Update 3 is now available for USC. As the biggest update in the history of Beta 1, version 0.9.0.3 greatly enhances the Defend the Base! game mode, adds and fixes a lot of features regarding core gameplay mechanics, improves engine stability and more.
USC Beta 1 Update 3
CUMULATIVE. This update works with any previous version of USC (0.9.0.0, .1 or .2).
This update is fully backwards compatible and known to be fully stable, but due to the amount of changes/fixes issued, there can be some glitches that will be fixed in the next release.
0.9.0.3 -- b0244 -- 14.02.14
Rule/gameplay changes:
- Abandoning the base in DTB will mean a 20% score penalty from now on. This is to ensure that--in most cases--completing Wave 10 on a lower difficulty level would still mean more score than "chickening out" after Wave 8 or 9. This certainly does not apply to great differences in difficulty or wave number.
- There are now two distinct buttons in DTB for cleaning contamination and clearing (demolishing) structures. The latter also costs 25 BP and cleans beforehand, but can be applied even on intact structures now. Cleaning will no longer demolish structures, even for severely breached rooms (unlike before).
- Single Missions: Added option to retain light levels regardless of difficulty for -1000 score.
- Disassembling higher level blueprints will now also earn the low-level crafting material bonus. (Click with RMB on a blueprint on the Squad Assembly screen to disassemble it.)
Bug fixes:
- Fixed a DTB Build bug where Base Points were charged for repair operations on empty areas.
- Fixed a bug where the content of equipment crates was misplaced on the actual map (y:1).
- Fixed a bug where items could be put inside non-equipment crate map objects (e.g. databanks).
- Fixed some items not working from the inventory toolbar if the main inventory was closed.
- Various minor fixes of the new inventory toolbar. None of the known bugs jeopardized gameplay.
GUI changes:
- Floating messages shown on the left edge of the map will now always be properly visible.
- Added detailed skill descriptions to Squad Assembly screen (incl. actual rules).
- Added tooltip info for map parameters.
- Added yellow, red and green grid markings to the DTB strategic screen for damaged, breached walls and rad pools.
- Added "INSPECT" option to DTB Build screen. This allows viewing the actual game map, showing build results in "real time".
- Instead "Save & Exit", there's now a distinct button for both "Save" and "Main Menu" on the DTB Build screen.
Other changes / minor fixes:
> Gameplay:
- Using a medikit on the unit itself from the inventory toolbar with the main inventory closed will no longer deselect the unit instead.
- Units can be no longer knocked back onto an open sewer door, instead they will lose APs as they normally would.
- Monsters can no longer emerge from a sewer on the top of another open sewer door (a rare, but annoying case).
- Dead worms will no longer possibly leave a rad splat on closed sewer doors (it was unnoticeable and hence annoying).
- Fixed using an item from the toolbar highlighting items for pickup on the ground.
- Various minor fixes to Defend the Base! mode.
> GUI:
- Fixed DTB status display damage factor computing.
- Fixed erratic "Not enough Morale!" message when using some items (since added new floating messages).
- Fixed erratic "Not enough APs!" message when auto-reloading a weapon AND not having APs for attacking after.
- Customized logo/portraits will no longer temporarily disappear when (re-)saving a squad.
> Session:
- Fixed outdoor light breach levels for DTB (and all outdoors) maps.
- Exiting from the DTB Build screen to the Main Menu (not abandoning!) will now create an autosave named "ExitSave.sav". This one autosave file is used, so please make your own saves with the "Save" button if you want to keep different versions of your progress.
- Game will now automatically create a "victory save" on mission completion with the map name (or seed) included.
> Engine/settings:
- Audio settings will now commit as intended.
- Changing audio settings will no longer force/advise a game restart when it is not mandatory.
- The game will no longer automatically exit & restart in the Settings menu, it will only prompt you to do so manually.
- Improved clean-up of game resources from memory on exiting the game.
- Changed key event capture behavior (fail-safe for key lockups).
- All languages other than English are now unavailable temporarily (until I catch up with locales).