In this update we work through the backlog of graphics and performance improvements made possible by the engine update three months ago. Outlines and reclaim highlighting should run (and look) better, although exact results will depend on hardware. Compatibility fallbacks exist for players with particularly old hardware. Many other bits of code have also been tweaked for performance. Other fixes and features have been worked on in the meantime, the most notable being formation ranks. It can be enabled through the ingame menu, and it is a bit rough around the edges, so send feedback. In terms of balance, the 1v1 oriented changes are minimal as the pick- and win-rate stats are looking quite good. Shields have a nerf and Hover have a buff, and both sets of changes are partial reverts of buffs and nerfs from 2021. For dense teamgames, Impaler projectiles are slightly slower to cut down on their effectiveness against mobile units.

Balance

• Damage per second 8.35 (pre-August 2021) -> 8.6 (recent) -> 8.48 (new)

• Speed 58.5 -> 57
• Projectile velocity 185 (pre-August 2021) -> 192 (recent) -> 190 (new)
• Damage 340 (pre-August 2021) -> 350 (recent) -> 345 (new)

• Health 720 (pre-October 2021) -> 680 (recent) -> 700 (new)

• Health 680 (pre-October 2021) -> 650 (recent) -> 660 (new)
• Damage 660 (pre-October 2021) -> 620 (recent) -> 640 (new)

• Projectile acceleration reduced by 11%.

Interface

• Added optional front-back ordering for line formations. Set it with Formation Rank ingame under Settings/Unit Behaviour/Default States, or set it per-unit with a state toggle that can be enabled ingame under Settings/Interface/Commands.
• Added a modoption to disable resurrection.
• Tweaked the tutorial mission to be a bit more informative, and removed the Lance.
• Added selection filtering for global build command.
• Added an option to show rating in the Tab Playerlist.
• Added hardware cursor to main menu Settings/Game.

Graphics

• Replaced unit outlines with an opengl4 shader (a non-opengl4 fallback exists).
• Replaced reclaim highlight with an opengl4 shader (a non-opengl4 fallback exists).
• Improved Rogue walk animation.
• Added a unique death clone for Imp.

Modding

• Updated Stinger model, with a small compatibility change required for how it aims.
• Removed 3do model support and converted existing 3dos to s3o.
• Unhardcode mex from pregame queue widget. A customParam for this exists.
• Fixed a potential crash caused by adding morph to a variety of units (mostly cloakbots).
• Add Spring.Utilities.CMD table for custom command lookup.
• Added a warning for buildings with brake, acceleration, and turn rate tags set.
• Remove QueryNanoPiece from LUS.

Fixes

• Lance avoids hovering downwards while firing, to avoid 'accidents'.
• Removed flat rectangles that could sometimes form under killed structures.
• Commanders with skins no longer leave a ghost behind when they leave line of sight.
• Removed 'Dev' from the name of the in-use AIs.
• Fixed weird looking impact explosions for Ogre, Behemoth, and Shogun.
• Settings that exist in the main menu and ingame are now under advanced settings ingame.
• Fixed an error in the ward fire toggle related to shooting at metal spots.
• Fixed Gauss turret spamming functions.
• Automatic guard remover no longer applies to factories.
• Fixed some minor Legacy AI configuration issues.
• Fixed feature ghosting not obeying distance fade.
• Fixed Imp underwater explosion effect.
• Optimise some code in Gauss turret, units catching on fire, selection shapes, attack AoE, economy overlay, decloak range, reclaim field summary, pause screen, newton firezone, radar dot height, and geothermal highlighter.