Dear Pilots!
Welcome to another in our series of Developer Bulletins, in which we continue to provide you with an advance preview of specific features awaiting you in the next game update…
Today we have some details of Patch 0.4.3 to share with you, and the implementation of crew training (as well as skills and perks advancement) is one of the main features of this exciting new update.
The new system of crew skill advancement will include three different types of crew qualifications: a pilot, a gunner and a navigator. It is obvious that the second and third qualifications will only be available for multi-seater aircraft, while single-seater planes (which are the most common in the game) will have a pilot only.
Advancement of the major qualification of the pilot will improve the following aircraft characteristics: 'Manoeuvrability', 'Speed', and 'Firepower'. Or, more specifically, a pilot with 100% training level will be able to make the most of the plane and its listed performance characteristics.
Advancement of the major qualification of the gunner will improve the 'Defensive Power' parameter, increasing the defensive abilities of the aircraft in battle. Only if the gunner acquires 100% of the skill will the maximum rear gun accuracy characteristics (displayed in aircraft performance characteristics) be achieved.
Advancement of the major skill of the navigator will affect the characteristics of the pilot and the gunner. Or, more simply, by relieving them of a number of their duties the navigator improves the battle efficiency of his fellow crew members.
Please note: Qualification advancement will be carried out on a linear basis. Therefore, in order to advance from 52% to 53%, the same amount of XP will be required as that needed in order to advance from 99% to 100% (unlike the crew advancement system in World of Tanks).
It will be possible to select specific crew skills through the personal record of each crew member, accessible in the Hangar. Apart from the major qualification, additional skills will be available for each crew member qualification: 'Stamina' (providing a crew HP increase), 'Increased View Range' (available for all crew members), 'Telescopic Eye' (a skill for gunners that increases the firing range), and 'Engine Expert' (a skill for pilots or navigators that improves aircraft dynamics; i.e. the acceleration characteristics). The list of available crew skills will also be further expanded in future game updates.
As in World of Tanks, the major qualification of each crew member can be increased to 75% training level (for credits) or 100% training level (for gold) during crew purchase, or through the personal record of the individual crew member.
The system of crew advancement will be released in its first iteration with Patch 0.4.3. This means that some of the options you may be expecting to see (due to their existence in World of Tanks) won’t be available for some time: for example, until there are Barracks and the option to reset crew skills , the ability to transfer crew to another plane, or to dismiss crew, will be temporary unavailable.
In-game illumination will be significantly improved with Patch 0.4.3. Depending on the colour of the reflected surface, gleams and highlights will be displayed on the aircraft and “soft shades” will help to better emphasise the size of ground objects and feeling of speed.
The in-game tracers, which many players complained about in Patch 0.4.2, will also be significantly altered. Their width will depend now on the tier of the gun, and their visibility will vary depending on the camera proximity to the aircraft. Finally, the intensity of the tracers will be significantly decreased, thereby making the aiming process easier and more convenient.
We have been conducting a significant amount of research into the improvement of game client performance, the results of which lead us to believe that Patch 0.4.3 will bring an FPS increase for most PC configurations.
In order to arrange aircraft in the Tech Trees correctly, from both a historical standpoint and according to our own game logic, we will be implementing the following changes:
After the official release of the game, we plan to reward all those players that have made a contribution to the creation of the game: by testing, providing feedback, reporting bugs, and otherwise trying to improve the game.
Now is finally the time for us to explain the rewards that testers will get…
All Senior and Alpha Test Veterans that have completed at least 700 battles when the game is released will receive an aircraft as a reward.
Alpha Test Veterans that have completed more than 100 battles when the game is released will receive an "Alpha Test Participant" medal in the game client, retain their Senior or Alpha Test Veteran status on the forum, and also receive some other additional nice stuff.
All Alpha Testers (Global Alpha Test participants) that have completed at least 700 battles when the game is released will receive an aircraft as a reward, retain their Alpha Tester status on the forum, and receive an "Alpha Test Participant" medal in the game client, along with some other additional nice stuff.
Alpha Testers (Global Alpha Test participants) that have completed more than 100 battles when the game is released will retain their Alpha Tester status on the forum, and receive an "Alpha Test Participant" medal in the game client, as well as some other additional nice stuff.
All Beta Testers (Closed Beta Test participants) that have completed at least 700 battles when the game is released will receive another plane as a reward, retain their Beta Tester status on the forum, and receive a "Beta Test Participant" medal in the game client, along with some other additional nice stuff.
Beta Testers (Closed Beta Test participants) that have completed more than 100 battles when the game is released will retain their Beta Tester status on the forum, and receive a "Beta Test Participant" medal in the game client, as well as some other additional nice stuff.
Open Beta Test participants that have completed at least 700 battles when the game is released will receive an aircraft as a reward.
Thus, Alpha Test Veterans (RU) and Senior Alpha Test Veterans (NA/EU), as well as Alpha Testers with at least 700 battles played, will receive a total of 3 reward aircraft, Closed Beta Test participants with more than 700 battles will receive a total of 2 reward planes, and Open Beta Test participants with at least 700 battles will receive 1 reward aircraft.
Last but not least, new maps will be introduced with Patch 0.4.3 – 'Asian Border' and 'Plateau'.
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