Weekly Development Update

[Marsman]

Sporkfire has posted this weeks development activities. Here's what he had to say:

We are currently working on the version 3.1 update and event planning for the coming weekend. Empire Commanders have already been communicating in the Empire forums, foreshadowing the goals coming up. Today, they should have a better idea of what is going on so be sure to watch for them. We'll release more details as we get closer to the event.
Version 3.1 will include the following changes:

• Implementing the Global Warp Queuing system, which gives players information that they can use to decide whether to continue trying to enter a continent of move on to another.
• Implemented Joystick Support. For a description of the Joystick UI, click here.
• Vehicle Experience Sharing is in testing, allowing unsquadded drivers and gunners to share the rewards for each kill that the vehicle crew makes. Drivers will receive 50% of the amount that the gunner earned. Other gunners will gain 20% of the amount that the gunner received. Passengers will not receive any experience.
• Players will be able to unlearn Certifications that are pre-requisites for other Certs. When a player does this, that Cert and all dependent certifications will be unlearned, freeing up those certification points so they can be spent immediately. This change will give players many more options for changing their character�s build over shorter periods of time.
• When a player attempts to bail from a heavily damaged air vehicle, there will be a chance that the bail malfunctions. The chance of malfunction will not activate until a certain threshold of damage is reached. As the craft takes more damage, there will be a greater chance of malfunction. Galaxy passengers (but not pilots, gunners and cargo) will always be able to bail without malfunction.
• Passengers and Gunners will be able to bail from vehicles moving at any speed, without making the vehicle slow down. Passengers and gunners will always be able to bail from ground vehicles. Malfunctions will only occur with flight vehicles.
• Flail damage has been changed. The flail projectile will do less damage at short ranges, and so more damage as the projectile travels further.
• Players who destroy enemy vehicles will not accrue grief for friendlies damaged in the explosion.
• The nanodispenser, BANK, and medical applicator will be usable when a character has weapons locked from Grief. This will allow players working their way through a Grief Lock to still contribute to their Empire through support activities.
• Fixed an issue where if the BFR servos were damaged while a BFR was crouched, it would retrigger the crouch animations.
• Fixed an issue that would cause BFR's to get stuck under bridges.
• The /ignore command will properly ignore global broadcasts.
• Players will be limited to deploying 20 Boomers at a time.
• The Punisher will be able to fire three shots before its Cone of Fire begins to bloom.
• 25mm and 35mm ammo will now permeate BFR Shields.
• Substantially increased the Sunderer's armor.

We are planning a public playtest of this update, specifically focusing on the Warp Queuing system. During this playtest, the continental population cap will be dramatically lowered in order to get the most opportunity to test it.
Victor Wachter
Community Relations Manager

Looks like some nice changes. Be sure to watch for playtests and help the devs get this new patch ready.

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