Deep Space Outpost News

Further changes for onboard combat. 1) Crew will now open doors to shoot any pirates on the other side. 2) Crew will switch combat target if moving near another pirate. 3) Crew no longer check for non assigned jobs (heal/sleep etc) if there is an emergency (combat/fire). That should be the main combat improvements at the moment. But do let me know if spot any odd crew behaviour.

Patch notes:-

• Improve: Line of sight takes into account doors, and crew will now open them to engage enemies.
  
• Improve: Closer pirate check when moving to combat.
  
• Improve: Workers no longer check for heal/sleep/bathroom/statis if emergency.
  
• Improve: Pirate/Trader ships now attempt to dock at closest airlocks, not random.
  
• Fix: Don't check for combat if moving to heal/repair.
  
• Fix: Dead characters outside, but on tiles, need disposing.
  
• Fix: Restrict dead disposal at ship docked airlock location.
  

Nick

Onboard combat now takes place at longer distance, as laser range has now been extended. I've currently set this to just two tiles, as i gather feedback. But expect this to be altered in the future, as weapon range might be something that needs to be researched.

Range extension has actually been quite involved as line of sight comes into play, and it's taken a little while to figure out when walls do or don't block targeting (and also doors opening/closing). Also the check if a pirate is near to a crew member check has been expanded so they can now start shooting from a 2 tile range.

Patch notes:-

• Combat range expanded to 2 tiles for crew/pirates. Combat destination distance updated.
  
• Pirate in range whilst moving now check 2 tile range.
  
• Line of sight test added for combat range checks.
  
• Laser fx now take distance into life calculation.
  
• Fix: Idle workers could be uncentered on a tile if a fix job is destroyed en route.
  

Nick

Couple of fixes for previous crew combat update. Main one being crew not checking that pirate was retreating and continuing to shoot at an empty space!

Patch notes:-

• Fix: Crew continued shooting when pirate retreating.
  
• Fix: Pirate may not exist check when starting combat.
  

Nick

This update makes a few changes with your crew to improve combat. Your crew now update their destination whilst moving to combat so they no longer follow pirates in a stop/start fashion. Your crew will also stop and start shooting pirates if they pass near. These couple of changes make your crew much more effective in getting to position for combat.

Patch notes:-

• Improve: Workers now stop and attack pirates if close by.
  
• Improve: Workers update combat destination during movement.
  
• Fix: Emergency on move test, only check if worker has emergency task set.
  
• Fix: Pirates continue attacking if return pirate ship destroyed.
  

Nick

In this update there are several improvements with workers and pirates - You can now hire workers without life support functioning, as long as you have air/food in storage. Pirates will also board your station if you don't have life support (they'll use their suit oxygen). Pirates also gain a new ability where they will breakdown internal walls, if no nearby items to attack.

Lots of adjustments as i've been testing these pirate attacks. Fires don't spread as often. Workers will also wake up for fires and pirates (previously they only woke up if a specific assignment available). Few graphic fixes as well, workers pickup tool was not adjusted correctly, and character not in correct stance for firefighting.

Patch notes:-

• Pirates now break down walls, if no items can be reached to attack.
  
• Fire spread chance reduced.
  
• Improve: Always wake humans if emergency.
  
• Improve: Pirates use weld fx on door and wall attack.
  
• Improve: Character moving to charge may stay on same spot that could be on an item.
  
• Improve: Add worker status 'moving to emergency' for fires/spills.
  
• Fix: Pirates stealing resources message only display when amount assigned (may not have resources to steal).
  
• Fix: Cancelling job due to emergency not freeing item assignments.
  
• Fix: Visitors returning to ships due to pirates, also not freeing used items.
  
• Fix: Pirates stealing resource limit not being kept to.
  
• Fix: Tooltip for floor construction showing 'cant build here' rather than 'not enough resources'.
  
• Fix: No tooltip for no life support for disembark restriction for visitors.
  
• Fix: Cancel build selection containing door crash.
  

Nick