Zero-K v1.7.3.1

In this update we've taken a look at the economy, with an eye to getting more players through the early game and into the midgame. Several problematic units have also been tweaked and there are some superweapon changes for large games FFA.

Economy Tweaks

Initial incomes are now higher, offset by lower starting resources.

• Commander income +4 metal, +6 energy -> +8 metal and energy.
• Start resources 400 -> 200.

The change in income and resources approximately corresponds to a free Solar and two Mexes. This change should smooth the start of the game by creating a slightly more economic default start and by making the loss of an early mex less devastating. Further effects, such as the efficacy of Ravens, will require community experimentation.

Constructors no longer generate trickles of resources.

• Everything in the factory tab now has 0.5 metal and energy income (up from 0.3).
• All other constructors (besides the Commander) no longer generate resources. Previously, small constructors generated 0.15 metal and energy.
• Constructor costs have mostly been reduced by 4 per buildpower to offset the economic disruption. Each unit of buildpower used to generate 4 metal and energy every 2 minutes and 13 seconds.

Here is the full list of cost changes. Some buffs or nerfs have occurred relative to the rule of 4 cost per buildpower.

• Caretaker 220 -> 180
• Conch 180 -> 150
• Conjuror 140 -> 120
• Constable 130 -> 120 (a relative nerf of 6)
• Convict 140 -> 120
• Crane 220 -> 200 (a relative buff of 4)
• Quill 150 -> 130
• Mariner 220 -> 200 (a relative nerf of 10)
• Mason 140 -> 120
• Wasp 300 -> 260 (a relative buff of 10)
• Weaver 200 -> 170
• Welder 230 -> 200

The change addresses FFA Conch spam, makes losing an early constructors a bit less game-ending, and should make factories such as Spider, Amph and Tank a little less awkward.

Balance

Conjuror

• Cloak drain 0.5 moving 0.1 static -> completely free.

Scythe

• Autorepair +20 after 10s -> +10 after 10s.

Kodachi

• Autorepair +12 after 5s -> +10 after 10s.

Cyclops

• Slowbeam damage 1500 -> 2000

Toad now has slightly better HP/cost than Gremlin, since it is slow and relatively short ranged.

• Cost 550 -> 500
• Health 1500 -> 2000

Hacksaw now reliably protects someone standing right next to it.

• Range 430 -> 480
• Projectile velocity 800 -> 600 (high velocity causes misses)
• Projectile turn rate increased 22% (low turn rate also causes misses)
• Burst delay 0.5s -> 0.2s.
• LOS 500 -> 550

Cutter

• No longer occasionally fails to move close enough to its target.

Seawolf

• Can now fire (and successfully hit) in every direction.
• Missed torpedoes no longer fly across the map (also applies to underwater Scallops).

Tweaked the costs of some Striders and Superweapons.

• Paladin 10.5K -> 10K
• Detriment 24K -> 20K
• Zenith 30K -> 32K
• Disco Rave Party 32K -> 36K

Fixed Detriment overkill prevention, it now only applies to its missiles.

Interface

• Added an option 'Settings/HUD Panels/Command Panel/Selection Closes Tab' which sets whether selecting a construction option closes the construction tab.
• Made units easier to click on by enlarging their mouse raytrace hitboxes.
• Drop detection no longer automatically pauses, because the pause detection behaviour was broken.
• Fixed performance issue while not looking at the sharing/scoreboard panel. The performance issue that is caused by looking at the sharing/scoreboard panel remains.

quote: assigning all basic income to the commander

We're stuck with it.

• Everything must exist concretely as part of a unit.
• The plopped factory is not meant to be unique.
• Starting with more than one unit is ugly.

Can't be! Can it???!
Finally "fixed" detriment, scythe bit weaker and hacksaw went from useless trash back to somewhat useful :O

Can't wait to test "com nap && cap" tactics, it's a zoo time!

Though I'm a bit worried about removing trickle income from cons - this was really great part of ZK and allowed for flexibility and very interesting comebacks in FFA games. This alone worths having this income.

Just morph cloak on the com instead of terra tbh.

Now we just need to add -proper- explosions to dying coms :P
after all it must be somewhat hazardous producing such high constant metal and energy output, isn't it?

[Spoiler]

[Spoiler]

yea, we need eco modules for coms...
say 300m module that gives +0.3/+0.3 and increases explosion size and damage...

Permakrowrush

This update reverted the hunter model :(

Tanks are a more viable 1v1 plop v rovers now. Way more viable.

I find it really remarkable how in Zero-K, the game and the playerbase can somehow cope with even such massive changes to almost-core gameplay mechanics and not break.

For what reason was this changed?

quote: The change in income and resources approximately corresponds to a free Solar and two Mexes. This change should smooth the start of the game by creating a slightly more economic default start and by making the loss of an early mex less devastating.

quote: This came from a few discussions about making the start of the game smoother.

As you can clearly see, this discussion appers to be extremely 1v1 oriented.

quote: smoother start

Does that mean faster start? Why? I have never felt a need for this. And I see no reasons given for why "smoother starts" should be considered a good thing. So effectively, no reasons have been given for making this massive change.


Also, GoogleFrog, please explain to us why there haven't been any chages to Big Bertha. Please.