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Evochron Mercenary 2.408 available...

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:56 pm
by Vice
Version 2.408 is now available for download. As usual, the installer can also be used to update older versions of the game. It can be downloaded here:
http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmerce ... nloads.htm

This update includes the following improvements/fixes:

- More friendly AI ships added for support in single player war zone missions.
- AI combat tactics systems updated to unify target selection and maneuvering behavior between single player and multiplayer.
- New AI tactics systems allowing hostile ships to selectively establish attack and defend patterns based on objective type (ie order specific ships to attack capital ship during escort contracts).
- Rate of movement in 3rd person chase view reduced to better keep player ship in view when performing high speed maneuvers.
- Planetary atmosphere system updated to provide variable friction/burn levels based on atmospheric density at different altitudes.
- Friendly AI ships will generally join in to defend player and attack hostiles while on a contract if they are in range.
- Gravity system updated to provide a more realistic acceleration effect in zero atmosphere environments.
- Sector and Clan only text messages now labeled for each message type when received.
- Waypoint for escort contracts/missions now placed at friendly capital ship location.
- Gravity gauge system updated to provide a 1:1 relevant velocity offset value.
- New 'total velocity' indicator added to lower left cockpit display.
- Capital ships given moderate increase in defensive capabilities.
- Capital ship flak cannon damage level increased.
- Several minor bug fixes.


The AI can now formulate much more complex attack and defend strategies, including both individual ship decisions and group decisions. For example, they can dynamically assign a few ships to attack a capital ship being escorted while assigning the rest to distract and defend. Ships assigned to certain roles can also be changed by the AI system as conditions change. Friendly AI ships are now also generally more effective and responsive in their cooperative efforts with the player, particularly in war zones. They will look for opportunities and nearest hostile threats to take out as well as selectively assigning certain ships for capital ship attacks, matching tactics used by hostile ships against the player. Friendly AI will be more aggressive and actively engage to help out while the player has an active contract.

Players should find escort contracts a little more challenging now, having to pay attention to hostiles selectively and continually attacking the escort ship. Hostile ships will now usually be able to destroy the escort ship before it can jump if the player doesn't effectively defend it.

In addition to the forward, vertical, and horizontal speed indicators, a new 'total velocity' indicator has been added to the right of the local forward/reverse velocity indicator on the lower left cockpit display. This new indicator will let you know what your ship's overall velocity is, including all factors and independent of any external offsets (ie planet rotation). Once all variables are accounted for, including vertical, horizontal, and forward/reverse speed combined with gravity, the total velocity is displayed on this indicator. So you can find yourself actually flying slower than your applied relative forward/reverse set velocity when you fly away from a gravity point and then be flying faster when you fly toward a gravity point. With this new option, you can visually gauge how much of an effect a force like gravity is having on your ship's overall momentum/speed.

The total velocity gauge takes into account every factor that effects your ship's movement, including planet rotation. So if a planet has you in its gravity hold and you are rotating with it, you can see a slight variation in your overall velocity, depending on the orientation of your ship. And since the total velocity indicator is direction independent, your forward/reverse velocity may read negative while the total velocity continues to read a positive value since it only measures the total velocity of your ship. So be sure to take such factors into account when monitoring the velocity conditions of your ship. The total velocity indicator can be particularly helpful in combat situations when performing high speed maneuvers.

Evochron Mercenary 2.408 available...

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 4:53 am
by Galaxian
Keep up the great work sir!