Iron Harvest News

Iron Harvest Changelog 13: Faster Q-times and More Fixes!

Greetings Harvesters,
to the thirteenth of our regular post-release updates. Nothing unlucky about it. This week we focus on decreasing queue times by adding a feature that shares matchmaking. We’ve also implement several fixes and improvements requested by the community.

[h3]Shared Matchmaking [/h3]

We know how eager you are to get into battle and feast upon the mechanized entrails of your enemy. Therefore, we are happy to oblige by refining the games matchmaker to more quickly pair combatants with their most suitable foes. It’ll work like this:

You enter the game queue via either Quick match or Ranked mode.
The matchmaker will aim to match you with players based on this preference and most who has a similar MMR to you.
If, after a few minutes, the matchmaker is unable to pair you with someone with your preference, it will choose any player with a similar MMR.
If you queued for Ranked Match, you will gain or lose SR as normal depending on the result.
If you queued for Quick Match, your SR will be unaffected.
Safeguards have been deployed to prevent players who try to exploit this system to “farm” SR.

We’re aware that some high level players are reporting unexpected and significant SR losses. We are currently assessing how MMR is incorporated into the calculation of SR and discussing our options. We will have more on this for you very soon.

[h3]General changes: [/h3]

Fixed an issue that resulted in infantry units being left outside when the squad was ordered to garrison a building, or Zolw while firing at enemy units.
The “Matter of time” achievement is now correctly awarded when you win a game due the time limit elapsing.
Fixed issues related to deconstructing connected barbed wire sections that could cause game input freezes.
Fixed “Matchmaking failed” errors created when a few players used Coop mode on the final Polanian campaign mission “Showdown”.
Fixed multiple little errors so as to improve overall game stability.
Fixed overlapping icons in long titles within the cosmetics menu.
Fixed incorrectly displaying loading bar.
Map and Game mode are now clearly displayed during the Reserve picking and game loading screen.

[h3]Balance changes: [/h3]

We continue to monitor the games state and your feedback regarding balancing, especially with all the info that comes from the ESL tournament. With that continuing, we are reluctant to make any significant changes that might disrupt those competing. We’ve also recently had in-depth conversations with community members. They helped to confirm us in our thinking that regularly, short-term, tweaking of numbers is undesirable.

Instead, we plan to focus on future balancing changes that would best come from long-term improvements. For example, in the way units operate and function on the battlefield.

[h3]Wow what a year! Only one week to go and we’re going to end it in style![/h3]
Next week: The winds of change arrive with the Rusviet Revolution mini-DLC

[h3]Stay up to date as we continue to progress by joining us on: [/h3]
Our Official Discord Channel! Facebook Twitter Reddit Instagram

Devs are also streaming on Twitch!

Iron Harvest ChangeLog 12: Demo and Fixes

[h3] Greetings Harvesters,[/h3]
to the twelfth of our regular post-release updates. This week we add a feature that will calm many manic mech commanders and add a host of general changes and fixes. Like an infantry squad that’s just spotted a crate drop falling from the sky, let us get right to it.

[h2]Cancellable Upgrades[/h2]

We’ve all been there. You’re in the heat of battle and you decide to make that investment to upgrade your production buildings and start kicking out the big boys! But then the tide of battle suddenly changes and you need those resources elsewhere. Or maybe you simply miss-clicked.

Well now, panic no further, you can cancel that upgrade order for a full refund. This is another implementation we’re happy to make in response to player Feedback.

[h2] Free Demo Extended [/h2]

This past weekend has seen many mechs mangled and marauding. Due to the recent popularity we have decided to extend the Free Demo until January.
You’ll find it on Steam here,

With all that’s happened, happening and coming since release, now is a great time to join the Harvest. We’re also extremely proud and thankful that our players are responding so well to our weekly updates.

Thanks to everyone who has left us a review. This really greases our gears and keep this mechanized monster going.

[h2]General changes: [/h2]

In “Drop Zone”, a Radar Pulse now highlights the drop-zone location upon the mini-map when a drop lands or another player is currently collecting it.
Fixed exploit, where the infantry-ability "Battle Cry" would stay active indefinitely while inside a building or transport-unit.
Fixed "Battle Cry", medic-heal and many infantry-hero-abilities not correctly updating their cooldown while inside of a building or transport-unit.
It is no longer possible to track units through the Fog of War using queued attack commands.
Unconscious heroes are no longer selectable when using Box/Drag to select multiple units.
Several banners now have a better fit over faceplates, making them look considerably better.
Removed dark backgrounds behind faceplates in the main menu and cosmetics screens so that faceplates with transparency and unconventional shapes look better.
Adjusted some mechs so that they correctly display their retreat icon when fleeing.
Adjusted scaling of the Tactical-Map for a few Maps to improve the accuracy of icon-positioning.
Flattened the player starting area on the 2v2 Crash Site map to prevent levitating buildings.
Fixed general missing textures.
General Flamer VFX fixes.
Added more “You-In-the-Game” Backer portraits to the roster of those available for public use via coins in the shop.
New cosmetic skins added to the shop for purchase with awarded coins.

[h2]Balance changes: [/h2]
The ESL tournament continues and continues to offer a great source of balancing data. Similar to the last tourney, we love to see what solutions players come up with to contest the meta that has been established over the weekend.

Therefore, we’ll refrain from making balancing changes this week and keep observing. This will provide us a better foundation to make changes that are more solid and long term oriented as well as minimized disruption to players preparations.

[h3]As the year closes we plough on towards revolution. Vodka for Christmas?[/h3]

Next week: Shared matchmaking will improve queue times between games.

[h3]Stay up to date as we continue to progress by joining us on: [/h3]

Our Official Discord Channel! Facebook
Twitter
Reddit Instagram

Devs are also streaming on Twitch!

Free Demo Weekend, Sale and Tourney Begins!

[h3]Enjoy mech stomping goodness this weekend with a Free Demo![/h3]
Starting November 25th and ending December 1st, all interested players can join the battlefield via a free public demo

The Demo will feature:

A sneak peek at the thrilling campaign missions.
Skirmish and Challenge Maps: Players can take on the A.I. alone or in co-op with a friend.
Competitive Multiplayer: Players can challenge each other in thrilling toe-to-toe battles on either 1v1, 2v2 or even one 3v3 map!

[h3]And if you like what you play the game is also 20%off![/h3]

[h3]Feeling confident?[/h3]

Iron Harvest has teamed up with ESL to bring you another pro tournament with 5000 Euros in prize money up for grabs

[h3]Click Here To Enter The Tourney[/h3]

Fall Tournament schedule:

Qualifier 1: Saturday November 28, 2020
Qualifier 2: Sunday November 29, 2020
Qualifier 3: Saturday December 5, 2020
Qualifier 4: Saturday December 12, 2020
Finals: Saturday December 19, 2020

Mega Mech fans, 2Sk3tchy and RedRupee will be Streaming the games

All particpents will also unlock a Ivory cosmetic for the iconic Grimbart mech.

[h3]Enjoy![/h3]

Dieselpunk RTS Iron Harvest will get its first DLC next month

The Iron Harvest developers have been working hard at improving their mecha Company of Heroes-like RTS game ever since it launched at the beginning of September. Patches have been rolling out week-by-week, following a strict monthly roadmap schedule, and December's will culminate in the game's first bit of paid post-release content: the Rusviet Revolution expansion.

This small add-on will be out on December 17, and will add four new single-player missions centred around the mysterious Rasputin. It will tell a tale reminiscent of the Russian Revolution that happened in our own history. All of the missions will be playable in co-op, and this pack will be free for Kickstarter backers and anyone who bought the Digital Deluxe edition.

Other improvements coming as part of December's roadmap include being able to cancel building upgrades, and a shared mapmaking pool. So far in November the team have added in a new 1v1 map called the Dark Forest, the ability to form a group and matchmake together, as well as a counter to barbed wire.

Read the rest of the story...

DevBlog #32 - New Game Mode, Updates, DLC News and Much More!

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[h2]New “Drop Zone” Game Mode
[/h2]

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s, it’s a . . . crate, and we need it for the war effort!

Today, we introduce a new Game Mode called "Drop Zone" to the world of 1920+.
In "Drop Zone" players race to collect stockpiles containing Victory Points as they are air-dropped across the map. The first player to collect enough Victory Points wins!

Multiple stockpiles can drop simultaneously and they take time to collect. Protecting dropped stockpiles, while securing future drop zones, is the key to victory.

Drop Zone will be available on all existing skirmish/multiplayer maps and can be played in Ranked, Quick, and Custom matches.

[h2]New Season Tree To Unlock[/h2]

Today also marks the end of the 1st Iron Harvest Season. Mech Commanders have returned from the battlefield with all manner of trophy’s and rewards.

Season 2 begins with a whole new set of goodies to unlock.

The Ranked Ladder will also be reset. Congratulations to all these Commanders for making it to the top of the board.

All in the top 15 will receive a “Season 1 Elite” title to honor your labors on the battlefield.

Everyone whose completed their placement matches will also receive a “Veteran” title and faceplate cosmetic.

We’ve saved all Season 1 player info and this may be available in the future for display.
[h3]Season 2 beings, what rewards will you reap?[/h3]

[h2]New Rusviet Revolution DLC[/h2]

Over 100 years ago the real Russian revolution came to a halt when the red forces won the final battles at the Krim. However, the alternate history of 1920+ has never seen this kind of revolution . . . until now.

December 17th marks the day the Rusviet people will raise up against the Tsar. Players will follow an additional story line over the course of four new single player maps, shedding some light on the mysterious Rasputin.

New Rusviet revolution add-on story line will explore the mysterious Rasputin over 4 new single player, but COOP-able, maps.
It releases December 17th!
These missions will be free for all Kickstarter Backers and Digital Deluxe owners.
For everyone else, the “Rusviet Revolution” will be €3,99 through Steam, GOG or Epic Games Store.

[h2]ESL Fall Tournament[/h2]

Once again KING Art Games and ESL have teamed up to bring competitive RTS gamers another Iron Harvest tournament. Players will compete for prizes totalling up to 5000€!
All playing participants will receive the Grimbart “Ivory” cosmetic skin and a Title for their player profile.

[h3]Click Here To Enter The Tourney[/h3]

Fall Tournament schedule:

Qualifier 1: Saturday November 28, 2020
Qualifier 2: Sunday November 29, 2020
Qualifier 3: Saturday December 5, 2020
Qualifier 4: Saturday December 12, 2020
Finals: Saturday December 19, 2020

Mega Mech fans, 2Sk3tchy and RedRupee will be Streaming the games

“He’d be camouflaged, if only he’d stop shooting for a second!”

[h2]Free Demo Weekend
[/h2]

Starting November 25th and ending December 1st, all interested players can join the battlefield via a free public demo on Steam, GOG and Epic.

The Demo will feature:

A sneak peek at the thrilling campaign missions.
Skirmish and Challenge Maps: Players can take on the A.I. alone or in co-op with a friend.
Competitive Multiplayer: Players can challenge each other in thrilling toe-to-toe battles on either 1v1, 2v2 or even one 3v3 map!

[h2]Change Log 11[/h2]

We also updated the game with various changes and improvements:
General changes

Skill Rating (SR) gained or lost after a Ranked Match is now based primarily on your opponent's (hidden) Match Making Rating (MMR). Winning against more skilled opponents grants more SR compared to winning against less skilled opponents.
Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Master Division have received tweaks to their thresholds. It should now be easier to reach these divisions.
5 more mechs now have skins, bringing the total to 12. All 12 mechs now have 1 skin for sale by default. Also new additional skins can be unlocked for many of these mechs through the Season Tree, achievements, and levelling up!
The maximum Player Level has been expanded by 10 and the maximum Faction Level by 5 for each faction. These levels grant exciting new rewards such as new portraits, titles, frames, and unit skins!
Fixed an issue in Multiplayer lobby that caused game settings to not be displayed for joined players.
Fixed an issue that caused an invite to a friend to be accidentally sent twice when clicking on the name multiple times.
Fixed an issue whereby the tooltip of the player leaving a party stayed open.
Fixed that players appeared to not be in a match session after they became host once their party leader left a game lobby.
Improved checksum check for multiplayer matches.
Fixed the issue that GoG players were not able to invite other players from their friend list.
Fixed an issue that caused the build menu of engineers to stay open once they picked up a different weapon or died.
Fixed icon positions of the tactical map on “Deserted Tracks”
Fixed an issue that could lead to a situation whereby the Polanian Campaign Mission “To the Rescue” could not be completed.

Balance Changes

Last week we unleashed a variety of balance changes, and so this week we will continue to collect data and gauge the effect these have had on gameplay. With players already practicing for the ESL tournament, it would also be unfair to disrupt their preparation with changes. The Tourney offers another excellent opportunity to gather feedback on balancing.

[h2]November’s Highlights[/h2]

[h3]Party Invite System[/h3]

You Mech Commanders like to Party. You’ve told us many times, and now we are excited to offer it. You can now form a Group/Party of up to 3 people and queue for quick, ranked and custom matches.

Of course, you’re likely to be matched with a same sized group, but it is also possible for a 3 person Group to be matched against a 2 person Group and a Solo player. Any combination is now feasible! You can even add A.I. to fill empty slots.

Remember, communication is always overpowered, and so you’re welcome to use the voice channels found by clicking here in our Official Discord Server.

[h3]New 1v1 Map “Dark Forest”[/h3]

Saxony is home to many majestic and wild forests. Despite the ever-present encroachment of man, these places are still filled with mystery and myth.

But you’ll find more than folklore here.Deep within this sparsely populated area, the Kaiser’s finest engineers have been working in secret on a cutting-edge hydroelectric dam.

This potent alternative to oil would be an incredible asset to the commander who can conquer the woodland's twisted paths and crumbling castles.

[h3]Destructible Barbed Wire [/h3]

In response to player feedback about the awkward use of barbed wire, especially on narrow bridges, we are happy to have now added this counter

[h2]December's Roadmap[/h2]
We continue to collect your feedback and respond to it as best we can. November was very successful with many fan approved additions. We’ll continue this and December is likely to end the year on a high. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Week 1: Building upgrades will become cancellable.
Week 2: Shared Matchmaking pool for quicker game queue times.
Week 3: The people of Rusviet will rise in Revolution. New DLC campaign missions!
Week 4: Holiday Season.

[h3]Stay up to date as we continue to progress by joining us on:[/h3]
Our Official Discord Channel!

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Devs are also streaming on Twitch!