Welcome starchasers! It's the Steam Autumn Sale (which takes place in the heart of winter for some reason) and predictably, we've got a patch just in time for you. I know you love patches, in the same way Mimosa loves her mechanical duck toy and Prince loves his string. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35321791/bf3030830894adce4315834437c78573b588ed46.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35321791/f77b49b16060bdda55fbd1dcbfb0073852bdc375.jpg[/img] This update's got a few new tidbits that I finally got around to doing. No it's still not the big milestone update, seeing as that includes a lot of huge stuff like full planetside interiors, it obviously takes a lot of doing. But there's still some neat things! [h1][b]Update Highlights[/b][/h1] You ever make use of drones, autoturrets, or those fishing platform thingies that heal you (did you know that?). Well been completely changed in how they function. Rather than actively draining your energy, they now work off an active time amount followed by a cooldown. This leaves your AI skill a bit more useful. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35321791/b8997de8225aa07a9cfe9b8c155262be5bb344b4.png[/img] We've also got a new weapon type, one of our most request types: summoning pods. These launchers pump out weapons platforms that attack your nearby enemies, but their health decays over time. Again, your AI skill increases the time they're able to stay alive. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35321791/8798da2a0b5e76ef45e28c1f6589dcbcc92ea9e0.png[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35321791/29c611190a3f07eb1718e88e68ee6ae79da25608.png[/img] There's also been some lighting changes. Turns out there's some old code from like five years ago (back when lightning wasn't actual lightning) and it was causing issues. Now it's not. Very atmospheric. [previewyoutube=DsoApCM1irY;full][/previewyoutube] Finally, you kept wanting to see more activity throughout space, so now there is! Asteroid fields, nebulas, and the deep reaches of space now have encounters for various space pirates, smugglers, and more. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35321791/11a46f31e82e79b9ca4ae191e5a52b01824a4237.png[/img] Onto the patch! [h1][b]Changelog is as follows:[/b][/h1] [h2]NEW FEATURES[/h2] [list] [*] Total overhaul of how AI and the AI skill works. AI now no longer drain energy, but instead have a maximum amount of time they're able to be active before they go into a cooldown. The AI skill now increases the amount of time the AI can be active. Mining drones are unaffected by this change (as they don’t drain energy to begin with). [*] Added summoning pods: These are missile launchers that go into your AI slot and can be used to temporarily summon forth weapon platforms that attack nearby enemies. These platforms decay over time, with your AI skill affecting how long they can stay active. You can find a variety of these pods sold through stations across the galaxy, with a special few able to be crafted with… certain materials. [*] Station descriptions now include a list of the equipment sold at the station. Remember: You asked for this. [*] Points of interest that haven’t been found now have a new scan pulse icon, to help colorblind players. [*] Increased ship presence: Pirates now inhabit many forgotten corners of the galaxy, and if you’re off the beaten path in nebulas and asteroid belts you’ll often encounter them. [/list] [h2]CHANGES AND REBALANCES[/h2] [list] [*] Train lines are now colored based on inbound and outbound services. There will be no service to Miami. [*] Conceptual primers now stack. [*] Several crafting items are now special items instead of cargo items, and are held in your overall, nonspecific ship inventory. [*] Made scanning for the courier ship in Long Legacies more reliable. [*] Adjusted drop tables of knowledge items to base 10% (down from 30%). [*] Adjusted drop tables of repair items dropped by NPCs. Tier 3 ships now have a base 5% chance (up from 1%) tier 2 ships now have a base 3% chance (up from 1%) [/list] [h2]FIXES[/h2] [list] [*] Fixed some text culling issues with the Apocalypse’s cockpit. [*] Fixed culling issues where some nebulas still showed objects. [*] Fixed some rendering issues aboard Battleship Greatclaw. [*] Fixed old as balls lighting issue with lightning in storms. Ambient lighting during a storm should generally have smoother transitions now. [*] Fixed issue with drop tables for several larger ships during random missions. [*] Fixed some secret dialogue where the speakers were incorrect. [*] Added better restrictions to the Omadaz to prevent docking on it. [*] Fixed some mismatched icons and names in the Bigger Picture. [*] Fixed issue where out of system waypoints wouldn’t work if you had ever discovered a space leviathan. [*] Fixed issue where you could quickload a savegame mid-jump, causing issues. [*] Fixed issue where the Volatile Planetoid would play a victory sting, even if you didn’t actually beat the boss. [/list]