So, we've been a bit quiet in the update front lately, so I guess we should tell ya what's been going on.

Truth is, we've been hard at work dragging this game into the 21st century....

Now we have a stable client, we can start to add some new features, overhaul old ones, and ultimately start bringing the game closer to achieving the potential it always had.

Fabrication is having quite a severe overhaul.  The old single window, "click and hope" style is dead.
It's being replaced with specialized windows for each type of fabrication. Be it enchanting salvaging, or even the good old combine.  They will each have their own window giving detailed information of the outcome, chances and item information

The following screen shots are subject to change....

Also, we're working on response times.  The host is built on a single thread that "pulses".  Between pulses the game sleeps a set amount in order to keep things smooth.  Basically what this means is, that if a player decides to do something while the host is sleeping, nothing happens, till the host wakes up and processes the command.

This will be a thing of the past. 

We are in the process of multithreading vital parts of the games core, which will ultimately result in a much smoother, more responsive experience for everyone.  Not only is tho host being multihreaded, but the client is too.  Both of these huge improvements will only mean one thing.  More fun, at a faster pace, with a lot less "lag".

While we work on this, I would like to ask a question regarding item attributes.

Currently we only have a handful (15 or so) of attributes that affect players.  Don't yall think it's about time you had more?

Please post ideas of new attributes, such as :-

+ %Critical hit chance.
+%Critical hit damage.
+%Hull.
+%Chance to cast Fireball.
+ Crew.
etc etc.

Please think hard about your suggestions,"Will this give me too much of an advantage?" as only those that have been thought about thoroughly will be considered....

I'm even considering raising the limit of 4 attributes per item to 5,6 or even 7 for the rarest of items.........

r 432 to 436:-

Casting psions whilst dead fixed.
Obfuscate timer increased.
Gather group timer increased.
Casting same buf type will now reset the timer, and not confuse clients.
Players rank should now be sent correctly.
Maximum thrust cap raised.
Thrust stat now given a Complexity level.
Thrust attributes now drops.
Thrust now salvageable from items.
Thrust effects fixed.
Fixed trying to teleport when trading.
Decreased chance of not finding a safe place to teleport too.
The placement of loot when dropping it should now be more accurate.
Sentries now cast "Web Effect" slowing ship movement, considerably.
Bosses should now recover quickly from a fight.
More info for grouped players sent to clients.
All teleportation timers should no longer work after death.
Boss summons now targettable.
Fixed a bug with combining items that made high Intelligence lower chance to succeed.
Slightly lowered the base/initial salvage chance.

Some of these changes may already be live......

Enchanting with a stone that gives 11 or more will be randomized, raised from 8.
The stronger debuff should no longer be overridden by a weaker one.
All debuffs will now cap to targets level, eg a level 90 casting on a level 5 will see a reduction is the casts strength.
Mind drain cost and delay increased.
Roaming mobs should now drop loot if they have not been attacked by an npc in a while.
/clanreturn now has a chance to fail if in heavy combat.
Protection added to avoid a duplication bug.
Bases that are defended will receive a bonus regen too all artifacts in their control.
Players of the same clan cannot move artifacts inside a base if they currently own the base.
Carrying an artifact will always incur a timer when trying to teleport.
Command Center level lowered.
Level of all regen on items fixed.
Slightly lowered damage from all mobs.
Slightly decreased the damage done to players' crew.
Lowered the chance engineer mobs will try to repair.
Lowered the amount engineer bosses will repair for.
Attempted to stop mobs running home after being stunned.
Increased the time a boss waits to summon a mob to help.
Fixed ships not always visible upon login.
Reduced the chance of "ghost" ships further.
Increased ion storm amount.
/ask (psion/maneuver) will now report back what skill is required to use it.
Bosses will now always consider attacking a player within range.
Transfer power has been replaced with a new skill, Transfer Crew.

Fixed Mobs randomly running off.
Fixed Mobs slowly gaining max power.
Lowered level 50+ mob difficulty.
Slightly lowered crew damage too players.
Lowered Disruptor damage to crew.
Fixed several bad scan reset packets.
Fixed target loss on target death not being sent correctly to clients.
Added a new command /TESTFAB, this will give the player information on the fabrication they are attempting to create.
Enchanting and "Alpha fabs" now display a chance to make the item.

As some of you may know, we have been working on a 2D client along side the 3D client.  There are many reasons for this, the main one being the 2D engine we have used is easier to work with than Unity.   The 2D client has also been coded in such a way that it could easily be used for the 3D unity client, so no time has been wasted....

Anyways, this thread will serve as a preview to its progress.

First a few pics...

New window to distribute skill points... (windows screenshot)

Early screen shot of the client ported to MAC OSX...

And an early shot of Linux (Ubuntu 12.04,2, other versions will be available...)

Everything you see has been recoded, meaning we will now have the power to change, fix, update and develop new ideas as the game grows.

Checkout http://hostilespace.co.uk/forum/misc.php?hsr=news for more news...

r 398:-
Removed several Mini-bosses from Ordos.
Attacks such as Provoke, Firebolt, Decimate, Burn will no longer override an obfuscate shield on a target.

r399:-
Fixed ghost players.
Fixed mobs not vanishing correctly upon death and reappearing upon death.
Mobs will now defend their summons.
Mobs will now seek a target that has annoyed them with a larger radius.
Fixed client not clearing scan and target correctly upon mob death.

r 407:-
Fixed several Pyro mobs.
Fixed psi class mobs not summoning.
Fixed mobs casting evolve on a summon.
Artifacts will now slow down a player carrying them.
Tweaked a few warning messages that could easily go un-noticed.
Fixed "roaming" mobs not moving unless a player was near by.
Mobs deciding to cast no longer 100pc when their cast timer had expired.
New item added that will boost salvage rates to 100pc at all times, regardless of skill level. (This does NOT increase CHANCE to salvage).
/item information for enchant stones fixed.
Pyro mobs will now roll an extra cast when casting Amplify.

Shops will now allow players to buy a stack of 250 units.
100 units will be bought or sold when holding Ctrl.

Players will not be saved if in the middle of trading or fabricating.  This should stop items being lost.
Summons now move at maximum speed.
Disruptors damage to crew reduced.
Fixed several distance check errors.
Recovering near a mob should now draw aggro correctly.
Increased range that bosses will seek at recovering targets.
Boss crew increased.
Onslaught effectiveness reduced.
Fixed scanner picking up mobs underground.

Fixed cost of advanced aliens.
Tweaked accuracy of advanced alien levels.
Fixed a major bug when calculating damage done to hull, shields, crew etc, dependent on type of weapon.
Disruptors  now damage crew more than any other weapon type
Smugglers new ability Onslaught increases damage done to crew.
Overall damage to mobs' crew has been increased.
Reduced the rate at which mobs regenerate crew.
Fixed the effects of crew regen on mobs.

Cloaks are no longer switched off when recovering.
Fixed another text spam bug with smugglers cloaked in the vicinity.
Fixed new ability gained text incorrectly announcing psions for level 1.0 offense.
Fixed non-hostile ships incorrectly showing as hostile on initial login.