Patch 2.2 was released to live this morning! :)
The full blurb (and some short videos) can be found here:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/15218-Star-Citizen-Alpha-22-Available
(https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/15218-Star-Citizen-Alpha-22-Available)
Patch notes:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link//15211-Star-Citizen-Alpha-220 (https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/15211-Star-Citizen-Alpha-220)
TL;DR:
- Crusader map adjusted to make the map more to scale.
- Player cap increased to 24.
- New ‘Monitored Space’ system. Comm arrays monitor local space for illegal/hostile acts. Turning off a comm array turns off monitoring in that sector.
- New Bounty system. Hostile/illegal acts performed in monitored space results in an increase in criminal status. Players with a criminal level of 5 will be highlighted to other players and a reward offered to kill them.
- New Hostility system. NPCs now recognise a player as being friendly/hostile. Pirates will initally consider criminals friendly and non-criminals hostile, and Security vice versa. NPCs will consider anyone attacking them as hostile.
- First iteration of the lobby system that allows friends to find each other and play together (YAY!! :thumbsup:)
- New ship component system, with coolers being the first component to be implemented.
- New flyable ship: Aegis Sabre
- New hangar-ready ship: Aopoa Khartu-Al (Xi’an scout ship)
- Physicalised EVA (new zero-g EVA mechanics).
Seems nice so far, and remarkably stable too, hopefully a sign of things to come, new EVA is weird but good, space too does seem bigger... guess what though, went to security post kareah to try a bit of combat, no one about, so landed to run inside and try a bit of FPS, the minute i leave my ship and start down the steps someone in an Aurora decides to shoot my SH to bits then fly off... failing to fight either in or out of ships.... so grats CIG boo to trolls ... still....
EDIT: Just noticed the Sabre & Khartu-Al are back on sale until the 7th to coincide with them being flight/hangar ready.
Patch notes are all very well but what does that mean to the average player in game.
For those of us that have played with the PTU we've already seen that 2.2 is going to bring a different dynamic in the present PU, rightly so players are going to be trying to hit the level 5 criminal target, trust in the PU will be limited. On one side of the coin, pirate groups can now practice taking down arrays to allow bandits to move unobserved. While policing groups can try to hold and reinstall arrays, resulting in pinpointing level 5 bandit alerts. Bandit types may try to takeout softer targets on investigation or exploration missions to counter this, as most investigation missions are outside monitored space.
But explores do have a detailed game, yes it can get very repetitive but the mixture of player bandits, NPC bandits and general untrust leave most players in a tense situation aided by some excellent story telling and voice acting by CIG.
Shields and hull strength are a lot harder and competing in one on ones is turning into a long drawn out stalemate for a lot of average fighters. Numbers will start to make that telling difference.
Orgs or groups are going to try to dominate the servers. Don't be surprised if a org uses the security station as practise. IE Combat pilots defending the station not allowing anyone other than there own team mates into the area or to land on the station. While FPS groups practice inside the station or assaulting the station, allowing both to get some much needed live practice time against real threats.
With 2.3 we are going to see the Starfare and hopefully either cargo or fuel collection, but with no NPCs available in game and a ship that's dedicated to crew mechanics, players are going to find it difficult to get numbers onboard to practice, especially as these mechanics become more detailed. While inviting randoms in the chat box just won't cut it as communication gets more important. Turrets are improved but still not upto the strength, I suspect leaving the Starfarer needing to rely on fighter escorts.
It's going to take some serious coordination between players to survive and compete in this present and future PU. My advice for anyone trying to get into the game but just finding it too difficult. Buddy up, coordinate with players playing the game. If your not comfortable flying just tag along for the ride. This game is a lot stronger when done as a group, but I guess that's how it should be :)
Good summary there Kal-Nor.
I wasn't involved with the PTU and haven't yet had time to play with 2.2 now it's live, but I have heard that the party system is now a lot more reliable, so we should be aiming to get a set play night going.
I echo your prediction about orgs trying to dominate an instance, and I would hope that we attempt to do the same! :)