Star Traders: Frontiers Update #83 Espionage Waves

[fallen]

Update #83 comes with a host of polish and quality of life items. With a few weeks left in our Early Access period, we're doubling down on polish and are going to be hammering out updates fast and furious. This update includes an Unlock rebalance, a rebuild to the Intel screen and a rebalance of the benefits of selling Intel, and a major upgrade to tooltips on faction flags throughout the game, as well as a bunch of nice bug fixes and other small improvements. Not to mention, Gravity Drivers now look very cool!

Unlock Adjustment

We have rebalanced the "Expert Contractor" Achievement -- which notably holds the Galtak Freighter as its unlock -- to only require Normal Difficulty. Thanks to everyone posting feedback about the new system!

Intelligence Data

As we crack down on all the remaining polish tasks, we've hit the last completely unfinished screen in the game -- Selling Intel. From its upgraded UI, you can now see a wealth of data about the Intel you've got up for sale, Conflicts it relates to and potential prices. When selecting a specific chunk of Intel, you can see the price and all the possible Conflicts and Contacts it will effect.

This was an important time for us to rebalance the benefits of Intel. It has always been a place where you can gain powerful Rep and Influence rewards. Generic Intel will also have effect on a more limited set of Conflicts -- only those Conflicts that are a match between the Intel Faction and the Contact. So -- if you have generic Intel on Cadar, you either need to sell it to a Cadar Contact or someone in a Conflict with Cadar. Otherwise, interest will be far lower. We've balanced the entire system a bit to make sure it is better in line with other systems in the game, but it still maintains a position as a powerful avenue for advancement in these areas. Intelligence is still critical in the great conflict of the factions.



We've also added a new display after the sale. This record of sale displays the price you were paid and all of the impacts -- from Contact Rep and Influence to Faction Rep and all through any Conflict that was affected. Now, when you're selling Intel, you know what you're getting!

Rep, Rank and Conflicts

With Update #83, we've greatly increased the value of the hover over any flag in the game. You can now gain access to not only Rep, Rank, Edict Permit values but also a listing of all active Conflicts that Faction is involved in, how long they have lasted and the current score. This is especially a big boon on ship encounter screens and mission screens. More information where you need it, captain.

v2.3.15 - 7/16/2018

- Hover over any flag to see Faction Rep, Permit, Edict, Rank and now a list of active Conflicts
- Rebalanced and improved selling of Intel Records, rebuilt UI
- Intel sale now provides a full record of sale and all consequences
- Generic Intel effects less Conflicts, has less sweeping benefits -- timely Conflict Intel is best
- Rebalanced Achievement "Expert Contractor" to only require Normal Difficulty
- Added Gravity Driver's unique combat animation
- Prevented mutiny in the case where there is no crew to mutiny
- Fixed bug preventing correct display of Expired Conflicts in Intel list
- Fixed bug showing that ship's medical rating + doctor was insufficient for plague missions
- Fixed bugs with Civil Unrest Rumor not working
- Fixed bugs with some Patrol card ship hostility factors

[ntsheep]

Here I come to derail the thread!