Men of War II

Full Change Log:

Critical Fixes:

• AFK is no longer used in single-player mode (players will no longer be kicked out of single-player games for inactivity).
  
• Game pause and save functions now work in all game types if only one player is present.
  
• Fixed an issue causing the game to crash to the desktop when manipulating towers.
  
• Fixed an issue causing incorrect detection of unresponsive dedicated servers, leading to server crashes.
  

“Classic” Mode Changes:

• "Test" mode: All unit limits have been removed.
  
• "Front Line" mode: For the AI defensive units, accuracy and overall health was reduced by 50%.
  

“Realistic” Game Setting Changes:

• Increased fragmentation damage to infantry.
  
• Increased suppression time for infantry in trenches under autocannon fire.
  
• Improved accuracy of anti-tank rifles at a range of 80-100 meters.
  
• Increased component damage for armor-piercing shells.
  

Missions Fixes:

• "Operation Lüttich": Fixed a bug where some units were invincible. Additionally, the retreat zone has been refined.
  
• Historical campaign "Operation Overlord": Added the LVT1 amphibious vehicle to the tech tree.
  
• Fixed minor bugs in the missions “Vanguard”, “Funeral Alarm”, and “With Fire and Steel”.
  
• Fixed an issue where players might not receive rewards for completing one of the dynamic campaigns.
  

Interface Improvements:

• Fixed an issue causing the maximum territory control numbers to be cut off in the main combat interface.
  
• Fixed an issue causing the interface to not display upon loading a game after a mission failure/victory.
  
• Disabled the "Restart" and "Load" buttons in the mod editor's game menu.
  
• Fixed an issue where long chat messages would extend off the screen.
  
• Added images/artworks for some battalions.
  
• Added a special window with useful tips.
  
• Added the ability to scroll through the list of invited players in multiplayer mode.
  
• Refined and improved the "Vacate Slot" button functionality in custom lobby.
  
• Added an animation to the bell icon to highlight incoming team invitations.
  

Other Fixes and Improvements:

• Fixed an issue causing artillery spotters' flare not working when it hit a trench.
  
• Fixed the hatch on the KV-1 tank being always open.
  
• Added increased accuracy of each subsequent shot for sub-caliber ammunition.
  
• Disabled ammo resupply for unmanned vehicles.
  
• Fixed the sound for the GAZ-AA truck (supply).
  
• Fixed the battalion composition for a Soviet AI-controlled battalion, which could field German units instead.
  
• Fixed the armor value of the T-95 tank's command turret.
  
• The crew size for the T-34 minesweeper, Piper L-4 Grasshopper plane, and The Fieseler Fi 156 plane has been corrected.
  
• Fixed camera position after exiting first-person view.
  
• Rebuilt the shader cache for Linux/Steam Deck, fixing several crashes.
  

Immediate Plans (May 2024)

Short-Term Goals (June 2024)

• Fix of a bug that can sometimes prevent you from playing single-player ("Local server connection error")
  
• Fix of an issue preventing players from pausing in some single-player games

• Make camera movement smoother (removing "camera stuttering")
  
• Introduce a feature to easily switch the overall game setting between Competitive and Realism, and allow players to create a Custom setting
  
• Implement Steam Achievements
  
• Allow key rebinding for the Pause function
  
• Implement additional UI scaling options
  
• Include the option to adjust or disable the 100 FPS cap
  
• Provide modders with a 3ds Max exporter, plugins, and sample files
  
• Further improve the stability of multi-player servers and fix various bugs reported by players

Mid-Term Strategy (more than a month)

• Offline mode for single-player will be finalized as the highest priority
  
• UI for selecting mods for single-player/co-op games will be added; it will also become possible to choose mods in a custom lobby
  
• Difficulty for certain missions will be overhauled based on player feedback - please keep letting us know of any missions you find too difficult or too easy, and on which difficulty!
  
• Different game speed options for single-player will become available
  
• Modders will be able to create full dynamic campaigns in the editor, and will receive a new tool: an editor for material schemes
  

Ongoing & Long-Term Projects

• Improved pathfinding for vehicles
  
• All game textures, as well as all grass and trees models adapted for PBR technology
  
• Improved infantry models and textures
  
• Improved rewards distribution in cooperative playthroughs
  
• New, more detailed damage system
  
• Improvements to atmosphere and immersion, such as additional sound effects (including soldier shouts and voices), the feeling of weight for tanks and other vehicles (and improved suspension mechanics), UI overhaul, and more
  
• Improvements to battle controls - including distribution of loot within infantry squads, changes to formations system and customization options for all keyboard shortcuts
  
• Various upgrades to the engine, such as support for multiple screens, HDR screen support, or permanent lobbies (lobbies will no longer disband after completing a match)
  
• Additional modding features and improvements, including but not limited to: Support for running popular mods on official (dedicated) servers, support for Blender, various improvements to the Editor based on modders' feedback and continuous expansion of documentation for the Editor
  
• Quality of life and balancing improvements for competitive gamers - for example support for clans, penalties for toxic player behavior, better match-making for 5-player teams and CP mechanics redesign
  

More Updates Coming Soon

Highlights of the update:

• Reduced server wait times
  
• Fixes to several crashes reported by users
  
• Increased AFK timeout limit
  
• Fixes to the flow of several missions
  
• Additional button slot in the central hotbar
  
• Improved visuals for various maps in the game
  
• Design and animation improvements for various unit and weapon models
  
• Localization fixes
  

Major Modding Update Coming This Week

Full Change Log:

Servers

• Reduced player connection time on login.
  
• Increased AFK timeout duration by one minute before kicking the player from the match.
  

General fixes

• Fixed a crash during mission loading.
  
• Fixed a rare crash that could occur after playing for an extended period (1 hour or more).
  
• Fixed the issue where the main.pak package wouldn't load due to modifications.
  
• Engineers would not dig if there was a shell crater in a destroyed trench.
  
• Sometimes tractors could move with deployed guns.
  
• Correctly set the position of objects immediately after they appear in multiplayer.
  
• Restored inventory viewing for destroyed vehicles.
  

Balance

• Reduced the probability of ammo explosion in the realism package.
  
• Increased shooting range in the mod example if the realism package is enabled.
  
• Fixed point scoring in "Tanks Only" mode on the Marle map.
  
• Fixed shooting range of the M1 Carbine.
  
• Adjusted bot behavior in flag capture mode.
  

Missions/Maps

• Fixed the flag issue in the "Rur Bastion" mission.
  
• Improved soldier behavior in the "Safe Route" mission.
  
• Fixed mission failure when destroying a Sherman in the "Safe Route" mission.
  
• Corrected sapper hint texts.
  
• Fixed triggering of the KV-1 story in the mission.
  
• Fixed incorrect setting of the enemy tankers' and artillerymen's nation in Conquest mode.
  
• Mortars in the training mission "Counter-Battery Fire" fired too frequently.
  
• Fixed errors found on the Falaise Pocket map.
  
• Corrected training maps.
  
• Fixed issues on the Crossroad map.
  

Improved visuals in the following campaign maps:

• Bobruisk
  
• Minsk
  
• Vitebsk
  
• Vanguard
  
• Bunker
  
• Bridgehead
  
• Before the Storm
  
• Storm Fel
  
• Dagger Strike
  
• Outpost
  

Improved visuals in the following multiplayer maps:

• Suburb
  
• Chepel
  
• Town
  
• Airfield
  
• Winter Crossroad
  

Editor

• The 'map' debug in the editor now shows terrain height.
  
• Added 'include_inactive_linked' option for the 'all' selector.
  
• Fixed mission logic in "mod_example."
  
• Updated maps in the "mod_example" package.
  

UI

• Menu UI: Fixed overlapping elements in the battle list.
  
• Combat UI: Disabled boarding icons above vehicles that cannot be boarded according to the scenario.
  
• Combat UI: Added one more slot to the central button block.
  

Models

• Redesigned the flare gun ammo model.
  
• Fixed seating positions and animations on some vehicles.
  
• Corrected path obstacles on the mounts of some guns.
  
• Improved textures of some slopes.
  
• Added desert camouflages for the T34 flamethrower tank, M1 anti-aircraft gun, and Soviet captured Pz3f.
  
• Fixed the deployment animation of the Browning M2 and MG34.
  
• Corrected the destruction of the Windmill.
  

Music / Sound

• Improved the main theme track of the game.
  
• Removed placeholder Russian voiceover in the "Counter-Battery Fire" training mission.
  

Localization

• The Self-Destruct button has been renamed to prevent soldiers from being disembarked by mistake.
  
• Minor fixes in Polish localization.
  

• Reduced server wait times
  
• Fixes to several crashes reported by users
  
• Increased AFK timeout limit
  
• Fixes to the flow of several missions
  
• Additional button slot in the central hotbar
  
• Improved visuals for various maps in the game
  
• Design and animation improvements for various unit and weapon models
  
• Localization fixes
  

The Importance of Your Feedback

• In single-player, the 3 narrative campaigns work differently than the 2 historical campaigns, which are different from the dynamic Conquest campaign mode; we have posted all the details here.
  
• In multi-player, Battalions, Combined Arms and Classic Mode offer vastly different experience, as you can learn here.

• Competitive Setting (default for all single-player, and for Battalions and Combined Arms multiplayer match-making) if you prefer faster-paced, more action-oriented and accessible gameplay
  
• Realism Setting (default for Classic Mode multi-player match-making and accessible through custom lobbies for all other multi-player modes) if you are a fan of more hard-core RTS gameplay, reminiscent more closely of Men of War: Assault Squad 2.
  

Frequent Concerns

• The game is always on-line - That is true for now. Repeated connection to game servers is necessary to ensure all progression rewards (including for single-player actions) are being awarded, and that no-one can cheat in multi-player matches. However, we have heard your concerns, and we have started developing an off-line mode for single-player even before the release, but it will take some time to implement. We have been open about this, the "always on-line" requirement is clearly stated in the system requirements and elsewhere; we absolutely understand it might be an insurmountable obstacle for some players and if you are in such a situation, we humbly ask for your patience to wait and buy the game once we have implemented it.
  
• I keep getting disconnected or experience other technical issues - We are sorry you are experiencing such difficulties. We are working on patches to fix all the bugs and are constantly working on the server infrastructure to improve stability - but in order to achieve this, we need your help. Whenever you run into any problems, report them on the Men of War II Discord server or here in Steam Discussions, but to give us the most information to work with, please upload your game logs to a file-sharing service of your choice and share the link with us. These files can be found in: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Men of War II
  
• The game is too different, it should resemble another game more - It is of course perfectly fair to compare Men of War II to different RTS games. However, it is its own game; we feel like developing a clone of already existing games perhaps with just a few more units, maps or even game modes, would do the community a huge disservice. We hope that other titles in the genre continue being successful, doing their own thing and releasing more content - the more variety of games there is, the more choice, the better!
  
• The game has health-bars on tanks - All games made in some version of the GEM engine use a HP system to determine when a vehicle is completely destroyed + damage system for individual parts. The only difference is in the fact that in the Competitive setting, Men of War II displays this information, to be accessible to more casual players. If you do not like this feature, the Realism setting might suit you better, or you can turn off this part of the UI in Settings, the choice is completely up to you!
  
• The graphics are outdated, they look like old Men of War games - The engine powering the game (GEM RTS) has been significantly upgraded since the first time we’ve shown you Men of War II, features such as improved lighting using Physically Based Rendering and improved aquatic spaces have been implemented; if you are interested in details, you can read up on the topic in our devlogs here and here!
  

Joining the Community

Have Fun!

Extra Goodies and Offerings at Release

• 2 exclusive profile badges and 6 exclusive avatars to show off your Hero status
  
• Immediately unlock 4 collectible tank units to intimidate your foes in multiplayer matches
  
• 10 wallpapers featuring beautiful art from the game, to spruce up your desktop
  

• M4A3E8 “Sherman” - A US Army medium tank, the latest modification of the M4A3E8 with a 75mm gun. It is a beautiful but deadly war machine adorned with a unique camouflage design, pin-up art, and other decorative exterior elements.
  
• Panther Ausf. A - A German medium tank, the latest modification of the Pz.Kpfw. V class with a 75mm gun. A formidable predator with excellent combat characteristics and unique camouflage pattern, capable of intimidating even the most experienced hunters on the battlefield.
  
• T-34-85 - A Soviet medium tank, a modification of the T-34 class with an 85mm gun. It can hold its own and emerge victorious from any battle; it features a unique camouflage system that distinguishes it from its brothers on the battlefield. In the right hands, it can become a deadly threat to any enemy.
  
• T-34-85M - A Soviet medium tank, the latest modification of the T-34 class armed with an 85mm gun. It features a modified camouflage design and spaced armor which reduces the destructive effect of enemy anti-tank rounds. This is an experienced fighter, ready for any surprises.
  

Being Always Online

Modding support

• "Operation Bagration" is a historical Soviet campaign dedicated to the Belarusian offensive. Players will lead their battalions through forests and swamps, react to German counterattacks, defeat Army Group Center, and liberate Minsk.
  
• "Operation Overlord" is a historical American campaign about battles for control of northern France and the subsequent liberation of Paris. You will encounter classic sabotage missions with airborne troops and an exciting "detective" mission, "Hunting the Tiger."

• Separate reinforcements in co-op: In Men of War II co-op multiplayer, each player has their own menu with their reinforcements, unlike the previous games in the series, where there was one menu for everyone with all the resulting consequences (for example, it will no longer happen that units summoned by one player fall under the control of someone else, a random player on the team).
  
• Enhanced AI: We have significantly improved the enemy's artificial intelligence, giving it the ability to think strategically on the battlefield, consider player behavior, and change its strategy depending on the situation. You can customize the AI’s difficulty in all PVE modes on multiplayer maps and story missions.
  
• Improved saving and loading: We have improved the game's save and load system — now you can quickly save or load your battles, even against an AI-controlled enemy in "Conquest" mode.
  
• Mission scaling: As we mentioned earlier, any single mission can be played cooperatively with up to four friends (meaning five players in total); and any available map will automatically adjust to the number of players in the session, scaling its size.

• Discord
  
• Steam
  
• Youtube
  
• Twitch
  
• X (better known as Twitter)
  
• Facebook
  

• May 3: Campaigning, but dynamically.
  
• May 10: Mods with friends.