Payloads & The Payload Launcher
Unleash Mayhem with Cluster Missiles, Torpedoes, and More!
As teased in the previous Space Log, the biggest news is the introduction of the Payload Launcher. Essentially, it’s a dedicated module for firing specialized carryables (aka “Payloads”) into space. It even has a handy Direction Selector so you can launch upwards, downwards… or sideways or forwards, depending on where you installed it.
And if your team's scavenger has that Long Throw perk? Guess what—you can always just hurl these new Payloads with your bare hands if the launcher’s busy or your Engineer forgot to install it. Once you’ve primed a Payload (LMB), it’s armed and good to go. Throw it (RMB) and watch it transform from “something I’m holding” to “something that’s about to create mayhem.” Once deployed, a Payload stops being a carryable, which prevents the Gravity Scoop from vacuuming it back up—once it’s deployed, it’s out there, hopefully terrorizing your enemies instead of your own crew (I'm looking at you, Decoy Lure).
Deploying a Cluster Missile Payload by hand. EVA is now short for Extra-Vehicular-Awesomness!
New Payloads
- Cluster Missile: Launches a whole swarm of fast, homing little bearers of destruction. Perfect for swarms of fast-moving baddies.
- Seeker Missile (naming TBD): A single, high-damage warhead that excels at sniping sub-components on bigger foes or punching holes through medium ships.
- Torpedo: A slower, lumbering beast that hits really hard. Aim at large, clunky enemy craft, then watch the fireworks.
- [Redacted]: METEM’s special brand of “behavior correction.” We can’t share details yet, but let’s just say it’s not a warm hug.
Reworks & Overhauls
- Lure: This decoy now transforms into its own mini craft when launched—cruising along and luring your enemies on a merry chase.
- Proximity Mines: We’ve made these hand-deployable. Set them loose, and they’ll be waiting for whenever unwelcome guests come near.
Difficulty Tuning
Smoother Starts, Sharper Challenges, and Balanced Runs for Everyone!
Ever since 1.0 dropped, we’ve gotten a bunch of feedback about how runs can feel punishingly front-loaded or (for some) too drawn out. We’re smoothing the early portion a bit—and adding stiffer scaling after the first boss for those who managed to stay on top of the power curve. Ideally, no one feels obligated to marathon 3-hour sessions just to be “optimal.” Smash that first boss, then push into the endless portion if your team feels like it.
We're looking into tuning difficulty by making more aspects of the enemies tweakable - not just their health-pools and damage output, but also attributes like movement speed, projectile speed, attack-wind-up time and so on... lots of different numbers that affect the challenge in various ways.
Optional Mutators
Customize Your Challenge with Mutators and Thrills!
We’re also introducing a few new Mutator options on the Pilgrimage selection on the Galaxy Map, for those craving some extra spice on their runs:
- “Piñata” – Because who doesn’t love colorful explosions to go along with their loot?
- “Revenant” – These HOLLOW don't seem to stay dead!?
- “Shielded HOLLOW” – If you ever thought HOLLOW needed an extra edge… well, we have concerns about your life choices.
We have more Mutators in the works, but these three are front and center in our dev pipeline.
Colors!
Equippable Emotes
Express Yourself, Celebrate Wins, and Troll Your Crew in Style!
Finally, we’re bolting in an emote selection system at the Personal Loadout Terminal. We love messing around in co-op with silly gestures and want to double down on that. Expect more interactive emotes, the possibility of “holding a pose” to amuse your poor crewmates, and basically fueling that “hey, look at me!” side of your game sessions.
More ways to celebrate your own competence, or show your fellow Ectype exactly how much grief they're causing you.
As always, remember to join our Discord for more Discussions, Crew-finding and Information about the game!
Until the next transmission…
// Laurids, Lead Game Designer, Hutlihut Games
