[2019] May 24, 2019 - PTS Update

NS-03 Thumper (New Weapon)

We've released the new Thumper heavy grenade launcher to PTS.

The Thumper is a Heavy Weapon available as a primary weapon option for the Heavy Assault class.

By default this six round grenade launcher lobs anti-infantry fragmentation rounds with moderate damage. Two alternate ammunition types are available:

• Disruptor Ammunition wreaks havoc on electronics, and will drain shield and ability energy a small amount on impact.
• Incendiary Ammunition will ignite nearby infantry, dealing damage over time. (Known issue: DoT is currently not applying, and will be fixed in a following PTS update.)

This weapon is a work in progress, so statistics and visual elements may change before hitting Live.

Map Screen and Continent Flow

• Biolab outposts are now all connected via lattice. Dev Note: This change seemed to work well on Esamir, and with the new respawn mechanics we've decided to move this change to the remaining continents as well.
• Destroying a BioLab SCU now disables all spawn points controlled by the owning faction within it.
• Terrain on the map screen should no longer appear invisible under certain conditions.
• Default NS faction color should appear as grey, instead of white, in disabled regions and on neutral objects.

Join Combat

This system has been restructured, and should no longer fail to send players off when the countdown completes.

Join Combat now works on a priority system when deciding where to send players.

• First, it looks for ideal populations and balanced fights.
• If none exist, it will simply look for balanced fights.
• If none of those exist either, it will send the player to attack an enemy frontline base, even if that base is empty.
• In addition, the system will now attempt to throw players into a Drop Pod at every opportunity. If this becomes more disruptive than fun, we'll do some more tuning.

Restructuring Join Combat in this way allows us to deliver players to an ideal PlanetSide experience first, wherever they're available. We then focus on intensifying balanced fights that currently exist, while helping generate new fights along the frontlines. These changes work hand in hand with the spawn system revamp mentioned below.

Spawn System

• Reinforcements Needed has been disabled, as was intended in a previous update.
• Players can now spawn at spawn points within 200 meters of your death location.
• Inactive hardspawns now show new iconography on the map screen.

Dev Note: Between the changes above, the frustration and confusion for why players can or can't spawn in certain areas they died near should be alleviated.

Squadplay

• Spawn Beacon cooldown skill line has been refunded, as squad beacon respawns have been standardized with the new spawn system.
• Spawn Beacons are no longer placeable as a solo player (though you've never been able to spawn on them.)
• Squad's private or public recruitment status is reflected by a small padlock icon near the squad 2d HUD elements.
• Mentor Squads will now display the words "Mentor Squad" on the 2d HUD elements.
• Made some slight adjustments to the 2d HUD UI as well.

Misc. Fixes, Changes, and Additions

• Character select screen character models now use the correct resolution. (Known issue: Character models may be squished horizontally on screen, this is fixed in the next update.)
• Sky boxes no longer show unintended extremes of brightness. This change should effectively return the skybox to their visuals prior to the DX11 update.
• Fixed animation issues for underbarrel grenade launchers.
• NSO Galaxy Drake and Walker weapons now fire projectiles again.
• Combat Medic's Shield Recharging field now effects NSO characters.
• RD-GG is no longer purchasable.
• /leader chat now works again, for real this time.
• Purchasing utilities on one class no longer allows you to equip locked utilities of the same type on another class.
• Halberd SE and Halberd-H SE no longer require the ownership of the original Halberd.
• Halberd SE (the main battle tank version) no longer uses the gravity of the Harasser version.
• Various fixes for broken "Must Own Weapon" requirements.
• Fixed an issue with that would cause dead projectiles to hover in the air and continue to stack particle effects for a time.
• Fix for death screen animations while wielding C4, a reverse-grip knife, or medical kits and other similar items.
• Harasser top weapons should count toward NSO directive kills correctly.
• Sticky Grenades should work for NC characters again.
• NSO Lightning HESH and HEAT should now allow upgrade purchases.
• NSO characters should now earn repair ribbons.
• NSX-A Kuwa max damage from 167 to 150