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Survive the Nights News

Experimental Update 1.24 (Base Customizations | Pegboards | New Traps++)

It has been some time since we’ve done an update or a blog for that matter. We took a break from our regular 6 week update schedule to dial some things in. We’ve spent a lot of time adding core features, getting the base of the game together and in a presentable state which it currently is. We’ve spent countless hours improving current features and tweaking mechanics, producing content on a regular 6 week schedule but sometimes you need to take a step back and enjoy yourself.

We’ve spent the last couple of months introducing some big game changes, some nice fixes and a good deal of new content. This blog will cover just a portion of what has been put into the 1.24 build. You can expect a vlog along with some more videos when we move to default.

Help us flesh out any major issues introduced in the newest version today on Survive the Nights experimental branch. Please report any bugs found directly to us on our Discord.

How to get into experimental branch:
  1. Open Steam and go to your games library.
  2. Right click on STN and select "Properties"
  3. Navigate to the "Betas" tab and select "experimental" in the drop down menu.
  4. Close the properties window.
  5. You will find a single experimental server titled EXPERIMENTAL_SERVER. Join this for some testing.


[h3]Structure Cleanup and Building Mechanic[/h3]

We’re introducing the beginning of a system we’ll be expanding on. Previously items in your home and around the world were harvestable. You could get would from trees, tables and benches, scrap from metal objects etc. However it was rather static and the prop itself remained in the game world. This wasn’t how we envisioned the mechanic when we concepted.

The mechanic has been completely refreshed in 1.24 and we couldn’t be happier with the results. As many of you have requested harvestable objects in the world from trash piles to couches will now be removed when you harvest from them. This opens up a ton of opportunity for base building, expanding, organizing and customization.

Structure Cleanup

Exterior Cleanup

[h3]Craftable Furniture[/h3]
With the introduction of structure cleanup we’re going to be expanding on base building. This build introduces this mechanic with wooden furniture. We’re all ears when it comes to crafting ideas so if you have any good ones feel free to drop in and share them with us.

Shelving and Tables

Along with shelving we’ve introduced function pegboard. This allows players to physically store items like they can on freestanding shelving. The pegboard will allow you to snap items like tools and weapons to the wall, a great deal of organizing fun!

Pegboard

Pegboard Functioning

[h3]Craftable Large Workbench and Workbench Improvement[/h3]
There are some big changes to our crafting system in 1.24 and one of them is workbenches. In previous builds some recipes required either a large or small workbench. The large workbench not being a craftable item. Some recipes that should have required a bench didn’t some that did, shouldn’t have.

1.24 refreshes the workbench system. Small and large workbenches are now craftable, large workbenches have a functioning pegboard, large workbenches can ‘store’ tools allowing players to place tools on the bench itself or the pegboard attached to it. Recipes that have a tool requirement can be crafted simply by standing near a workbench with tools on it.

Along with these changes none of the crafting recipes require a bench anymore. Workbenches now speed up the crafting process. The smaller bench speeds up crafting, can’t hold tools but it’s easier to craft and a decent mobile option. The large workbench stores tools and greatly reduces crafting times.

Workbench timing

A large workbench and pegboard

[h3]New Building System[/h3]
We have completely reworked the way some larger items in games are now crafted. The 1.24 build will introduce large item blueprints. Blueprints can be crafted simply and only require the tools to get the items base built. This should allow players to plot out fortifications and interior improvements. Players can then apply resources to the base blueprints and create the full prop.

We have also made another much requested tweak and players will now find they can hold shift to enter fine placement mode. This mode allows for more precise rotation allowing more accurate placement.

Blueprint planning

Build mechanic in action

Workbench crafting

Fine placement

[h3]Craftable Storage Variants[/h3]
We’ve added another player storage container. Adjusting the original container to 40 slots and adding a smaller 20 slot variant.

Large and small containers

[h3]Level Locked Crafting and Max Level Adjustment[/h3]
From the original concept to the introduction of the leveling systems a quite a few updates ago we’ve wanted to link crafting to the level system. 1.24 introduces this feature (server option of course). It gives good reason to the level system and brings out idea of a simple level/crafting system full circle.

Along with this addition we’ve upped the max game level from 20 to 30. We will balance this feature as we work thorough experimental builds should you all find any issues with it.

You might also notice that crafting now covers the entire page and we’ve split things out into easy to find categories.

Level locked crafting

 --- Level 1 ---
Compass
Campfire
Screws

---Level 2---
Sleeping bag
Canteen
Wooden Club

---Level 3---
Bandage
Axe

---Level 4---
Nail
Hammer
Weak Plank

---Level 5---
Spike Barricade

---Level 6---
Jerry can
Wire Spool
Small Workbench

---Level 7---
Crafted Shelf (Small)
Air Horn Tripwire
Firecracker Tripwire

---Level 8---
Crafted Container (Small)
Crafted Table (Square)
Bolts
Campfire Grill
Lock Kit (Weak)

---Level 9---
Crafted Table (Long)
Pegboard
Nail Bomb Tripwire
Scrap Metal
Plank

---Level 10---
Crafted Wall Shelf
Bear Trap
Canteen Energy
Gauze Pad

---Level 11---
Hasp and Staple
Scrap Metal
Crafted Shelf (Large)
Barbed Wire

---Level 12---
Nuts
Cleaning Kit
Bat (Nails)

---Level 13---
Barbed Wire Trap
Spike Barricade Reinforced
Plank Reinforced

--Level 14---
Pipe
Gauze Wrap (Treated)
Animal Trap

---Level 15---
Bandages Treated
Nail Bomb Pressure Plate
Plank Metal
Wooden Barricade (Hole)

---Level 16---
Propane Bait Trap
Arrows
Large Cooking Pot

---Level 17---
Machete
Wooden Barricade (Platform)

---Level 18---
Crafted Container (Large)
Sawn Off

---Level 19---
Large Workbench
Plywood Board

---Level 20---
Lock Kit (strong)
Shotgun Trap

---Level 21---
Propane Fire Trap
Plywood Reinforced

---Level 22---
Metal Barricade (Hole)

---Level 23---
Metal Barricade (Platform)

---Level 24---
Automatic Shotgun Trap

---Level 25---
Sheet Metal

---Level 26---
Window Bars


[h3]Fortification Strength and Placement[/h3]
We’ve made some barricade improvements, free placed fortifications now place with full strength and at a proper right angle. This has been a much requested fix/feature allowing players to create square walls removing the gap others could squeeze through.

90 degree fortifications

Full strength barricades

[h3]New and Improved Traps[/h3]
We have made really nice feature tweaks when it comes to the current traps in game. We’ve added a fully automatic shotgun trap you can use the FRKS to build. This is really useful for protecting a small doorway/hall. The original shotgun trap now correctly takes the double barrel.

Along with the new shotgun trap, shotgun and propane traps are now dynamic in the sense that they can either be placed on the floor or in a window frame.

Bear traps will now hold zombies and players in place for quite some time or in a players case until they reach down and release the trap.

We’ve introduced a nail bomb pressure mine that can be placed ground level and provide moderate explosive damage.

Jerry cans are now very flammable so be careful where you’re shooting :wink:. Explosions also now chain so if you want to create a massive last stand wall around your base be sure to record the outcome!

Dynamic shotgun trap

Dynamic propane trap

Automatic shotgun trap

Nail bomb pressure trap

Chained explosions

We have made a LOT of changes here, we’ve added a lot and tweaked a lot. This build could really used a thorough review. Please check against the changelog below and report any issues you find directly to the team on Discord.

[h3]Patch Notes - 1.24 (Experimental Update)[/h3]

Base Claiming
  • Fence barricades adjusted for easier placement at 90-degree angles when side by side.
  • Added various new free placed storage solutions like tables and shelves.
  • Pegboard system added to allow weapons and tools to be placed on new pegboard items
  • Added building system for free placed barricades
  • Removed all fixed player storage locations! To make way for improved systems
  • Claiming a structure now places a sound.
  • Claiming a structure now cleans up all decal type rubbish.
  • Added smaller craftable storage variant. 20 item capacity.
  • Adjusted the large craftable storage variant to hold 40 items.


Player Leveling
  • Increased max level to 30
  • Level locked craftables.


Fortifications
  • Fortifications now start with full strength when placed.


Crafting
  • Max craft is now capped at 15 items
  • Max craft now correctly cancels when there’s no space in inv.
  • Crafting categories can now be collapsed.
  • Workbenches are no longer required in crafting recipes!
  • Workbenches now speed up crafting times.
  • Tools on or attached to workbenches now count toward recipe. Meaning tools don’t need to be in the inventory.
  • Increased range for workbench proximity check.
  • Added blue print system that allows you to craft items without a recipe (resources are added after placing)
  • Added craftable large work bench variant
  • Crafting recipes where produced item is disabled are now automatically removed from the recipe list.
  • Added crafting recipe for large workbench


Weapons
  • R-6804 Sniper rifle now accepts all scope types.
  • Reduced spread on the FRKS
  • Added multiple scopes for the crossbow.


Hordes
  • Fix for horde difficulty not progressing


Zombies
  • Improvements to how zombies interact with free placed fortifications.


Traps
  • Added nail bomb pressure trap
  • Bear traps will now hold zombies and players in place for an extended period, until the trap is released.
  • Propane fire trap will snap and change to fit the window dynamically when looking at it in placement mode.
  • Propane fire trap has a tripwire when attached to a window and will trigger when a zombie/player enters through the window.
  • Normal shotgun trap now uses double barrel and can fire 2 bullets
  • FRKS shotgun trap can fire 5 bullets in a row and it uses 18g ammunition
  • Shotgun trap will snap and change to fit the window dynamically when looking at it in placement mode
  • Fix for traps losing their resources when being picked up.
  • Created automatic shotgun trap variant
  • Added explosion chaining
  • Jerry cans now explode and can be shot


Props
  • New large workbench prop.
  • New small workbench model.
  • Sleeping bag model is now cleaner.
  • Improved Jerrycan model.
  • Added pegboard model.
  • Added various free placed storage solutions.


QoL
  • Vehicles no longer prone to despawning on server restarts.
  • Fluorescent bulbs now spawn in hardware and electrical locations.
  • XP bar now animates and updates correctly.
  • Seed packets can now be found in hardware stores.
  • Fixed issue that could cause zombies to respawn after death.
  • Traps and free placed barricades now stack in the inventory.
  • Raised the overall ambient light to improve visibility in structures.
  • Faster interaction for picking up items and general interactions
  • Ground placement only object no longer had the 'drop' button.
  • Disabled quickplay and renamed “Join” to “Servers” to avoid confusion.
  • Fix for glass particles when punching empty window frame and inside open door
  • Major item name and description overhaul to make things clearer and easier to understand.
  • Fixes to player spawn location priority system.


Server Config
  • Added new server configuration option for level locked crafting


Other Players
  • Fix for muzzle flashes on proxies shooting up


UI
  • Added back button when filtering weapon attachments
  • Removed sorting by ‘none' in the inventory as it no longer worked with the category dividers.
  • Replaced “Clothes” category in the inventory with “Building” category which includes fortification, barricade and traps.
  • Added new categories for Building and traps.
  • 'All Craftables' list is now full page.
  • 'All Craftables' list now has category dividers.
  • Improved highlighting in the crafting page to indicate what can currently be clicked.
  • Added tooltips to the crafting page to better guide the player.
  • Placement mode now has UI explaining all inputs.
  • Fix for scenario workshop thumbnails not showing when one of the images is a broken link
  • Fix for small text in scenario workshop descriptions
  • Tallies on continuous hordes no longer gets cut off.
  • Windows now longer have incorrect "coming soon" message.


[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights

Patreon: https://patreon.com/a2zinteractive

Changelog: https://changelog.survivethenights.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive

Website: https://www.survivethenights.net

Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/a2zinteractive

Summer Sale - 85% Off

Survive the Nights is now 85% off for two weeks during the summer sale - now through July 13th. Come join in on our latest update & pick up the game for this great price!

If you have any questions before purchasing, please join our friendly community on discord.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/541300


[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights

Changelog: https://changelog.survivethenights.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive

Website: https://www.survivethenights.net

Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/a2zinteractive

$%#@ Inflation Sale - 85% Off

Survive the Nights is now 85% off for two weeks during our $%#@ Inflation Sale - now through June 29th. Come join in on our latest update & pick up the game for our deepest discount yet!

If you have any questions before purchasing, please join our friendly community on discord.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/541300


[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights

Changelog: https://changelog.survivethenights.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive

Website: https://www.survivethenights.net

Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/a2zinteractive

Patch Notes - Alpha 1.23.2 (Hotfix)

Hello all,

We've released a hotfix (Alpha 1.23.2) to our default branch on Steam. You can find our patch notes below. Please report bugs and issues in game using the F1 menu. In case you missed it, the full v1.23 update can be viewed here.

[h3]Patch Notes - Alpha 1.23.2 (Hotfix)[/h3]
  • Fixed translation and language issues
  • Added translation option


[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights

Changelog: https://changelog.survivethenights.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive

Website: https://www.survivethenights.net

Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/a2zinteractive

May Update (Weapon Improvements | The MK4 | UI Improvements++)

Hey now, hope you’re all well. We’re moving our latest build to the default branch today. We’ve been cracking along on quality of life improvements and putting polish on current features over the last couple of weeks. We’ll be separating QoL updates out with a few big ones coming in the next couple of months. This update puts some polish on our inventory system, introduces new weapon features and a new weapon.

Please note: We'll be doing a data base wipe on existing official servers. We're introducing new weapons and attachments and feel it would be a good time to clean things up. We've not had server reset in some time so this should freshen up the world.

[h3]The MK4[/h3]
We’re introducing a new weapon in this update. The MK4 has quickly become a favorite among the team. It’s smaller than the ARG, faster and takes 9mm ammo. The MK4 can be fitted with all of our sights, suppressors and flashlights. Along with these attachments you’ll be able to attach an extended magazine, burst fire mechanism and the fully automatic mechanism. The gun is a good deal of fun and a monster when it comes to taking out hordes.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h3]MK4 Quick Access [/h3]
If you’d like to jump right in and check out the MK4 straight away a good way to do that would be to check out our Nazi Zombie scenario. You can find this scenario in the workshop. It’s a good deal of fun, the current team record is 10 waves let us know if you can beat it!



Nazi Zombie Weapon Cache

[h3]Updated Weapons[/h3]
Model swaps aren’t a massive task but a rather tedious one and they can be very time consuming. Andre has made some great progress and we’ve swapped out (4) of our current models. The Rauser Rig (9mm), FRKS (auto shotgun), R-6804 (sniper), lola (.45) and The Bateman.

Along with these model swaps we’ve made improvements to animations and animation timings. Speeding things like reloads up just enough to make general gameplay feel more fluid. We’ve introduced new audio sets for quite a few of our weapons as well, they sounds much more lively especially the Bateman! :)

Old/New FRKS

FRKS Inspect and Fire

Old/New Rauser Rig

Rauser Rig Inspect and Fire

Old/New Bateman

Bateman Inspect and Fire

Old/New Lola

Lola Inspect and Fire

[h3]Firing Mechanisms[/h3]
Full automatic firing mechanisms will now spawn for some of the weapons in our game. The Rauser Rig, ARG15 and the FRKS will get the option to accept a fully automatic mechanism. The Rauser Rig and the ARG will also receive burst fire attachments.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h3]Inventory Improvements (Weapon Attachments)[/h3]
We’ve been working on inventory improvements and the next build will feature some really nice ones. The biggest addition here is the ability to quickly view, add and remove weapon attachments right on the right side inventory page (main tab). You can also now equip and close the inventory allowing for quick access to weapons and weapon changes/attachments.

Adding Attachments

Removing Attachments

Equip and Close

[h3]General Improvements and Tweaks[/h3]
We’ve made numerous smaller tweaks including tweaks to the FPS skin, updating the sleeve textures and increasing resolution on the skin of the hand.

Old Sleeve/Hand

New Sleeve/Hand

We’ve increased the feedback on empty clips/rounds as players felt sometimes it could go too unnoticed, just at the wrong time haha. You’ll now notice the ammo icon flash letting you know you better reload or run.

No Ammo Feedback

New red dot sight shader added for more realistic effect on Reflex/Compact/APUG sights.

Updated Sights

We’ve made it easier to exit the lock UI screen, you can simply click anywhere on screen (other than the lock) and it will clear now.



Improvements to melee detections, making things a bit more fluid and far more satisfying/fair.



As always, thanks much for the continued support. Come join us on Discord and share some ideas.


[h3]Patch Notes - Alpha 1.23.1 [/h3]

General
  • Crowd-in localization import
  • Improved FPS skin texture resolution
  • Improved arm and jacket materials for player on all weapons
  • Improved FPS skin texture resolution
  • Improved arm and jacket materials for player on all weapons
  • Game load progress now more accurate.
  • Fix issue that stopped certain interactions after server load.
  • Stews now correctly give 1200 calorie portions instead of 500.
  • Clicking the attached flashlight no longer filters to all flashlight attachment types.
  • Increased ammo box capacities.
  • Added new ‘Equip & Close’ option on weapons.
  • Propane traps are now non stackable


Weapons
  • Fix for issue where the weapon broke, limiting its firing rate to once per second
  • All weapons now have a small amount of zoom when aiming.
  • New red dot sight shader added for more realistic effect on Reflex/Compact/APUG sights
  • Added fire mechanism functionality for weapons that have the appropriate attachments.
  • Increased the fire rate of the Rauser.
  • Bullets now penetrate all surfaces more than before.
  • Inspect animation now cancels when initiating aim.
  • Improved firing animations for the FRKS shotgun
  • Added new MK4 weapon with full auto and burst fire capabilities.
  • Weapon attachments can now be visualized in the inventory as sub items.
  • Added the ability to add and remove attachments directly from the inventory page.
  • Added the ability to attach directly to equipped weapon.
  • Equipping from the inventory no longer closes the inventory.
  • Attaching to weapons from the “Search“ filter now works.
  • Added weapon cleaning and sharpening from the right click menu.
  • Tweaks to muzzle flash distortion materials to fix weird artifacts in all muzzle flashes


Weapons Assets
  • New model for R-6804 rifle.
  • New Lola & Gary pistol model.
  • New improved Bateman pistol model.
  • New improved FRKS shotgun model.
  • New improved Rauser pistol model.


Assets
  • Added burst and full auto pickups for the Rauser.
  • Added burst and full auto pickups for the arg15.
  • Added burst and full auto pickups for the MK4.
  • Added burst pickup for the FRKS shotgun.


SFX
  • New Bateman sounds
  • New firing sounds for the FRKS.
  • New firing sounds for the Rauser.


Assets
  • Added new MK-4 full auto weapon


Animations
  • Added animation set for new MK-4 weapon


UI
  • Increased UI feedback when weapon is out of ammo
  • Clicking next to lock in lock UI now closes the UI


[h3]Links[/h3]
Discord: https://discord.gg/survivethenights

Patreon: https://patreon.com/a2zinteractive

Changelog: https://changelog.survivethenights.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/STNgame

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STNgame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/a2zinteractive

Website: https://www.survivethenights.net

Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/a2zinteractive