Pirates, Vikings, & Knights II News

Welcome to the first ever PVKII Player Survey! We want to hear from you! Please take a few moments to complete the survey below.

We would appreciate if players old and new would take a few moments to complete this. Please share how you feel about the game and what things you'd like to see next!

Please make sure you read the entire question and all options before making your choice(s).

Thank you for your time and we'll see you in game!
PVKII Team

SURVEY LINK: https://forms.gle/rVTUDEMAyd4GwJHUA

An update has been released for PVKII. Server owners, please update your servers. We last saw you in December with our Glacier Update, since then PVKII has turned 13! Thank you for all your playtime and to the countless developers, creators, testers, donators and contributors!

Please stay home, stay healthy, and game on! Wishing you all good health from all of us at Octoshark Studios.

View changelog below:

bt_glacier Fixes & Updates
- Small details added to glacier including gorgeous trees by juicyfruit
- Fixed minor map issues including playerclips in tunnels
- Updated navmesh

New Achievements - Glacier Pack
How Much Does a Polar Bear Weigh? - Destroy 10 Ice Blocks in Glacier - Title: The Ice Breaker
Hurtcules! Hurtcules! - Win 10 Rounds in Glacier - Title: The Parrot of War
Polar Bear Dip - In Glacier, kill 5 enemies using freezing water - Title: The Iceman
Art for achievements made by Pache94

Balance Tweaks Heavy Knight
Two-Handed Sword:
Base Damage: 80 -> 77
Charge Time: 0.75sec -> 0.95sec
Charge Damage: 35% -> 42%

Animation Modifiers:
StartAttackSpeed: 0.8 -> 0.85
SwingSpeed: 1.35 -> 1.67
AttackSpeed: 0.95 -> 0.85

All Attacks:
Wind-up: 0.83 -> 0.71
Recovery: 1.25 -> 1.15

This is a somewhat significant rework of HK’s sword aimed at improving QoL. The sword is overall faster, but has a longer charge time to compensate. Additionally, to accommodate for the faster speed, the base damage is lower. However, the charge damage bonus is also higher, offsetting the lower base damage. TL;DR: uncharged and partial charged attacks are faster but weaker, and fully charged attacks should feel largely the same.

Counter Attacks
Several weapons had mismatched hit traces on some of their counter attacks.

Man-At-Arms’ Halberd:
Right Counter Attack: Changed from a Thrust to a Leftward Slash

Gestir’s Spear:
Forward Counter Attack: Changed from an Overhead to a Thrust
Left Counter Attack: Changed from a Rightward Slash to a Thrust
There was no reason for the Spear, a thrusting weapon, to have 2 randomly non-thrusting counter attacks.

Bondi’s Seax:
Left Counter Attack: Changed from a Leftward Slash to a Rightward Slash
Right Counter Attack: Changed from a Rightward Slash to a Leftward Slash
These traces were being generated in the wrong direction.

Berserker’s Big Axe:
Left Counter Attack: Changed from a Thrust to a Rightward Slash
Right Counter Attack: Changed from an Overhead to a Leftward Slash
The right counter attack’s animation was changed as well.

Code Fixes & Updates
- Added Glacier achievements
- Disallow remote MOTD by default
- Fixed GrogBot crash on game mode change
- Fixed a potential crash on explosion
- Fixed a start-up hang on Linux
- Fixed accumulated physics force not being applied to ragdolls
- Fixed achievement Watch Me Right Hook! not having a title
- Fixed being able to callvote a map outside rotation
- Fixed bot avatars showing incorrect teams in LTS
- Fixed garbled list of add-ons in offline mode
- Fixed legs being cut with dismemberment turned off
- Fixed server crash on workshop_download_collection
- Fixed several Linux crashes
- Game now mounts Workshop maps on subscription
- Load local credits HTML instead of remote
- Misc. optimization for GrogBot
- Shuffle players callvote now restarts round
- Tweaked VGUI in-game menus
- Updated Chinese translations


Join the conversation on the official PVKII Discord! Interact with devs, testers, creators, and community!


Follow us on Trello for the latest development buzz, and as always, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.

See you in game!

PVKII Team
Octoshark Studios

PVKII Glacier Update is here! Keep the bloody good times going by celebrating with us and helping squash some bugs! Come out and play with us this DEC 29 at 1:30 EST / GMT-5. Refer to the Steam Community Hub Event for most accurate time for your area.

We'll be playing on these servers and more:

• Spamgrounds Servers
  
• [EU] 24/7 Glacier
  

*Server listings are subject to change.

We'd ask that you please adhere to all server rules for the game and on discord, and follow any rules enforced by server admins, developers, or testers throughout the event. Sounds easy, and we'll have fun!


Join the conversation on the official PVKII Discord! Interact with devs, testers, creators, and community!

See you in game!

PVKII Team
Octoshark Studios

PVKII Glacer Update (Beta 0.4.2.1) Changelog & Release Notes

Happy Holidays everyone!

Shiver me timbers! The Glacier Update is here! Server owners please update your servers!

To talk about the Glacier map we have to take a walk down memory lane. Sit back by the fire, i'll light my pipe, and let the old man tell you a story.

In early 2007, the PVKII Layout Competition was announced shortly after the first beta release of the game. This was the game’s very first community-driven contest where users from the official forums could submit map layouts to be judged by the PVKII team. The winner having their layout turned into a real map by the team! The winner of the competition was a fellow named “Parrot of War” and his layout was for a map called “Glacier”.

The layout saw many different developers and creators take a stab at it, including the original mapper MrAgent. Some made more progress than others and map development was progressing like glacial motion until Hurtcules came along a few years ago. In deciding what he should do as his applicant’s challenge, Hurtcules and the team agreed the game was lacking Viking/ snow themed maps, so Glacier was the perfect fit.

However, the initial draft based on the layout was simply too large and too ambitious. In order to make it more optimized for Source, look good, and of course be fun, many changes were required. The result was a more symmetrical and easier to learn layout, and a map that fit in perfectly among other official maps. But what would Glacier be without more artists joining in on the fun? PVKII Authorized Creator Roald, lead mapper for the tw_desertruin overhaul, added his own personality and detail pass to the map, helping to make it look like it does today.

Better late than never! Making maps is a huge undertaking, with the best ones taking years to put together. And even the best mappers know that the work isn’t done on release. Expect to see more updates on Glacier in the future. We look forward to your feedback!

We want to thank everyone who has ever been involved in the Glacier project, especially Hurtcules, for sticking to it and seeing it through to release.

Highlights:

• New Map! Bt_glacier
  
• Official PVKII Player Guide - Melee Combat Chapter
  
• GrogBot Bug Fixes & Updates
  
• Balance Changes
  
• New Voice Lines
  
• Code Fixes
  
• Automated Holiday System - Treasure Chests are now Presents for a limited time!
  

Screenshots
View more screenshots here!


[h3]Changelog[/h3]
bt_glacier
Stranded in a glacier in the North, the three teams struggle to fight for some hard-earned booty. Break open the ice to find the treasure. Take the high road or the low road. There are many ways to get to your objective. Watch out for the ice cold water, you’ll freeze to death!
Read more about Glacier’s history here.

Official PVKII Player Guide - Melee Combat Chapter
We’ll be updating, improving, and adding new chapters to this player guide over time, each focusing on different aspects, from basic gameplay info to class-specific advanced tips and tactics. The Player Guide is accessible through the main menu and available online here.

GrogBot Bug Fixes & Updates

• GrogBot has been optimized to be more slick and performant in offline games, should be noticeably better with 24 max player limit, anything over that is unsupported
  
• Added logic for chasing players, bots will now give up and reschedule if target is "unreachable" after a set amount of time
  
• Fixed issues with skirm bots doing inhumane movements with cutlass special, and huscarls / gestirs dashing around in circles with their specials
  
• Improved voice command sensing, added bot responses
  
• Added automatic nav mesh generation, server will generate a nav mesh on bot creation if none exist, can be controlled with cvar “bot_auto_nav_generate”
  
• GrogBot chatter tweaks
  
• Fixed bots ignoring movement speed changes
  
• Fixed bots not reacting to intruders
  

Map Changes
bt_island, tw_temple, and tw_frostbite nav mesh fixes

Balance Changes
Man-At-Arms
Halberd:
Sides:
Multiplier: 1.08 -> 1.03
Minor nerf to bring the power of the side attacks down somewhat so they no longer overshadow the forward or back attacks. Relying on them exclusively is no longer the most optimal strategy.

Heavy Knight
General:
HP: 125 -> 130
Due to the way that HP and Armor play off of each other, the max damage HK could actually sustain was 312, a measly 12 points more than Huscarl. So despite all the other ways in which Huscarl was already better than him, HK was barely any tankier. This small change bumps that difference up to 25. In practice, this allows the HK to sustain one more ranged attack from Bondi or Sharpshooter, as well as allow him to survive attacks he otherwise wouldn’t have with a little HP to spare.

New Voice Lines
Added “taunt Bondi” lines to Captain, Man-at-Arms, Sharpshooter, and Skirmisher
Added “killed Bondi” lines to Captain, Sharpshooter, and Skirmisher
Added “see teammate die” lines to Man-at-Arms

Code Updates & Fixes

• Fixed bot achievement progress not being stored in Steam
  
• FMOD sound system has changes in precaching and loading samples
  
• Automated holiday system similar to TF2 includes timed Christmas Present Chest models instead of treasure chests from Dec 17 to 31! Models by Links121995
  
• Fixed invalid sample rate on player cut sounds
  
• “Coin surface” prop + sounds, updated carpet sounds
  
• Fixed Atlatl crosshair
  
• Kill Feed redesign
  
• Man-at-Arms drops his hat on death again
  
• Alternative color scheme for HUD elements, helpful if you have anomalous vision (you can enable this in advanced options)
  
• Added vertical scrollbars to scoreboard, when over 24 players
  
• Added ruleset selection to bot game dialog
  
• Fixed bot game dialog not listing downloaded maps
  
• Misc. in-game font tweaks
  

Glacier Special Thanks
Parrot of War, Skjalg, Smilie, MrAgent, Banjo Boy, Colonel, Roald, and Hurtcules!


PVKII Glacier Update is here! Keep the bloody good times going by celebrating with us and helping squash some bugs! Come out and play with us this TONIGHT & Sunday DEC 29 at 1:30 EST / GMT-5. Refer to the Steam Community Hub Event for most accurate time for your area.

We'll be playing on these servers:

• MrAgent's 0.4.2.1 Official Server
  
• Spamgrounds US Island
  
• Spamgrounds US Official Maps
  
• Spamgrounds EU
  

*Server listings are subject to change.

We'd ask that you please adhere to all server rules for the game and on discord, and follow any rules enforced by server admins, developers, or testers throughout the event. Sounds easy, and we'll have fun!


Join the conversation on the official PVKII Discord! Interact with devs, testers, creators, and community!


Follow us on Trello for the latest development buzz, and as always, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.

Enjoy the update!
PVKII Team
Octoshark Studios

SEEKING AUDITIONS FOR NEXT CLASSES: MALE BUCCANEER AND FEMALE ASSASSIN

EDIT: SEARCH FOR VOICE ACTORS FOR THESE CLASSES HAS NOW CLOSED.

Think you've got the perfect voice to match one of our classes? Come on by! You must have your own equipment with experience in voice acting and of course, examples of things you've 'said' in the past! You should be creative to help with ideas for voice lines, flexible to change, reliable, and willing to work your pipes to fit one or more class!



ASSASSIN
Most comfortable in shady alleys, gloomy dungeons and dark castle halls, the Assassin strongly prefers not to be seen. Really, don’t look at her. She hates it and she’ll cut you.
In service to the Earl of Bamburgh as spymaster, at court and abroad she schemes, plots, spies, blackmails, steals, embezzles and kills to further the noble goals of her good Lord’s house. Operating from out of sight, she knows precisely when to use her natural guile to remain unseen and when to brutally press the attack and eviscerate all who oppose her.
Intrigue, evasion, deceit and cunning are the core of her devious toolkit. She’s not above dirty tactics to trick and outmaneuver her opponents – some people might say that makes her dishonorable, but those idiots are as dull as rusted iron. To them, her methods make her a lying, cheating, sinful, poisonous, backstabbing no-good cowardly murderer. To her that’s just another day at work.
All in all shes a real royal, stuck up princess with a dark and deadly edge to her. Slightly schitzo, unstable, or mentally ill. Think a proper and royal Harley Quinn. Ideally English accent, but can be French, or any other typical European/medieval accent (scott, welsh, irish etc.) Addicted to killing. If she can’t have you; no one will. Remember, she also has a quiet side, whisper some lines where appropriate, as well as add in sudden surprises going from quiet to loud (i.e. sneak attack)

SAMPLE VOICE LINES

• Unsanctioned privateers! Eliminate those pirates.
  
• The pirates! Clap them in irons!
  
• To the locks with those pirates.
  
• Eliminate those viking raiders!
  
• Attack the northmen!
  
• Come hither!
  
• We must seek the Holy Grail!
  
• By order of the king, this land is mine!
  
• Off we go. Quietly, now. (**whispering**)
  
• I have the treasure!
  
• You call yourself men! The Grail is gone!
  
• Slow-witted fools, we’ve lost the objective
  
• I bequeath thy end!
  
• You fouled roustabout.
  
• They ought to clap thee in darbies. My steel will have to do.
  
• I am much obliged.
  
• I’ll be collecting that bounty on you now, thank you.
  
• I’ve orders for your immediate execution.
  
• Breastplates, bludgeons, backswords and bows at the ready? Good.
  
• Sweet dreams, now. (**whispering**) (Stealth Kill)
  

BUCCANEER
A pirate tank! Heavy and tough, but also a gentle giant and big teddy bear. He will be a big Jamaican fond of certain herbs and crushing bones. Loves to talk, sing, and enjoy the pirate life, but be careful he can get emotional. Should sound big, jolly, and upbeat. Full of energy! Effects may be needed to achieve the right tone. Here's an audio concept from many moons ago of what we're looking for.

SAMPLE VOICE LINES

• I need da ‘ealer, mon!
  
• Ya breaddren
  
• They come for war!
  
• Go Go Go!
  
• Fight dem like the Wolves o’ da Sea we are!
  
• Defend!
  
• Aye mon, in we go, in we go, in we go
  
• Attack the Kniiights
  
• Get them rudeboi knightss
  
• Attack the Vikiiings!
  
• Get dem big ol’ bearded bloodclots
  
• Chya need ta follow me mon
  
• Lemme ‘ave a sip o dis, rep me boys
  
• Ya Blawd A make tha grass grow greenah
  
• We gwanta killyaa; and cutchya inta tiny pieces
  
• Sixteen men on a deadman’s chest/ yo ho ho and a bottle of rum Rum RUUMRUUUM oh beautiful rum (sing)
  

CONTACT
We're an easy group of people to get along with and have fun doing what we do. This a great way to get your name and work out there, and fast. If you're interested in applying for the team, please send us an email at octosharkrecruitment[AT]gmail.com or post in the application forums.

As we expect quite a few entries, only successful applicants will be contacted.
Recording & Sending Instructions:

• Save all files in 44100 hz mono mp3 format
  
• Record all of a character's audition lines in one file with minimal pausing between lines, feel free to edit or apply effects if needed
  
• Label as Yourname_Character.mp3
  
• Put "(Project Name) Audition" in the subject line of the e-mail
  

Promotional images and character models by: Corvalho