroy the Capsterville blockade while rescuing the lugger.
• Officer professions are now displayed on the hiring screen.
• NPC captains now have their own officers, from whom they receive bonuses to skills and perks.
• Added minimum rank requirements for NPC captains based on their ship class. For example, ships of the line and frigates are commanded by extremely dangerous opponents.
• Perks now have alternative properties: different ones for the main character and NPCs. This way, AI won't waste skill points on perks that are useless to them.
• Expanded descriptions for all amulets - now they all include a general description of their effect. Specific numbers and details are still available on mouseover as before, but navigation between amulets has been significantly simplified.
• Made balance adjustments to numerous skills and mechanics. Strengthened marksman branch bonuses and increased the value of self-repair at sea.
• Rebuilt skill trees - advanced strikes are now available as master skills at the end of branches. At low ranks, there's a much lower chance of encountering enemies with advanced strikes.
• Increased health and energy gains from perks, and increased their cost.
• Fixed a situation where quick shots from blunderbusses would completely miss due to leaning animations.
• Made substantial balance adjustments to the prologue.
• Made significant changes to item descriptors (primarily blades and armor). Thanks to Sarevok for the help.
• Made significant changes to boarding balance and advantage calculations. Thanks to everyone for testing.
• Fixed several balance issues with doubloons, only 999 more to go. Thanks to everyone for the reports.
• Fixed the trade formula. It now works as intended.
• 28 new Steam achievements.

Play the beta and leave reviews — blue ones ːsteamthumbsupː, like the Caribbean Sea!
What we do — we do for you.
ːjollyrː