This long delayed update of Unknown Skies offers an all-reworked, vastly expanded selection of backgrounds, as well as some tweaks to the special planetary conditions.
- The main event are the new backgrounds: 69 new system backdrops (nice), some reworked from the previous 27, but most entirely new. They are more consistent in quality, often darker and softer as to not be a distraction in combat.
- Some of the rarer planet types and conditions have been made unique with reworked/amplified effects. These include Artificial, Magnetic and Perpetual Storm planets, Parasitic Spores, Xeno-fungus and Lingering Virus conditions.
- One new uncommon condition has been added: Chemical Crystals can show up on toxic worlds, improving the Luxury Goods production. Now these usually undesirable planets can have at least something going for them.
- Other miscellaneous improvements include externalized strings to ease the work of translators, and expandable background lists for 3rd party sub-mods.
This update is save compatible
(Obviously some of the changes will only show up on a new game)
Changelog
1.0
[RC2]
- Fixed Underground Tunnels tooltip.
- Added save patching code to re-assign the new backgrounds to existing systems.
> Interestingly, this means US can be added mid-playthrough and it will add the new backgrounds.
[RC1]
- Reworked backgrounds:
. Now includes 69 backdrops (from 27),
. They are somewhat more consistent in art-style and darker as to not disrupt gameplay.
- Background list can be expanded through modSettings.json entries with third-party sub-mods,
- All strings have been externalized for ease of translation,
- Very rare planets types and conditions have been made unique, often with stronger effects. (Artificial, Magnetic and Perpetual Storm planets, Parasitic Spores, Xeno-fungus and Lingering Virus conditions),
- Added "Chemical Crystals" uncommon condition that can show up on toxic worlds to give them *some* colonization value from time to time.
To whomever it may interest:
As it has become pretty obvious, this past year I for the most part moved on from modding this game. While it may be disappointing to hear I cannot promise to ever returning to the debit of frequent updates I once held. I however do not want to let this mod die. Thus in the case I have yet to show up 3 months after the next major game release, anyone is free to update Unknown Skies and/or change it however they want.
In the meantime, Unknown Skies' code and assets can freely be re-used by anyone without asking with 3 conditions: It must be for a Starsector mod, that mod must have a similarly permissive license, and I (plus Serenitis in the case of the planet textures) am credited.
