Version 1.21 released

This version is the last one before the new expansion is out and contains various improvements which went to the base game during the expansion development. A new feature, when you accumulate a lot of secrets the Head of the house will visit you on their own and propose some deal (many people were forgetting about the Secrets mechanic, now it’s much more straightforward and you don’t need to remember to capitalize on known secrets). Simplified interaction with the head of the house (now there is just a single “Summon to audience” button). Changed randomization of some important events to prepare for influx of new regular random events in the expansion (so those do not compete with each other and so the periodic events are truly periodic no matter how many regular events there are). Manual has been updated. Many usual adjustments and improvements (interface related mostly) and fixes (one quite important).

Also, do not forget to wishlist the expansion now!

– [feature] If you know at least 3 secrets of a house, there is a chance the head of the house will appear during an audience and offer you some deal to forget those (you also have an option to expose them).

– [misc] “F.E.D. Directorship meeting” events are now guaranteed to be called regularly over time (removed from random events pool).
– [misc] Simplified “Summon head of the house to an audience” (merged into a single button).
– [misc] Spouse of a head first dialogue option requires 3 secrets instead of 5 for exchange of favors (to make it in par with the new event where the head visits and offer favors for forgetting secrets).

– [interface] Audience Prev/Next buttons got hotkeys (“<" and ">“).
– [interface] House screen got Prev/Next buttons. Note that those selects houses based on order of seniority (not relations).
– [interface] Mini buttons for houses now also close Help if open.
– [interface] Event effect tooltips showing person stats (Competence/Loyalty/Charisma/Authority/Monarchism) colored with the custom stat’s color.
– [interface] Event effect tooltips showing house stats (Authority/Monarchism) colored with the custom stat’s color.
– [interface] Interact with house button slightly bigger.
– [interface] Tooltips for all alien relations change now shows the aliens crests.

– [manual] Updated manual (also added special [u] tag for displaying colored hotkeys).

– [fix] Ships never miss (the whole accuracy system was broken).
– [fix] Rename house UI window open when switching to another house.
– [fix] Reform slider was missing button arrow icons.

Reminders
You can follow my Steam Developer Page if you wish to be notified each time a new game or expansions is being released.

Also, if you have a moment to leave a Steam review of the game it would be appreciated. It makes a big difference to an indie developer like me. Thanks!

Version 1.20 released

In this version combat mechanics were adjusted, improved, fixed and clarified. It’s a bit fuzzy what is a new feature, what was wrongly explained and what was broken (it was a mixed bag of stuff), so I just listed all those as “misc”. Some stuff was also simplified (like missiles locking each combat round instead every second round). I also took the opportunity and redesigned and expanded the armor type vs weapon type dynamic. Overall, this version cleaned up some messy stuff related to combat. Oh yes, also traditional small fixes (spelling related mostly).

– [misc] More hull types and weapon types (Laser, Particle Beam, Plasma Gun, Graviton Lance), also Ion renamed to Particle Beam. Added to weapon tooltips the exact effect. Some hull types now have a different weapon type.
– [misc] Missiles attempt to lock on a target enemy ship each combat round (not every second round). The average number of missiles locking per combat round is similar (the change is only to make it less confusing).
– [misc] 50% damage goes to Shields and 50% to Hull (was explained incorrectly in the tooltip). Actually, I was wondering which one is the bug, the mechanic or the tooltip. Decided it’s the tooltip, since 50:50 has some advantages with rounding and is overall easier to grasp.
– [misc] Now aliens can start with Guided Missiles.
– [misc] Other combat related adjustments/fixes.

– [interface] Squadron statistics and espionage tooltip has added that Fighters/Heavy Fighters carry 1 bomb each (and how much damage those deal). Also improved missiles tooltip to make it more clear how those work.

– [fix] Armor ship component was not working.
– [fix] Description of Shields fixed (damage reduction incorrectly listed) (as 1/3 while it’s 50%):
– [fix] Incorrect tooltip info (listed as Hardened Shields instead of Hardened Armor).
– [fix] Incorrect position of some interface elements.
– [fix] Several text related fixes (wrong emperor pronoun in one place and other small stuff).

Reminders
You can follow my Steam Developer Page if you wish to be notified each time a new game or expansions is being released.

Also, if you have a moment to leave a Steam review of the game it would be appreciated. It makes a big difference to an indie developer like me. Thanks!

Version 1.19 released

This version is one big bug fix. Well, it has one measly interface improvement as well, but other than that, just fixes. Actually, there are many more changes, hidden deep inside, but those are made as a preparation for the upcoming expansion, so more like things that needed to be done but not visible to players at all. In short, the most boring update ever. Move along, nothing to see.

– [interface] Mini house buttons (on the top of the screen) sorted by relations/opinion.

– [fix] Was possible to get diplomatic/infiltration progress towards an extinct race.
– [fix] Was possible for an Admiral to sent negative number of squadrons in some cases.
– [fix] Safeguard against potential memory overflow error.
– [fix] Safeguard against squadron templates with no ships (which could cause negative production). Now at least one ship is guaranteed.
– [fix] Events could include options to add Popular Support to reforms that were already passed. Now all such options only pop up if the reform is not passed yet.
– [fix] Bio Chemical bombs were not destroying defensive installations.
– [fix] All constructions (star bases, etc) upkeep was positive (those added money instead of deducting).
– [fix] One of the previous versions broke budget changes counter, fixed.
– [fix] Turns to research could have been displayed as negative (if there was an abundance of research points).
– [fix] Replacing leaders of the house (rebels punishment option) made the head of the house broken (banquet, phantom person on planets display, etc). In addition to the fix, old saves will have this auto corrected on load.
– [fix] Offensive squadrons were not converted to defensive squadrons upon planet conquest in some cases.
– [fix] When automatic queue of technologies option was used the highest unlocked tech level was not updated (and therefore sometimes too low).
– [fix] Various spelling mistakes.

Reminders
You can follow my Steam Developer Page if you wish to be notified each time a new game or expansions is being released.

Also, if you have a moment to leave a Steam review of the game it would be appreciated. It makes a big difference to an indie developer like me. Thanks!