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Development Blog #06

Hello and welcome to another Lancer Development Blog! This will be the last Devblog for the month of June. We have made a couple of changes and additions as always. I wonder when I will run out of things to write at the start of these devblogs…

Character Notes

The new ‘Character Notes’ button on the F1 quickmenu.

Prepare to be surprised! Guess what? We’ve secretly had character notes, or ‘mynotes’ as we like to call them, for quite some time now. They’ve been accessible through the /MyNotes command. It’s true, we almost didn’t add them at all. We originally had this crazy idea that if you wanted to jot something down, you should go old-school and grab a paper item in the game. Insane, right? But then we realized, people could just note things down outside the game anyway, so why not make it super convenient for you?

So here’s the deal: now you can access your character notes quicker and easier than ever before. Simply open the F1 quickmenu and look for the shiny ‘Character Notes’ button. Ta-da! It’s that simple. Have fun writing people down onto your hit-list.

Machine Sounds

A showcase of some machines emitting sound.

In many Half-Life 2 Roleplay servers, the sense of hearing is often overshadowed by flashy visuals. Not here! We’re all about maximizing realism and immersion in every aspect, including sound. Sure, it may seem like a tiny, insignificant detail in the grand scheme of things, but trust, it’s the little things that make a big difference. These auditory delights are what truly bring our universe to life.

So, what’s the latest addition? Drumroll, please! We’ve amped up the immersion by adding ambient sounds to electricity/power-related machines and AC units. Now, if you get close to them, like, UP AND PERSONAL, you’ll be serenaded by the soothing hum of these mechanical marvels. We already had some machines that contributed to the auditory experience, like Uplink Terminals and clocks, but we’ve expanded our collection. More ambient sounds are coming your way in the future, so stay tuned!

Remember, it’s the combination of these seemingly small details that truly shape the overall experience. We’re committed to creating a universe that pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re right there, with the constant rainfall and blinding neon signs. So get ready to immerse yourself in a symphony of sounds like never before.

Model Upgrades

The new ration coupon, workforce coupon, and label models.
A showcase of all the new book skins.

Get ready for a visual feast! We’re on a mission to elevate the quality of our models, and that means bidding farewell to the classic 2004 Half-Life 2 models. Don’t worry, though – we’re replacing them with newer, fresher models that meet today’s high standards. And hey, we’re mindful of your storage space, so we’re keeping the content required to play to a minimum. It’s a win-win!

In this latest update, we’ve given a makeover to ration/workforce coupons, labels, and books. These everyday items now shine with enhanced detail and improved visual fidelity. But wait, there’s more! We’re not stopping there. We’ve got a whole lineup of similar model-related updates lined up for the future. Brace yourself for a wave of visual goodness that’ll make your eyes pop!

Makeshift Alcohol

The new makeshift alcohol feature.

We’re always striving to make your server downtime, or what some call the ‘graveyard hours,’ more engaging and entertaining. That’s why we’re dedicated to expanding the range of activities available to you during those quieter moments. And that’s not all! We’re also ramping up our crafting and cooking systems to ensure that as many items as possible can be crafted in-game, in one way or another.

So, here’s the scoop on our latest addition to our crafting repertoire: the art of homemade beer! Get ready to unleash your inner brewmaster. With just a bucket, some water, sugar, and yeast, you can now concoct your very own makeshift beer. It’s a rustic and resourceful way to enjoy a cold one with the boys in City 8. Some may recognise this method of beer-making from My Summer Car.

Here’s how it works: Mix the water, sugar, and yeast in the bucket and let it ferment for a couple of hours. Once the fermentation process is complete, grab some empty bottles and carefully collect the resulting brew. Now, the taste might not be the most pleasant. In fact, it might be downright horrible. Like, your character will probably throw up, and yell at whoever made it. But hey, desperate times call for desperate measures, and at least it’ll get your character drunk as as skunk.

Crafting Additions & Improvements

The new items & crafting recipes.

Exciting news! We’re back with a fresh batch of crafting and cooking additions to spice up your gameplay experience. Today, we’re introducing some delectable treats like ramen, french fries, and popcorn, alongside… medkits? Now, you can’t exactly munch on medkits, but hey, it’s a crafting addition that brings some utility to the mix.

But wait, there’s more! We’ve made some improvements to the overall crafting and cooking system. From enhanced sound effects to adjusted crafting times, we’ve fine-tuned the experience to make it more enjoyable. And of course, we’ve squashed a few pesky bugs along the way because a smooth crafting journey is what you deserve.

While we had originally planned to introduce a lot more recipes, this is a significant step towards our ultimate goal of making every item craftable or otherwise obtainable in some way without significant admin intervention. We value your suggestions and ideas, so rest assured that we’ll continue to add new crafting and cooking recipes over time, based on your feedback and recommendations.

Pots ‘n Pans

A frying pan and a small cooking pot used as melee weapons.

Hold on to your pots and pans, because you can now utilize these beloved cooking utensils as melee weapons. That’s right, you can now channel your inner culinary warrior and give your adversaries a taste of your skillet skills! Take that trusty frying pan or small pot you’ve been using to whip up delicious meals and give it a whole new purpose. Swing it with finesse and precision, and let the clang of metal on flesh be your battle cry. It’s time to show your opponents that you’re not just a master chef, but a force to be reckoned with.

Imagine the look on your opponent’s face when they realize they’re about to feel the wrath of a flying frying pan or a pot-induced knockout. It’s a bold move that adds an element of surprise to your combat tactics.

Conclusion

Overall, we are making progress as always. We recently introduced a ‘Feature Vote’ system in our Discord, aimed at figuring out what the community wants to be added next. The most voted option were the crafting improvements, and thus that was the latest development focus.

I am also experimenting with a new writing style for these Development Blogs; one that is a bit more fun and energetic, as opposed short and to the point. Had to use the help of AI this time around, while I get the hang of it. To the 2 people that actually read these blogs, please let me know what you think of this new style! I’m still unsure what I want to do with these, but we’ll see.

In any case, a lot more exciting updates are on the horizon, and we hope you are as excited as we are for them. See you soon!