[Developer blog] Crossout development suggestions from players. Leviathans and the test server

[Ka1deron 3,735]

Greetings to all survivors!

We are continuing the series of developer blogs, which serve to keep you informed of suggestions from players that were accepted and which with a high degree of probability may be realized in the game in one of the upcoming updates.

We remind you that all the features described in this blog are not final and are still in development. Some of them may be included in one of the upcoming updates, but the final information about this will be revealed only in forthcoming news items. The mere fact of mentioning a particular suggestion and information about it being in the works does not guarantee that the change/feature will appear on the game servers.

Appearance customization

And we would like to start with numerous questions and suggestions on part customization kits. We looked at many options of how you see CK in the game and came to the decision to completely rework the existing mechanics.

We remind you that at the moment for every part, whose appearance you want to change, you need a separate CK. After the rework, the CK mechanics will be similar to that of paint: only one CK will suffice to change the appearance of several identical parts — practical and straightforward. With the same ease, you can remove the CK from the part at any time (except for battles, of course) without having to spend any resources on it. It will be possible to apply CK to ordinary parts as well as to their "temporary" variants. 

We will not forget about those players who have several identical CK in storage. The “excess” packs will be removed from storage and compensated for.

For those who asked, waited and hoped for new CK, we also have good news. In one of the upcoming in-game events, you will have a chance to compete for a new prototype CK for... wheels!

Maps

We often read questions and suggestions about maps, and today we would like to make an announcement that we are currently working on two brand new PvP maps that we plan to present to you in the upcoming updates. At the same time, work is underway to update the existing maps and fix problems associated with the bumpy landscape of some locations (hello, “Fortress”!).

“Encounter” and scoring in missions

Moving on. We found the proposal to improve the PvP scenario “Encounter”, or rather, the mechanics of capturing the base, quite interesting:

• After making changes, the neutral base capture scale will be divided into 3 segments (just like the “Assault” scenario).
• To win, you will need to capture 2 of the 3 segments of the scale.
• The already captured segments cannot be “recaptured”.
• For each individual captured segment, players who are within the base at the time of capture will get experience points.

Under such conditions, we think the following scenario is quite likely: the first team captures 1 segment, then retreats under the pressure of the opponents and surrenders the second segment, and then a heated battle unfolds for the last crucial section. It looks and sounds really interesting, the proposal is accepted and already in works:) 

At the same time, we took into account the comments and suggestions on enemy kill assists, both in raids and in missions. Now, if you deal damage to the enemy, and it was destroyed 15 seconds after your last hit, then you do not get any points. In the updated version, the fact of your assistance in the destruction of the enemy will be maintained until the end of the battle, and you will receive additional experience points if the enemy is destroyed. We would like to thank you for the valid arguments and detailed proposals.

Decor and stickers

We took into account the concern of many players about the number of stickers added to the game. Therefore, in the upcoming in-game event, you will be able to get new unique rewards, such as backgrounds and logos for your banners and the already mentioned CK for wheels. This does not mean that there will be no more stickers. We will continue to add new stickers but plan to "dilute" their inflow with other exciting rewards. And yes, the question of the use/exchange of unnecessary stickers will also be discussed.

Also we would like to note that in the upcoming update we plan to ensure that non-tradable decor, obtained during in-game events or when buying packs, does not occupy space in your storage. This applies both to the new decor, which is yet to be obtained, and to what is already in your storage.

Leviathans and “Invasion”

We also plan to pay attention to the comments and complaints about the Leviathans in the "Invasion" with melee weapons and explosive spears. First of all, we would not like to prohibit such cars in this mode and limit the flight of fancy and resourcefulness of some players. That is why we drew attention to several similar proposals that solve the problem of the instantaneous destruction of the tower in a somewhat different way. At the moment, it is planned that in the updated version, there will be 3 towers at the location, combined with a shared durability indicator. This means that if one of the towers is destroyed, the overall durability scale will decrease by one third. As a result, even if you were lucky to meet an "explosive" Leviathan and couldn't stop it before contact with the tower, you will lose only a third of the total durability indicator and still maintain the chances of successful completion of the battle.

Besides, we are working on a special "test drive" for the Leviathans, which must be finished before the Leviathan goes into battle. We often encounter reports that in the "Invasion" there are Leviathans, which consist entirely of barrels and other explosive modules, and "Test drive" is designed to solve this problem. If the Leviathan cannot complete it, then it will not be able to go to battle either. The function of monitoring the test drive is not available in current testing.

We are ready to present you the current versions of some changes to the “Invasion” and leviathans, and we offer you to try them out on the test server today!

Launch of a special test server

Today, we invite you to a special test server, where you can try out the first changes to leviathans and the “Invasion” mode.

List of changes:

• Replace one tower in the “Invasion” with three, united by a common durability gauge. Now players have more chances for successful completion of the mode even in the case of the emergence of leviathans with explosive spears.
• Updated location “El Diablo Gorge”.
• New sound effects at the location.
• Displays the name and current durability of the Leviathan above the vehicle.
• Guaranteed ammunition from each enemy destroyed.
• As a feature to test, changed DT Cobra's collision model. Now you're able to ride it over and not get stuck on it.

How to get to the test server?

If you have already participated in testing on a special server, then it will be enough to start the Launcher from the folder with the test client and wait for the update to complete.

• Create a new folder for the game on your hard drive.
• Download the Launcher from this link. The file name should not contain numbers indicating that the file is a duplicate. Please note that you should launch the file that does not contain any digits (1), (2), etc. in its name. If, when starting the installed launcher, you get to the live game servers, you need to delete all downloaded launchers from the download folder and try again.
• Start the Launcher and install the game to the folder you created (for example D:\Public test\Crossout). 
• After the installation is complete, start the Launcher and enter the game with your username and password.
• The whole progress of your main account will be transferred to the main server (including parts in storage and levels of reputation in factions).
• After logging in to the server to transfer the progress from your account, you must press the “Esc” key and select “Copy account data”.
• Please note the schedule of the test server:
  • Friday, July 5, 2019: from 14:00 to 19:00 (GMT time)
  • Saturday, July 6, 2019, from 15:00 to 18:00 (GMT) 
  • Sunday, July 7, 2019, from 15:00 to 18:00 (GMT) 
• Any progress you make on the test server will not be transferred to the live game servers (INCLUDING ATTEMPTS TO BUY PACKS).

After testing the changes, we invite you to leave your constructive feedback on the planned rework in THIS THREAD (it will open a bit later after the launch of the test server).

The public test server is intended only for testing of the upcoming update, and may not accommodate all players without exception. However, absolutely anyone can join the server, as long as there are free spots.

See you in the new developer blogs, survivors!

---

[Mojave_Courier 4]

YES to all of this. Please prioritize all of the above higher than the repair mechanic

[lsabeIIa 514]

Now we're talking 

hmmm, can we buy CK's again? like CK's for crickets, etc...

Invasion Changes 

"Encounter" Changes 

CK for Wheels 

 

[szefopl 1,920]

We will see.

But the most pressing matter regarding maps and maps rework are still unbalanced maps giving hovers and legs unfair huge advantage over other builds, all those unreachable places, rocks, wagons, shelfs, containers should be blocked with invisible walls or reworked ASAP.

ALL MAPS SHOULD BE EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL BUILDS, this is not the case now and it is like this for months.

One good change was control 17 map, be this introduced new unreachable places for anyone but hovers, need to be blocked too.

All details with screens showing unreachable map exploit places, so u keep this in ind reworking other maps.

As of stickers, please add all letters stickers to game!!!

Edited July 5, 2019 by szefopl

[Undead_Raccoon 410]

great changes everyone !!

only a few key things left to balance

[Ka1deron 3,735]

Survivors! You will also be able to see some balance tweaks planned for the upcoming updates on this test server! (but just in case - I never told you that)

[Undead_Raccoon 410]

like scorpion balance tweak :))))

[Spedemix 10,082]

Looks great! nice to see improvements to the levi system. Also the updated map looks awesome on the preview video.

 

New maps plus the reworks on old ones look awesome. I already saw some of the tweaks in existing maps during the last PT and they all looked reasonable. Plus the updated map portraits look great too.

 

In the preview pic of the new map I see a familiar tower in the background. I hope it makes into the final version. It's landmarks like these spread throughout the multiple maps which gives you the impression these maps exist in the same game universe.

 

The changes in Encounter mechanics look promising, I'll be looking forward to how it changes the matches. Currently people don't really care about capping the center point in any of the Encounter matches.

 

I have some questions about the CK part:

 

So if I understood correctly the CK's effectively turn into "paints". You can apply and remove them at will during building phase. Do you still have specific CKs only for the specific parts and you can't apply a CK that was designed for a "Judge" on an "Executioner"? In the future do we get CKs which will work a a group of weapons, say a CK that could transform any type of Grenade Launcher to match the aesthetics of the CK? You do state a single CK is enough to change multiple identical weapons (eg. three Judges in your craft), that part is clear.

 

If you apply a CK on a part, can you put paint on it? WIll this work seamlessly, say you could put these in any order, paint it first and apply CK later etc?

 

Yeah, great stuff!

[Ka1deron 3,735]

Survivors, the public test server is now open! You are welcome to join the testing and share your feedback with us!

[Jafarson 471]

Everything above is ok, but question: 

Will you allow us to delete unwanted spray/stickers? not, sell, not dismantle... just DELETE them permanently. if not - why? 
I know that i will never use authentication or some other stickers or original common spray cans.. so why they have to be in my inventory? just add few more confirmation questons before user deletes them thats it..... 

P.S. What about stupid repair system that was testing on PTR? hope that you learned from previous discussion about that feature.

[TruckMcTruckface 81]

I am seriously doubting that the main issues people have had so far is about customization. Either you guys are willfully ignoring gameplay balance issues (wedges, teslaharvesters etc) or the players that are still playing this game have given up all hope and either left or became the silent majority.

 

The leviathan rework is a welcoming change, but that issue is so ancient that it just seems the developers are so far behind on critical issues....

[lucashc90 14,254]

1 hour ago, BjKalderon said:

you will have a chance to compete for a new prototype CK for... wheels!

(just please don't make it another Mayhem event with best-of-3 format)

WAIT! COMPETE? 

Edited July 5, 2019 by lucashc90

[lucashc90 14,254]

Also, can't you re-launch Control-17 as it was and rename the current one Control-21 or something? You guys don't have to take it out of circulation since they are so different in playstyle that both can be counted as separeted maps withim the same zone. Pretty please!

Edited July 5, 2019 by lucashc90

[lsabeIla 1,115]

Not sure about the changes to encounter mode, but other than that the changes sound promising.
And thank you so much for new maps!

[lucashc90 14,254]

Also ALSO can't you guys make the terrain less... bumpy? slightly scraping the ground shouldn't make you do this:

but this:

[lucashc90 14,254]

1 hour ago, BjKalderon said:

Also we would like to note that in the upcoming update we plan to ensure that non-tradable decor, obtained during in-game events or when buying packs, does not occupy space in your storage. This applies both to the new decor, which is yet to be obtained, and to what is already in your storage.

Please, no untradeable decor. Decor doesn't even hold their original purpose of spaced armor, there is no need to lock them to any account. Players have spoken:

(yes, I'm making a post for each point I make because it is easier for you to adress them separately)

Edited July 5, 2019 by lucashc90

[lucashc90 14,254]

"We don't want to implement a separate map that is quite similair to the one that already exists in the game but we will discuss the possibility."

Control-17 was unique because of its depressions in terrains (that provided conver even in open areas AND it functioned like a "ball pit with guns"for mid-to-low PS matches, which was quite fun), constricted passages for taking cover or make ambushes and alternative ways to flee from enemy (like that backyard behind the spawn point). You don't need to necessarily reintroduce it, but consider those features in newer maps and mapping remakes.

Thanks for the answears @BjKalderon, apart from the change in Encouter this looks like a VERY promising update and I'm really anxious to see how it plays out.

Edited July 5, 2019 by lucashc90

[Robocraftman 4,712]

So how can we get the old CKs compensated?

should we keep them in the form of CK or customized weapon?

For example, I have 12 Vipors, should I remove all of them from the lance or what?

[AzraelsGrace 2,004]

So since i have 3 cricket CKs that mean ill be compensated for 2 of them. I paid over 1k on each so I expect the same for compensation. When will we know how much youre giving?

 

P.S. can you add the old version of control back into the game. The new version is plain awful. I dont mind if you keep the new crappy one in. But please give us back the old map. People complain about lack of map counts. No one ever asked you to ruin the few good ones

Edited July 5, 2019 by AzraelsGrace

[Dumpbump 4,368]

Maps!!!!!! 

 

Freakin fuggin cool! 

 

 

[Hogga__doesn_t_s 202]

Nice update 

Anything about the speed bug on sparks?

[Spedemix 10,082]

Uuh, Reaper sound is gonna get buffed:

 

Spoiler

 

...and that ain't the only thing that might get buffed in Reaper

 

Also finally!!!!

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Zhetesh@psn 3,527]

Like like LIKE! ! ! ! 

Cool!

 Decoration no-tradeable does not occupy space ----> like (it arrives a little late for me since dismantle several ... needed the space ... a pity ...)

 I love the PK- painting style a lot!  is appreciated.

I have 2 question plz

The game had a lot of PK for several items, when they put the decorations shop inside the game I thought they would sell them all in there, but it was not like that  --->

1) you plan to add more content to the store with all  the old PK?  

2) Will we have the opportunity to buy more than once the personalization pack (type "lord of the war") (in consoles PS4)

 Thanks again  

 

Edited July 5, 2019 by *Zhetesh

[SaikoSystems 29]

The CK Changes very much interest me, but the most important question regarding it: how will we obtain them? as far as i am aware, those of us who do not have various cks, cannot get them.

Less stickers and more other stuff? amazing.

No more 15 second limit on points? extra amazing.

CK changes? Useful, but will they be obtainable? i wasnt able to acquire the beautiful "moonlight" ck's before they became untradable.

[StreaMRoLLeR 744]

I really eager to hear an answer what Targem thinks of Snowy-Blizzard map ? @BjKalderon