Hey Runners! Summer has come to an end, the weather is getting colder, perfect conditions to drop the next update. Get yourself a hot cup of tea, make yourself comfortable and let's rock! Starting with some major bug fixes, AI tank gunners will now properly prioritize targeting other heavy combat vehicles as intended. Destroyed vehicle wrecks won't instantly respawn after being crushed, now only after the defined vehicle respawn time has elapsed. Furthermore, deployable turrets, sandbags, and other assets have had their mass reduced significantly so that heavier combat vehicles will crush them instead of trying to drive around, which could cause some serious road bottlenecks. Sandbags will also get destroyed by smaller vehicles easier than before, which helps the aforementioned navigation bottlenecks.
For balancing changes, we worked on pretty much every mode starting with Dominance (PvP) where the 150% HP vest was too strong due to its immunity to stun projectiles. In Man vs. World, we increased the player's speed by 15%, it's Rambo after all! Next is Man vs. Zombies, where the player also benefits from the speed boost - a buff maybe even more important than in the previous mode. Also in this game mode, the odds of a crate being empty is lower in this update so that you'll have more opportunities to replenish your equipment when an armory isn't at your disposal or when short on RP. Last but not least in this mode, we also fixed a bug where the Ripper and Elite Ripper were moving back and forth, taking more time to reach you than intended - this makes it harder, so make sure to get rid of them ASAP! Beside several map changes to remove power farming locations in online invasion, some combat vehicles spawn flares were removed from specific maps that were also sources of farming abuse. While farming is tolerated when the team is not struggling to advance, it isn't anymore as soon as the team is getting a disadvantage through farmers not actively going after the objectives. To underline this, we also made a few rules changes and/or adjustments. Another change to make the online experience a bit smoother was the addition of a script to kick idle players so that after a few minutes, the idler will get booted from the server and open their slot for others.
Not only have we worked on bugfixes and balancing, there are also new additions you can experience in this update! The first is the introduction of a new soldier group: the combat dog! woof! :D The dog spawns are limited to campaign and invasion as a rare spawning unit and only for the player faction. We don't want PETA to knock at our doors for letting players shoot those doggos! They bark, bite, run around and can even heal wounded units <3 Another addition (in invasion only) is the rare chance that a DarkCat tank can spawn for the enemies on selected maps, not just in the arena of Frozen Canyon! The chances are low, but be ready for a sudden death out of nowhere! We've also added 6 new ranks between the "General of the Army" and "President" to close large gap in-between. These also have unique faction-specific skins!
Last but not least, and probably the coolest new addition is the AI awareness of cover when throwing grenades. While the grenade would always fall short in previous versions, the AI will now try to lob the grenade over and behind cover. It's been slightly randomized so that the grenade throw will not always land successfully behind cover (for balancing reasons), so keep on your toes! :)
We've also prepared a big update for our WW2 DLCs! Major content additions involve a new Medium Tank for the IJA, the Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai. Alongside this comes a new emplaced weapon, the Fortified Turret, a static Medium Tank turret that will present a new challenge to players in the later parts of the Pacific campaign. There are new weapons as well; a powerful Elite Pistol (usually a light Revolver) can be unlocked for all factions with the sale of briefcases, a suppressed De Lisle Carbine can be found on British Commandos during the Sealion Boss Battle, and powerful but slow-firing Elite Revolvers can be found on any enemy Veteran soldiers. Lastly, Elite Heavy MG deploys have been returned to the player's armory but must be unlocked with briefcase sales; these weapons include the HMG 42, Type 98 Autocannon, and Browning M2HB.
Various balance changes and bug fixes have been made as well, including a rebalance of the Bergetiger Escort Mission on Hell's Highway, alterations to the behavior of Heavy Machine Guns, an increase to the Scoped FG 42 spawn chance (with a few Fallschirmjaeger Snipers helping out the Volkssturm on Varsity now), protective armored shields for the IJN Ka-Tsu's machine guns, and the addition of Guadalcanal to the Quickmatch playlist. Two of the more significant bug fixes address enabling the missing in-game Difficulty options and Journal in the Campaign. Lastly, a variety of other tweaks, including many suggested by the community, round out the patch. Extensive changelog below! Don't forget to join the fun on Running with Rifles Discord and we'd be more than happy if you could let us know if you like the game and the WW2 DLCs by leaving a review on Steam, as it helps us a lot! Thank you! Keep on running, Your Osumia Games [hr][/hr] Changelog v1.87:

NEW content:

• soldiers: added a dog soldier group as random rare spawn for the player faction. It attacks enemies and heals friendly units, woof!
• invasion: DarkCat tank has a small chance to spawn in other maps than the map "Frozen Canyon"
• invasion: idling players will be automatically booted from the server after a maximum idling time has been exceeded
• ranks: added 6 news high ranks in online invasion between General of the Army and President
• AI: grenade tossing ballistics behaviour added for potentially reaching a target behind a cover
• items: added CB6 goodies to the lottery pool
• modding: added kill_probability_offset_on_successful_hit weapon parameter, which is a penetration mutliplier if a bullet connects, to allow lower probability weapons to make "critical" hits if the projectile connects
• modding: added use_ladders ai parameter
• modding: added grenade_throw_over_obstacle_offset_min ai parameter
• modding: added grenade_throw_over_obstacle_offset_max ai parameter

BALANCE Changes:

• dominance: added a 150ms reaction time to the AI when choosing target to compensate the situation unawareness penalty because of FoV
• dominance: 150% HP vest not immune to stun projectiles anymore for upper vest layers
• Man vs World: player movement speed increased by 15%
• Man vs Zombies: player movement speed increased by 15%
• Man vs Zombies: Elite Ripper has now a reduced movement speed when very low on health
• Man vs Zombies: increased the chance of crates to drop equipment (less empty crates)
• items: AAV and SEV-90 vehicle flares do not deploy on King of the Hill type maps (Power Junction, Vigil Island, Dry Enclave) and Iron Enclave for online invasion anymore
• vehicles: standard radio jammer respawning time increased from 180s to 300s
• AI: taxi request time increased from 15 to 20 seconds
• misc: XP combo bonus capped at 10 kills to infinitely increased linearly after the 10th kill instead of exponentially, which was abused by a minority of players

BUG Fixes and Tweaks:

• maps: several fixes here and there
• maps: Tropical Blizzard is now less foggy
• maps: terrain in Vigil Island is a bit less steep
• weapons: Benelli M4 and the suppressed Benelli M4 are now a single weapon with alternate (suppressor) fire
• translations: few fixes mainly in PT(-BR) and RU
• dominance: fixed the map "Moorland Apocalypse" where the vehicle spawn locations were faulty (already handled in a quick fix)
• Man vs Zombies: fixed Ripper and Elite Ripper's movement to go back and forth
• vehicles: destroyed vehicle wrecks will not instantly respawn anymore if crushed but after the vehicle set respawn time
• vehicles: all deployable static combat vehicles (MG, GL, TOW, Hornet, mortar, etc.) are now easier to destroy through vehicle collision
• vehicles: deployable sandbags are now easier to destroy through vehicle collision
• vehicles: fuel tanks don't change the faction anymore when the base owner has changed
• vehicles: fixed a bug where the SEV-90 got unsteerable even though he had enough health left
• vehicles: fixed missing broken mass and remove collision threshold of the radar tank
• calls: markers for rubber boat drop added
• script: fixed the icecream van not showing on the map when using the GPS laptop
• script: GPS Laptop now also shows the location of the DarkCat
• AI: fixed a bug where some heavier combat tanks had a low target priorization
• AI: drivers of tank class vehicles are not trying to steer around deployable static vehicles anymore
• AI: drivers of tank class vehicles are not trying to steer around deployable sandbags anymore
• ui: fixed a bug where vehicle_marker_atlas_size in hud.xml was locked to 8x8 atlas size
• misc: online rules slightly reworked

NEW content:

• vehicles: Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai added (medium tank). Begins to spawn on Tarawa (Island4) and is available through the call-in menu
• weapons: Elite Secondary Pistols added - available as a random unlock via selling the Briefcase (Type 26 Revolver (IJA), C 96 Pistol (WH), Enfield No.II (UKF) and M1917 Revolver (USF and USMC)
• weapons: Officer's Engraved variant of the Enfield No. II has been added
• weapons: rare Elite Revolvers added - the Reichsrevolver (WH) and Model 1899 Revolver (all other factions including IJA)
• weapons: De Lisle suppressed carbine added - rare suppressed bolt-action rifle carried by British Commandos
• weapons: reintroduced Elite Heavy MG Deploys - available as a random unlock via selling the Briefcase (Type 98 Autocannon (IJA), MG 42 HMG (WH), and M2 HB (Allies))

BALANCE Changes:

• Bergetiger mission: speed in Hell's Highway has been increased by 40%
• Bergetiger mission: repair multiplier has been doubled (campaign only)
• Bergetiger mission: Hell's Highway (Axis) Bergetiger escort mission has been rebalanced to be less challenging (significantly more attacking friendly units)
• maps: Operation Sealion now has more Allied Homeguard soldiers defending at the start of the map
• maps: Operation Downfall now spawns 3 Medium Tanks on the enemy force during the final phase instead of 3 Light Tanks
• maps: Saipan now has a new capture zone added, and a new armoury located somewhere in the town before the airfield
• heavy MGs: completely re-balanced, more forgiving recoil control resulting in greater firepower, but with slower turning speed and lower velocity, plus more vulnerability to explosives
• heavy MGs: now limited to carrying only 1 in inventory (formerly 2 when high enough rank)
• elite heavy MGs: alongside being re-balanced, have additional health to resist explosives slightly more than normal heavy MGs
• items: Veteran Vest's reverted a change in previous patch to the resistance (it was affecting enemy veterans too much)
• items: Assault Vest slightly lowered the bullet resistance of the final layers
• weapons: Heavy MG 34 cost raised from 60 RP to 75 RP
• weapons: Type 98 Autocannon (IJA elite heavy MG) anti-tank damage reduced, cost raised from 200 RP to 250 RP
• weapons: M12 Trench Gun adjusted damage profile; it is now far more powerful in short ranges and good against enemy Elite Soldiers, but has slightly shorter maximum range
• weapons: Light MG 34 and Beardmore-Faruqhar LMG slightly lowered recoil
• weapons: Vickers Mk VI Bipod raised damage profile
• weapons: Type 96 slightly raised damage, intending to improve reliability
• weapons: PPSh 41 "MP 717R" increased stance recovery, reload speed slightly slowed down
• weapons: LP 08 Carbine slightly lowered damage range
• weapons: Sten Mk II SD (suppressed) lowered the maximum range to 40m
• weapons: Enfield No. 4 (regular) reduced velocity - this change does not affect the sniper version
• weapons: M1 Garand 60mm Launcher blast radius raised to 5.5m
• weapons: M1918 BAR (heavy) raised crouching accuracy to be much closer to Light and Rapid Fire BAR's; keeps its slow stance recovery
• weapons: SMGs: slightly lowered recoil of the following: Type 100/44, MP 34, Lanchester, Type BE, and Type STE
• weapons: Bayonet range of Type 44 Carbine and Type 99 LMG have been raised
• Scoped FG 42-G: Fallschirmjager Snipers spawn more often on Sealion
• Scoped FG 42-G: occasionally, Fallschirmjager Snipers and Veterans can now spawn on Operation Varsity to support the Volkssturm (giving a few more opportunities to collect a Scoped FG 42-G)
• Scoped FG 42-G: slightly raised commonness of the weapon to show up on Fallschirmjager Veterans and Snipers
• vehicles: Deployable Sandbag's mass reduced by 90% so that tanks don't see them as obstacles, which could lead to traffic jams
• vehicles: Bofors raised projectile blast radius from 1.5m to 3.75m
• vehicles: Ka-Tsu is no longer immune to Anti-Tank Rifle Grenades, however like Medium Tanks it remains immune to Flamethrowers
• vehicles: Ka-Tsu machine gunners are now protected by a shield, but the guns turn slower
• vehicles: M10 GMC has had its health increased (will absorb 1 extra Panzerfaust shot but same amount of Medium Tank shots) and its cost lowered to 1000 RP
• vehicles: Willys MB Recoilless Rifle Jeep raised the damage and area-of-effect of recoilless rifle
• vehicles: Coastal Gun raised the reload time from 4 seconds to 6.5 seconds
• call-ins: M4 Sherman can now be called in by the USMC on Tarawa and Saipan as well as the rest of the late-war maps
• call-ins: Airborne Paratrooper call-ins now guarantee one soldier with a medkit (ground-based infantry call-ins are unaffected)

BUG Fixes and Tweaks:

• difficulty options: fixed an issue where in-game difficulty changing was not possible for WW2
• journal: fixed issue that Journal was not accessible in WW2 Campaigns
• soldier models: when combining Sniper Gear with the Sten Mk II SD or De Lisle Carbine on the UKF faction, you now receive a Commando uniform
• soldier models: when combining Assault Gear with the Vampir StG 44 on the German factions, you now receive a Nachtjaeger uniform, though without the black tunic
• soldier models: adjusted brightness of USF Varsity soldier model set to help differentiate them better from the Volkssturm
• weapons: Kar98k Elite fixed missing reload sound
• weapons: Folded M3 Greasegun now uses the proper reload animation
• weapons: Kar98k Scout now can toggle bayonet
• weapons: SMGs: fixed an issue where bayonet melee range was not being extended on all IJA SMGs as well as the 9mm MP 34
• icons: M43 Stick Grenade icon tweaked to remove the (nearly impossible to see) fragmentation sleeve
• items: Sniper Gear can now be dropped like other vests
• maps: Pacific Campaign - fixed some issues with captureable attack-ship bases
• maps: Pacific Quickmatch - removed attack-ship spawn points since the bases are not objectives anyways
• maps: Guadalcanal can now be played in Quickmatch
• maps: Saipan has fixed attack-ship platforming
• vehicles: Type 98 Autocannon Ka-Tsu 13mm Machine Guns can no longer damage themselves
• vehicles: Maus guns slightly repositioned as they formerly sat too low
• call-ins: US Army Rifle soldiers no longer have a 20% chance to spawn with a vest, but the Squad Leader will still keep theirs
• soldiers: Sniper soldiers (AI) are now more accurate
• soldiers: IJA regular soldiers - addressed an issue where some could spawn with unintended weapons on some maps of the campaign