Genre: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Card & Board Game
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
Dev Diary #14 - 'Gathering Intel'
The oracles say it is impossible for a machine to live.
“DRADIS contact, unidentified marks. They’re giving off some weird readings.”
But what is the machine actually missing? Breath? Knowledge? Experience is just a glorified probability matrix; this path was safe yesterday, and nothing appears to have changed, so it should be safe today. Complex, but not unsolvable. Just maths and learning.
“Revenant bearing to port, carom one two four. Approach is faster than expected.”
Consciousness, then? An informed sense of self, asking that one big question over and over.
“Plating’s taking a beating, sir! They’re giving us a hell of a storm.”
Except we know what the machine fundamentally is. Why assume it can’t know itself? The questioning of one’s self is an idle luxury at best. A slug can survive a long and prosperous life without once asking the stars and sky what its grand purpose is. It is not a necessary burden for living.
“Frak, these raiders are slippery! Switching gunnery to manual, the system can’t keep up with these ones.”
So if they are missing nothing, why must we declare the Cylons as unliving? And if one machine can be said to have lived, why not other machines, smaller, larger?
“Green leader, you see this? They’re back! The whole frakking squadron is back!”
At what point do we stop arguing the existence, and instead question the weight of the machine’s soul?
Attention on deck! It’s time for another dev diary, to let you all know about some of things we’ve been working on as we prepare for another big Battlestar Galactica Deadlock update next year.
One of the upgrades we’ve been working on is an improvement to the Blueprints screen.
Presently, you can only see information about ships that have been unlocked. That means you’ll don’t get stats on ships that are automatically unlocked, such as the Manticore or Viper MKI.
Soon, you will be able to view stats and information about Cylon ships you have encountered in the campaign, as well as Colonial ships already unlocked when the campaign starts, via a new Codex. With respect to Cylons, the more you’ve encountered a particular class of ship, the more information will be displayed.
There is also a handy ship viewer!
We’ve also got a number quality of life improvements in the works. Some players have asked for the ability to delete save files, so we’ve added that. To make targeting easier and faster, we’ve made the focus fire command on capital ships pick other capitals instead of fighter squadrons that are closer. We’ve updated the video recorder feature to make it a bit more reliable and performant. We are also looking into improvements to squadron AI to prevent them venturing into friendly flak fields.
We’ve got a lot more features and improvements to talk about, but we’ll save them for another diary.
Finally, we are putting out a call for beta testers. We’ll be starting a beta test of these and some other great features early in the new year. If you’d like to participate, just visit the signup form right here: click me!
Until next time, good hunting!
Anabasis difficulty levels Update!
We are releasing a new update for Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, and its main feature is introducing new difficulty levels for the survival mode called Operation Anabasis.
We received some feedback on the new mode, and although some players like the challenge that Operation Anabasis brings, others found it a bit too harsh. That's why the team has decided to introduce the option to set your preferred difficulty level when starting Operation Anabasis.
As usual we do our best to read and consider all kinds of feedback, so don't hesitate to let us know how you feel about the game, our changes and future updates!
The update is accompanied by a number of changes and tweaks, and you can read the full changelog here.
Stay tuned, there will be more news soon! Until then, we hope you'll enjoy the update and that now the game can provide the right level of challenge for everyone's tastes.
It's time to announce our winner for the Anabasis Survival Challenge.
Are you ready?
With a great score of 1.677.696 Sektoid is the champion! He wins a $30 discount coupon code for our store, the next expansion for free, plus exclusive first access to the closed beta for it. Sproge and Furaha, having finished 2nd and 3rd, also win access to the closed beta.
Congratulations to the winner and a big thanks for everyone who took part in this competition.
We're looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Battlestar Galactica Deadlock and I'm sure you do as well, so stay tuned! So say we all!
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Dev Diary 13 - Rolling the Hard Six
“Tell me, corporal; have you ever run from a fight?”
“No, ma’am.”
Sashenka eyed the young soldier, rigid, wooden, staring into the distance above her left ear. He was trying so very hard to hide his shaking hands. “You enjoy throwing yourself into danger?”
“No, ma’am, ”repeated the soldier. “I’m not a coward. I follow orders.”
The minister sneered. “Obedience is for the unimaginative.”
“I trust my superior officers have been trained by Canceron’s best. I trust that they respect the well-being of their command. A soldier’s life is a calculated risk.” Wenutu held up the assault rifle and looked down the sights at the young man. “You like to visit the big card tables while on leave. All those drinks and flashing lights. I suppose that’s why you’re here. Lots of money owed to men with very long lists. Was that a calculated risk, as well?”
The soldier faltered. “Ma’am, I’m here because I was told you had work that needed—” “You do not run from a challenge, soldier, because a challenge is fair and equitable. You may not win. You may not even live. But you can die knowing that the table was not rigged.” Sashenka pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. She let the man see the disappointment on her face before she threw the weapon to the floor. “That’s why I do not gamble, corporal. You will do. Report to the squad lead in two hours. I expect we will not ever see each other again.”
The Infinity Update and Anabasis DLC has been out for a couple of weeks now, so we wanted to let you all know about what we’ve been working on, and some of what’s coming up soon.
It’s been very interesting to hear the feedback about Operation Anabasis. One thing that we are hearing a lot is that many players are finding it too difficult. Whilst Anabasis was intended to be challenging and more intense than the campaign - and requires a different play-style to succeed - we didn’t mean for it to be impossible.
We value what our players have to say, so we are working in implementing difficulty levels in Operation Anabasis. Soon, when you start the operation, you’ll be able to choose how challenging the operation will be, similar to the story campaign.
Beyond that, we’ve also started work on a number of new features and improvements to the game, many of which are requests from the community. We’ll talk more about those features in future diaries as we get them into the game.
In the meantime, you can join our Discord channel to talk fleet compositions and tactics with other BSG fans. And don’t forget about the Anabasis Survival Challenge, which ends this week!
Until next time.
Survive & win a prize in the Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Anabasis Survival challenge!
Last week we have released the new expansion of Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, called Anabasis.
It is the largest expansion pack so far, adding tons of new mission types, plenty new maps, new munition types as well as the brand new Operation Anabasis survival mode.
In Operation Anabasis you will need to lead a fleet and survive numerous encounters with the Cylons. Your task? Rescuing 10,000 colonists, and bringing them home. It's not easy; you'll be constantly harassed by Cylon attackers, and you can forget reinforcements as you'll be deep in enemy territory. You can only rely on your strategical skills and your leadership.
Well, we have a surprise for you!
It's time for the first Anabasis Survival Challenge, starting today!
From today onwards you'll have the chance to send us your highest score at Operation Anabasis. The competition will last two weeks, ending on Thursday, November 8th at 11.59 pm BST. The highest ranking will snag the winner with a $30 coupon code for our store, the next expansion for Battlestar Galactica Deadlock for free plus exclusive access to the closed beta for it. The second and third highest ranked players will also get exclusive early access to the closed beta.
We only need you to send us a screenshot of your highest score, plus your Anabasis “save game”, which is located on PC on the Slitherine version in C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Black Lab Games\BSG (it is called "survival.bsgsave"). On Steam it is located in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata[UserID]\544610\remote\ folder. On console (PS4 or Xbox One) please refer to this guide.
Send your submission to anabasis@slitherine.co.uk.
Let's recap the rules:
- You need to send us: 1) A screenshot of your final score; 2) Your save game file;
- There can only be one submission per user so make sure to send us your highest score;
- Please send us your nickname (this will be listed in the final ranking);
- The contest will end on November 8th at 11.59 pm BST;
- We will publish the final ranking and announce the winner on Monday, November 12th;
- The winner will receive a $30 coupon code for the Slitherine store, the next expansion for Battlestar Galactica Deadlock for free plus exclusive access to the closed beta for it.
- Avoid using a fleet size of 8000, as this will result in 0 points and is a current known issue that we're fixing now, sorry!
Are you ready? Bring them home!
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Anabasis is out! Bring them home!
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Anabasis is out on PC, Steam, PS4 and Xbox One!
Anabasis is the most significant expansion for Deadlock to date. It contains no less than a new game mode, 11 new skirmish maps, 12 new resource missions and 4 new munition types!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmg0yb-1f-A
In the new survival skirmish mode, you will be in command of a single fleet, comprising of both military and civilian ships. You will have to flee and survive while leading their soldiers and colonists back to Caprica, while being hunted relentlessly by endless Cylon pursuers!
Your final score will depend on how many colonists you will save. Bring them home!
Let's have a look at what else there's is in the expansion:
- 11 new thematic maps: Available in all single player and multiplayer modes.
- 4 new munition types: To increase the number of tactical options,these new munition types have been added providing Colonial and Cylon admirals with more tools at their disposal than ever before.
- 12 new resource missions: Compelling new missions are now available in the campaign.
The expansion is being released alongside a new free update, called Infinity Update. It brings a plethora of changes, improvements and new content including new types of environmental hazards! Read the full changelog here.
We will be live streaming Anabasis on our Twitch channel later today at 6 pm BST, in fact it'll be a very special guest doing the streaming: none other than Spacedock! He also released a very special video today, his own take on the new Anabasis mode. It's extremely well made, don't miss it.
Last but not least... we are going to celebrate the release of Anabasis with a hefty 50% discount on Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, and a 25% discount on its expansion The Broken Alliance! The offer is valid for the PC version only from today at 6 pm BST for the duration of the weekend until Monday, so don't miss it!
“Four new DRADIS contacts. They’ve just launched torpedoes. The Cerastes are moving to port to harass the freighter.”
“We’ve got nothing left. Frak! We have to go now. Aim for the abandoned colony.”
“Not yet, Asteria and Pamir are still spooling!”
“We don’t have an option, Helena. Go!”
“Sam!”
“GO!”
“... all units, register jump Tango-Four. Jumping in three, two one…”
Attention on deck!
By now I’m sure you’ve all heard the news; Operation Anabasis is coming to all platforms on October 18th.
With the new Anabasis survival mode, new munitions, new maps and missions, there’s a lot to take in! So today, we’re going to take some time to highlight a handful of the new skirmish maps and resource missions coming in the DLC.
A Whole New World
With the new Environmental Hazards coming in the the free Infinity Update (launches same time as Anabasis on October 18th), it was a great opportunity to create some new battlefields. There are 11 new skirmish maps, available to use in the single-player Skirmish Mode, Multiplayer modes, and also feature during Operation Anabasis.
Some of the new maps will feature our new environmental hazards, like the turgid cloudbanks of Niflheimr, or the breathtaking anomalies of Scylla & Charybdis. Others will feature man-made hazards, like the Imperial-era Hedgehog minefields, or the satellite strewn wasteland in the aptly named Space Junk.
A Kick In The Logistics
Also featured in the Anabasis DLC are twelve new resource missions. Not only do these resource missions provide new tactical challenges and insight into the lore of the Twelve Colonies, but they also offer a host of new rewards and bonuses for Colonial Fleet.
Do you risk your fleet to save a Quorum trade coordinator’s nephew? You might earn a permanent boost to your income from the grateful colony. Or maybe you get the opportunity to take out a Cylon tylium refinery, which will temporarily slow the FTL cooldown of all Cylon fleets on the table. Sometimes it can be a choice between bettering your coffers, or sabotaging the Cylons for a moment of respite.
We are really excited for you all to discover the new opportunities, big and small, available in Operation Anabasis and the Infinity Update. This is our biggest release yet, and can’t wait to hear your stories.
Until next time, just hold one for one more minute; home is only a jump away.
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock is back with a new expansion!
A siginificant new expansion for Battlestar Galactica Deadlock is launching later this month. Battlestar Galactica Deadlock: Anabasis introduces a new game mode, 11 new skirmish maps, four new munition types and 12 new resource missions.
In the new skirmish mode, players will be in command of a single fleet, comprising of both military and civilian ships. Their task is to flee and survive while leading their soldiers and colonists back to Caprica. Players will be hunted relentlessly and find no reprieve.
Resources will be limited, but players have the option to repair their ships and salvage resources after every jump. Each playthrough will be unique and completely randomized: players can choose the location of their next jump and every location will have a different set of potential bonuses and penalties. Players can customize their fleet, but they must remember: to flee is to survive, and time is working against them. The Cylons will keep coming.
Details about the other new features are below:
- 11 new thematic maps: Available in all single player and multiplayer modes.
- 4 new munition types: To increase the number of tactical options,these new munition types have been added providing Colonial and Cylon admirals with more tools at their disposal than ever before.
- 12 new resource missions: Compelling new missions are now available in the campaign.
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock: Anabasis will be released on Steam, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 18. So say we all!
About Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Deadlock takes you into the heart of the First Cylon War, to fight epic 3D battles that will test your tactical prowess.
Take control of the Colonial Fleet from the bridge of the mobile shipyard, Daidalos, and free the Twelve Colonies from the Cylon threat. Build your fleets, protect the Quorum alliance and prepare to dig deeper into the conspiracies of this heroic conflict.
“I’d feel a lot better if you were over here, ‘Lena. I don’t like you out there on that dinky tub.”
Helena smiled, and held the old radio closer. “Then next time hire a competent quartermaster, and I won’t have to ride your supply ship.” The little jab felt good. Working with Sam like this, on something this important, was better. Even if it meant being cooped up in the radio control room of some research ship, while her big sister headed the CIC of an Artemis battlestar.
For all of their years in service, this was the first time the Agathon sisters had worked together.
Sam had always been traveling somewhere, doing classified operations for some organisation or other. And since Cain had transferred to Daidalos, Helena hadn’t had a chance to go planetside back home, let alone visit her nephew on Tauron. She wondered how little Zach was doing.
“Sam?” she called out over the wireless. “You... you didn’t go back home, did you? Between Marathon and this?”
There was a long silence.
“His father is looking after him,” Sam replied eventually. Short. Flat.
The connection between them broke up. Helena sighed. That feeling of belonging quickly, quietly flitted away. She looked up at the low dirty ceiling of the Celestra’s radio room, and wondered how long before the next contact.
Attention, nuggets! In today’s Developer Diary, we’re going to have a deeper look into the Environment Generator, the entity that is responsible for the procedural map generation in Battlestar Galactica Deadlock!
Mapping New Frontiers
In the singleplayer campaign of Deadlock, there are two instances where your environments are procedurally generated; during a resource mission, and a roaming battle with a Cylon fleet. Previously the generator only had asteroids and inert dust clouds to play with. With the new environmental hazards coming in the next update (see Developer Diary #10 - Hostile Environments), there’s a whole lot more for the generator to use and create interesting environments with.
A number of factors are used by the generator to determine what is used to create an environment, and how it gets shaped. First, the generator looks at the location where the battle is located.
If the battle is taking place over a settled colony, the environment will reflect a calmer, more civilised space, with inert dust clouds and network satellites. The further out from civilised space, the more dangerous the environment becomes with ionised nebulas and asteroid clouds. Over some colonies you may even find forgotten Imperial War era minefields!
Additionally, the location determines the type of skybox used to surround the environment. Each of the four star systems, as well as Helena’s starlane coordinates, have their own distinct sky to differentiate where you’re currently battling.
Daidalos in an environment from v1.0.41, and Daidalos in a new environment.
Once the generator knows what to make the environment out of, it takes great pains to construct shapes and bodies that provide interesting gameplay choices, while providing a sense of scale to the battling fleets. The generator has been balanced to avoid blanketing an environment with hostile terrain, and provide both the player and the Cylon AI with new and interesting tactical choices to make.
We’re also taking care to make sure that even with all of these updates to the mechanics and visuals, the game remains performant for our minimum spec players.
And with that insight into our updated Environment Generator, we wrap up another Developer Diary. Stay tuned, as we’ll have news about this update and more in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, keep toasters at bay and the colonies safe. So say we all!
