'Fire in the Skies' Update Notes - April 4th, 2017

(Chris Mullins) #1

[i]This damn airship.

You shut down the AA defenses. We got the thing out. Everything was peachy.

But the CDA? They’re not fucking around. They threw down mobile SAM missiles quick-smart, and lit it right up.

The airship’s on a crash-course to the docks, and we’re plotting a ‘rescue’ mission.

If what we want is still intact, we need it more than ever.

Keep your comms open.[/i]

Our new map, Dockyard, will be releasing in May. To get you ready, you have one month to collect four Limited Edition Dockyard-themed Trinkets.

Earn ‘Vectors’, a limited time currency, by playing in matches, and use them to unlock Limited Edition Trinkets in the Fire in the Skies Shop.

You’ll also get 50% more Vectors when you play in Ranked mode, along with 1.5x the Credit earn rate.

When the event ends on May 2, your remaining Vectors will be converted into Credits at a rate of 1:1.

Lifesaver - 300 Vectors

The common lifesaver, found liberally scattered around the dockyard.

Wrecking Ball - 1000 Vectors

A rusty crane stands stoically in the docks, waiting for another round of wrecking.

Blueboat - 3500 Vectors

Leisure boating around London. Ah, those were the days.

Airship

Once you have the three previous Trinkets, you’ll automatically unlock the Airship Trinket!

This spiralling CDA airship is in the center of a fierce intelligence war. Sources say that an undercover Jackal operative infiltrated London’s Millennium Dome and piloted it out of the arena. With the CDA shooting it out of the sky to prevent its escape, Jackal are desperate to retrieve what’s aboard.

Kills you make with the Airship Trinket equipped are highlighted in the obituaries for all players.

The Fire in the Skies event will take place on the following dates:

[list][] London (GMT, UTC): 11:00, Tuesday, April 4th - 11:00, Tuesday, May 2nd
[] Los Angeles (PDT): 4:00 AM, Tuesday, April 4th - 4:00 AM, Tuesday, May 2nd
[*] Sydney (AEDT): 9:00 PM, Tuesday, April 4th - 9:00 PM, Tuesday, May 2nd[/list]

Custom Crosshairs

You’ve been asking for these, so we’ve delivered. The Crosshair options in the game have been drastically overhauled, with several new options including:

[list][] Multiple static and dynamic crosshairs to choose from
[] Colour and opacity sliders for both the static and dynamic crosshairs
[] Adding a pixel-border to your static crosshair
[] The ability to use your own custom static crosshair image
[*] The choice of displaying a static crosshair when sighted/scoped or not[/list]

If you want to use your own custom static crosshair image, you’ll need to place a 32x32 PNG file named CustomCrosshair.png in your \Documents\My Games\UnrealEngine3\ShooterGame\CustomCrosshair folder.

Balance

Thunder

With the return of Ranked, the blinding nature of Thunder has become a bigger concern for many players. While we agree that changes need to be made, we want to avoiding going too far and ending up with the under-powered Thunder we’ve had in the past. With that in mind, we’ve decided to tone down the impact of getting caught in a Concussion Grenade, with the following changes:

[list][] Reduced maximum full-blind Flash time by 20% to 2.0s (from 2.5s)
[] Reduced maximum full-stun Concussion time by ~15% to 3.0s (from 3.5s)

  • Meaning players will start regaining their vision/movement earlier and be able to fight back sooner

[*] Increased Cooldown by ~13% to 17s (from 15s)

  • Makes this the same as Fragger and slightly less spammy[/list]

Stoker

To give players more of a reason to pick Stoker over the likes of Skyhammer or Kira we’ve reduced the cooldown of his Molotov Grenade and increased the overall damage, while making it feel more consistent as well.

[list][] Reduced Molotov Grenade cooldown to 35s (from 40s)
[] Increased the damage the outer flames do by ~30% to 27 per tick (from 21)[/list]

Other Changes

User Interface

[list][*] Added a video popup on game launch when there’s a new Dev or Update Video

  • If you’d like to turn these off, find the ‘Enable weekly dev update popups’ checkbox at the bottom of the News menu, and uncheck it[/list]

Bug Fixes

[list][*] Fixed bug where Fletcher’s Sticky Bombs would sometimes not explode if thrown rapidly

  • This is a temporary fix; the weapon switching system needs to be significantly reworked to get to the root of this and other issues

[] Fixed bug where players would sometimes not get penalised for leaving a Ranked Lobby after finding a match
[] Fixed bug where the mid-match warmup was 80 seconds in Ranked, when it should be 30 seconds
[] Fixed bug where the UI would disappear during the mid-match warmup in Ranked
[] Fixed bug where the description for Ranked Cases implied that they contain a Loadout Card only for Mercs owned by the player
[] Fixed bug where Mercs featured in case description in the Ranked Store page was not accurate to the tool tip
[] Fixed bug where Phantom’s Refractive Armor could take extra damage if being hit by certain weapons
[*] Fixed bug where smooth-scrolling mice would sometimes not register input[/list]

Known Issues

  • Kills made with the Airship Trinket equipped should be highlighted in the obituaries. Until we include this functionality in a future update, teabag 'em instead
(OwynTyler) #2

No pretty trinkets this time? :’( I’m still using that old one - blue-crystal guy
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/dirtybomb/images/0/04/Dickensday_-Winter%27s_Meme_Event-Tricket-_Ice_Coal%27d.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170203203034

(Mc1412013) #3

Will the boat make boat sounds like how the doge barked.

(hoyes) #4

YES. Now just buff the Mk46 and hey presto Thunda is muy bueno.

(The_True_mo) #5

Arty on gens?

(TheStrangerous) #6

[quote=“stayfreshshoe;d-36069”]Hey all!

Wrecking Ball - 1000 Vectors

A rusty crane stands stoically in the docks, waiting for another round of wrecking.

[/quote]

In the next trinket event, bring road roller :wink:

(arkti) #7

Is anyone from SD testing the game before update is relased? Things that should be working correctly - penalties, mid match warmup time etc are not working and it needs patch… GG
and we don’t know if that have been fixed because patch is tomorrow. As i know there are still, unfixed old bugs like “speedhack” while being rly close to EV before its repaired and much more. Idk what you doing guys, you fix something but its still coming back.

PS. Thunder nerf too small, it needs atleast 20 sec of cooldown time. Its too annoying ability, its like ohh im 12 btw and i can’t shoot so ill blind my targets when they can’t see me and ill easy frags.

(PeterComputer) #8

\o/
Damn you guys are rocking it this year.

(Corppet) #9

How about updating the oldest trinkets from the first [‘What the Dickens?’] winter event. It’s kind of sad for it to not have a special animation when inspecting, and the icon doesn’t show up in the killfeed. Still confused? I’m talking about the Lump Ol’ Coal, Olde Flashlight and Warm Snowman trinkets. At least give the Warm Snowman some more love please?

(pumpkinmeerkat) #10

[quote=“stayfreshshoe;d-36069”]With the return of Ranked, the blinding nature of Thunder has become a bigger concern for many players. While we agree that changes need to be made, we want to avoiding going too far and ending up with the under-powered Thunder we’ve had in the past.
[/quote]

  1. This has been a big concern since well before the new ranked season. TRIGGERED :’(
  2. Is it possible we will see significant reworks to Thunder and/or Phantom (as significant as Phantom having EMP added to cloak) in future updates? Thunder feeling unsatisfying to play is nearly as much of an issue as him being OP. Simply making the conc nade cookable again would be a welcomed addition with little consequence - just one suggestion of many discussed on this forum alone.
  3. Individual mercs being under or overpowered won’t be such an issue if subsequent updates at least attempt to improve balance in a timely manner. The stakes are made unnecessarily high when balance updates are spaced so far apart.
(ImSploosh) #11

So another event that uses a different type of currency? I’m almost at 1 million credits and there’s NOTHING to spend them on (other than cases). The current trade up/trade in system is too bad to use and there really isn’t anything else.

I love the trinkets though, can’t wait to earn them… Just wish we’d get something to spend our credits on. I just keep stockpiling them D:

(arkti) #12

about the trinkets…i have 12 and i use skull / ranked only so pfft but crosshair thing is a PogChamp Kreygasm omg finally.

(Mc1412013) #13

[quote=“ImSploosh;c-224695”]So another event that uses a different type of currency? I’m almost at 1 million credits and there’s NOTHING to spend them on (other than cases). The current trade up/trade in system is too bad to use and there really isn’t anything else.

I love the trinkets though, can’t wait to earn them… Just wish we’d get something to spend our credits on. I just keep stockpiling them D:[/quote]

Im at little over 1.5 milion and counting

And wow there realy pushing hard on the ranked matches first cards and now 1.5 vector thingie credits

(ImSploosh) #14

[quote=“Mc1412013;c-224699”][quote=“ImSploosh;c-224695”]So another event that uses a different type of currency? I’m almost at 1 million credits and there’s NOTHING to spend them on (other than cases). The current trade up/trade in system is too bad to use and there really isn’t anything else.

I love the trinkets though, can’t wait to earn them… Just wish we’d get something to spend our credits on. I just keep stockpiling them D:[/quote]

Im at little over 1.5 milion and counting

And wow there realy pushing hard on the ranked matches first cards and now 1.5 vector thingie credits[/quote]

Yeah man, I saw someone with millions on multiple accounts! I’m sure some people haven’t spent their credits in over a year.

Another thing I’d like to know about is the lag. There’s some serious problems with the servers now. Not sure when it changed, but kills are often delayed, there’s random rubberbanding, bullets not registering, etc. This only becomes really noticeable when you ping over 80-100 on a server. As a U.S. East player, there’s normally only U.S. West servers in ranked for some odd reason, although a lot of the time, the players in said match are U.S. East. Seems odd to me. Also makes the game very irritating to play because it’s not smooth anymore.

Back when I first started playing, like November 2015, and for a while after that, servers were great, or the lag compensation was, idk. There wasn’t any real noticeable difference between someone pinging 30 to someone with a 200 ping. As long as the ping was stable, it was playable. Now, the higher the ping goes, the worse it gets, no matter how stable it is.

What’s up with this? anyone know?

(Mc1412013) #15

[quote=“ImSploosh;c-224701”][quote=“Mc1412013;c-224699”][quote=“ImSploosh;c-224695”]So another event that uses a different type of currency? I’m almost at 1 million credits and there’s NOTHING to spend them on (other than cases). The current trade up/trade in system is too bad to use and there really isn’t anything else.

I love the trinkets though, can’t wait to earn them… Just wish we’d get something to spend our credits on. I just keep stockpiling them D:[/quote]

Im at little over 1.5 milion and counting

And wow there realy pushing hard on the ranked matches first cards and now 1.5 vector thingie credits[/quote]

Yeah man, I saw someone with millions on multiple accounts! I’m sure some people haven’t spent their credits in over a year.

Another thing I’d like to know about is the lag. There’s some serious problems with the servers now. Not sure when it changed, but kills are often delayed, there’s random rubberbanding, bullets not registering, etc. This only becomes really noticeable when you ping over 80-100 on a server. As a U.S. East player, there’s normally only U.S. West servers in ranked for some odd reason, although a lot of the time, the players in said match are U.S. East. Seems odd to me. Also makes the game very irritating to play because it’s not smooth anymore.

Back when I first started playing, like November 2015, and for a while after that, servers were great, or the lag compensation was, idk. There wasn’t any real noticeable difference between someone pinging 30 to someone with a 200 ping. As long as the ping was stable, it was playable. Now, the higher the ping goes, the worse it gets, no matter how stable it is.

What’s up with this? anyone know? [/quote]

I noticed that too that im get a lot of west servers. Tin foil hat warning…its nexon secretly at work forcing the west servers lol kidding i hope.

(GatoCommodore) #16

mfw the thunder nerf

(SaulWolfden) #17

Woo, Stoker buff, glad the cooldown is being reduced.

(PeterComputer) #18

Wait I just realised,

THERE IS NO COALY TRINKET

I dont care if coaly is a chrismas mascot, I demand a coaly trinket for each of the four seasons.

forget dockyard or turtle this should be your top priority
you have 48 hours SD

(Melinder) #19

No proper Thunder nerf? Fucking rofl.

K bye.

(HammerOfDawn21) #20

@stayfreshshoe said:

Sources say that an undercover Jackal operative infiltrated London’s Millennium Dome and piloted it out of the arena. With the CDA shooting it out of the sky to prevent its escape, Jackal are desperate to retrieve what’s aboard.

Seeing all the Mercs were fighting in Dome over the AA. Who is this mysterious Merc? You’ve got one guess.

Until we include this functionality in a future update, teabag 'em instead.

So no more don’t be a dick t-shirts?