Searchlights in BETA

This beta introduces searchlights.


To opt into the beta:

1) Right click War on the Sea in your Steam library, go to properties/betas and you should have new tabs listing other available versions.

2) Password to access the beta is: warontheseabeta
Use the pulldown to select the beta version.
It should then begin to download.

3) When you run the game the version number should read the version you selected.

TOKYO EXPRESS MOD (TTE) USERS : Note TTE uses the live version of War on the Sea by default. Unless you are specifically involved in testing of TTE, this beta version is not recommended for use with TTE.




1 Oct 2021 (Beta)

Placing multiple way points on mini map fixed (bug introduced 1.08f9)

"refundPostRepair:true" correctly refunds multiple merchant ship command point values


Further Searchlights Improvements
Searchlights no longer track sinking ships

Ships using searchlights or illuminated by star shells or searchlights have "illumination bonus" to being spotted and solution calculations applied against them;
- spotted bonus is +20%
- solution calculation bonus is config.txt "tmaIlluminationBonus":0.2

config.txt increased "searchlightDistance":6000 distance in metres at which searchlights are used and provide the illumination bonus
- all ships automatically turn off searchlights if target is beyond config.txt "searchlightDistance":6000 so as not to incurr this illumination penalty for no reason

default/language/english/dictionary/message_log.txt modified AllUseSearchlight to clarify range usage of searchlights

AI retreating ships turn off searchlights

A ship illuminated by star shells, searchlights or using its own searchlights is considered "illuminated" and will not have additional star shells fired at it by AI ships or when using Fire At Will mode


29 Sep 2021 (Beta)

GENERAL

Searchlights Added
At night, searchlights will point at the target of a unit and provide additional illumination bonus to solution if the target is within the specified distance.

Orders panel added toggle to enable/disable searchlight use by selected units (on by default)
- available only at night and for ships with searchlights specified in ship_model.txt
- default/interface/styles.txt modified CombatTogglesBase and CombatTogglesActive to add searchlight toggle references
- default/interface/images/ui added searchlight.png and searchlightActive.png
- default/language/english/dictionary/general.txt added "SearchlightToggle=Searchlights"

config.txt added searchlight variables;
- "enableSearchlights":true to enable/disable use of searchlights
- "searchlightTint":{"r":230,"g":230,"b":255,"a":204} sets color/transparency of light beams
- "searchlightNumber":2 defines the number of searchlights a ship will aim at target
- "searchlightDistance":5000 distance in metres at which searchlights provide an illumination bonus (bonus = 0.5 x config.txt "tmaIlluminationBonus":0.2)

All default/unit/sea/ship_model.txt files;
- added "searchlightPositions" parameters to specify positions of searchlights
- added "searchlightQuadrants" to specify quadrants searchlights use
- With ship in the middle heading up, quadrants are:

     4
0    ^     2
1    |     3
     5

4 looks in 2 fore quadrants 0, 2 (used to specify lights at the front of a ship)
5 looks in 2 aft quadrants 1, 3 (used to specify lights at the rear of a ship)

AutoGunnery (on player ships) will select the target if there is not a current target selected (or if the ship is not currently under direct player control)

All Drop button now correctly works with aerial depth charges
- language/english/dictionary/message_log.txt added DropAllDepthCharge valriable

Fixed a bug where AI way points were not correctly assigned during retreat actions



CAMPAIGN
Retreating AI Task Forces should no longer get stuck on the strategic map
Fixed a bug where taking over a location could fail resulting in duplication of cargo that was unloaded