ZeroK: Zero-K version 1.3.3.7

It’s time for a new version, and we’re using the 1.3.3.7 version number again because ZK is too l33t to use any other number.
In this update there are various improvements across all factories, many important bugfixes and some new features.

Shield Bots:
– Shield Bot Factory can now only be built by people with prior ban history to better reflect its criminal theme.
– Roach renamed to Rapist, for what it does to light units.

Spiders:
– Legs 6 -> 8.
– Vulnerability to newspaper +35%.

Aircraft:
– Raven replaced by Kestrel.
– Kestrel changed to a melee dive bomber.
– Kestrel renamed to Raven.

Buildings:
– Defender missiles 3 -> 5, for better defending.
– Newton is now unable to work by default. An apple needs to be dropped on it to enable it.
– Storage rebalance:

  • turn rate +65%
  • speed +80%
  • DPS -15%
  • range -40%

– Silencer nukes now cost no metal, for consistency with other weapons.

Miscellaneous:
– Dominatrix capture is now permanent. Obedience is the correct behaviour.
– Warrior weapon sound improved: replaced pew pew with WUB WUB.
– Penetrator renamed to Penis. There is no need for euphemisms.
– Zombies, CTF, KotH, and Lava are now all enabled by default.
– New Auto-Resign feature: detects *pluks and automatically resigns them.
– Updated translations for the Nahuatl and Icelandic languages.

Bug fixes:
– Fixed Screamer being unable to target ground.
– Fixed Flea decloaking when moving.
– Fixed Commanders being unable to morph to level 10.
– Fixed Scorcher not doing full damage at range.
– Fixed Ducks being unable to access their Rampage Special Ability Ninja Weapon Technique.
– Fixed slowdamage being unable to achieve 100%.

This patch also introduces the Featured Map Pool Rotation. You will only be able to play on featured maps from the rotation. Here’s the pool for this month:
– 1v1:

  • TinySkirmish
  • Chicken_Nuggets_v4
  • Trololo_v2
  • SpeedMetal_Duo_Extreme_NoMetal_fix_final_v3
  • DarkSide Remake

– Teams:

  • DeltaSiegeDry
  • DeltaSiegeDry_Deluxe
  • MiniDeltaSiegeDry
  • DeltaSiegeX
  • DeltaSiegeDuo

ZeroK: ZK 1v1 Tournament March 28th 2015

The March tournament is scheduled to take place on the 28th day of March, at 10:00 (10 AM) UTC.

Tournament format & rules:
– Double elimination (!)
– Random seeding
– First map of each round is predetermined, the following maps in the winners bracket will be selected by the loser of the previous game from the featured 1v1 map pool.
– All winners bracket games will be best of 3 (including finals). All losers bracket games will be best of 1.

It is possible to substitute for players who don’t show up. If you have signed up, make sure to show up on time. Those who fail to show up will likely be subbed out by 10:30 UTC.

The players coming first, second and third will receive special unique collectible awards to their player profile, and receive tournament points which will at the year’s end determine the year’s altogether best tournament player. Points standings will be posted soon after the conclusion of this upcoming tournament.

The starting maps for each round will be announced at some later date before the tournament starts, when the number of participants will be more or less known.

Sign up in the comments!

ZeroK: ZK 2v2 Tournament February 28th 2015

It’s end of the month, and it’s time to host the monthly tourney.

It will start at 10:00 UTC (10 AM UTC) on 2015-02-28 and registration will be open until February 27th, 23:59 UTC. The current time in UTC can be seen at http://utctime.org/.

Players of all skill levels are welcome and encouraged to participate, however there is a limit of 16 teams, so don’t lose your chance!

Tournament rules:
– Teams contain two different human players
– Single elimination
– First map of each round is predetermined, the following maps will be selected by the loser of the previous game from the featured 1v1 or team game map pool.
– Finals are best of 5, all other matches including the bronze match are best of 3.

The tournament bracket will be seeded according to players’ teams Elo after registration closes. The players in the teams coming first, second and third will receive special trophy awards and score tourney points to determine best tourney players at the end of the year.

The first map of each round will be announced later in the week as the estimate number of players becomes known.

Check out the bracket at http://zk.challonge.com/zkfeb2015
Sign up in the comments!

ZeroK: Server protocol change

Zero-K has moved into a new server software because old one (UberServer) could not handle large number of players in tests.

This will allow faster development of Zero-K lobby, proper matchmaking etc, but unfortunately breaks compatibility with existing non Zero-K lobby clients, so please use Zero-K lobby for now.

Because it’s a full rewrite of lobby server with changes done to springie autohosts, zero-k lobby and website/nightwatch, do expect some quirks. Bug reports are very much welcome at https://github.com/ZeroK-RTS/Zero-K-Infrastructure/issues

ZeroK: Zero-K v1.3.1.17

Today we erode away a bit of Total Annihilation legacy with the removal of easy nano-shielding. While it was arguably ok at the small scale we are sure everyone would agree that blocking tacnukes with Zeniths was pretty stupid.

Also a reminder; the tourney is in a few days so don’t forget to Sign Up.

Removed Nano-shielding

Nanoframe hitvolumes now grow from ground level to full height during the first 40% of construction. This makes it much harder (and possibly pointless) to block small shots and fixes the Zenith nanoframe tactical missile defense.

Targeting

Vandal now has overkill prevention. There have also been some improvements in damage tracking.

Dominatrix now really likes to target things which are partially captured. Other units have a mild aversion against targeting such units.

The aimpoints (spots that are aimed at when trying to shoot at something) of commanders are slightly higher, especially for Support Comm. This is because their weapons could be much higher than their old aimpoints which would let them shoot over walls with no retaliation.

Fixed Penetrator aimpoint and hitvolume as well.

Fixes

  • Attempt to fix rare music pitch bug.
  • Nuclear missile launches are now always audible.
  • Fixed a rare case where undead aircraft would take up repair pad spots for eternity.
  • Some sort of Central Build AI fix.

ZeroK: ZK 1v1 Tournament January 31st 2015

It’s time to open up this year’s supply of tournaments.

As has become customary for odd months, January will have an 1v1 tourney on its 31st day, at 09:00 UTC. The registration is open until Friday, January 30th 2015 23:59 UTC, and everyone is welcome to take part regardless of their skill.

Additionally, players can volunteer to substitute for anyone missing after the registration has been closed and before tourney itself starts. Substitutes will be used if the original signed-up players fail to arrive within 30 minutes of start without notice, in order of sign-up, based on this thread.

Tournament rules:
– Single elimination
– First map of each round is predetermined, the following maps will be selected by the loser of the previous game from the featured 1v1 map pool.
– Finals are best of 5, all other matches including the bronze match are best of 3.

The tournament bracket will be seeded randomly after registration closes. The players coming first, second and third will receive special unique collectible awards to their player profile, and receive tournament points which will at the year’s end determine the year’s altogether best tournament player.

The starting maps for each round will be announced at some later date before the tournament starts, when the number of participants will be more or less known.

You can inspect the tourney bracket at http://zk.challonge.com/zkjan2015

To sign up, post this forum thread and don’t forget to show up on time. Pay attention to the timezone, and set a calendar notification that will remind you. If you are going to be late, try to warn about this in advance.