Forts News

G'day Forts fans!

In this update we introduce four new 3v3 maps, including the winners of the recent Forts Map Making Contest 6. Input responsiveness is improved, and we've tweaked camera controls for better feel. There are also a few balance changes to commanders, and a bunch of bug fixes.

[hr][/hr][h2]Change List dlc2 37 r18209[/h2]

Add: 3v3 version of the Vanilla map
Add: Winning maps from Forts Map Making Contest 6 (Shattered Rift, Mountain King 3v3 and Regicide 3v3)

Balance: (Pinchfist) Removed the 5% resource gathering boost
Balance: (Overdrive) Increase GaugeDamageHitpoints from 4050 to 4860 (+20%)
Balance: (Firebird active) Machineguns take 33% less time to overheat

Improve: Reduce FramesPerTick from 4 to 2 to increase input responsiveness
Improve: Zooming in step is equal to zooming out step by default

Fix: (Crevice) Some foundations not exactly aligned to grid
Fix: (Crevice) Team 2 can't fire missiles down from ball
Fix: Clients who have left still appear in the player list UI
Fix: Damage device smoke is drawn under terrain
Fix: Device SaveName is not always set during sprite loading of device scripts
Fix: device.lua and weapon.lua is not applied during sprite loading of device scripts
Fix: Devices can be deleted rapidly after upgrade
Fix: Directional camera controls sluggish while zooming in
Fix: FireWeapon doesn't use correct fire cost when using Eagle Eye's ReloadBack mechanic
Fix: Forfeiting in the ranked commander selection screen allows the same map to be repeated
Fix: Freeze or desync caused by corrupt packets
Fix: Host crash when a player joins and the world state is very complex
Fix: If host sets 'lock forts' while clients are in fort select screen, they can still select their forts
Fix: Map preview generation inconsistent when you start from the team 2 fort
Fix: Map preview generation is inconsistent with vulkan
Fix: Map requires Moonshot when included mod only supports it
Fix: Moonshine generates a warning about MaxLinkLength being out of bounds
Fix: Moonshot environments not visible or have no preview
Fix: Players with previous bans missing the Continue button if EnableBanWarning = false
Fix: PNG files can cause a crash when using Vulkan.
Fix: Resetting tips in game causes lua errors
Fix: Sniper laser sight can pass through terrain
Fix: Unable to extrude Moonshine shield to full extent
Fix: Warhead trail (flying) sounds were higher priority than explosion sounds, causing explosions not to be heard when spammed by the crazy modders (yes, I'm looking at you DeltaWing)

[hr][/hr][h2]Change List dlc2 37b r18270[/h2]

Fix: (Vanilla 3v3) Buggy windfloor and surface texture is missing at back right (replays from previous build will desync)
Fix: (Vulkan) Screenshots are not included in crash reports
Fix: Ranked desync reports are not uploaded
Fix: Failure to connect to a lobby always shows the timeout or corruption message

[hr][/hr][h2]Change List dlc2 37c r18381[/h2]

Fix: Join desync when host CPU is under heavy load
Fix: Latest ranked season medals appear as white squares
Fix: Vanilla 3v3 map can be opened by the map editor
Fix: Error messages from ranked match are not shown until player returns to the lobby select screen

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[h2]Make Sure To Join Our Discord[/h2]

If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.

Cheers,
EWG

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Right after the previous Map Making Competition, we'd like to move swiftly towards our next event! It will be including some of the newest maps added from FMMC6, using the Moonshot DLC. XXX will be held on February 22nd at 8pm UTC, March 1st at 8pm UTC, and March 8th at 8pm UTC. This event will be 3v3 Co-op on Elimination with up to 16 teams competing on a variety of maps. Qualifiers will be Best of 1, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Bronze match Best of 3. Due to time concerns, we cannot guarantee the Finals to be Best of 5 as of now.



Registration will open at 8pm UTC on the 1st of February. In order to register, every participant should ping 42scientist on the Forts Official Discord server with their challengermode team, and then be invited on Challengermode.

Hosts:
Project Incursus Salzwerk

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On to the details.


When will Registration open?

February 1st 2025 at

• 12pm PST (West Coast USA)
  
• 3pm EST (East Coast USA)
  
• 8pm GMT (London)
  
• 9pm CET (France, Germany)
  
• 7am February 2nd AEDT (Brisbane Australia)
  

Entries submitted before this time will not be accepted. Once registration has opened the first 16 teams to submit a valid entry will be admitted. Valid entries must fulfill the requirements listed below under How do I join?


How will players be seeded?

Seedings will be based on past results in official events and ranked seasons.


Prizes?

The prize pool is as follows:

• 1st place $150
  
• 2nd place $75
  
• 3rd place $30
  
  

Prizes will be awarded in the form of Steam digital gift cards, divided equally between players of the team

If you have any additional questions please contact us on Discord.
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[h2]How do I join?[/h2]

In order to participate, you must do the following...

• Join the Official FORTS Discord
  
• Your names on Discord, Steam and Challengermode must match
  
• Inappropriate competitor names/logos/team names will not be accepted
  
• Send a message on Discord to 42scientist with your CM team and Steam profiles, team name, tag, logo and team composition
  
• Team name must not exceed 16 characters, team tag must not exceed 3 letters
  
• Team logo must not exceed 100kb (ideally 128x128)
  
• Registration will not open until February 1st at 8pm UTC
  
• Maximum of 16 teams
  

• Tournament XXX starts February 22nd, 2025 at...
  
• 12am PST (West Coast USA)
  
• 3pm EST (East Coast USA)
  
• 8pm GMT (London)
  
• 9pm CET (France, Germany)
  
• 7am 23rd of February AEDT (Brisbane Australia)
  

• The FORTS Tournament lobby
  
• The Official FORTS Discord
  
• Challengermode Bracket

• 3v3 Co-op on Elimination
  
• Choose your own fort
  
• Single elimination
  
• 30 minute time limit
  
• Moonshot enabled
  
• Tons of Guns enabled
  
• Portals enabled
  
• Commanders enabled
  
• Commander bans
  
• Draws decided by core damage inflicted (total damage if core health is equal)
  
• Maximum of 16 teams
  
• Check-in on Discord starts 1 hour before tournament
  
• Late or absent players forfeit their matches
  
• Use of exploits or bugs for self-charging or any other purpose is strictly forbidden.
  
• Tactical sacrifices are allowed
  
• Earthwork Games reserves the right to make changes to this event as needed
  

Project Incursus Salzwerk

• Vanilla 3v3
  
• mountain king
  
• shattered rift
  
• up & down 3v3
  
• pillars 3v3
  
• java 3v3

Cheers,
EWG

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Seeing how few 3v3 maps there are in the base game, we dedicated our 6th official map making competition to the creation of new 3v3 battlegrounds. Our judges and community were given the complicated task of selecting 3 finalists for the livestream out of the 20 entries received. Then after a series of showcase matches featuring a handful of pro players from the FPL, the winners were announced, with some intriguing maps...

Congratulations to Cronkhinator, winner of Forts Map Making Contest VI! Shattered Rift will be added into the base game map pool as will mountainKing 3v3 from runner-up Pile Rouillée and Regicide 3v3 from third place winner asca. These will make a fine addition to the currently lacking 3v3 pool.

The winners also receive Steam Gift cards of $100, $50, and $20 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.

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[h2]1st Place: Cronkhinator - Shattered Rift[/h2]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3395338593
Shattered Rift was praised by all judges for its spectacular terrain, making extremely good use of the polluted preset to complement the shattered nature of it. On top of this, the trained eye will recognize the inclusion of a fort design from the hit map Crevice, also from Cronkhinator. Finally, the community vote made on our Forts Official Discord gave Shattered Rift a massive boost in ranking, allowing it to score far ahead of all the other competitors.

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[h2]2nd Place: Pile Rouillée - mountainKing 3v3[/h2]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3383184682
mountainKing takes inspiration from one of the most controversial ranked map, Hillfort, having a rather large obstacle preventing the bottom fort from shooting straight ahead, but improves on it with astonishing terrain design. The immaculate use of background terrain for mountains is so good, Incursus did not even notice the shadows were in fact built by hand. Combined with good base design, small props easter eggs and an edge from the community, Pile Rouillée takes 2nd place by the thinnest of margins.

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[h2]3rd Place: asca - Regicide 3v3[/h2]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3389374617
asca's Regicide makes the very bold choice of combining regular gameplay with Capture Point features, using blast doors as a lock & key mechanism to protect the middle fort. Not only does it introduce this unique gameplay feature, but it also drowns the map with intricate easter eggs using meticulously placed props, that even animate for the observers, full with descriptions. Aside from this, Regicide utilises solid terrain and base design, letting it reach 3rd place.

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Thank you also to our showcase players, Dranistian, Vykro, Pile Rouillée, Gusteagle, 42 scientist and the newest caster Cloud for field testing the maps live on stream.

And to our hosts and judges, EWG developers Blammo and Noze, Project Incursus, Salzwerk and event organizer 42 scientist, as well as our community on Discord.

Livestream VoD
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
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[h2]Discord[/h2]
If you haven't already, join the Forts Official Discord server to find these and other maps and for more information on mapmaking, modding, strategy, and upcoming events.

Cheers,
EWG

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Congratulations to klaualles, winner of Season 32! Becoming only the third person to take wins in consecutive seasons, joining EtaN and Dranistian. After narrowly missing their first podium appearance in Season 31 by a mere 10 points, Kriegseule takes Silver. And diving into 3rd is Donny Doorsnipe who cleans up to take Bronze.

While the top 3 places receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze, every player finishing within the top 20 will receive a Season 32 Medal. Congratulations to all medalists as well!

Season 32 trivia:

• Firebird comes roaring back as mortars were the weapon of choice on Moorings and Abyss
  
• Expansion friendly maps like Desert Ruins and Crevice made Seep a notable dark horse pick
  
• Smoke is no longer just the cheaper alternative to firebeams, it's outright winning matches
  
• And all of the above have made Repair stations the new must have device
  

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[h2]1v1 Leaderboard[/h2]

1. klaualles
   
2. [BOG]#Kriegseule
   
3. Donny Doorsnipe
   
4. Poolboy
   
5. Probably Poolboy
   
6. limited power
   
7. zebdww
   
8. Kriegsseule
   
9. :3:3:3
   
10. Kriegskeule
    
11. xd
    
12. gnituynehc
    
13. Nils
    
14. Julian
    
15. Pinchfist
    
16. Ferdinand
    
17. I am myself
    
18. Cloud
    
19. [BOG]#Der Benzinpreisvergleicher
    
20. Supreme
    

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[h2]Season 33[/h2]
Season 33 is already underway and will run through January 31st. This season's map pool consists of the following battlefields:

• Balls
  
• Battlegrounds 1v1
  
• Elephants
  
• Hang Time
  
• Ledge Grab
  
• Stalactites
  

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[h2]Make Sure To Join Our Discord[/h2]

If you haven't already, join our Forts Official Discord server to connect with other players, share strategies, create maps/mods, and receive advance notice of upcoming events.


[hr][/hr]

Cheers,
EWG

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Are you ready for another map contest? It's time to show 3v3 cartography some love. Over on the Forts Steam Workshop there's a definite dearth of 3v3 maps despite being one of the most requested map sizes. Do you have any designs in mind that could become as beloved as Up & Down?

The winning creator will receive a $100 Steam gift card, Map Maker Champion in-game medal, and have their map added to the built-in map list along with the maps of the 1st and 2nd runners up.

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Format

The event will consist of two stages:
Stage 1 - Map makers will be able to submit their maps starting on December 11th 8PM 2024 UTC and ending on January 11th 8PM 2025 UTC in accordance with the rules below. Maps submitted before December 11th 2024 8PM UTC or after January 11th 2025 8PM UTC will not be accepted.

Stage 2 - Our judges in combination with a vote from our Official Forts Discord members will select the 3 winning entries to go into the Live Stream January 18th 2025 8PM UTC, where a group of top players will perform in exhibition matches to showcase each map.

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Prizes

[h3]1st place[/h3]

• $100 Steam gift card
  
• In-game Map Maker Champion medal and accompanying role on Discord.
  
• Have their map added to the built-in map list
  

[h3]2nd place[/h3]

• $50 Steam gift card
  
• Have their map added to the built-in map list
  

[h3]3rd place[/h3]

• $20 Steam gift card
  
• Have their map added to the built-in map list
  

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Live Stream

Date - January 18th 2025 8PM UTC

Judges and stream hosts: 42 scientist Noze Salzwerk Project Incursus

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In order to participate you will need to:

• Have Forts
  
• Familiarise yourself with The Forts Map editor and Style Guide
  
• Create and submit a map that fulfills all requirements between December 11th 2024 8PM UTC and January 11th 2025 8pm UTC
  

Map Requirements

• An original 3v3 Classic or Moonshot (no High Seas dependency) map created from scratch
  
• Receive the Symmetric tag on the Workshop
  
• Have suitable performance on most computers
  

How to submit your map

• Upload your map to the Steam Workshop with the name "FMMC6 - yoursteamname" example, FMMC6 - Romerolagus
  
• Select a separate map name to include with your entry submission.
  
• Set your Workshop visibility to Public
  
• On the Official Forts Discord, direct message @42 scientist with a link to your entry and the desired name for your map before January 11th 2025 UTC.
  

Maps will be graded according to appearance, gameplay potential, and Forts best practices. A more detailed description of the full grading criteria will be made available on Discord. We look forward to seeing your creativity on display.

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In order to improve your map's chances of winning, check out these guides on Steam for best practices:

[h2]The Forts Map Editor Guide[/h2]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=870883350

[h2]The Forts Map Editor Style Guide[/h2]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=916955478
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Special thanks to Cronkhinator and 42 scientist for organising the first community led map competitions.

Good luck to all the competitors and have fun!

Cheers,
EWG