CAOS News

Greetings! We’re launching an Experimental branch for CAOS, Experimental builds include content from upcoming updates, but will be less stable than the standard live build.

See the picture below for information on how to opt-in to the Experimental build if you’re interested in playing new updates early.


[h2]General Gameplay Additions and Changes:[/h2]

• Added Operation Crusader historical scenario. Recreate 8th Army’s bold offensive to break the siege of Tobruk in November 1941 to January 1942!
  
• Added Random button added to unit pool, when pressed it automatically purchases units for you. This feature is still in development and tends to scatter units all over the deployment box.
  

[h2]Interface Improvements:[/h2]

• Added daily situation report.
  
• New and improved Air Command screen displays more information, more clearly.
  
• Holding Left Shift while buying replacements buys 10 at a time.
  
• Hovering over air units in Requisition screen now displays the squadron’s name in place of its aircraft type.
  
• Armor suppressed in combat reports now also displays armor losses as percentage of total armor involved in battle.
  

[h2]Bug Fixes:[/h2]

• Fixed interface bug that caused Air, Group, and Unit Pool buttons to draw off screen on some more exotic resolutions.
  
• Fixed a bug that could cause connected clients to technically lose in co-op games if the AI opponent surrendered.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused breached minefields to take just as long as unbreached minefields to clear.
  

[h2]Known Issues in Experimental Build:[/h2]

There are several outstanding bugs on the Experimental build of update 1.0.3.6 that we’re working on before it moves to full release.

• Hosting multiplayer historical scenarios as the Attacker currently loads you in as defender.
  
• Attackers do not receive their historical flavor briefing at the start of the game in historical scenarios.
  
• Hosts and clients are receiving the same number of replacement points in head-to-head historical scenarios.
  

Greetings! We’re back with a quick dev blog on some of the core interface improvements coming in the Crusader update.


The Air Command has been substantially graphically and functionally improved in the Crusader update. Regarding new functions the Air Command now displays air group names, withdrawal dates, and lists twice as many air units (20 as opposed to the old 10). Graphically, the new Air Command cleanly divides information into categories and visually divides statistics into columns to break up the walls of text when you’re running a large air roster.


The Intel report has been completely reworked into a proper daily Situation Report (SitRep), which pops up at the start of each turn, and can always be accessed in the Intel screen. The SitRep lists key points regarding the current status of the battle in a quick 1-page summary. Details include VPs controlled/current victory outcome. Strength and units destroyed and lost this turn. Strength replaced this turn. Air superiority status. Air missions attacked/lost per side. Finally, unit arrivals/withdrawals.


If you want more detailed information beyond the top-level SitRep, check out the new Losses tab which lists losses this turn/the entire game, and details losses during the this turn per type, per side. Want to know precisely how many Tigers you destroyed last turn? We’ve got you covered! The older, more detailed impulse by impulse turn report and requisition point schedules are also available as tabs on the intel report.


The Crusader update includes a fix to interface issues causing unit grouping, unit pool, and air buttons to draw off-screen for players using some more exotic screen resolutions.


We aim to release the Operation Crusader update next week. Progress has been slower than planned as both Archimedes and I have been largely unavailable due to non-NS2 related professional commitments during the last month. But we’re on track now to release Crusader next week and then start working on the very exciting replacement automation system alongside long awaited Operation Husky to follow. Full update notes for Operation Crusader detailing additional UI and gameplay improvements will follow with the update.

Greetings! We’re back with an intermediate update paving the way for the arrival of Operation Crusader later in the month. Update 1.0.3.3 improves the supply interface, overhauls air combat, introduces an extended variant of the Tobruk map for custom games, and fixes a several bugs in response to feedback from the Gazala Line scenario.

• Frontier Wire map, an extended version of Tobruk stretching to Sidi Barrani in the east and beyond Fort Maddalena in the south. A variant of this map will form the basis of the upcoming Operation Crusader scenario.
  
• Out of supply cohesion loss increased for units experienced training level and above.
  
• Minor additions to Axis and Allied Crusader OBs.
  
• Updated Gazala Line scenario to better represent the fortress at Tobruk during the battle.
  
• Fixed unintended coastal minefield bypass north of Acroma in the Gazala Line scenario.
  
• Added co-op air control to Gazala Line scenario.
  

• Yellow tags now appear on units below 100% supply, orange tags for units completely out of supply. These tags display at all times. No more being surprised to learn your tanks are out of supply.
  
• Supply overlay now differentiates between static supply sources (red), mobile depots (orange), and supply extenders (purple).
  

Update 1.0.3.3 completes the air overhaul initiated in the last update, with extensive changes to the air superiority system. Maneuverability is better incorporated into the combat stat of aircraft, air superiority mission numbers per squadron have been overhauled, and maintenance rates have been comprehensively re-evaluated.

[h2]Air Superiority and Air Weapon stat Revisions:[/h2]
Playtesting the historical Gazala Line and upcoming Operation Crusader scenarios revealed our existing air system undervalued highly maneuverable, but relatively short-ranged fighters such as Spitfires, BF-109s, and MC.202s. The revisions detailed below better incorporate maneuverability into the air combat stat and rework the air superiority mission number calculation which previously excessively advantaged intermediate range fighters such as P-40s against their shorter ranged counterparts.

The list below shows the highlights of the changes for each nation.
[expand]
[h3]United Kingdom:[/h3]
Multirole

• Typhoon Ib air combat increased from 57.7 to 70.1
  
• Tempest V air combat increased from 61.5 to 79.7
  
• Tempest V air superiority missions increased from 3 to 3.5 per squadron.
  

Fighters

• Gladiator II air combat increased from 36 to 44.9
  
• Hurricane IIa air combat increased from 42.8 to 52.1
  
• Spitfire IIa air combat increased from 48 to 59.7
  
• Spitfire Vb air combat increased from 53.7 to 66
  
• Spitfire Vb air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• Spitfire IXe air combat increased from 60 to 73.6
  
• Spitfire IXe air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• Spitfire XIV air combat increased from 62.3 to 76.5
  
• Spitfire XIV air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• Spitfire XXI air combat increased from 68.5 to 83.6
  
• Spitfire XXI air superiority missions increased from 3 to 3.5 per squadron.
  

Bomber/Strike

• Blenheim IV air combat increased from 29.8 to 36.7
  
• Mosquito FB.VI air combat increased from 56 to 65.
  

[h3]United States:[/h3]
Multirole/Fighter

• P-26 air combat increased from 28.9 to 35.9
  
• P-36 air combat increased from 35.3 to 44.7
  
• P-40B air combat increased from 46.4 to 53.3
  
• P-40F air combat increased from 48.1 to 58.9
  
• P-40N-5 air combat increased from 50.3 to 61.7
  
• P-38F air combat increased from 50.6 to 61.8
  
• P-47D air combat increased from 56.1 to 68.5.
  
• P-51B air combat increased from 55.2 to 68.2
  
• P-51D air combat increased from 58.1 to 71.4
  

Bomber/Strike

• B-18A Bolo air combat increased from 23.8 to 29.5
  
• A-20B Havoc air combat increased from 42.9 to 50.3
  
• B-25H Mitchel air combat increased from 34 to 37.9
  

[h3]Germany:[/h3]
Multirole

• BF-110 C-4 air combat increased from 42.8 to 52.4
  
• FW-190 F-8 air combat increased from 52.2 to 63.7
  

/Fighter

• BF-109 E-3 air combat increased from 45.9 to 56.5
  
• BF-109 E-4 air combat increased from 48.3 to 59.5
  
• BF-109 F-4 air combat increased from 51.3 to 62.3
  
• BF-109 F-4 air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• BF-109 G-6 air combat increased from 58 to 70.5
  
• BF-109 F-4 air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• FW-190 A-4 air combat increased from 59 to 71.8
  
• FW-190 A-4 air superiority missions decreased from 4 to 3.5 per squadron.
  
• FW-190 A-8 air combat increased from 62.8 to 76
  
• FW-190 D-9 air combat increased from 68.7 to 83.3
  
• ME-262 A-1a air combat increased from 104.5 to 125.3
  

Bomber/Strike

• JU-87 B-1 air combat increased from 27.1 to 33.6
  
• JU-88 A-4 air combat increased from 30.6 to 37.6
  
• JU-188 E-1 air combat increased from 32.9 to 41.5
  

[h3]Italy:[/h3]
Multirole:

• RE.2002 air combat increased from 41.2 to 51.1
  
• RE.2005 air combat increased from 56.8 to 69.1
  

Fighter:

• CR.42 air combat increased from 34.6 to 43.1
  
• CR.42 air superiority missions increased from 1 to 1.5 per squadron.
  
• G.50 air combat increased from 37.2 to 46.2
  
• MC.200 air combat increased from 38.1 to 48.2
  
• MC.202 air combat increased from 42.5 to 52.8
  
• MC.202 air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• MC.205V air combat increased from 57.4 to 70.3
  
• MC.205V air superiority missions increased from 3 to 3.5 per squadron.
  

Bomber:

• CANT Z.1007 bis air combat increased from 33.3 to 40.2
  
• BR.20M air combat increased from 31.4 to 38.2
  
• Ca.311 air combat increased from 22.3 to 27.5
  

[h3]France:[/h3]
Fighter:

• D.510 air combat increased from 34.7 to to 42.7
  
• MB.151 air combat increased from 35.3 to 43.7
  
• MS.406 C1 air combat increased from 39.8 to 49.1
  
• Hawk 75A3 air combat increased from 42.46 to 52.5
  
• D.520 C1 air combat increased from 44 to 54.2
  
• Potez 631 air combat increased from 41.2 to 50.3
  

Bomber:

• Potez 633 B2 air combat increased from 32.1 to 39.9
  
• MB. 210 air combat increased from 20 to 24.8
  
• LeO 451 air combat increased from 38.4 to 47.4
  

[h3]Soviet Union:[/h3]
Fighter:

• I-15 air combat increased from 32.5 to 40.4
  
• I-16 Type 24 air combat increased from 40.1 to 46.1
  
• YaK-1 air combat increased from 46.6 to 57.9
  
• Yak-7 air combat increased from 51.7 to 63.6
  
• Yak-9 air combat increased from 50.1 to 61.9
  
• La-5Fn (early) air combat increased from 50 to 60.6
  
• La-5Fn air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  
• La-7 air combat increased from 56 to 68.4
  
• La-7 air superiority missions increased from 2 to 3 per squadron.
  

Strike/Bomber:

• IL-2M3 air combat increased from 41.8 to 50.5
  
• PE-3 bis air combat increased from 45.2 to 55.3
  
• SB-2M air combat increased from 33.1 to 41.1
  
• TU-2S air combat increased from 46 to 59.8
  

[/expand]

[h2]Air Maintenance Revisions:[/h2]
Maintenance rates now closely correlate with the number of engines an aircraft has, the more engines the slower the maintenance order recovers cohesion. Maintenance rates are further modified by national bonuses, and case-specific modifiers on a per-aircraft basis. Single-engine aircraft average between 17-25% cohesion recovery per turn in maintenance, twin/triple-engine aircraft average around 10-15%. In general, US and UK airframes enjoy highest cohesion recovery from maintenance, while French aircraft typically round out the bottom.

These maintenance revisions add a further layer of strategy to air combat, because powerful bombers, versatile twin-engine multirole, and exotic aircraft such as ME-262s, suffer from slow maintenance rates. If you keep all of your aircraft active constantly, and keep nothing in reserve, you will create an aircraft readiness crisis that you can’t quickly recover from.

• Fixed a bug that occasionally caused AI units to skirmish each other in friendly fire incidents.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused the AI to overestimate its casualties and surrender early in historical scenarios.
  
• Fixed a bug that prevented pre-game line of sight makers from displaying properly in the LOS overlay.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused objective highlights to duplicate, making objective value difficult to read on hexes with multiple facilities (forts, airfields, towns, etc.).
  

Operation Crusader is in production for our next update, and after that we’re on to Operation Husky. There are also some outstanding AI issues brought to our attention by community members in the Gazala Line scenario, relating to the AI exposing its corps HQs and abandoning minefield-based defense positions. We’ll look into these either individually as part of the upcoming updates, or as part of a specifically AI-themed update after OP Husky release. In the meantime, here’s a peak at the formidable fortress at Tobruk besieged in the upcoming Operation Crusader scenario.

This is just a quick announcement that update 1.0.3.0 is fully released. We’re now working on an interface, bug fix, and air superiority overhaul update aimed for release between now and Operation Crusader. We will also record a head-to-head Gazala Line match between Xenophon and one of our senior beta testers this weekend, so you can expect to see that out next week.

In the mean time, enjoy Gazala and feel free to drop us a line here or on discord!

Update 1.0.3.0 Gazala is live on public beta! We’re still working on a crash error in Axis co-op scenarios on Gazala, so we’ll move the update to full update release after that bug is quashed. Everything else is good to go though, so enjoy Gazala Line and the new air/arty update on beta! See the steps below to access the public beta branch and check out the new update.

1. Right-click CAOS in your steam library. and select Properties
2. Click on Betas
   
3. Select 1.0.3.0 – Public Beta
   

For the full update notes, see our earlier news post, here. For now, here’s a quick guide to access the Gazala Line scenario, and a run down of what’s coming next.


After opting into the 1.0.3.0 beta, when creating a new game, mouse over the scenario type drop down and select Historical, then set the map to Tobruk and Gazala Line will be automatically selected. All future historical scenarios will be accessible under the same menu.

Click on the thumbnail image below for an example:



Once Gazala is fully deployed we’ll move forward with a series of smaller updates focusing on Operation Crusader and several user interface improvements that we’ve wanted to tackle for quite some time. Following these smaller updates, Operation Husky stage 2 is tentatively planned for release during the final week of August/first week of September.

For now, enjoy Gazala and feel free to drop us a line here or on discord!