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Iteration 2
- All progress and achievements have been reset and appear as they did at the start of the Public Test
Overview / New Content
One of the most prominent changes is the modification of the tech trees, which now include a new plane class: The Multirole Fighters. As their name implies, these fighters are able to successfully attack both air and ground targets due to their flexible weapons configuration, which allows them to mount bombs, rockets and high-caliber guns. Of course, the original Fighter class remains, and now contains aircraft that are pure dogfighters.
We're also happy to introduce a new branch of aircraft featuring the long-awaited USSR MiG fighters. The key characteristics of this branch's planes are the excellent altitude and speed performance, making them great at vertical maneuvers.
New Planes
New branch of USSR MiG fighters available for research after Polikarpov I-17:
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3:Tier V Fighter
- Mikoyan-Gurevich I-210:Tier VI Fighter
- Mikoyan-Gurevich I-220:Tier VII Fighter
- Mikoyan-Gurevich I-250: Tier VIII Fighter
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9: Tier IX Fighter
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis: Tier X Fighter
Premium planes available for purchase in the Premium Shop
- Yakovlev Yak-3RD: Tier VII Soviet Premium Fighter
- Focke-Wulf Fw.190A-8/R2: Tier VII German Premium Multirole Fighter
- Fisher XP-75 Eagle:Tier VII U.S. Premium Heavy Fighter
- Gloster Meteor F. I:Tier VII British Premium Fighter
- Mitsubishi J4M Senden: Tier VII Japanese Premium Multirole Fighter
Gift planes (not obtainable for general public testers at this time -- stay tuned for more information)
- Blohm und Voss Ha.137V-1: German Tier III Premium Attack Aircraft
- CAC CA-12 Boomerang: British Tier V Premium Fighter
- CAC CA-1 Wirraway: British Tier III Gift Attack Aircraft
Maps
- Extended the battlefield on El Halluf
- High-altitude anti-aircraft guns were added to all maps
- Some small ground targets were replaced with larger ones to make shooting at them easier
Gameplay
- The speed at which a team gains superiority towards the end of the battle (when it already has accumulated a lot of points) was reduced by 10%.
- Reduced HP for armored parts of ground targets
- General amount of ground targets HP was increased for Tier VIII-X battles
Matchmaker
- Fix for the problem when battles were created with an excessive number of Heavy Fighters or Attack Aircraft in each team
- Fix for the problem where there would be no aircraft of only one tier lower to the top tier in the game
- Improved algorithm of Flight balancing
- Probability of entering the battle as a top or medium tier plane was aligned
- New players will be getting into the battles with other beginners for a longer period of time before being matched up with more experienced players
Achievements
The following achievements were moved from "Honorary Ranks" to the separate group "Serial/Collective Achievements:"
- First Blood
- Steady Results
- Scythe of Death
- Aerial Raider
- Sky Scourge
- Ground Pounder
- Furious
- Die Hard
- Persistent
- Implemented the possibility of getting an achievement even if its conditions were fulfilled only after the user's plane was destroyed
- Achievement "Expert Hunter" was credited to accounts with 3 or more battles in "Standard battle" mode that didn't have this achievement unlocked previously
Plane & Tech Tree Changes
We've introduced a new class of Multirole Fighters that can successfully attack both air and ground targets. Their flexible profile allows them to adapt a broad range of roles on the battlefield. Planes of this fighter class have relatively high durability values and carry strong armament. At the same time, in general, their maneuverability values are below those of regular fighters due to the heavier structure and the load that Multirole Fighters carry. The mountable bombs, rockets or high-caliber guns allow pilots of these planes to take part in the ground game, while the decent flight characteristics are competitive enough to make Multirole Fighters viable dogfighters, albeit not the best ones. Typical examples of multirole fighters are planes of the F4U Corsair and Focke-Wulf Fw.190 series, which have been employed against both air and ground targets.
In order to accentuate the nature of Multirole Fighters, we've added new, high-penetration weapons to their modules. At the same time, we've reduced these weapons' influence on the plane's flight characteristics to keep the aircraft competitive. Naturally, that means that we also removed the same bombs, rockets and other high-penetration guns from regular fighters who were previously able to carry them.
The following planes have been changed from "Fighter" to "Multirole Fighter:"
- USSR: I-5, I-5 ShKAS, I-15, I-16 (early), I-16 (late), Р-40 M-105, Yak-7, Yak-9, Yak-9U
- Germany: Ar. 65, Ar. 197, Fw.190V, Fw.190A-5, Fw.190D
- USA: P-12, F11C-2, F2F, F3F, F2A Buffalo, F4F Wildcat, F4U-1 Corsair, F4U-4 Corsair, F2G Super Corsair, F7U Cutlass
- Great Britain: Goldfinch, Demon, Skua
- Japan: Type-91, J7W1 Shinden, J7W2 Shinden-Kai, J7W3
- China: Hawk III
Individual Plane Changes
USSR
- I-5: Module "Rockets 2xRS-82" added
- I-16 (e.): Reduced impact of outboard rockets module on flight performance
- I-16 (l.): Module "Synchronised machine gun 1x12.7mm BS" removed, reduced impact of outboard rockets module on flight performance
- I-17: Module "Rockets 4xRS-82" removed
- LaGG-3 removed modules:
- Airframe "LaGG-3-1"
- Airframe "LaGG-3-66"
- Hub-mounted machine gun "1x12.7mm BS"
- Synchronised machine guns "2x12.7mm BS"
- Synchronised machine guns "2x7.62mm ShKAS (1941)"
- Rockets "6xRS-82"
- Hub-mounted gun "1x37mm ShFK"
- Stock airframe "LaGG-3-1" exchanged for "LaGG-3" frame
- Yak-7: Can no longer be researched through the LaGG-3. Now the plane needs to be unlocked through the preceding I-16 (l.) from the module "Wing-mounted autocannons 2x20mm ShVAK (1936)". Increased HP, reduced energy loss when maneuvering, increased speed, increased nominal and boost speed, improved acceleration in nominal- and boosted mode, increased maneuverability, improved control responsiveness. Increased effectiveness of 37mm hub-mounted gun
- Yak-1: Module "Rockets 6xRSС-82" removed
- P-40 М-105: Reduced impact of outboard rockets module on flight performance
- Yak-1М: Module "Synchronised machine gun 1x12.7mm UBS" removed
- Yak-9: Reduced energy loss when maneuvering, increased optimum speed, increased nominal and boost speed, improved acceleration in nominal and boost mode, increased pitch and yaw maneuverability, reduced roll maneuverability, improved control responsiveness. Increased effectiveness of 37mm and 45mm hub-mounted guns
- Yak-9U: Increased HP, reduced energy loss when maneuvering, increased nominal and boost speed, improved acceleration in nominal- and boost mode, increased pitch and yaw maneuverability, reduced roll maneuverability, improved control responsiveness. Increased effectiveness of 37mm and 45mm hub-mounted guns
- Yak-19: Increased max firing duration until overheat for all weapons configurations
- Yak-30: Increased max firing duration until overheat for all weapons configurations
- La-15: Increased max firing duration until overheat
- IL-2: Reduced impact of 37mm gun on flight performance
- IL-2 (t): Reduced impact of 37mm gun on flight performance
- IL-8: Reduced impact of 45mm gun on flight performance
Germany
- Ar 65: Module "Bombs 2x50 kg" added
- Ar197: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- He 112: Now Bf 109 E Emil can be researched from the module "Wing-mounted 2x20mm MG-FF"
- Bf 109 F Friedrich: module "Outboard guns 2x20mm MG-151/20" removed. Module "Synchronised machine guns 2x13.2mm MG-131" added. Flight performance was revised due to the removal of outboard weapons: improved energy retention when diving and maneuvering, increased dive speed, increased acceleration in boost engine mode, slightly reduced pitch maneuverability, slightly reduced roll responsiveness.
- Bf 109 G Gustav: Flight performance was revised due to the removal of outboard modules: Reduced energy loss when maneuvering, insignificantly increased pitch maneuverability. Increased effectiveness of 30mm hub-mounted Mk-108 gun.
- Removed modules:
- Rockets "2xWGr-210"
- Outboard guns "2x20mm MG-151/20"
- Outboard guns "2x30mm MK-108"
- Bf 109 Z Zwilling: Can now be researched from Bf 109 F Friedrich from the module "Hub-mounted cannon 1x20mm MG-151/20". Module "Bomb 1x250 kg" added. Reduced impact of outboard 30mm Mk.108 guns on flight performance
- Fw 190 V: Module "Bombs 4x50 kg" added
- Fw 190 A-5: Module "Bombs 4x50 kg" added. Reduced impact of primary and outboard weapons on flight performance, insignificantly reduced control responsiveness
- Fw 190 D: Module "Bomb 1x250 kg" added. Reduced impact of outboard cannons on flight performance, insignificantly reduced control responsiveness
- Me 410: Reduced impact of bomb weapons and outboard guns on flight performance
- Me 209 A: Reduced impact of weapons on flight performance, increased weapons accuracy
- Ta 152: Reduced impact of weapons on flight performance, reduced control responsiveness, reduced energy loss when maneuvering, increased pitch maneuverability, increased weapons accuracy
- Me 262 Schwalbe: Module "Rockets 2xWGr-210" removed, module "Bombs 2x250 kg" added
- Me 262HG II: Module "Bombs 2x250 kg" added
- Me 262HG III: Module "Bombs 2x250 kg" added
USA
- P-12: Module "Bombs 2x100 pounds" added
- F11C-2: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- F2F: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- F3F: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- P-36 Hawk: Module "Outboard gun, 2x23mm Madsen" removed
- F2A Buffalo: Module "Wing-mounted, 2x20mm HS 404" removed. Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- F4F Wildcat: Reduced impact of outboard bombs and rockets on flight performance
- P-40 Warhawk: Module "Rockets 6x4.5'' М8" removed. Reduced impact of outboard rockets on flight performance
- F4U-1 Corsair: Module "Airframe XF4U-1" replaced with "Airframe F4U-1". Module "Wing-mounted, 2x20mm M2" can now be researched from 12.7mm machine guns AN/M2. Reduced impact of outboard bombs and rockets on flight performance, reduced roll and pitch maneuverability, insignificantly reduced control responsiveness.
- P-51A Mustang: Module "Rockets 6x4.5'' М8" removed. Reduced dive controllability, insignificantly reduced roll and pitch maneuverability
- P-51D Mustang: Reduced dive controllability, insignificantly reduced pitch maneuverability, reduced roll responsiveness. Modules removed:
- Rockets 6x4.5'' М8
- Rockets 10xHVAR Mk. 25
- P-51H Mustang: Module "Rockets 10xHVAR Mk. 25" removed. Insignificantly reduced pitch maneuverability, reduced control responsiveness and reduced dive controllability
- F2H Banshee: Increased dispersion for 20mm gun Mk.12
- F7U Cutlass: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- XF-90: Increased dispersion for 20mm gun Mk.12
Great Britain
- Goldfinch: Module "Bombs 4x20 pounds" added
- Demon: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- Skua: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
- Blenheim F: Removed modules:
- Airframe Blenheim IV
- Airframe Blenheim V
- Outboard machine guns, 4x0.303 Browning Mk. II
Modules added:
- Airframe Blenheim V (Bisley)
- Bombs 4x250 pounds
- Westland P.1056: Reduced impact of primary and outboard weapons on flight performance
- Attacker: Module "Rockets 8xRP-3 HE/GP" removed
Japan
- Type-91: Module "Bombs 2x30 kg" added
- A4N: Module "Bombs 2x30 kg" removed
- A5M: Module "Bombs 2x30 kg" removed
- A6M1 Zero: Module "Bombs 2x60 kg" removed
- A6M2 Zero: Module "Bomb 1x250 kg" removed. Insignificantly reduced pitch and yaw responsiveness
- A6M5 Zero: Module "Bomb 1x250 kg" removed. Insignificantly reduced pitch and yaw responsiveness
- Ki-88: Increased pitch maneuverability, improved acceleration for boost engine mode, increased weapons effectiveness
- A7M Reppu: Module "Bombs 2x250 kg" removed. Increased HP, reduced energy loss when maneuvering, increased optimum speed and nominal mode speed, improved acceleration for nominal- and boost engine mode, increased optimum altitude, increased service ceiling, improved pitch maneuverability
- J7W1 Shinden: Increased HP, reduced flammability, increased speed in nominal engine mode, increased roll performance, reduced control responsiveness, increased effectiveness of 30mm guns
- J7W2 Shinden-Kai: Increased HP, reduced flammability, increased speed in nominal engine mode, increased roll performance, reduced control responsiveness, increased effectiveness of 30mm guns
- J7W3: Increased HP, reduced flammability, increased speed in nominal engine mode, increased roll performance, reduced control responsiveness, increased effectiveness of 30mm guns
China
- Hawk III: Reduced impact of outboard bombs on flight performance
Other Changes
Weapons
Revised balance between guns (cannons) and machine guns
- Machine guns are supposed to be a good weapon for destroying the enemy at short distances with continuous fire. Thus we increased their fire duration (before overheating) and insignificantly increased damage at medium distances
- Guns of the 20-23mm caliber are intended to engage the enemy at medium and long distances. We have therefore increased their damage and destruction efficiency
- The main advantage of large-caliber guns of 30mm and 37-57mm is the fact that each shell deals a lot of damage. This type of weapon is effective against both aircraft and ground targets. To reflect this, we have increased the damage and destruction efficiency for large-caliber weapons at medium and long range
- We have also increased the efficiency of the primary, forward-oriented weapons against ground targets, including those of a smaller size
Economy
Following an analysis of statistical data gathered from Update 1.5.1, we have decided to adjust the reward coefficients for all planes:
- Increased experience and credits reward coefficients for dealing damage to planes
- Reduced experience and credits reward coefficients for dealing damage to ground targets
- Increased research cost of Me 209 A from 101790 to 105000 XP
- Increased research cost of Beaufighter from 9630 to 12000 XP
Graphics & Interface
- The loading screen for "Battle vs. Bots" now looks the same as the one for "Standard Battle"
- Changed the look of the appearing pop-ups with the achievements descriptions
- When checking the battle standings in-game (default "Tab"), the aircraft of both teams will now be sorted by those that are still alive and those that have been shot down
- Added the possibility to choose between the look of the Premium Hangar. You can now choose between the summer field one and the enclosed indoor Hangar
- We've changed and optimized the look of the system messages which appear upon entering the game or finishing a battle
- Added some video explanations to some of the points in the settings/controls menu
- Now you can find the little tooltip, explaining your efficiency against armored targets not only on the plane itself but also on each individual armament module.
Controls
Mouse
- Some key assignments were changed for the default "Mouse" settings
- Added the possibility to fine-tune the mixing of the roll and pitch commands, which can be input with the keyboard and the mouse at the same time
- We fixed the display of control elements upon using the "Back camera view" (Default "Q"). The controls are now rightfully inversed when looking behind your plane in this view
- Increased responsiveness of the "Automatically roll in turns" function for horizontal turns
- Reduced longitudinal trembling of the reticule in turns
- Improved parallax consideration when aiming
- Improved control when orienting the camera to the backward hemisphere of the plane
- Fix for the problem of turn interruption on the "Hybrid" controls setting
Gamepad
- When rolling, the input from the triggers gets treated collectively, nullifying any movement if both triggers are pressed to the same extent at the same time. However, if you map any other command to the same triggers, both commands will be executed even if pressed at the same time and will not nullify each other.
Other Changes
- We implemented multi-threaded processing for multiple operations related to the battle and Hangar interface. This greatly improved the performance on PCs with processors of low and medium performance
- Implemented the transition to a more functional and stable sound engine
- The button "Fill up with bots" was added to the training room, the pressing of which will lead to all free slots in both teams being filled up with bots. This will also replace all bots that may have previously been selected for either team
- New sound effects were added when using Hangar and menu elements
