* New: An error will be shown if an invalid command line option is used.
* New: "Map Preview" button added to the multiplayer/skirmish lobby, including ability to preview starting positions (patch #1040).
* New: A 'Ready' button that all players must press in order to start a multiplayer game.
* Change: Game speed is limited to 0.3-1.5 range in non-debug mode.
* Change: Oil pumping and power generator hum sounds are quieter.
* Fix: Building limits apply correctly (bug #11293).
* Fix: Game won't crash when commander units are used.
* Fix: The sky does not disappear anymore when a tooltip is shown (bug #11216).
* Fix: Translation-related bug in the structure limits screen fixed (bug #11345).
* Fix: Placing a beacon on map will not result in memory corruption and a crash anymore (bug #10955, #11373, and #11005).
* Fix: Invalid group orders during multiplayer games are ignored (bug #11358).
* Fix: Smoking structures (bug #11348).
* Fix: AIs are now always run on Host's machine during multiplayer games.
* Fix: Derricks do not disappear or blink anymore (bug #11357).
* Fix: Save games will load properly when trying to load them when a game is already in progress (bug #11467).
* Fix: Bad textures after third load of saved game (bug #11641)
* Fix: VTOLs do not move over water (bug #11638)
* Fix: Multiple Nexus Link crashes (bugs #11500, #11501, and #11444)
* Fix: Assert if upgrading building while second building tab open (bugs #9336 and #11446)
* Fix: Assert when smoke effects drift off the map (bug #11586)
* Fix: Trucks going in circles (bug #11341)
* Fix: Render super-cyborgs using the bucket list, to avoid jittery HP bars.
* Fix: Bug that would make sliders inactive in multiplayer when not hosting a game.
* Fix: Textures missing on first beta away mission (bug #11733)
* Fix: Lots of other things that we may have forgotten about. This beta really does contain a lot of bug fixes.
* Gameplay:
* New: Support for coloured mouse cursors (ingame only, not in menus), controlled by configuration option "ColouredCursor". Turned off by default. (patch #956)
* New: Human player console messages are rendered using brighter color. Friend-foe colors are can be turned on using Shift+Tab key combination.
* New: Prevent structure 'painting' exploit by making unfinished structures return power with time and disappear when all power was given back (patch #1030).
* New: Units gain speed increase with experience (patch #906).
* New: A sound is played and a notification is shown on the console when placing a beacon on the map. F12 key can be used to jump to the beacon location.
* Change: Effect of skirmish modifier slider increased by 20%.
* Change: 'ENTER' key is now the default key for bringing up the chat dialog instead of 'T' (key configuration must be reset in the 'Key Mappings' dialog).
* Change: Removed lowest power level, added a higher power level.
* Change: VTOL movement rules simplified. No cliff height limitations anymore.
* Fix: Dull mini-map player colors were replaced by brighter colors.
* Fix: Rocket Autoloader research does not appear before lancer is researched and has "HEAT Rocket Warhead" as a prerequisite, instead of "HEAP Mini-Rockets" (bug #11312).
* Fix: When cheating is on AIs get power boost on client's machines too.
* Balancing (Multiplayer Only):
* Change: Tank Killer now fires four projectiles instead of two, total firepower is unaffected.
* Change: AA Projectiles fly faster which increases accuracy.
* Change: Hitpoints of Hardpoints, Fortresses and Walls slightly increased. Hitpoints of other structures doubled.
* Change: All cyborgs are produced faster by 10-15%.
* Change: Mini-pod's accuracy decreased by 10%.
* Change: Mini-Rocket Artillery short range accuracy increased by 10%, long range accuracy decreased by 15%.
* Change: Super Heavy-Gunner, Super HPV Cyborg, Super Auto-Cannon Cyborg and Tank-Killer Cyborg have more firepower.
* Change: Cost of Super Rail-Gunner, Super HPV Cyborg slightly decreased. Cost of Super Pulse Laser Cyborg, Super Heavy-Gunner and Super Auto-Cannon Cyborg halved to match their firepower.
* Change: Super Scourge Cyborg's cost increased by 10%.
* Change: Super HPV Cyborg has longer range, Super Auto-Cannon Cyborg's range slightly decreased.
* Change: Super Cyborg's build time slightly decreased.
* Change: Flamers Rate of Fire decreased, damage increased. The resulting damage in the game is not affected.
* Change: Inferno weapon fires two jets instead of one.
* Change: All flamers are 5% less effective against tracked units.
* Change: Rate of Fire of Hyper Velocity Cannon decreased, damage increased. The resulting damage in the game is not affected.
* Change: Bunker Buster's damage increased by 30% to make it competitive against flamers.
* Change: Anti-tank weapons are 15% more effective against hardpoints.
* Change: Anti-tank weapons effectiveness increased from 110% to 133% against Half-tracked units, decreased from 133% to 110% against Tracked units.
* Change: Cost of all bodies (except for 'Viper' body) decreased to reflect body's real value. Later bodies have more value that earlier bodies to justify research cost and time.
* Change: Tank-Killer hardpoint cost decreased from 300 to 275.
* Change: Range of Mini-Rocket Artillery increased from 7.5 tiles to 8.5 tiles.
* Change: Bunker Buster rocket is available earlier and has "Synaptic Link Data Analysis Mk3" and "HEAP Mini-Rockets" as prerequisites instead of Lancer and "HEAT Rocket Warhead Mk3".
* Aivolution AI:
* New: Different taunts.
* New: To find out what AI players are using Aivolution AI type "are you aiv?" in the game.
* Fix: Using "go <player>" command makes Aivolution send its units to the proper player now.
* Fix: Division by zero error fixed.
* Fix: Won't ask allies for help when already defeated.
* Fix: Assert when trying to find out player name based on incorrect player number.
* Fix: All dialogs between allied AIs are visible to all allies.
* Fix: A beacon is always placed on map before initializing a command.
* Fix: Several Aivolution AIs sending chat messages at the same time will not result in an infinite loop anymore.
* Fix: Undefended enemy derricks will now be properly attacked with defenses by trucks.
* Mods:
* Change: We no longer use zones for path-finding. If they are present in the map file, they will be ignored. Gateways are only used by AI.
-- Giel van Schijndel <muggenhor@gna.org> Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:12:33 +0200
