Build 23602700

This update brings new features, content, balance tweaks, and some fixes.

New Game+

The biggest new feature is a New Game Plus options. These options allow a more customizable campaign experience. Most of them have cons and pros, so it's not an "easy mode" toggle - they are supposed to adjust the balance, not break it.

You do not need to complete the campaign to unlock these options. It is still recommended to play the campaign at least once without those.

Press on NG+ options button to adjust the settings. Hover over the options to learn more about them. Here is a short list of options available at this moment:

• Organization origins
• Starting planet count
• Starting tech level
• Permadeath
• Ignore reports
• Smart pilots
• Mega fleets
• Boss rush
• Salvaging mode
• Age of drones
• Increased ammo
• Expensive equipment
• Greedy research
• Faster leveling
• Fresh recruits
• Quick start
• Planet shuffle

If you want to propose a new NG+ option, feel free to share your ideas here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/3024370/discussions/0/841754031097470598/

New content

• Added 3 new weapons
• Added 2 new body parts
• Added 3 new wing parts
• Added 4 new Cult bosses
• Added 2 new pilot specialization classes
• Many new color schemes for your vessel parts
• Added more behavior programs to bots
• New unique enemy vessel class - swarmers
• New mission types (swarmer-related)
• Added more player-submitted vessels to the approved collection

The swarmers are especially exciting. They use team tactics and always act as a whole. This demonstrates the ability to program something quite sophisticated in NebuLeet.

UX

• Added a Cult Detector hotkey
• Can now safely exit a program editor even if it used unavailable commands
• The same-design vessels added in debug squads live update their programs too
• Added a "Radar" label to the scanning range in the campaign
• Can no longer accidentally edit a builtin vessel - a cloning will be prompted instead
• Can no longer accidentally edit a workshop-installed vessel - a cloning will be prompted instead

Changes

• Can now select the starting HP in arena matches
• Can now select the deployment speed/type setting in arena matches
• Rebalanced most weapons, re-adjusted their prices too

Programming

• Added a new Range Limiter command
• Added a new Turret Rotate command
• Sysvar command gets 2 new modes: ally and enemy count
• Select target command gets a new mode: previous enemy

Fixes

• Fixed several typos
• Fixed several missing translation keys
• Fixed move_pos bundle puzzle recommended solution bug
• Fixed sysvar bundle puzzle enemy logic
• Fixed "set leader's target" command, now it works all the time
• Planets can no longer can have repeated War Recovery status effects
• Androids no longer get a Treasure Hunter specialization option

Balance changes

To give more context on the balance changes mentioned before, here is a breakdown of what happened.

All drones got a bonus of ~10% to their mobility (top speed, acceleration, rotation). When paired with an option of making them even faster with a hangar booster, it turns drones into a more dangerous unit that does not just lag behind the top-end vessels.

Most gatling-style weapons got a flat HP bonus and an increased ammo capacity. Some of the variants also got an increased bonus against drone targets.

Most missile weapons got a damage boost (it does include mine layers). Especially the larger ones, like torpedo launcher.

Ice-based weapons got increased ammo capacity and an extra synergy via a new specialization ("Frostbringer").

Healing weapons got battery usage per shot decrease.

Some more powerful weapons got situational nerfs. Like Vessel Buster getting an anti-drone damage penalty.

Many other underused weapons got a slight boost and/or cost reduce. The goal is to make all weapons viable, at least in some situations and builds. We're still not done with weapon balancing, but I think we're getting closer.