Cyber Knights: Flashpoint News

We're excited to be back with another day of fixes and improvements to catch up on the week of no updates. Update #95 hits the streets with some important upgrades to Account and File pricing, improvements to Contact Traits to make them be more impactful, a nice new File Set minting preview that helps clarify what swapping files is doing for your result chances, and a big set of improvements to Agent EX and other areas of the game based on your F10s for the day!

If you're enjoying the pace of Early Access around here and the on-going improvements to your game, please do remember to leave us a review. We're a tiny studio and we live on the things. You can always edit it later :D


[h2]Improved Digital Prices & Contact Traits[/h2]
For files and accounts, we've fixed a number of pricing bugs that were preventing Power Level from having the correct impact on the prices of each type. These should now be more reactive to higher Power Level and offer increased prices from your Contacts should be forthcoming.

In addition, we've fixed a number of bugs in how Contact Traits were handled that were causing a lot of the price change Traits still not to work as expected. We've been grinding on these and getting everything working right because we're playing the Contact Influence/Exposure Limit Breaks, so these are going to be getting even more important. But for now with Update #95, they're going to help you see even more divergent prices between your Contact offers.


[h2]Minting Preview[/h2]
When changing the files going into Minting a File Set, you can now see a preview of the possible ranges of value for the resulting file - for example, from $35K to $139K. This depends on the inputs (their Rarity and Power Level) and the output they could create (which is randomly selected from the input Rarities and Power Levels).


[h2]Stuck Agent EX Roster[/h2]
For any players who were having their new game Agent EX's roster not load completely, we fixed the issue with their relationship tag to the Wireghost Dancehall that was causing the bug. You can now see all of their tags and their correct equipment.


[h2]XP Bar Relative[/h2]
The XP bar in the roster used to be a progres bar relative to your total XP to your next level, showing a percentage from 0 to your next XP goal, like 1000. We've fixed the bar to work like every XP ever LOL :D and be relative to your progress toward completing your current level (say, from 800 to 1000). Winning!

[h2]v1.6.41 - 6/17/2024[/h2]
- Improved File and Account pricing to be more sensitive to Power Level
- Improved File Set minting UI to include the range of prices possible from the mint based on your Rarity/Power Level inputs
- Fixed bugs with Contact Traits that were preventing Contacts from offering significantly different prices
- Fixed bug with loading Agent EX Sören's roster page due to misformatted relationship tag with Dancehall
- Improved Cybersword's Adaptive Restruct Talent description
- Fixed possible story dead-end in Salvage Job that leaves sibling as Recruit in roster but cannot talk to them
- Fixed XP bar percent in roster to be relative to the current level (800-1000) of all XP (0-1000)
- Fixed tutorial issue where sometimes non-tutorial characters (like Emille) would be referenced in dialog

Welcome back New Boston! We had a short break here so this is the first update since the Agent EX was dropped. Update #94 focuses fully on patching EX issues, so thanks to everyone for putting in F10s. We've been pleased just how stable the new class has been, how much play time the EX are getting and just how fun the class is to play and integrate into both new and existing teams.

So thank you for playing, posting to the forums, hitting F10 if you see something and especially to everyone who left a review this week!

[h2]Underworld Hub Recruit Levels[/h2]
With Update #94, we've resolved the issues that were leaving all recruits at level 1 all the time. Now, Underworld Hub safehouse room will accurately predict the level of the characters it can find and any recruits introduced by other members of the squad or contacts will also have a higher level. This level is based on some math related to your Team Power Level, so as that increases expect to see improved recruit level options.


[h2]Full Auto in the Class Tree[/h2]
Soldier and Agent EX both have +X% Full Auto Damage nodes but these were not displaying or actually elsewhere, like in the combat stats summary block or when damage by Full Auto was estimated or applied. So, this is a nice new bonus you weren't getting before.

Also, we've improved 2 of the Soldier's nodes to go from +2% to +3% Full Auto Damage.

We've also fixed one of the bottom left Agent EX class tree nodes that only gave +1 Reaction, it now grants +1 Reaction and +2% Evasion.


[h2]Other Agent EX Fixes[/h2]
We've improved the VFX for Shuriken Wave to give it a feeling of a wave and individual enemies getting hit. We've also simplified the damage calculations for it - S-Wave was incorrectly applying cover and distance reductions to damage like a Grenade and making it quite weak.

We fixed a bug that could cause Agent EX to lock up when trying to re-use certain Talents (due to their VFX being badly cleaned up).

And finally, we fixed a bug where Glitching across different elevations could result in odd rotations and positioning.

[h2]v1.6.39 - 6/16/2024[/h2]
- Fixed starting level of recruits offered by Underworld Hub and by other characters/contacts - no longer always Level 1
- Improved some bonuses in class tree small nodes for Agent EX, Soldier gains 2 X +1% Full Auto boosts
- Fixed issue with Full Auto Dmg bonuses from class tree not appearing in Combat Stats block
- Fixed bugs where repeated use of some Agent EX Talents could lock game randomly
- Improved VFX for Shuriken Wave, fixed issues reducing Pure Damage to targets incorrectly
- Fixed bug with Agent EX Glitch where changing elevation would cause odd final rotation
- Fixed reported typos, thank you!

Update #93 brings the second new character class to the game, Agent EX, a high-tech killer with phenomenal mobility, tech-warping cybercontrol, and bonuses for dual SMGs. For new games, the Agent EX can replace the Vanguard in your squad, giving you a character with more limited options for dealing with security systems and manipulating enemy guards, but greater offensive capability and a more specialized set of stealth options.

Players that want to run and gun will find the Agent EX can thrive chaotic combat, but may need to invest more in other squad members’ sec-device-disable talents to deal with laser wires or mines. Players that enjoy using the element of surprise will find it harder to stealthily clear the way for their entire squad with Agent EX, but with clever use of their abilities can frequently position the Agent for deadly ambushes.

[h2]The Talent Tree[/h2]



Like the Scourge, Agent EX is the second and final class to require a type of Nano-Hive implant. At the forefront of dangerously experimental cybernetics, the Nano-Have infuses and links the Agent’s body to a nanite swarm.

This allows the Agent to “glitch” short distances at undetectable speeds, gives them a variety of infiltration talents, and makes them a nightmare for enemy drones.

Mobility is a core focus of Agent EX, with 12 nodes of +1 Reaction bonuses available throughout their tree, their Glitch talent, and passive talents like:

• Adrenaline Flow - When taking damage from an attack, instantly reduce damage by 50% and gain +1 Move Points.
  
• Supremacy - When the Security Level rises, gain +10% Evasion, +1 Move Points and +10% Move Speed for remainder of the turn.
  

SMG specialization is assisted through node bonuses of up to +6% Pistol/SMG accuracy, +15% Full Auto damage, and talents like:

• Dual Reload - Fully reload both of your carried Dual SMGs for 2AP.
  
• Aimlock - If this Dual SMG attack hits, start an Aimlock Streak so that the next attacks gain +25% Ballistic Pure Dmg upgrade, +25% Armor Shred.
  

Destroy drones with node bonuses of up to +6% accuracy vs drones, +25% damage vs drones, and two powerful talents:

• Leech - Designate an area (10m radius) within 15m, and while any drone is inside the area they are debuffed with -50% Move Speed and suffers 25 Pure Dmg per turn, which is recouped by the Agent EX.
  
• N-Coat Bullet - Delivered by bullet, nanites burrow into and infect drone systems. If this attack hits the enemy drone, debuff your target with -100 HP / Turn and -25% All Ranged Accuracy until end of the next turn.
  

And finally, cloak and corrupt your way past enemy defenses with talents including...

• White-Noise - A hissing, popping White-Noise zone that is 8m across is created within 2m. The zone will slowly move in the direction it is initially released but will not pass through walls. Any enemy within the field is debuffed with the inability to hear the sounds of any movements (but can hear gunfire) for up to 2 turns.
  
• Line Crawler - Disable a Level 1 Security Device within 12m for next 2 turns. At the start of the next 2 turns, there is a 40% chance of disabling the next nearest Security Device (of any level).
  
• Shuriken Wave - A whirling, searing cloud of nanites strike all enemies within 10m of your current position, causing 50 Pure Dmg and debuffing with -10% Evasion and -10% Move Speed for remainder of the turn. Cancels enemy Overwatch.
  

...and more!

[h2]How to Get an Agent EX[/h2]
Existing squads can multiclass a squad member into Agent EX by undergoing cybersurgery to install a Nano-Hive implant. For now, this option is immediately available without investing any extra in Dr. Ashe’s clinic. Keep in mind you can't respec out of cyber-classes at this time.

New squads can select an Agent EX in place of a Vanguard at squad creation. This new character template, Sören, comes with a unique set of traits, starting contacts, and background that the story engine can hook into as we continue to add more content.

And we’ll add more Agent EX characters as recruits down the road.

We’ve had a ton of fun with Agent EX in playtesting, and can see many ways it could shake up the “meta” for how our most experienced players are building their squads. Thank you to the players in the Steam forums and our Discord who offered feedback on the class preview!

As always, during Early Access we may tweak talents to balance as data comes in. And if you spot any bugs, please F10 to report in-game; in-game reports help us prioritize and fix them quick.

[h2]v1.6.37 - 6/10/2024[/h2]
- Added new class: Agent EX (EXpiremental, EXtreme!) uses their nano-hive implant to create a tech-warping cloud of DNA-bonded nanites
- Higher Loyalty results in higher Hype left over after Hype Limit Break
- Improved Vanguard Glasswalker Talent icon, Smoke Grenades
- Smoke Grenades now have a clear border shown around their hazy smoke area
- Fixed bug where moving map buff/debuff zones like Tox-Cloud could blip through walls or out of bounds after 2 Turns
- Improved calculation of damage shown when making attacks to be more accurate around Pure Dmg
- Clarified rules for Vanguard's Lure and Soldier's Red Dot - enemies immediately become Suspicious
- Fixed issue with Soldier's Iron Grip granting Kinetic Pure Dmg Upgrade bonus
- Vanguard's Projection Talent buffed to 4 AP movement as starting point, can upgrade from there
- Fixed issue with Vanguard's Synapse Short debuff reducing Pure Dmg Upgrades instead of Ballistic/Kinetic Dmg directly
- Renamed Vanguard's "Static Spectre" Talent to "Counter Static"
- Fixed hyper repetitive Combat log about "Starting Preplan Turn" that was a dev-only message
- Fixed bug that could allow a Hype Limit Break to appear over top of a dialog sometimes

Welcome to June! The sweltering heat out in the Wards outside of the dome hasn't set in completely yet but it won't be long. Things are about to get hot for our roadmap and for major game feature completion. Usually, we tend to avoid posting specific goals, so don't think of this as a promise but as a fun challenge for the team here. We've got a major traffic jam at the launch pad for features and content - so many things that are 80-90% done are piling up that need that last test, polish and content/feature push to be done.

So, let's see how many of these we can drop in June! New

Update #91 rolls out to the streets of New Boston with improved safehouse Simstream Trainer rules, an important (if boring) tutorial update, rebalanced cybernetic bonuses, movement alerts for all types of buff/debuff zones on the map like Tox-Cloud, inventory/equpping improvements and fixes for heaps of bugs.

We are hard at work during Early Access, prioritizing constant improvement and expansion of the game. We're hitting around an average of an update every 3 days with fixes for your F10s, new features or new content and always something getting better. If you like the pace we're keeping here, think this is how Early Access should be done, and like that fact that none of these updates invalidate a saved game, please take a moment to leave a review.


[h2]Move Alerts for Poison, Morass and More[/h2]
Any on-map area that will have an effect on your player like Tox-Cloud, Morass or Aero-Shrap Shell will now visually alert you at the point at which you will pass into its field of effect. While a lot of these abilities are from the Scourge branch, Sniper's JTAC Talent, Soldier's Entrench and items like Smoke Cloud and Medi-Cloud also have this helpful alert so it is clear where you are passing in and out of their boundary.



Thanks to everyone who put F10s in about this one and we are glad to see it wrapping up. The ability for the movement simulator (which plans and checks movement for interruptions or special things before it occurs) is the last piece that was blocking us from moving forward with Skip / Fast-Forward Enemy Turns, so we're going to be getting to that major milestone soon now.


[h2]Simstream Simplified[/h2]
There was a rule when base building first came out that you only got Simstream Trainer XP if you ran a mission and the Cyber Knight went with you on the mission. We've removed this limit, which doesn't fit well with the rest of the design allowing for missions without the Knight. It's a helpful simplification. Sorry this wasn't clearly explained to start with and glad we could simplify here.

In the next update, we'll be working toward updating the UI in the Trainer and Detox to be more clear about the rules at the point at which you are picking a merc.


[h2]Cybernetic Improvements[/h2]
We've made a few balancing tweaks to cybernetics this week - we've improved Dermal Plating 1 and 2 to increase their HP bonuses to +50 and +75 HP respectively as well as granting Dermal Plating 2 a Built-In Armor bonus that reduces all types of Damage, including Pure. Dermal Plating comes along with a hefty Move Speed debuff (which, you can make up elsewhere) but its bonuses are now more fetching to help balance that out.

The Knight's Quantum Rider also gained a +2 Initiative bonus, helping the Knight stay one step ahead and get a better chance to use their Initiative timeline manipulation Talents.


[h2]Tutorial Decoupling[/h2]
Back when we added the new stealth and combat tutorial, we made the mistake of using the characters that you had picked and designed in your squad in the tutorial. This was cool - you get to work with your team right away to learn the ropes. However, this tied out hands in silly ways - making the tutorial either require updates for every new character added to the game or forcing us to vastly limit the character options for the Soldier and Vanguard slot.

With Update #91, we've removed that limitation by adding 2 new tutorial-only characters who hang with you while you learn the ropes. Aptly named Tutorial Anne and Tutorial Joe, these are temp characters for the tutorial only.

Now, we can move forward with the new upcoming Agent EX class and slot them painlessly into the Vanguard's new game column as a new options. :hype: Boring, but very important for future options in new game :D

[h2]Inventory Continued[/h2]
There is a lot of work to do to keep improving inventory and equipping screens, mostly in small ways. But we're continuing to make progress, this week fixing an issue with stacking that was affecting certain characters more than others. If you change your armor and other team members are wearing the same armor, you will see what armor you have equipped instead of it being hidden. The same goes for multiple hackers on the team who share the same deck type.

We also fixed a bug that was occurring where a Hacker might end up with 2 cyberdecks and not be able to do anything about the hidden second.

[h2]Tox-Cloud Rules[/h2]
We've fixed a bug in restoring Tox-Clouds and Morass areas where they could end up not where you expected on retry turn or just loading from the menu. In a few cases, this resulted in some badly poisoned mercs - sorry!

We've also clarified the description of Tox-Cloud to be clear that while it is moving, its center will not pass through a wall.

[h2]v1.6.31 - 6/4/2024[/h2]
- Removed Simstream Trainer requirement that a Knight had to be on a mission to gain XP thru trainer
- Solo missions (hack-only missions) do not grant Simstream Trainer XP, which is now noted on victory screen
- New tutorial update: Tutorial Anne and Tutorial Joe decouple Tutorial from your squad
- Improved Dermal Plating 1 and 2 with more HP (50/75), Built-In Armor buffs (5%) for DP 2
- Knight's Quantum Rider gains +2 Initiative bonus
- New movement alerts for all types of on-map areas of effect like Tox-Cloud, Morass, Medi-Cloud and more
- Added note to Tox-Cloud's description to be clear it will not pass through walls
- Fixed bug with retry turn or reloading when Tox-Cloud or Morass areas are in mission
- Fixed issue with buff/debuff data in Matrix not including all upgrades from class tree
- Fixed bug in inventory where equipped shared by multiple characters (8/8 SecurTek Lightsuits) would not appear when changing armor
- Fixed issues with unswitchable cyberdecks
- Fixed issue with Child of the Belly not automatically starting if its timeline event ends
- Improved buffs/debuffs from Leverages to correctly show in hovers / status pop up
- Improved display of cybernetics to include Built-in Armor, improved hovers and Pure Dmg hover