What happened to the factory models? They (HQ and non-HQ) look almost identical now. The easy to spot Aeon land t3 HQ is gone, so is the Cybran t3 land HQ.
The changes, as far as I could see, were barely communicated to the community. I found this in the change log:
"We're slowly but surely preparing the game for a significant visual improvement. (#4456) Re-create the Cybran land factories. [...]

I have no idea if this is an intermediary step or the final result. Cybran air fac animation sometimes looks out of whack when having engineers roll out (transformer mode with factory elements moving rapidly).

I found those changes to be a massive downgrade in terms of visibility (forced to zoom out) and user experience.

If someone could explain if this can be reverted (mod?), why it was implemented and if it is the final stage of the "significant visual improvement" it would be great.

You have 2 s in battle - find the HQ without zooming out.

HQs and non-HQ (incl. Aeon t1 and t3 HQ) is hard to differentiate.
"

Also, the list of units in the cheat menu looks blurry:

Clipping (bottom element):

Another step towards reducing contrast, making it hard to distinguish what is what. Water was identified super easily before. Now it can look like mountains (2nd to last map shown here).
Why do you keep forcing players to spend more time on identifying what is going on on the map? First the HQ change, now this.
Is there an option to enable to old water colors?

Not sure if related to the update: Aeon shields were almost see-through last game I had on a red map. Extremely hard to see.

Hi,
I encountered this issue with a ML and a GC:
Units are partially under water yet their guns stick out so they can shoot. Unfortunately, they stay invisible to radar as well as direct view (basically cloaked). The chicken even hardly could damage the GC with its standard weapon when ground firing (energy ball did most of the damage) [game ID: ##26097802; around 30 min, center right area of the map).

My view:

Oppo's view:

This is an absurd situation. It's like a battleship firing in plain sight yet being invisible and hard to hit even with ground firing.
Cherry on top: while my chicken was also in water, the GC still could see it while my chicken could not see the GC

Please fix it.

@phong said in New version of the map generator has been released:

Oh I was operating under the mistaken assumption that you didn't like the changes personally, but it's so comforting to know you are looking out for the rest of us with your Objective opinions based on your vast experience with eye tracking. We really are fortunate to have you here, to protect us from our own ignorance.

This is exactly the kind of petulant silly take reflective of the circle-jerk - proving my point exactly. Criticism is met with snarky remarks without any substance. Why even bother then?
When someone presents themselves as a spokesperson for an anonymous group, putting words in my mouth on top, its just pure cringe.
I take from this that it is best to just ignore questions you direct at me for they are stated in bad faith anyway.

I would like to hear from the balance team on the current state of affairs. Is the Novax discussed at all or it it being considered to be in a good place?
I very much dislike the current Novax - makes the game worse for mentioned reasons (see other thread).
Thank you, Caliber, for having a look at potential changes.

@phong
I am not here to "win" an argument. Ever since the team changed the HQs and only later claimed "there is no way we will revert the change - but we are open for SuGgEsTiOnS" with the usual people here cheering for it, it's clear that the imo circle-jerk mentality here is hard to overcome. Echo chamber deluxe. I accepted it and simply voice my opinion.
Ofc trolls like the guy above cannot handle that and give snarky dumb immature takes - revealing a significant lack of understanding of my criticism to begin with.
The color contrast of the map has been significantly altered (have a look at a color wheel). I have conducted too many eye-tracking reaction time experiments to not conclude the reaction time for grasping what is going on on the map will have been increased bc of this change.

THIS is the substance: usability. In fact, I think I am one of the few on here addressing that over "awww, so shiny pretty looking now :D" (= what you call "packaging"?).
Kinda similar to the HQ change.

Why do unfinished elements get destroyed in FS games when a player receives the base from a former player who is no longer in the game?
A 99 % finished t4/t3 pgen just blows up. Is it possible to just get it similar to a paused upgrading mex which does not blow up?

Iirc Gyle told the community Jip was looking for volunteers - I don't remember him mentioning a remodeling of factories though. I did not see it having been advertized anywhere either. I did read about shaders, but I don't think that is the same as remodeling.
I appreciate the work of developers. These changes just make it an overall worse game experience imo. Identifying the HQ by quickly looking at them is much harder now - forcing the player to zoom out more often in order to see the icons.
Improving shaders only to end up forcing players to zoom out more (and hence not look at the facs in detail) seems non-sensical to me.
Not a fan of the "they'll get used to it" attitude in this case. Overall, the changes feel like a net-loss to me.

I ll just ask again:

1. The reason for the changes was of mere cosmetic nature, correct?
2. Will it be possible to play with the old models (e.g., with a mod)?

This feels like a "sunk-cost fallacy" to me. People invested time and effort, and now are committed to invest even more instead of just rolling it back - no matter what the "community" says. I can understand this motion yet don't agree with it (implementing changes and categorically ruling out a roll back for imo unconvincing reasons given).

If you insist on remodeling I think it would be a good idea to lay out which options are available. Can new elements be added? Any shape? Any restrictions?

I think Jip is one of the best things that has happened to FAF in terms of development. We can't always agree on everything though.

@katharsas said in Why does everything suck so much right now?:

Take a rest @Jip if you need it.

I agree. Jip is one of the best things that has happened to FAF with all the improvements (other contributors not withstanding). One of the benefits of @Jip is that he is very approachable and listens without constantly making snarky, hostile and dismissive comments like others here do. I don't always have to agree with him to see value in that. It's probably really best not to feed the haters and trolls too much. @Jip, if you decide to leave at some point because your sanity is more important to you than arguing with immature people here, then that's the right decision. I hope you can still get something positive out of FAF for the time being. Thanks for your efforts and contributions, they have made a big difference for the better and did not go unnoticed.

I would like to hear from the balance team on the current state of affairs. Is the Novax discussed at all or it it being considered to be in a good place?
I very much dislike the current Novax - makes the game worse for mentioned reasons (see other thread).
Thank you, Caliber, for having a look at potential changes.

Hi,
what is the issue with the Sera BS texture? When you zoom out a little, it completely changes and looks very different. Is this done on purpose? If not: can it be fixed?

Hi,
current vet system is counterintuitive and acts in unexpected ways:
Instant significant HP boost is bad game design. Attacker does not know if it is smart to push with units or if oppo ACU is about to get insta HP by OC-ing a t3 unit and render the rest of the attack nothing but a mass gift. This is not strategy but luck.

Possible improvements:

1. Significantly increase HP boost for a short period of time when vet is reached, don't have x amount of HP given instantly.
2. Make it visible as to how close ACU is to next vet level. We already have access to some information on oppo team (building status of units/buildings, energy level [e-storage].). Maybe something could be implemented which indicates how close to the next vet level the other ACU is (vetting bar oppo can see)?

The sat situation has become unbearable. It has a hit rate of 95+%, gives free intel, does not overkill. A few of them shuts down any air production bc you need to micro manage shields and lose eco from pushing shields. High accuracy makes it even hard to escape when locked on ACU and no water near by. It outpaces any engi you could use to get shields around mexes. Either you lose your air grid or mexes.
I get that is "weaker" and "cheaper" than an arty. However, unless oppo gets tons of shield anyway, the "weak" damage is enough to cause havoc. It's a lazy "low risk, high reward, fire and forget" unit.
One nerf would be that you cannot cue up targets with the sat so you need to micro manage it yourself.

I hear a lot of complaining (rightfully so) yet hardly anyone can give good reasons as to why it is well balanced atm beyond "don't let them get it". Same situation as with OP Sera TML Acu before nerf.
Is any serious change being considered beyond gathering thoughts in this thread?
I feel it is more dreaded than a Mavor at this point for a Mavor is supposed to end a game for its cost. Sats just make people want to play less FAF

Hi,
I encountered this issue with a ML and a GC:
Units are partially under water yet their guns stick out so they can shoot. Unfortunately, they stay invisible to radar as well as direct view (basically cloaked). The chicken even hardly could damage the GC with its standard weapon when ground firing (energy ball did most of the damage) [game ID: ##26097802; around 30 min, center right area of the map).

My view:

Oppo's view:

This is an absurd situation. It's like a battleship firing in plain sight yet being invisible and hard to hit even with ground firing.
Cherry on top: while my chicken was also in water, the GC still could see it while my chicken could not see the GC

Please fix it.

Hey,
today, for the first time ever, I saw that an older chat from a few days ago showed up when opening a tab to pm someone. A mod told me a longer time ago that no chats are being saved. Has this changed or is there an issue on my end (I also saw pop ups in Aeolus as if someone pmed me - those were my own messages though).

Which messages are saved for how long and how has access to those?

Mz bad, it was a t2 then.
I could swear it happens with t3 pgens as well. If air player acu dies while pgen was almost done, and then it blows up, air is basically lost.
Maybe someone can explain eventually what the reason behind losing all resources put into the structure is.
If only specific units/structures are effected it would be nice if someone could provide a list of the affected ones.

@Jip
I don't have a replay with a t4 at hand (maybe my memory is off and it was structures only?).
Here is an example of #22913645. At ~ 8:50 my base is transferred and an unfinished t3 pgen blows up.
I think it would be better if all structures and units being build would be transferred without blowing up.

Why do unfinished elements get destroyed in FS games when a player receives the base from a former player who is no longer in the game?
A 99 % finished t4/t3 pgen just blows up. Is it possible to just get it similar to a paused upgrading mex which does not blow up?

Thanks. Maybe it also could be added what kind of map one gets (gras/green, snow/white, alien etc.).
I find some colors harsh on the eyes.