Beta Update 0.8.1.19

Big balance change this patch and also a rework on the engines. See balance for details. And of course we are looking forward to hearing your feedback / experiences with these changes.

Update availability

This update is still under active development. As such, it is only available if you switch to the beta branch of Vanguard Galaxy to test out these new changes. Instruction on how to install the beta updates can be found at the bottom of this post.

Added/Changes

• New Ship: Redemption-Class Size 6 Battlecruiser (Spirit Design)

• New Ship: Decrodan-Class Size 6 Battlecruiser (Varlis Construct)

• Changed some UI elements in the HUD and hangar overview

• Added Medium Hangar Bay recipe

• Destroyer size and higher now have different side thrusters, better suited for their size

• Added smoke trails to main thrusters

Balance

• RemovedBig balance changeWe removed the existing formula that reduced damage output of extra turrets beyond the first. We felt this current calculation was not clear to the player and also hard to explain why having more turrets reduces damage output. So in order to balance this change we instead increased HP levels of enemies, asteroids and salvage. Early game is still the same, but from level 10 an increase of HP is introduced that will presist all the way to the higher levels. The player receives the same increase in HP, so the intent is that battles will be the same length as they are currently. We of course look forward to your feedback on this change. For those with high level patrol and bounty levels, this could have a big impact on the current performance. Let us know what your experience is for the level of your patrol.

• Engine thrust stat and working reworked. Engines also get a rotational and side thrust stat. This will make carriers fly a lot better, but it might also lead to some crazy fast ships. :) Even sized ships (2,4 and 6) also get a new hull bonus representing them having extra engines and thus a buff of their thrust stats. Let us know what you think.

• Ammo restocks more items per tick based on cargo size

• When escaping a failed boarding attempt crewpods will hold more crew which will reduce the total number of pods to pick up

• Added 1 medium hardpoint to ship: Absolution

Fixes

• Fix for unkillable Monsoon and its decals, also caused issues for salvaging wreckage of this ship

• Fix for error causing repair to go crazy in personal hangar

• Fix for selling a spaceship assigned to a carrier, also fixed assignments to carrier when selling carrier itself

• Fix for officer rename not surviving save / load

• Fix for spacestations not appearing, including on escort missions

• Fix for abandoned installations still having ambushes. Only automated defenses can still fire

• Fix for merc not respawning after repairing in some situations

• Fix for some shops refreshing into identical content

• Fix for Battlecruisers / Carriers not playing nice with the fast travel

• Fixed some abilities not working properlty (Battle stations), their effect is now also shown in ship information while active

• Fix for larger mass ships getting easily pushed around by smaller ships

• Fixed Faction skirmish warzones where hostile flags are not properly set on enemies

• Fix for jumpgate passes not always surviving a shop refresh

• Dreadport systems that are still locked without the player having a jumpgate pass will regenerate a new conflict zone for that system

Cheers,

Bat Roost Games

Enable the beta version

Make sure to keep an old save game when switching to the beta, just in case. We always make sure that your save games will keep working, but as long as the beta is ahead of the release, the beta save game won't work on the release version until it catches up.

To take part go to Manage and select Properties for Vanguard Galaxy in Steam:

And select the open-beta under Game Versions & Betas as shown below.