Hello fellow tacticians! Here we are with a new patch!
Rules change:
Any form of possessing, dropping, assembling, disassembling, limbering, or unlimbering in the Fire Phase is no longer possible. (suggested by player )
TNT can only be placed in an adjacent hex where the placing infantry can theoretically move, for example not across a cliff hex-side. TNT can no longer be thrown out of the window. TNT vs Vehicle is still not implemented. Throwing TNT is not implemented.
Additions to the game:
AI can now use TNT
Improved AI target selection. AI will prefer adjacent targets. AI will now prefer unprotected infantry over tanks with open hatches.
'Stealthy' impacts the ambush event. Heroes and ANZAC are stealthy
Leader creation can happen when fighting against a Vehicle in the Melee Phase
The chance of creating a better Leader is raised when fighting against an AFV, and also when having very low chances in Melee.
In an ambush, the ambushed unit loses its concealment so the close combat vs this concealed unit has more chances for a kill.
Heros or Leaders generated by fanatic units are also fanatic
Other Additions:
The background scenes in the main menu are now 3d, partially animated. this will be improved in the future
On loading the game the loading progress at the start is now removed. No more than 90% on a grey background. (suggested by player)
All 240 Gun Barrels will recoil (to see this there is a new button in the garage)
Adding a tank commander to the Tiger in the scenario 'Tiger 131 '
Adding some TNT to the scenario 'Last Stand at the Grain Elevator'
Fixes
A leader with disrupted infantry in the same hex will not rout (suggested by player)
Leader behavior when the Leader is disrupted
Tank Commander and Garage Update 1.328
Hello fellow tacticians! We have a new update for you regarding, mainly,...
Tank Commanders
The Tank Commander improves the aiming of Guns on Tanks (not MGs or Flamethrowers).
When the tank becomes a wreck, the commander may survive as an officer on the battlefield.
He also raises the morale of the tank crew during fights with other tanks (only if using an open hatch).
You can place tank commanders with the new button in the 'specials' tab in the scenario editor
Other additions and fixes:
Fixed shadow on posters and other decorations.
A new level-one wooden building number 163.
An IL2 Plane on four hexes (found in the scenario 'Ladies Airfield').
British glider as decoration.
Welding and a lot of other new elements in the garage (you can even click switches, try them out!).
New scenario 'Berlin East Sector' located in the Russian vs German tab.
bug fix
when game freezes hit escape key
Disruption Update 1.313
Hello fellow generals! We are reporting to you with a new update that introduces some interesting gameplay features. Without further ado...
New Systems:
Disruption -
When a unit is disrupted it will not be able to flee and instead will remain in place when broken. Disruption happens when a green unit gets a weakening result. This will be communicated to you via the new purple symbol seen in the screenshot below.
Cower -
When infantry units come under fire they have a chance to cower. This will dramatically reduce their firepower. The symbol to keep an eye out for is in the screenshot below. This can NOT happen to: - British units (not green) - Crews - Snipers - Stacks with leaders
Scenario Editor:
QoL Improvement - When you open the preference window, the camera will move to make it easier to see the Wind Direction Arrow and the North Pointer. When the window is closed you will be returned to your previous location in the scenario editor.
Error Reporting:
The Error Recording Interface on the top right now has a close button. Reminder, if you see any kind of error reporting please don't hesitate to send those messages to us.
Fixes:
cliffs on the map edge are not shown in the top right hex description and the text is now a bit brighter
displaying square symbol not open ground symbol for square terrain in hex description
Sdkfz 251 16 is shown as AAMG in Main Armament. This one is still not implemented because of the two-side Flamethrowers.
As usual, we want to thank the community for its support and feedback.
Enjoy the update!
MAJOR UPDATE: The Commonwealth Forces Have Arrived!
Thanks again for your support, we are proud to announce the new update has arrived.
What can you expect to see?
45 British Tanks 4 British Assault Guns 6 British Halftracks 18 British Armored Cars 8 British Trucks 9 British Guns 16 New Scenarios 1 New Campaign
How are the British Forces Different?
The British forces won’t cower in the face of the enemy, so they will be a tough opponent. The infantry forces also have an advantage when aiming.
When engaging against German forces you will need to keep in mind the advantages that they have in the field. They have assault engineers in some scenarios which can be the strongest infantry opponent in the game. In the later years of the war they also have an advantage when it comes to their 88mm and 75mm guns.
New Terrain Types and Decorations:
Terrain types in the desert are unique.
When it comes to flora, the scrub tree is different to those seen in the European theater, and Cacti that can pin you like wire.
Movement across the sand takes more movement points. There is also the element of sun blindness that should be taken into account in the early morning and later afternoon, which will impact your visibility.
Vehicles leave a dust trail two hexes behind them that can provide visibility cover for infantry units.
There are new desert buildings that are weaker than wooden buildings, but you will be able to gain access to the rooftops which are an ideal location to set up mortars.
Map creators will now be able to make new maps and scenarios set in the desert. This will include: New Desert Terrain types 10 new desert buildings 24 new desert decorations
Second Front Dev Update: Bully Beef to be free and The Roadmap
Thanks for rolling the dice with us so far on “Second Front”. So far you’ve been able to take on challenges as one of three different factions, the US, The Russians, and The Germans. Soon, you will be able to enter the battlefield of Second Front with a new faction.
Bully Beef and Biscuits to become a Complimentary Update
As a show of thanks, we have decided to make the upcoming Commonwealth Forces DLC part of the main game. So you will receive this update for free if you have purchased the game.
This update will include: 45 British Tanks 4 British Assault Guns 6 British Halftracks 18 British Armored Cars 8 British Trucks 9 British Guns New Scenarios
The RoadMap
The complimentary updates won’t stop at Bully Beef, we will also be building additional features, content, and systems into the game. This process will take between 1 and 2 years and once they are all finalized, we will be ready to bring the Multiplayer experience that many of our fans have wanted since the beginning.
Bully Beef and Biscuits: Content Update Disruption: Units that are disrupted will not be able to flee. Berserk units: Units will have a chance to go berserk and no longer be under player control. Tank commanders: Tank Commanders will improve the aiming of tanks. Fortified buildings: Areas within buildings can be fortified to improve defenses, much like a bunker. Partisans: Content Update, American Partisans, French and Italian Underground forces, and Soviet Partisans. Human wave: Russians will be able to launch a wave of attackers that have a chance of not following orders. Mines: Minefield Hexes will disrupt potential approaches. Inner Factory walls: Walls in factories will block movement and fire Overrun: Tanks can perform an Overrun attack once they move into an enemy hex with enemy infantry. Night: Units will not be visible at night unless illuminated by starshells Artillery: Artillery can be called in by leaders with a radio and spotting round in place. Planes: Aircraft that will perform a strafing and bombing run. Prisoners, Interrogation: Taking prisoners will gain you more victory points, but will become a burden to guard. You may also learn of hidden enemy positions via the interrogation of prisoners. Japanese, US Marine Corps, and early US Philippines armies: Content Update Pacific theatre with new terrain: Content Update Multiplayer: 1v1 multiplayer scenarios.
The Dice Don’t Always Roll in your favour
Second Front is not like other digital strategy games, the battlefield is not just a puzzle to solve or a straight-up-the-middle numbers game. You need to account for bad luck and have to think a step ahead. - What if this attack fails? - What happens if I lose this Officer? - How am I going to rally my troops if they are broken? - What is my plan B, C, and D – when plan A does not pan out?
Whilst the nature of dice rolling can mean you get lucky sometimes and break what might seem like an unlikely opponent - the same can happen to you. The AI does not have a handicap when engaging you, there are no difficulty levels.
The single-player game gives you the opportunity to “roll back” a turn and try a different strategy. The game makes a save at the start of each turn in case you find yourself overwhelmed or at too much of a tactical disadvantage to play through.
The choices and rolls are not pre-determined so the next time you play that turn, you have the opportunity to turn the tables.
However, we know some of you relish the challenge of being flexible and embracing the challenges or failed offensives and defensives and choose to play through until you turn the tables, lose, or surrender.
Don’t run out of breath
We often find new players have their squads run to the front line, While this may get you within striking distance of an objective first, it will get you there with a tired and less effective squad. Be mindful of when you choose to run, as it will take multiple turns for your troops to recover after that.
Thanks
It was a real pleasure to be on the top spot for “Strategy and Wargaming’s” Top 10 strategy games for the year. It has been a really great year for strategy games and the countdown featured lots of games we admire and appreciate. Read it here.
And thank you for your support so far and for reading our latest dev blog. We will continue to add dev blogs in the coming months giving you updates on our roadmap as we reach and near each goal.
Join in the conversation on Discord or the Forums.
Nominate Second Front for a Steam Award!
Second Front is a challenging game. Every turn you make difficult decisions about maneuvering, tactics, and use of units' unique skills; all while guessing the enemy's intentions.
This often leads to disaster but, with experience and patience, our players crack the nut and enjoy the beautiful feeling of satisfaction when they see those victory points rolling in while the enemy routs.
If you want to help the game's visibility while acknowledging the tough and rewarding challenges that you encountered please consider nominating Second Front for this Steam award: Best game that you suck at!
It's funny 'cause...it's true!
small Patch
uploaded new Version 1.206
fixed a bug in loading scenarios with an exit arrow
small Patch
uploaded new Version 1.205
added turn numbers in reinforcement arrows
added improbable hits. this let the AI fire tanks after movement.
fixed, placing a reinfroment arrow and a exit arrow in one hex not longer possible
New DLC for Second Front Announced!
Hello Second Front generals, We have good news from the battlefield for all of you! Bully beef and biscuits, the new DLC for Second Front will be coming soon
What is it you ask? But it’s the Commonwealth DLC of course! Owners of Bully Beef and biscuits will be able to play with the new Commonwealth forces enjoying 24 new scenarios and two brand new campaigns. But that’s not all as we decided to make the desert tile set available for anyone regardless of the ownership of the DLC. We hope you will like it; this is just a first step in the march to make Second Front the ultimate WWII tactical sandbox! See you on the battlefield!
