duplex
12-15-2008, 04:36 AM
Face of Mankind – Changes and New Features
Part 2
In Part 2 we would like to attach a few screenshots for some of the new features. We though you’d like that. ;-)
Security Doors -> Security Barriers (new)
All doors have been removed from the worlds for several reasons, but mostly to reduce errors and problems involved with them. Instead, security barriers were implemented. These are force fields that can be activated/deactivated by a switch next to them. Although they can have security levels from 0 to 3 (0 – unsecured, 3 – maximum security), access codes have been removed. A character either has access (because his/her faction controls the world) or not. Security barriers can be hacked to gain access. (See attached screenshot)
World Areas (new)
Each world consists of a certain amount of areas. When you enter a new area, its name is displayed on the screen briefly. This gives a better feeling for all the locations in FoM and helps player orientation. (See attached screenshots)
Boosters (aka Drugs)
Drug effects have been streamlined and made more transparent. You can also see that you are under the effect of drugs on your HUD next to the status bars. (See attached screenshots)
Equipment Slots
The equipment slots have been placed on top of the screen right next to the body stats figure. Each slot is linked to a changeable keyboard shortcut to activate/deactivate slots (used for implants). (See attached screenshots)
Weapon Slots + Quickslots
Weapon slots and quickslots have been moved to the left of the screen right below the body stats figure. Each slot is linked to a changeable keyboard shortcut for usage. (See attached screenshots)
Tooltips
Item tooltips are more detailed. They show useful information per item type. Gender and faction limitations are displayed as little icons for quick recognisability. (See attached screenshots)
Widescreen Support
Face of Mankind now has native widescreen support in both window and fullscreen modes.
Cloning
Instead of 3 clone types, there is just one clone type. Cloning speed and effectiveness depends on Bio Update levels of your character. The delay from time of death to being transferred to the cloning facility has been reduced from 30 to 10 seconds.
Fall Damage
Detection of fall damage is more robust now. The fall distance for immediate death (if your health is at 100%) has been increased from 550 to 800.
Security Pad / Most Wanted List
Murder ID-Cards have been removed; they can no longer be dropped to the security pad. The security pad now only shows the “Most Wanted” list. We gave the “Most Wanted” status more meaning, though. Once you are over a certain threshold of penalty points, a bounty is put on your head. Every player can hunt you for a reward, as long as the amount of penalty point is not reduced, thus making the life of criminals much more difficult and dangerous.
Penalty Points
Murder ID-Cards have been removed. Now, kills of neutral, friendly and allied players automatically cause penalty points. Friendly fire (killing members of the same faction) causes the most penalty points.
In addition, manual distribution of penalty points is under control of the government factions (LED+FDC). They can also reduce someone’s penalty points. In general LED+FDC control the law. What exactly that means will be explained in more detailed in Part 3, along with more details on the factions.
Penalty points are displayed as a gradient bar (green to yellow to red to dark red). There are 3 thresholds.
Threshold 1 (green to yellow border)
Player is considered a Most Wanted. LED+FDC pay a bounty for hunting most wanted players. They are free to kill without penalty consequences. The height of the bounty increases with the amount of penalty points the MW has.
Threshold 2 (yellow to red border)
Player can no longer buy new clones. He can still be cloned though if he has a stock of clones. If he runs out of clones, he will die permanently.
Threshold 3 (red to dark red border)
This is the highest stage and it’s almost impossible to survive. The player can no longer be cloned now. On the next death he will die permanently. This is really tough, since the bounties are now very high also and everybody can use the money to hunt him down.
Permadeath & Clone Insurance
Although, there is still Permadeath, it can no longer happen by mistake. Since the cloning system has been simplified, clone insurance has changed as well. It is no longer something to buy. If there are no clones left and you die, “clone insurance” kicks in automatically and buys a clone for you, but for double the usual price. If there is no money left, it’s time for permadeath.
Players will start with 10 clones and they will now be displayed in the inventory window. If the amount of clones drops below 5, the number will be orange and if it’s 3 or lower, red.
Ranks
The system of automatic promotion will be changed, simplified, some would say removed.
A new rank of Trainee (rank 0) will be introduced. When you start the game or change factions, all your XP will be reset to 0 and you will be a Trainee. You then have to advance your character through objectives (more details about them in one of the next updates) and other tasks to reach rank 1. Superior faction member can not promote you manually from 0 to 1. You are only considered a full faction member once you have reached the first rank.
So, we still keep a level of “auto-promotion”, but it makes more sense and factions will have all 7 ranks available at their disposal.
-duplex
you can discuss this here http://forum.fomportal.com/showthread.php?t=908
Part 2
In Part 2 we would like to attach a few screenshots for some of the new features. We though you’d like that. ;-)
Security Doors -> Security Barriers (new)
All doors have been removed from the worlds for several reasons, but mostly to reduce errors and problems involved with them. Instead, security barriers were implemented. These are force fields that can be activated/deactivated by a switch next to them. Although they can have security levels from 0 to 3 (0 – unsecured, 3 – maximum security), access codes have been removed. A character either has access (because his/her faction controls the world) or not. Security barriers can be hacked to gain access. (See attached screenshot)
World Areas (new)
Each world consists of a certain amount of areas. When you enter a new area, its name is displayed on the screen briefly. This gives a better feeling for all the locations in FoM and helps player orientation. (See attached screenshots)
Boosters (aka Drugs)
Drug effects have been streamlined and made more transparent. You can also see that you are under the effect of drugs on your HUD next to the status bars. (See attached screenshots)
Equipment Slots
The equipment slots have been placed on top of the screen right next to the body stats figure. Each slot is linked to a changeable keyboard shortcut to activate/deactivate slots (used for implants). (See attached screenshots)
Weapon Slots + Quickslots
Weapon slots and quickslots have been moved to the left of the screen right below the body stats figure. Each slot is linked to a changeable keyboard shortcut for usage. (See attached screenshots)
Tooltips
Item tooltips are more detailed. They show useful information per item type. Gender and faction limitations are displayed as little icons for quick recognisability. (See attached screenshots)
Widescreen Support
Face of Mankind now has native widescreen support in both window and fullscreen modes.
Cloning
Instead of 3 clone types, there is just one clone type. Cloning speed and effectiveness depends on Bio Update levels of your character. The delay from time of death to being transferred to the cloning facility has been reduced from 30 to 10 seconds.
Fall Damage
Detection of fall damage is more robust now. The fall distance for immediate death (if your health is at 100%) has been increased from 550 to 800.
Security Pad / Most Wanted List
Murder ID-Cards have been removed; they can no longer be dropped to the security pad. The security pad now only shows the “Most Wanted” list. We gave the “Most Wanted” status more meaning, though. Once you are over a certain threshold of penalty points, a bounty is put on your head. Every player can hunt you for a reward, as long as the amount of penalty point is not reduced, thus making the life of criminals much more difficult and dangerous.
Penalty Points
Murder ID-Cards have been removed. Now, kills of neutral, friendly and allied players automatically cause penalty points. Friendly fire (killing members of the same faction) causes the most penalty points.
In addition, manual distribution of penalty points is under control of the government factions (LED+FDC). They can also reduce someone’s penalty points. In general LED+FDC control the law. What exactly that means will be explained in more detailed in Part 3, along with more details on the factions.
Penalty points are displayed as a gradient bar (green to yellow to red to dark red). There are 3 thresholds.
Threshold 1 (green to yellow border)
Player is considered a Most Wanted. LED+FDC pay a bounty for hunting most wanted players. They are free to kill without penalty consequences. The height of the bounty increases with the amount of penalty points the MW has.
Threshold 2 (yellow to red border)
Player can no longer buy new clones. He can still be cloned though if he has a stock of clones. If he runs out of clones, he will die permanently.
Threshold 3 (red to dark red border)
This is the highest stage and it’s almost impossible to survive. The player can no longer be cloned now. On the next death he will die permanently. This is really tough, since the bounties are now very high also and everybody can use the money to hunt him down.
Permadeath & Clone Insurance
Although, there is still Permadeath, it can no longer happen by mistake. Since the cloning system has been simplified, clone insurance has changed as well. It is no longer something to buy. If there are no clones left and you die, “clone insurance” kicks in automatically and buys a clone for you, but for double the usual price. If there is no money left, it’s time for permadeath.
Players will start with 10 clones and they will now be displayed in the inventory window. If the amount of clones drops below 5, the number will be orange and if it’s 3 or lower, red.
Ranks
The system of automatic promotion will be changed, simplified, some would say removed.
A new rank of Trainee (rank 0) will be introduced. When you start the game or change factions, all your XP will be reset to 0 and you will be a Trainee. You then have to advance your character through objectives (more details about them in one of the next updates) and other tasks to reach rank 1. Superior faction member can not promote you manually from 0 to 1. You are only considered a full faction member once you have reached the first rank.
So, we still keep a level of “auto-promotion”, but it makes more sense and factions will have all 7 ranks available at their disposal.
-duplex
you can discuss this here http://forum.fomportal.com/showthread.php?t=908