Engine

• Particle effects performance improved a bit
• Loading performance on client start improved
• Sector load and unload logic improved (Synclaming patch confirmed!)

Bugfixes

• FX-System caching logic altered - crashs on syncs eliminated caused by the previous version

Engine

• Dynamic lighting improved
• Preload / Precache of actors improved a bit (should decrease loading stutters)

Bugfixes

• a bug was fixed that made runners invisible after entering a new sector (Invis melee bug)

Engine

• some particles do emit light now

Bugfixes

• Problem fixed that has denied the replication of weapon states (FIRE, RELOAD...) to clients

Bugfixes

• Crash fixed that caused by the sound playback

Engine

• Maximal polycount processing per scene increased x10

Netcode

•  Client <-> server update mechanic altered - Should allow update over great distances (gameworld) aswell

Bugfixes

• DamageBoost should work on NPCs now
• A bug in the hit detection was fixed - this bug lead to a wrong decision, it was too optimistic and in most cases you got the a positive decision result when the aim-recticle was fully opened

Gameworld

• Rocketlaunchers, Fusion cannons and Raygun cannons should be more accurate now
• Outpost hackterms are solid now - mostly. You may find some un-solid terms because these sectors are still *work in progress*
• removed several flying trees in the wastelands
• fixed several typos in scripts

Balancing

• Tweaked accuracy of AoE weaponry.
• Slight damage increase for all heavy combat based AoE weaponry.
• Self-inflicted AoE damage has been reduced from 175% to 125%
• Anti Vehicle and Anti Air Rocket Launchers recieved a major buff in anti vehicle damage.
• Slight decrease of Psi Attack damage.

Bugfixes

• Stealth bug fixed by rewriting the entire client-server-sync code for effects

Gameworld

• "Truesight Sanctum" has an increased tickrate and range
• "Provoke enemy" is now working as intended
• "Distract mind" is now working as intended

Bugfixes

• A bug was fixed that leads to a crash when using multi lightning bolts or multi energy bolts
• Network update tickrates increased

Gameworld

• The Missiontext for the "NCPD has an eye on you" Mission was updated (Mission 3).

Client / Server

• General stability updates for the client and server
• Fixed a bug causing wrong default values for some gameplay settings - this should resolve the "standing still" bug.

Key Bindings Changed!

Please reassign your keys. In the key options click DEFAULT and from there start assigning your wished key bindings again. If you do not reassign your keys, formerly ALT+[KEY] combination will work on [KEY] only!

Faction Warzones

• Club Veronique is now a Faction Warzones.
• The Red Pepper Security guards will shoot runners that are hostile to the faction holding Club Veronique.
• To hack a Faction Warzones requires 3 hackers.
• DoY Sector 10 remains a Faction Warzone.

RPOS/UI fixes and improvements

• Added /local, /buddy, /team, /direct and /custom commands to activate the corresponding chat channels when provided with no further text.
• Added more options for the level designers regarding Wavespawns.
• Added RPOS sorting to the items an NPC is selling. Click on the column titles Description, Sell or Buy to sort by them ascending or descending.
• Added support for MBUTTON 5 to 8 (If supported by the mouse and drivers)
• Item-swapping enabled, except for items in your inventory.
• Item highlighting of recently changed items.
• Double-click an item in armour or implant window moves that item to the inventory.
• Holding SHIFT/CTRL on moving stacked items moves all or one item instead of asking the player in an dialog.
• Added ALT+[KEY] bindings. Players can now decide which action shall be used with a ALT+[KEY] combination.
• Added Loot-Rights. With ALT+0 to ALT+5 you can select who might be able to loot your NPCs. This applies just loot NPCs.
• Increased NPC Dialog blending speed
• Fixed NPC Dialog to not show the old answer options when blending the new dialog text
• Fixed E-Mail count on effects list is now correct.
• Fixed a bug causing rpos.ini to be deleted.
• Fixed the buff timer animations.
• Fixed correct display of armour values in the Armour Interface (F4) Values now match with the values from the item information.
• Fixed furniture placing now correctly increases the free load on the player.

Droning fixes and improvements

• Added new controls to drones. Droners can now control the distance to ground with Duck and Jump keybindings.
• Fixed a problem with the view not correctly updating when dropping drone control.

Gameworld fixes

• Fixed Viper King and Scorpion Queen item drops.
• Fixed respawn for players after deaths in starter MC5 Hacknet sector.
• You can no longer sit in the hack terminal in DoY sector 10.
• Typo fixes in various NPC dialogs.
• - Mr. Jones Preacher Mission
• - MC5 Starter Mission (Tasha)
• - Tangent Epic Mission
• - WoC PSI Savant
• The 2nd level sewer in Plaza 1 (Nearest to Medicare) is re-opened.
• DoY sector 3 is re-opened.

Main menu fixes and improvements

• Did you know? On the main menu you can now read info you may not know yet but might get handy.
• The appearance can be customised with the [HINTOFTHEDAY] section of the RPOS.INI and FONT.INIi files. (See below)
• Added the use of Browser keys Previous/Next in the main menu to go back/next.
• Fixed Main-Menu key option menu: Using the up and down buttons does not require to select the centered action anymore before setting the key binding
• Fixed Main-Menu character selection: The male heads should be now in the same position independent of character class. (Female to follow)
• Fixed Main-Menu all: ESC key changed! It will return to the last menupoint instead of leaving the game. On the login menu the ESC will still prompt you to exit.
• Fixed Main-Menu list boxes: Active list-boxes did scroll on key repeat events, even when Neocron was not in focus.
• ALT+TAB / ALT+F4 fixes while Splash-Screens are active.

Server and client stability fixes

• Fixed "Configure Hardware" button in the Launcher.
• Fixed a problem with syncing which leads to infinite syncing with 0SL and no items.
• Fixed the despawn time of dead Wavespawn NPC's. You have now time to loot them.
• Fixed a possible crash on closing Neocron just before it was completely initialised.
• Fixed some server and client side stability issues on handling resources.
• Fixed possible crash in maps with low bitdepth high resolution textures.
• Fixed NPC synchronisation. You should no longer receive damage without seeing the shot animation/projectiles.
• Fixed CPU high load on some systems or situations (i.e. inactive client at Fullscreen)
• Crashes/players getting stuck in DoY Sector 3 were fixed.
• The number of security layers for Outposts and Faction Warzones can now be configured by the NST.

Hotfix 218

• Fixed slow syncing into worlds.
• "Loot-Rights: Team" is now working as intended.

New RPOS.INI and FONT.INI settings

Below are the new RPOS.INI Settings and their possible values in ranges [min..max] or listed as / separated options

[HINTOFTHEDAY]
R=[0..255]
G=[0..255]
B=[0..255]
A=[0..255]
FixedBox=0/1
Top=[0.0..1.0]
Bottom=[0.0..1.0]
Left=[0.0..1.0]
Right=[0.0..1.0]

The default font values for hint of the day in FONT.INI

[HINTOFTHEDAY]
FILE=.\fonts\arialblk.ttf
NAME=HINTOFTHEDAY
SIZE=14

Discussion

The patch notes can be discussed in the Official Neocron Forums.