Due to some bad numbering, the Barracks actually cost 50 Gold instead of 60. That's fixed now. Also, the rotational symmetry was broken, which made about half the maps unplayable! Also (x2), the Tutorials broke at some point along the way, so that's fixed too.

[ 2022-04-12 01:45:57 CET ] [ Original post ]

This is a quick one! Barracks Cost 80 -> 60 Should make it easier to actually play the game. No more long pre-barracks phases, or heavy punishes when Barracks gets destroyed! Also, bugfixes & Editor Symmetry improvements.

[ 2022-03-30 21:18:29 CET ] [ Original post ]

SALE

To celebrate this huge update, Base Wars will be 50% OFF! This only lasts until the end of the month, so be sure to get it quick!

UPDATE

GAME REPLAYS

After an epic battle, what could be better than saving it away for review? Saving a Replay lets you go step-by-step through the action. Pause, rewind, skip to the end, it's all there!

PUBLIC LOBBIES

Unranked is great for jumping in to the mainstream maps, but sometimes you just want to play a 2v1 map with friends. Now you can! From the main menu, go to Online Games and notice the new tabs set up for just that! Spectate your friends and watch the action unfold :)

HISTORY VIEWER

Similar to the Replay system, you can now pause and review previous actions ingame. This minor addition makes sure that you won't have to remember anything necessary for playing with precision!

BALANCE

The meta's in a great place right now! There were only a few elements proving to be just a bit too centralizing. Let's take a look... CARRIER

• Units cannot act the same turn they are deployed
• HP 50 -> 40
• Cost 60 -> 45

Carrier's been overcentralizing both offensively and defensively. This significant nerf should greatly reduce its overbearing field presence while retaining its role in combat support. FORT

• Heal Range 8 -> 6
• Attack Range 8 -> 5
• Sight Range 12 -> 10

As the main building to defend, Fort did too good of a job defending itself. These changes make it much easier to approach and threaten safely, while still providing it with basic tools for self-defense. CASTLE

• Castle unlock Cost 100 -> 120

Castle units have surprisingly good reward for low risk. This raises the requirement to reach them, making the Castle upgrade riskier and more meaningful long term.

PLANNED FEATURES

This is not a final, definitive list! If you see something you really want, let us know and we'll prioritize it :) We're aiming to get them all done eventually, but there's a lot on this plate!

• Balance First and foremost, we'll keep playing! The meta's got years ahead of it, and there's always some new strategies to balance check. Expect balance updates as needed, roughly once every couple months.
• Full Campaign Intro The only thing actually missing from the game right now is a complete tutorial. Once that's in, the game's more or less complete!
• Achievements Does anybody want Steam Achievements? Those are possible! We can do those.
• Unranked Spectating Spectating is limited to Friendly Lobbies right now. If there's interest, we can add a mode to spectate other game modes as well!
• Ranked Mode Ranked mode is Ready. It's waiting on an active community to call upon it from the heavens and support regular ranked games!
• Steam Workshop For the mapmakers and replay enthusiasts out there, quickly share with your friends through Workshop Integration! (Is what it will say once this is done...)
• Campaign Mode A singleplayer mode would be incredible in this game. The only reason it hasn't been done yet, is because of how many other important features there are. Even if it's far away right now, we have plans for this!

[ 2022-01-22 20:44:56 CET ] [ Original post ]

OVERVIEW

This is the smallest, fastest map in the game! Want a quick and bloody fight? This is the place! It's got 2 lanes, no space, and plenty of resources to fight over. Serious combat starts as early as Turn 2. Some games end in minutes, while others display incredible tactical sequences! Can your Fort survive on a knife's edge while you counter-rush the opponent?

STRATEGY

Rich Resources are surprisingly hard to grab due to how easily they're punished. It's all about space denial and letting your opponent make the first mistake here. I recommend scouting both lanes and putting up Barracks ASAP- economy builds are much riskier to play here. Optimal play is to fight both lanes and ensure the opponent doesn't get the space advantage. However, as the games go on, Orange usually wins one lane while Cyan wins the other- resulting in a base rush! The winner is whoever can weather the other's attack just 1 Turn longer.

BUILDS

P1) T1 Barracks | T2 Swordsman Outpost P2) T1 Barracks 2 Scout | T2 Swordsman Ol' reliable. Get right into combat and be ready to punish them for extending. Be ready to base rush and keep them honest if they go for an econ build. Draw a diagonal line through the map and kill anything that crosses it!

SUMMARY

Not much time? Like messy fights? Quick combat is what it's all about! Pressure both lanes or commit to one- either way, the fate of the game rests on how your units trade blows.

[ 2022-01-21 18:33:37 CET ] [ Original post ]

Fixed some reported bugs with saving & reloading custom alliances in the map editor.

[ 2021-11-01 20:03:37 CET ] [ Original post ]

Fixed Warlock Lifesteal sometimes insta-killing units. Fixed Warlock Freeze not actually freezing units. Fixed bug with undoing on Map Editor clearing the map. Improved Unit Sprite load time (notably in Editor and Handbook).

[ 2021-10-31 23:04:15 CET ] [ Original post ]

Early playtesting is finding some more Multiplayer crashes! Hopefully smooth sailing after these patches.

[ 2021-10-31 19:54:03 CET ] [ Original post ]

Fixed some uncommon rendering bugs that crash the game in Online Multiplayer.

[ 2021-10-31 19:33:14 CET ] [ Original post ]

1.0 RELEASE

The game is finally out! Where should you begin? On first launch, the Base Wars opens up the Tutorials to play though! They're not comprehensive, so I'd recommend experimenting with the vs AI mode next. When you're finally ready, jump into Online Matchmaking and try out a real round!

PLANNED FEATURES

Although the game is complete, it's not even close to finished! We were this close to putting the game in Early Access, even. Here's what's coming up in the next few weeks...

REPLAYS

A community favorite! You'll be able to record and review any match you play.

SPECTATOR MODE

Watch all of the Matchmaking games happen live!

ACHIEVEMENTS

Earn those juicy Steam points by playing the game! You'll have this to look forward to next update, too :)

RANKED MODE

Along with an ELO ladder, a timer system, and more anti-cheat measures. Ranked Games will be available as replays afterwards, too!

BETTER TUTORIALS

Not the flashiest topic, but the tutorials aren't very... complete right now. I'll fix that!

[ 2021-10-31 15:25:58 CET ] [ Original post ]

OVERVIEW

The largest map in the game, Zircon has plenty of free real estate. The sheer size boosts the viability of lategame econ builds. But make no mistake- just because games are typically longer, doesn't make the map slow! Aggressive earlygames have taken several surprise victories on this map. As long as no serious mistakes are made by either player, this is the longest map in the game, with some games taking as long as 60-90 minutes to complete.

STRATEGY

The Rich Resources on this map promote the spirit of sharing :) Each player can grab their corner of both rich patches, making Gold-heavy builds commonplace. Centralized (or alternatively lane-focused) Barracks placement is paramount in pressuring and defending the Mines as well. Combat on this map is much less about microinteractions and more about large-scale guessing where the opponent's troops will be. Think they're getting greedy on a resource patch? Setup a Barracks right outside. Are they neglecting a lane entirely? Knock on the Fort's door with some Horseman!

BUILDS

R) 2 Mine 1 | Mine 2 | Builder 3 | 2 Barracks or Barracks Mine 4 B) 2 Mine Scout 1 | Mine 2 | Builder 3 | 2 Barracks or Barracks Mine 4 The map standard (and my favorite) build, this takes advantage of that the lone Builder can reach the near Rich Resources and build a Mine on them by Turn 2! This emphasizes the buildyness of the map, setting up a greedy +120/Turn by Turn 4. If done right, you should end up with 2 builders in each lane, and your choice of placement of 2 Barracks. That's the only build this week! Others are likely possible; this map could use more experimentation.

SUMMARY

Like building? Setting up grand Armies for large scale battles? This is the map for you! Want to jump straight into combat, and don't have very much time? You should probably avoid this one. As the biggest and oldest map, Zircon emphasizes the "large" in "large-scale tactics".

[ 2021-10-31 15:05:52 CET ] [ Original post ]

OVERVIEW

The big focus of this map is the Rich Resources. There's a small amount available in the Top Lane, and a much larger source locked behind some walls at the bottom. If your opponent denies control of the rich areas, there's plenty of regular Resources on each side to fall back on :) The simplicity of the map allows for straightforward and open one-lane combat. This makes Boombox a great map for starting out on and getting some honest games in, with very little opportunity for cheese or trickery. Expect a typical 15-20 minute game for midgame territory victories, along with an occasional 30-40 minute game with intense lategame buildup.

STRATEGY

The goal of early game is to take control of the top resources. If you get the economy advantage there, it can quickly snowball into a large army and decisive victory! As such, I recommend sending at least 1 Builder towards the center area ASAP- if not to grab the resources yourself, then to prevent the opponent from doing so! If both players are evenly matched, a balanced Boombox game usually goes a bit longer. The bottom Rich Resources typically comes into play around Turn 8-10. The meta so far has been to take those resources and follow up with light skirmishes Bot Lane and focused combat Top Lane. A Bot Lane all-in is risky as there's simply too much pressure to leave the Fort undefended from above!

BUILDS

R) Mine 1 | Barracks 2 | Army Unit or Rich Mine Outpost 3 B) Mine 2 Scout 1 | Barracks 2 | Army Unit or Rich Mine Outpost 3 If you're feeling aggressive, an early push on center can end up very worthwhile against unaware opponents. Set up 1 Mine on regular Resources and send the other 2 Builders towards the center, then get a Barracks running ASAP. This sets up for +70/Turn income with great center pressure, and the potential for +100/Turn if the opponent is caught off guard! R) 2 Mine 1 | Builder 2 | Barracks 3 B) 2 Mine 1 | Builder Outpost 2 | Barracks 3 The key to defensive Boombox play is to take the safer regular Resources, but still deny the opponent the rich Resources. This path delays the Barracks by a Turn, temporarily ceding map control in trade for better econ and the Army Troop counterpick advantage. Send 2 Builders to build Mines on the bottom regular Resources and the third Builder to contest center for a safe +90/Turn by Turn 3! Although this feels like playing off the back foot, it branches to stronger midgame builds and sets up for a good lategame, forcing the opponent to capitalize on their early advantage if they want to keep up!

build notation

Since this is the first Map of the Week post, I'd like to briefly explain how Builds are notated. Take the following build for example: B) 2 Mine 1 | Barracks or 2 Scout Outpost 3 This means Blue opens with building 2 Mines on Turn 1, nothing on Turn 2, and either 1 Barracks or 2 Scouts and an Outpost on Turn 3. The Team is also specified (Red or Blue): Since Red goes first, Blue gets compensated by starting with 120 Gold (instead of 100), allowing for slightly modified Builds!

SUMMARY

Boombox is an excellent starter map for learning Fundamentals and Tactics! It's got interesting and varied 1 lane combat that anyone can jump right into, along with plenty of potential for new strategies and counterplay.

[ 2021-10-23 20:52:15 CET ] [ Original post ]