Development Update - Hulls, Modules, and Story, Oh My!
Hey, Scrappers! I know it's been a little quiet around here, apologies for that as I've been busy with the day job. But that's no excuse!
Full notes
Full Scraps Of The Machine update
Read the full published notes in a cleaner layout. The original post stays linked below.
Repeated intro
Hey, Scrappers! I know it's been a little quiet around here, apologies for that as I've been busy with the day job. But that's no excuse! I've still been cooking new featured based upon the most requested playtest feedback points, but it has taken me a little bit longer then I'd like. That all said here is a glimpse into some of the new features incoming with the next Playtest, which I'm aiming to have mid to late April. Hulls The most requested feature was for more Hull types to choose from. These more drastically modify your stats for overall Hull Health, base Movement Speed, Fuel Costs while Boosting (either while on the ground or in air), and more!
What changed
0 fixes2 additions3 changes0 removals
Balance
Gameplay
Maps
addedHey, Scrappers! I know it's been a little quiet around here, apologies for that as I've been busy with the day job. But that's no excuse! I've still been cooking new featured based upon the most requested playtest feedback points, but it has taken me a little bit longer then I'd like. That all said here is a glimpse into some of the new features incoming with the next Playtest, which I'm aiming to have mid to late April. Hulls The most requested feature was for more Hull types to choose from. These more drastically modify your stats for overall Hull Health, base Movement Speed, Fuel Costs while Boosting (either while on the ground or in air), and more!
addedThe second most requested feature was more ways to customize the overall feel of the Mech. This will be done through Module slots. These offer additional flexibility to set up your preferred Mech playstyle. Want to go guns blazing with overwhelming firepower? Equip Modules which reduce Heat Generation for your preferred Weapon Type and increase Weapon Durability. Want better Boosting capability? Then add Modules which allow for greater side Boost distance and reduced Boost costs.
changedQuick Cooldown / "Reload" One change to an existing feature is Quick Cooldown. Previously, this would activate automatically after a few seconds of not firing a weapon, and as the name might imply, quickly cooldown existing Heat Generation until firing resumed. Now, the Quick Cooldown has it's own Gauge which will slowly recharge with collected Scrap, but drains quickly when in use. Players will be able to use this to manually cool their weapons off in tougher situation, but can only use it sparingly.
changedMaps and POI's One common complaint was how easy it was to get lost in the levels. Part of this is on purpose, but that doesn't mean more can't be done to make navigation more easy to digest. As such, some of the improvements in the works are 2d Map indicators when selecting Bunker locations to Deploy to, as well as making areas stand out better with more points of interest and notable landmarks.
changedWIP of the Map Display when selecting which Bunker to deploy to, showing a basic overview of the selected zone.
Scraps Of The Machine changes
addedHey, Scrappers! I know it's been a little quiet around here, apologies for that as I've been busy with the day job. But that's no excuse! I've still been cooking new featured based upon the most requested playtest feedback points, but it has taken me a little bit longer then I'd like. That all said here is a glimpse into some of the new features incoming with the next Playtest, which I'm aiming to have mid to late April. Hulls The most requested feature was for more Hull types to choose from. These more drastically modify your stats for overall Hull Health, base Movement Speed, Fuel Costs while Boosting (either while on the ground or in air), and more!
addedThe second most requested feature was more ways to customize the overall feel of the Mech. This will be done through Module slots. These offer additional flexibility to set up your preferred Mech playstyle. Want to go guns blazing with overwhelming firepower? Equip Modules which reduce Heat Generation for your preferred Weapon Type and increase Weapon Durability. Want better Boosting capability? Then add Modules which allow for greater side Boost distance and reduced Boost costs.
changedQuick Cooldown / "Reload" One change to an existing feature is Quick Cooldown. Previously, this would activate automatically after a few seconds of not firing a weapon, and as the name might imply, quickly cooldown existing Heat Generation until firing resumed. Now, the Quick Cooldown has it's own Gauge which will slowly recharge with collected Scrap, but drains quickly when in use. Players will be able to use this to manually cool their weapons off in tougher situation, but can only use it sparingly.
changedMaps and POI's One common complaint was how easy it was to get lost in the levels. Part of this is on purpose, but that doesn't mean more can't be done to make navigation more easy to digest. As such, some of the improvements in the works are 2d Map indicators when selecting Bunker locations to Deploy to, as well as making areas stand out better with more points of interest and notable landmarks.
changedWIP of the Map Display when selecting which Bunker to deploy to, showing a basic overview of the selected zone.
Steam post image HRM 'Porcupine' Medium Hull
Steam post image LTT-28 'Bolt' Light Hull
Modules
The second most requested feature was more ways to customize the overall feel of the Mech. This will be done through Module slots. These offer additional flexibility to set up your preferred Mech playstyle. Want to go guns blazing with overwhelming firepower? Equip Modules which reduce Heat Generation for your preferred Weapon Type and increase Weapon Durability. Want better Boosting capability? Then add Modules which allow for greater side Boost distance and reduced Boost costs.
Steam post image Module Selection Screen
Quick Cooldown / "Reload"One change to an existing feature is Quick Cooldown. Previously, this would activate automatically after a few seconds of not firing a weapon, and as the name might imply, quickly cooldown existing Heat Generation until firing resumed. Now, the Quick Cooldown has it's own Gauge which will slowly recharge with collected Scrap, but drains quickly when in use. Players will be able to use this to manually cool their weapons off in tougher situation, but can only use it sparingly.
Maps and POI's One common complaint was how easy it was to get lost in the levels. Part of this is on purpose, but that doesn't mean more can't be done to make navigation more easy to digest. As such, some of the improvements in the works are 2d Map indicators when selecting Bunker locations to Deploy to, as well as making areas stand out better with more points of interest and notable landmarks.
WIP of the Map Display when selecting which Bunker to deploy to, showing a basic overview of the selected zone.
Narrative and Story
For those that asked for more to the story (which was most of you!) there has also been more put into setting up the world and narrative. Under the Scrapper's Guild the player has accepted a task to locate and destroy 4 powerful AI entities which are in control of a region known as The Artificial Zone.
The player will run into other Scrappers that have defected to aid the AI for their own benefits, as well as other factions along the way.
That's all for now! Look forward to the next update, which will finalize the dates for the next public playtest! - Harrison / Knight Division Games
