Ground of Aces News

[p]As we continue developing the next major update for Ground of Aces, we want to share a behind-the-scenes look at what the team is working on right now. This devlog is a snapshot of ongoing work that is currently taking shape, with the plan that these features will be part of the next big update (changes may still happen).[/p][p][/p][h2]Redesign of the Mission System[/h2][p]We’re reworking how you get served missions. When new missions become available, you’ll be prompted to open the new mission map. This map will comfortably display locations and connected missions from a partial view of Europe.[/p][p]A major improvement is that the same mission type can now occur at different geographic locations—such as cities, airfields, or regions. The location will influence mission descriptions and fuel costs, while other mission parameters remain the same.[/p][p]As part of this overhaul, we’ll also be creating and adding new missions to the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Screenshots from the UI design work-in-progress for the new mission selection screen:[/p][p][/p][p]The new missions notification tab as it looks like in Unity while our UI designer is working on it:[/p][p][/p][p]For the next update, we will add more difficult missions for late-game playing. On a collaborative online whiteboard, we work on new missions and their logic like this:[/p][p][/p][p]On a Google My Maps, our game designer collects possible locations for mission targets:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Experience Aerial Battles Over Your Base[/h2][p]We’re expanding the aerial animations that play out above your base so you can witness more of the action firsthand. These sequences will be tied to your scramble report, where there will be a new eye button that lets you observe the fight. You’ll see your fighters intercepting and shooting down incoming enemy aircraft as they attempt to attack your base.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Vickers Machine Gun[/h2][p]We’re adding a new defensive tool to your arsenal: the Vickers machine gun.[/p][p]Here’s an early animation test:[/p][p][/p][p]Work on the shooting effect for the new gun:[/p][p][/p][p]Testing the shooting range with a test plane inside of Unity:[/p][p][/p][p]Finding the right height and positions of the NPC models:[/p][p][/p][p]The Vickers can be operated by a single crew member. It requires fewer shipment slots than the Bofors gun but comes with trade-offs: shorter range and reduced damage compared to the Bofors.[/p][p][/p][h2]Growing New Trees[/h2][p]Currently, wood is a limited resource in Ground of Aces: you can’t plant new trees, nor can you order wood (only planks). This often results in long harvest treks and large empty fields. To improve this, we’re introducing a new mechanic that allows new trees to grow from seedlings automatically planted when a tree is harvested.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]If you don’t want a tree to regrow in a particular spot, you can remove it using the Destroy tool. This will give you the wood from the tree but will not create seedlings. Seedlings appear as small plants and will eventually mature into full-size trees. For now, this system applies only to trees, not other plant types.[/p][p][/p][h2]Character Generator & Import Functionality[/h2][p]This is a new feature that is already available in the game for community testing: the ability to create your own characters and import them directly into the game. It's still in BETA, but you can already try it out right now.[/p][p][/p][p]Go to our web tool for the character generator, export the file with the metadata, and then import the character into the game. Create your own character here: https://blindflugstudios.pythonanywhere.com/[/p][p][/p][p]Learn more here: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]PLEASE NOTE: This feature is still in an experimental state.[/p][p][/p][p]Tell us what you think in the Steam forum!

Thank you for following our development journey. We’re continuing to shape and refine these features. Stay tuned for Major Update 3, which is planned for release before Christmas.[/p]

[h2]Character & Crew Generator - IN BETA[/h2][p][/p][p]We updated the game with a feature that is currently in beta but already available in the main game for wider community testing: the ability to create your own characters & crews and import them directly into the game.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Please note: This feature is a work in progress.[/h2][p]This feature isn't finished yet, and not everything you see in the online tool may get imported correctly yet. We are still working on it. We want to gather feedback from the community early, which is why we decided to add it to the main version already and mark it as a beta feature.[/p][p][/p][h2]Here is how it works:[/h2]

1. [p]Generate your own character(s) with our web tool: http://station.groundofaces.com/[/p]
2. [p]When you’re done, export your NPC / crew. This gives you a JSON file with all their unique data.[/p]
3. [p]Open Ground of Aces and click “Import Crew” in the main menu.[/p]
4. [p]Click “Open import folder” — this will open the Characters folder on your PC.[/p]
5. [p]Place your downloaded JSON file into that folder.[/p]
6. [p]Return to the Import Crew screen and click the sync button (the two arrows in a circle).[/p]
7. [p]Your character(s) should now appear in the list. This means your NPCs can now appear in the game. NPCs with a checkmark are allowed to appear in your game as your starting crew, new aircrew from planes, or possible new people in the hiring screen.[/p]

[p]We want to add the feature that you can decide over the starting crew. For now, the generated characters are part of the possible pool of NPCs that can appear in the game.

Tip:[/p][p]If you would like to artificially spawn your created characters, use the regular "spawn_character" cheat with the parameter true at the end to spawn a random custom crew member that fits the description (previous parameters).[/p][p]For example, "spawn_character none male true" will spawn a random custom male ground crew member.[/p][p][/p][h2]So now you can…[/h2]

• [p]Create yourself — how would you look in Ground of Aces?[/p]
• [p]Build a full custom crew — family, friends, or your dream squad.[/p]
• [p]Recreate historical figures — famous aces or entire squadrons.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK – JOIN OUR DISCORD[/h2][p]Show us your results and tell us your feedback! What works well? Where did you encounter issues? How does the generator with all its options feel? What do you think are we missing?[/p][p]
You can share your feedback, portraits and JSON files in our Discord community.[/p][p][/p][p]You can also write your thoughts here in the forum. We will go through your feedback.[/p]

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]From the skies above to the streets below, courage took many forms during World War II. Build your airfield in «Ground of Aces» and lead the resistance in «Through the Darkest of Times».[/p][p][/p][p]Both games are available now as one bundle and you can get it with a 25% discount – just for a limited time![/p][p]GET THE BUNDLE[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Ground of Aces and Unity of Command II in one package! Take charge and experience World War II with our brand-new bundle. For a limited time, you can pick up these two WWII strategy titles with a 20% discount![/p][p][/p][h3][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]GET THE BUNDLE[/h3][p][/p][p]From the control tower to the command tent, every decision matters. Build your airbase in Ground of Aces and command your divisions in Unity of Command II![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This Sunday, Blindflug Studios CEO and executive producer of Ground of Aces, Moritz (known as Dark Zero in our community), sits down with Tomislav Uzelac, developer of Unity of Command, to discuss his work and about making WW2 strategy games. Join us on Sunday in the livestream on Twitch and ask your questions in the livechat.[/p][p][/p][p]📅 Sunday, 23rd of November[/p][p]🕒 9:30pm CET | 3:30pm EST | 12:30pm PST[/p][p]📺 Twitch: @blindflugstudio[/p][p][/p][p]FOLLOW US ON TWITCH[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Here are the latest patch notes:[/p]

• [p]Walls and sandbags now offer protection from explosions. You need walls or sandbags to protect against the effect of an explosion that happen on the side of a building. (Before, roofs magically protected everything inside a building even without closed walls on all sides.)[/p]
• [p]Slightly increased HP for sandbags.[/p]
• [p]Destroying specific objects if multiple objects occupy a tile is now possible.[/p]
• [p]Mental breakdowns, such as panic, rage and collapse are not buffered anymore and won't happen to crew members long after their morale has increased again.[/p]
• [p]Reduced crew damage from fistfights so they are not permanently in bed.[/p]

[p]Issues we are aware of:[/p]

• [p]Currently, players experience crew members getting stuck on seemingly random spots.[/p]