2024/12/19 - Patch v18.2
v18.2 (aka the "Time For Holiday Cheer" patch) has been released to the installer. This patch has a brand new, super cool, feature that has been in production for literally years. Eet excited! I sure am!
WARTECH IIC UPDATED: This is the big ticket item folks, the reason for the season. After several years of discussion, development, and more discussion than you would ever believe, a long-awaited feature for Wartech IIC has finally arrived: Extended Contracts. I'm not going to go excessively in-depth about ECs here in the patch notes but you can read about it more on the wiki here: https://www.bta3062.com/index.php?title=Wartech_IIC
MODTEK UPDATED: ModTek has been updated to version 4.2.2. This is an important update that brings with it some performance increases. Do know that for Linux users it might be a little buggy to get working, we've had mixed results with getting it working. We *should* have it sorted out but there is a chance it won't install properly depending on your installation method, so some fiddling may be required on Linux user's ends.
CRITICAL UPDATE NOTE: Because of the ModTek update, it is absolutely imperative you manually delete your Mods folder before running the installer to update BTAU to v18.2. Be absolutely sure you do this.
SUBSTANTIAL MAP UPDATES: In order to improve performance, we've done some backend changes to the starmap. We've removed a lot of things that were fundamentally unnecessary and took some limited processing power to sort through. Players are unlikely to see the difference visually since we're talking about milliseconds of performance improvements but hey, every bit helps over a long career.
FACTION STORE UPDATES: The Outworlds Alliance now sells all three types of ATM ammo for their Improved MMLs. Clan Snow Raven now sells the proper aidrop contract for an Omen instead of for a Nova Cat Prime as well as also selling two Pulverizer variants.
UPDATED TERRAN HEGEMONY WORLDS: For new careers, the Terran Hegemony will have a slightly modified OpFor roster on their worlds. Instead of Local Gov, you can face Word of Blake. Does not apply to existing careers, only to new ones.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT ADJUSTED: The OpFor specialities that offer discounts in stores have had their values reduced to help curb the possibility of getting profit in their stores.
AETHER UPDATED: At BlueWinds request, Aether has been updated. She now has a new portrait and a new special pilot skill, Speed of Light, that gives increased ground speed but also reduced weapons range at all ranges. Existing instances of Aether in your career will retain her old ability and portrait. This change only applies to new careers or new instances of Aether being acquired.
QUIRK ICON UPDATED: Easy to Pilot now has the proper icon for a gyro quirk.
HELLO TEXT PROVIDED: The Terran Hegemony and the Rim Worlds Republic now have proper greetings for their sub-factions when you face them in combat. Somehow missed this, whoopsie-daisy.
LASER HEAT SINK UPDATES: The E-Cooling on the Laser Heat Sink Night Gyrs now give -10 heat so that they actually *do* something for the mech. Also, you can now buy LHS at Tywcross (no kits, just the heat sink itself).
SUPERWEAPON FCS EXISTS: See the title. Anyone who sells a superweapon also sells the FCS now. Hurrah!
COMMUNITY CONTENT: There's a bit of new CC in this patch, just a wee bit: a new Nagual named the Wayob and a Marauder II with a HISC Hyper Laser (and the accompanying superweapon hardpoint).
- Default Gyro now does stability damage when destroyed.
- Adjusted Helepolis hardpoints, mostly expanded them a bit.
- Updated Anubis hardpoints a bit.
- ComStar faction store now offers LAM Bombs.
- Updated UAC/2 and UAC/5 ammo bins to be 30 shots instead of 15.
- Adjusted Hellspawn sizing.
- Fixed an event in 3061 to properly attack an intended system.
- Hardwired the Ferro-Lam on the Shieldmaiden.
- Fixed Dakota description to no longer reference BA firing ports.
- Resorted the Super MML to the superweapon category.
- Wulf's event should no longer fire multiple times.
- There's a new introtech Longbow, just for giggles.
- Mini Heat Sink has been changed to the Micro Heat Sink and now does -2 heat instead of -1.
- IS MASC is now 3 crits instead of 4.
- The Chevalier is now salvageable.
- The Mech Grenade Launcher has been adjusted to have stronger effects with smaller radii.
- Buncha typos and minor bugs were fixed.
IMPORTANT: v18.2 is an "update" update. In this case, clear your Mods folder manually and then run the installer, it'll do the work for you.
IMPORTANT: v18.2 is not a save breaking update, your saves are compatible and will work fine.
REMINDER: This update, and others like it, are made possible by my Patreon and Ko-Fi supporters. Without their support, updates would come slower and be less impactful. If you feel like being a part of the support for BTA, you can find me on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/bloodydoves) and on Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/bloodydoves)
REMINDER: Custom mod commissions are still available if you're interested. If you'd like to get your own community content added to BTA DM me, bloodydoves, and we can work something out.
BTA Light
BTA Light has received the ModTek update and is now on version v18.2.lite.