GamePatchNote Digest
Formicide Patch Notes — March 27, 2017
Aggregated from Steam, cross-tracked with Battle.net coverage on GamePatchNote.
UI Updates
- Players are now shown a team selection window to choose which team to play on after joining a server by default. A team can only be joined if it doesn't currently have more players than the other team. See the Server Manager Updates section for more details.
- Added a new hotkey to change teams. Like changing classes, this can be used either while dead, or while standing in the home base at full life. Can also be used while the class selection window is open. Default binding is T.
- Added a "Host Server" button to the server list menu. Clicking it launches the Formicide dedicated server in another window. The server won't start until the Launch button is pressed in the bottom left corner of the new window. The ports listed in the Advanced section of the new window's Settings tab need to be forwarded for players to be able to connect. Hovering over this button pops up a window that gives information about using the dedicated server.
- Added a system message that is displayed when a player joins or leaves a team.
- Added a "press
to change teams" message to the class selection window, the player list window, and below the "press to change classes" message. The message is displayed when available as an option and the number of players per team are currently imbalanced.
- The player list window can now be opened while the class selection window is open.
- Clicking outside the chat text box will now automatically close it. An unsent message in the chat box when automatically closed will remain in the chat box when reopened.
- Updated the chat UI to use a hotkey (default of Tab) to toggle between chatting with the team or with everyone.
- Added a note below the chat box while the chat window is open that using the new hotkey will toggle between chat recipients. Only displays after a team has been chosen. When a team hasn't been chosen, team is not an available chat recipients option.
- Added a message in the chat area when first joining a server or starting a new game which says that Enter will open the chat window. This message stops appearing after the chat window has been opened in three games.
- Chat messages sent to all players are now preceded with (All), the same way that messages sent to team members are preceded with (Team).
- All references to hotkeys in messages, such as hotkeys in loading screen tips, are now colored the same as the hotkey labels on the ability bars.
- Reduced the font size of the "press
to change classes" message. - The player list window can now be opened while the class selection window is open.
Class Updates
Fire Ant
- Hit Points increased to 300 from 250.
- Max Walk Speed decreased to 6.33 from 7.
- Flamethrower max walk speed reduction increased to 60% from 20%. (Fire Ant is now slower when using the Flamethrower.)
- Fire Ax maximum ammo reduced to 2 from 3.
- Updated icons for Hellraiser (Ultimate).
Notes - The Fire Ant's playstyle felt a little too random and hectic. While he still dishes out tons of damage, he's now more dependent on using his dash to get him in a good position before lighting up the place. His large health pool allows him to play more a tank role as well, further imporiving his area denial abilities. His second ultimate ability is also in the works, but wasn't quite ready for this patch
Soldier
- Hit Points decreased to 175 from 250.
- Max Walk Speed increased to 7.25 from 6.66.
- Health Bot heal changed to "300 over 10 seconds" from "216 over 6 seconds".
- Shotgun reload time decreased to 1 second from 2.5 seconds.
- Shotgun max ammo reduced to 6 from 8.
- Shotgun fire rate increased to 1.25 seconds from 1 second.
- Shotgun sound/ animation updated to eject shell at the right time.
- RPG reload time decreased to 2.25 seconds from 2.5 seconds.
- RPG fire rate increased to 1.25 seconds from 1 second.
Notes - The Soldier is now more mobile, and fits more into a combat/ support role. This seemed to fit his playstyle better, especially when rocket jumping is taken into play. Changes to his Shotgun and RPG further encourage players to play a little recklessly, while still providing ample damage when harnessed correctly.
Biomite
- Max walk speed increased to 5.8 from 5.
- Biomasser Biomass duration increased to 17 seconds from 10 seconds.
- Biomasser ammo regen speed reduced to "1 every 3.33 seconds" from "1 energy 2 seconds".
Notes - The Biomite felt painfully slow, so we gave him a little speed boost. The changes to his Biomasser are intended to provide more tactical decisions to be made for his unique mechanic.
Engineer
- Pulse Turret Missile damage reduced to 350 from 580.
- Pulse Turret Missile force power increased to 25 from 22 (the explosion pushes players back more).
- Removed hit confirmation sound effects from self-damage on turret missiles.
- Shield Wall (Ultimate) can now be cancelled with a right click while being placed.
- Fixed several bugs with Repair Gun, Pulse Cannon and Shield Wall that could cause the guns not to fire.
Hunter
- Meld now bypasses crawler, rocket turret, and engineer pulse tracking detection, except when attacking/firing. This also prevents "homing" capabilities of enemy projectiles.
Gameplay/ Art Updates
- Players now stay on the same team when a new match starts.
- Stone torches on Lava Dome now light up based on beacon ownership.
- Banner lanterns added to Ice Caverns that light up based on beacon ownership.
- Fixed a bug with beacon direction arrows (arrows that point to the next beacon destination) displaying behind terrain on some maps.
Server Manager Updates
- A team assignment mode has been added to the advanced section of the Settings tab. There are two available options: automatic, which automatically assigns a player to a team, or player choice, which asks a player which team they want to join. Player choice is now the default setting. Like all other server settings, this setting can be changed while the server is running, and takes effect immediately.
Client Performance Updates
- Improved networked player responsiveness.
General Bug Fixes
- Fixed an uncommon bug that would cause players to not appropriately snap onto the ground when landing from the air.
- Fixed a bug in the player list window that could cause allied player health bars to not display in some cases.
- Fixed a bug that prevented tabbing through the buttons on the play menu from cycling correctly.