Improved Citadels
We have reworked the Citadel maps. There are now a greater variety of map layout possibilities, with Citadels now having a more labyrinth-like feel. This will provide more cover options and help to break lines of sight over large areas. Weapon and Ammo crates have also been added to Pandoran Citadels.
The Scylla herself has also seen some changes. Previously, with the correct combination of abilities and weaponry, she could be taken down fairly quickly. In the update, The Scylla has received an increase to her overall health pool and armor but now will receive extra bleed damage from disabling individual body parts. This will bring the Scylla encounters back in line with the intent of players needing to chip away at her over a number of turns.
Recruiting at Base
We have added more options for obtaining new recruits in the Danforth update. The player will still be required to complete the “Haven Recruitment Protocols” research before getting access to new recruits.
However, once complete, the player will receive a selection of 1-3 new recruits which refreshes every 3 in-game days. These recruits do not have any armor or equipment (regardless of difficulty level), and therefore only cost food to hire.
The player can see the personal trait track and class of each soldier before deciding to hire them, and then recruit them to the base of their choice (providing there is living space).
We’ve also added the option to dismiss soldiers from the player’s squad, should space be needed for a different recruit.
The original Haven recruitment system remains unchanged.
Haven Defenders
One of the most requested feature additions up to this point involves adding faction forces in Haven Defense Missions. In Danforth, the player will now be joined by defending forces from the Haven when responding to an attack.
In addition, Havens which are located in mist-covered areas of the world will have mist patches on the tactical map at the start of the mission.
Manual Drone Control
Technician’s Turrets can now be manually controlled on the player turn, provided the player has at least one active Technician on his squad. If all Technicians are killed, evacuate or come under the effects of Mind Control, the Turrets will revert to their AI control systems.
This also applies to Infiltrator Spider Drones. The Infiltrator will have manual control over Spider Drones so long as the player has at least one living Infiltrator in play who is not under the effects of Mind Control. As with the Turrets, Spider Drones will return to AI control should there be no Infiltrator able to control them manually.
Status Effect Interactions
We have also made a number of changes and additions to various status effects which can be applied to the player and enemy units:
- Sirens and Priests will lose mind control of all units as soon as they become Dazed or Paralyzed.
- Daze and Paralysis remove the Overwatch status from a target, as well as the ability to return fire.
- Daze and Paralysis remove reactive abilities from enemies like the Triton's Chameleon ability, Scylla's mist spawning torso, and the Sentinel's Preparation ability.
- Panic removes Return Fire, Overwatch, and Mind Control.
- A unit with Overwatch set cannot Return Fire.
- Turrets and vehicles are immune to Paralysis, Daze, Bleed, and Mind Control.
- Mind controlling a Siren should remove its Mind Control of other characters.
- Melee attacks don't trigger Return Fire.
Release Date
We had originally intended to announce the release date in this blog. However, the Danforth update is huge with many large, codependent changes. As we want to make sure that all of these changes are working as intended, and not going to interrupt your current games, we may need to take a little more time as a precaution. We will, of course, keep you updated and announce a release date as soon as we can. Rest assured, this update is close and will be available in the coming weeks.
The Rest
There are also a number of bug fixes and minor balance changes which we will list in full detail in our release date patch notes, which can also be found on our
forums.
We still have many exciting additions and changes already being worked on for our future updates, which are all part of our continued commitment to making Phoenix Point become the best game it can.