Greetings Survivors, we hope this update finds you bite-free!
This week, we plan on releasing Build 42.16 Unstable, and we wanted to let you know ahead of time some of the changes coming with it. Along with continuing stabilization in Multiplayer and general bug-stomping, this update has a strong focus on balancing! Full update notes will be included in the release, of course, but here is a preview and some important information. So pop some beta-blockers and let’s dive right in:
OCCUPATIONS & TRAITS
The biggest balance changes you are going to see in this update primarily focus on Occupations and Traits. All existing Occupations are still available (some with refreshed names), but starting skills and costs have been reworked, with an aim to give players the feeling of being professionals rather than apprentices.
Just a few examples include: Carpenter having higher starting Carpentry than you can learn from a TV show, Construction Worker now having Blunt skills split between Long and Short to reflect broader tool knowledge, and Nurse starting with higher First Aid and the Night Owl Trait to reflect their background in medical shift work.
There are also two new Traits, Tinkerer and Target Shooter, so you can get a bump to your Maintenance and Aiming respectively. Several existing Traits have also had their costs adjusted to better reflect their value in relation to current gameplay features, and Veterans no longer notice Discomfort via an updated Desensitized Trait, as they are very used to being uncomfortable.
AND MORE BALANCE
Along with the Occupations updates, there are a broad set of additional changes, including UI and menu polishing, tweaks to firearm attachments (with new 3D art!), Stress no longer being caused by Zeds banging fences, and a reworked Tailoring recipe layout aimed at rewarding crafting new items over grinding.
Game Modes have also received some minor changes based on feedback and player observations. These include a slight reduction of firearm spawns, more fresh food in canon modes, and a general reduction in world erosion speeds. Extinction Mode now contains day Sprinters, so sunlight is no longer a respite to your rapidly impending demise.
One big thing you will notice is the removal of Echo Creek as a spawn location. Echo Creek is a beautiful and cozy place to settle down, and served as a great place to test and validate new B42 features such as basements, animals, and crafting, as it contains many of the building blocks needed for those features. It will obviously still exist in the game, but now serves as a destination to aspire to rather than a starting off point.
CONTROLLER LOVE
The team gathered a huge amount of feedback on the initial WIP implementation of aiming on controllers, and we have a big pass in this update for controller players. We are reading your posts on this subject, so please keep the constructive feedback coming as we continue to hone in on nailing this important feature. Please join our Discord and let us know how it feels!
IMPORTANT: SAVES AND MODDERS
This update includes a large list of bug fixes based on player reports, both major and minor. Because of the changes included, saves created in earlier builds will NOT be compatible with B42.16. If you wish to continue playing with a B42.15 save, select the “outdatedunstable” Steam beta branch. Just a reminder, we recommend backing up existing saves and creating a new save for every Unstable Branch update.
For modders, we are actively working to improve your workflow and the information available to you. For modding support requests, please use our #mod_portal channel in our Discord.
Remember to keep your bandages clean, no one wants an infection.
The Indie Stone
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