Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector | Dev diary #1 - Primaris Psyker
The process of developing a 3D model is a very creative and interesting process. In the first of three articles, we will analyze the important stages, which include such processes as assembling and scanning the models all the way through to polishing and creating a highly detailed, game-ready, model.
The first stage - Assembling and scanning of the physical model
First, we need to assemble and scan the physical model. The accuracy of the proportions and details obtained directly impacts the final result.
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To achieve the highest quality scan, it is necessary to take about 600-800 pictures of the physical model from all sides. It is very important to set up the correct lighting to get the best quality photos. The more information we have at the start, the better the quality will be at the end of the scanning process.
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The second stage - Symmetrizing and refining proportions and silhouette
To adapt the scanned model for a game model, it is necessary to cut the scanned model into separate parts and place it in an A-pose to understand the proportions.
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Some elements of the figure need to be enlarged or reduced for a more accurate representation in the game world.
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The third stage - Adjusting and refining to human-like proportions
At this stage, the proportions of the model are further refined and harmonized. The A-pose is also adjusted for use in future animation tasks.
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The elements of the model that were dynamic in previous stages are adjusted to meet technical requirements.
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Polishing Next, we move on to the stage of cleaning the scan, removing all unnecessary elements, and dividing the model by materials, paying maximum attention to the expressiveness of large and medium shapes.
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After the model is divided into various groups and elements, we begin the process of polishing each part, bringing the geometry to the desired state. We can sometimes lose information during the scanning process for some elements, we model such parts from scratch, based on references and numerous photos.
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HighPoly model
The next step is the high-poly model, where we finalize all the elements. We refine the folds in the clothing, add logical damage, finalize facial features, and incorporate small fastenings into the mechanical elements. We lastly add any small ornaments.
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As a result, we have a model that is ready for the next stage.
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Retopology and Baking It's now time to create a low-poly mesh for future animations. An important stage is the so-called baking process where we transfer details from a heavy sculpt to a light and optimized game ready geometry.
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A low-poly model with a normal map is almost indistinguishable from a high-poly sculpture.
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UV mapping
In the Warhammer 40k universe, characters often have complex armor, emblems, weapons, and other small details. Proper UV mapping allows you to precisely place textures so that every detail looks realistic and fits into the aesthetics of the world.
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To create high-quality models with minimal resource costs, UV mapping allows you to optimize the placement of textures. This is important to preserve the quality of the model when used in gaming and animation projects, where details must remain sharp even when viewed closely.
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Texturing
When creating 3D models, the use of different texture channels allows you to achieve high surface realism. Two of the key such channels are metalness and roughness. They are part of physically correct rendering (PBR — Physically Based Rendering), which models the behavior of light on object surfaces.
[expand type=details expanded=false] Flat color map represents the color of the surface Emissive map represents parts of a model which emit light Metalness map represents which parts of model will look like a metal, and which parts Roughness map represents which parts of a model will be more shiny than others[TAG-101]
Creating textures and materials is one of the most difficult and interesting stages of character development, in Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector it is very important that the characters belonging to the same faction look unified and similar and at the same time recognizable and unique.
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Particularly interesting in this regard is Primaris Psyker, which combines metal, human skin, fabric, gemstone, rubber, leather and even wood.
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Faction Smart Material
[expand type=details expanded=false]Red - Metal covered with damage and dust from dozens of battles Purple - Worn but still reliable leather Green - Cheap but sturdy good old military fabric
If you're planning to be in London between October 25th and 27th, you can’t miss the chance to come to EGX-MCM. We are making a special appearance and we are bringing something thrilling for fans of Starship Troopers: Terran Command and Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector.
At our stand, fans can discover a new challenge for Starship Troopers: Terran Command and an exclusive preview of the new DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector. Attendees of EGX-MCM will have the opportunity to challenge their skills in a new special mission in Starship Troopers: Terran Command and to try for the first time the Astra Militarum DLC, releasing in Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector on Dec. 10th.
Join us at EGX for an unforgettable weekend!
📅 EGX-MCM 2024 Date: 25th - 27th October 2024 Location: the ExCeL, London
The Astra Militarum will arrive as a playable faction in Battlesector on December 10th. The primary fighting force of the Imperium of Man is the latest faction to join Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector. Sixteen new units will be at our disposal to fight for the galaxy.
To celebrate Warhammer Day, we are really excited to share some really important news about Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector.
As part of the celebration, all our Warhammer games have joined a special sale. Please check our steam page to see all the details: https://store.steampowered.com/dev/slitherine
Astra Militarum DLC
The Astra Militarum will arrive as a playable faction in Battlesector on December 10th. The primary fighting force of the Imperium of Man is the latest faction to join Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector. Sixteen new units will be at our disposal to fight for the galaxy.
Unit lists:
Cadian Castellan
Commissar
Primaris Psyker
Cadian Shock Troops
Heavy Weapons Squad
Ogryns
Kasrkin
Tank Commander (in Leman Russ)
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank
Leman Russ Demolisher
Leman Russ Vanquisher
Leman Russ Punisher
Armoured Sentinel
Basilisk
Chimera
Valkyrie
To give more details about the units in the upcoming Astra Militarum DLC, a series of dev diaries will be published in the next few days. These dev diaries will focus on the creation process of a specific unit, from first sketches to animations.
Free major update - 1.4.95 - Patch Notes
We are very happy to announce that a new free major update for Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is available for everyone on all platforms from today.
This new update features bug fixes, improvements in many areas of the game and balancing for a lot of factions.
For those of you who want to know every detail of this new major update, a detailed changelog is available here. This document outlines all the changes made in the update, from major new features to minor bug fixes.
New tournament open for sign-ups
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Flashy Krumpin Khallenge League
Do not miss the chance to sign-up to the new Flashy Krumpin Khallenge League tournament which will feature 5 rounds of action.
The tournament follows Swiss Tournament rules: you can find the full list of rules here.
The first round will commence on Thursday, 10th October 2024. No further entries can be accepted after the tournament has begun. The tournament will last 5 rounds, 11 days each. Games are paired, so each matchup will be played both ways. All you need to do is sign up, then the system will pair you with opponents and create your PBEM games. You will be notified by mail of when the tournament is starting and when it will be time to play your turns.
Round Info:
All maps, Strategic Command, 8 rounds, 80 points target, Max Army Size 2000pts
Round 1 - Feeding Grounds
Round 2 - Imperial Ruins
Round 3 - Fire Caste Outpost
Round 4 - Scrapyard
Round 5 - Sanctum Sacresant
Streamers multiplayer challenges
After the first epic battle between Boken and Frederik, we are thrilled to announce two new great fights on Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector.
Two Angry Gamers and Ciara will test their skills in two furious challenges. Make sure to tune in on their twitch channels:
Two Angry Gamers: Oct. 4th on https://www.twitch.tv/twoangrygamerstv
Ciara: Oct. 3rd on https://www.twitch.tv/ciara_elvenblood/videos
It has been a while since we updated you on how Battlesector is proceeding and we are aware that you would like to know more.
Our last transmission was alongside the Warhammer Skulls festival where we let you know some more about how we would be moving forward with Battlesector, building on the amazing foundation that Black Lab Games have laid. There will be more news in the coming weeks and months about new armies, campaigns and game modes. Today, I’m here to tell you about what we’ve been up to recently and what to expect in the very near future.
The update which added the Tyranid Biovore and Pyrovore and the Necron Royal Warden was our first with Slitherine staff as the main developers. Our team at that point was a very small strike force with a simple remit to learn how to work with the Battlesector engine, add the new units and work with the team at Black Lab to complete the handover. We also released a small balance and bug fix patch (1.4.82) to react to the community experience of the new units.
Since then we’ve been hard at work taking the knowledge and experience that we have gained and using it to grow out “Team Battlesector”. We now have many more hands on deck, with specialists focussing on key areas of the game and working hard making the new content that we’ve told you about.
In the very near future we’ll be releasing our latest incremental “balance” patch. This is our first release for this new team and we’re really looking forward to seeing how it shakes up the current gameplay meta strategies for both Single Player game modes and the Multiplayer Community.
The main balance focus has been on the Ork Faction. They are already great fun to play with, but quite a few of their units ended up stumbling over each other when players were looking to build armies. Our approach has been to look to ensure that each unit has a purpose and that the faction as a whole has enough tools to take on their opponents. For example, the Orks really lacked a cheap Anti Armour option, so we’ve converted the Boyz Rokkits from their current “frag” stats to a more focussed “krak” style profile.
We’ve also been looking at addressing a few bits of the game interface that hadn’t kept up to date with the growth of the game. So we’ve re-arranged the units on the Army Management screen so similar types are now grouped together (rather than the new free units always being stuck at the bottom) and we’ve expanded the options for setting up a new game to allow players to choose if they want to be “player 1” or “player 2” so you can get a real feel of what it’s like to be on the other side of the battlefield.
There’s plenty more in there too, and we’re really looking forward to getting this patch into your hands so you can see what you think.
Expect to hear more from us soon.
The Battlesector Team
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - New tournament open for sign-ups
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector | Open League - September Speed Slaughter
Do not miss the chance to sign-up to the new September Speed Slaughter tournament which will feature 3 multiplayer maps:
The tournament follows Swiss Tournament rules: you can find the full list of rules here.
The first round will commence on Tuesday, 10th September 2024. No further entries can be accepted after the tournament has begun. The tournament will last 3 rounds, 7 days each. Games are paired, so each matchup will be played both ways. All you need to do is sign up, then the system will pair you with opponents and create your PBEM games. You will be notified by mail of when the tournament is starting and when it will be time to play your turns.
Round 3 - Mode: Strategic Command - Map: Hive Top - Army Size 1500 - Target Score 60
Quarter Final - Mode: Strategic Command - Map: Feeding Ground - Army Size 1500 - Target Score 60
Semi Final - Mode: Strategic Command - Map: Imperial Ruins - Army Size 1500 - Target Score 60
Final - Mode: Strategic Command - Map: Scrapyard - Army Size 1500 - Target Score 60
Please Note: Round Time is 7 days.
Summer KO Speed Tournament will start on Wednesday, 31st July 2024.
Once reached the slots available, the sign-ups for this tournament will be closed.
But don't worry if you can secure a slot, because along with the Summer KO Speed Tournament we are thrilled to announce also a standard league tournament.
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Summer Social Tournament
Do not miss the chance to sign-up to the new Summer Social Tournament which will feature 3 multiplayer maps:
The tournament follows Swiss Tournament rules: you can find the full list of rules here.
The first round will commence on Wednesday, 31st July 2024. No further entries can be accepted after the tournament has begun. The tournament will last 3 rounds, 11 days each. Games are paired, so each matchup will be played both ways. All you need to do is sign up, then the system will pair you with opponents and create your PBEM games. You will be notified by mail of when the tournament is starting and when it will be time to play your turns.
We're releasing a new update for Battlesector. As per usual, please let us know what you think of the list of changes. Your feedback is essential to keep improving the game.
Changes since 1.4.81
General
Tournaments:
Disabled Might and Fury bonus points. Match winners receive the scenario target score, which is the same as the score that users who received a bye get.
This will likely lead to a tie at the top of the leaderboard and we’ll use our new Knock Out style tournaments to determine the overall winner
Known issue: If you are losing the match on points and destroy your opponent’s army, you won’t be given the victory. This will be fixed in due course but for now it is the same for everyone, so ensure you play the game mode objectives!
Balance
Sisters of Battle:
Exorcist
Removed Overwatch ability
Added Artillery capacity. Does not need a direct line of sight to attack
Tyranids:
Biovore
Reduced Seed Spore Mine cooldown to 1 turn (2)
Reduced Seed Spore Mine range to 7 (8)
Increased Seed Spore Mine Charge time to 1 turn (0)
Biovore Spore Mine
Added an initial 1 MP to the spawned Spore Mines (no AP though)
Removed ability to interact with mission objectives (zones and controls)
Can now use their AP to buy extra moves (including on charges)
Pyrovore
Cost to 110 (115)
Burning Spray cooldown to 1 turn (2)
Burning Spray armour reduction to -2 (-1) and -3 (-2) [Normal and Empowered]
Necrons:
Royal Warden
Cost to 160 (150)
Momentum on Death to 25 (15)
Adaptive Strategy Duration reduced to 1 turn (2)
Engrammatic Logic momentum boost reduced to 10 (15) and 25 (35) [Normal and Empowered]
Canoptek Scarabs
Reenabled Momentum and CPP when models die
Plasmancer
Quantum Orb now has a cooldown of 3 turns (to match other skills)
Overlord
Increased Command Protocol charge time to 1 turn (0)
Bug Fixes
Fixed issue where some units had the wrong textures on a Planetary Supremacy map
Fixed AI issue where units were throwing Frag Grenades at the floor
Fixed issue where Skorpekh destroyers that were destroyed when using Plasmacyte Infusion were not being properly killed if they had a bonus HP buff
Tweaked Land Speeder AI to encourage it to use it’s Assault Cannon
Updated New Skulls 2024 units to cost Requisition Points in game modes
Fixed issue where Biovore Spore Mine was attacking multiple times when self-destructing
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - First knock-out tournament open for sign-ups
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector - Skulls KO Tournament
To celebrate Warhammer Skulls festival, we are extremely excited to announce our very first knock-out tournament.
We'd like to thank a lot all the players, who helped us testing the new tournament format.
The knock-out format will give the players the possibility to test their skills and to increase the types of tournaments they can play in.
The Skulls KO Tournament features 32 players and you can sign-up here.
The tournament follows Swiss Tournament rules: you can find the full list of rules here.
The first round will commence on Monday, 10th June 2024. No further entries can be accepted after the tournament has begun.
The tournament will last 3 rounds, 11 days each. Games are paired, so each matchup will be played both ways. All you need to do is sign up, then the system will pair you with opponents and create your PBEM games. You will be notified by mail of when the tournament is starting and when it will be time to play your turns.
Round 3 - Mode: Strategic Command - Map: The Salt Exchange - Army Size 2000
Warhammer Skulls festival
Warhammer Skulls is available until May 30th.
There are loads of amazing discounts and new announcements from other studios, too. So we hope that you will check them out here.
Warhammer Skulls Festival - Battlesector major update & Gladius Demolition Pack
Battlesector and Gladius are taking part in the Warhammer Skulls Festival, with a major free update for Battlesector and a DLC release for Gladius.
But let's take a look at it, shall we?
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
We are glad to announce that a new free major update for Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is available from today for everyone who owns the game, introducing 3 new playable units: Royal Warden, Pyrovore and Biovore.
On top of this major update, during Skulls showcase, we have talked about the recent releases, the great plans for the future of the game and, finally, we announced the next faction that will join the battle in Battlesector.
Royal Warden, Pyrovore and Biovore
First up is the Necron Royal Warden. These loyal lieutenants of the Necron forces ensure that their Lord’s will is carried out. They wield a potent Relic Gauss Blaster and possess enough initiative to use Adaptive Strategies to increase the effectiveness of nearby forces. They also have the power to activate Engrammatic Logic systems in other Necron troops.
And then, for the Tyranids, are the Pyrovore and the Biovore. The Pyrovore is a hulking mobile flamethrower and digestive bioform. Their dorsal mounted weapon can engulf entire squads of prey and the Burning Spray can melt away some of the strongest armour! Contrastingly, the Biovore is a piece of living artillery that the swarm has evolved into a very different battlefield role. Carrying a brood of spore mines within its body, the Biovore hurls them across the battlefield to explode amidst their foes.
Game modes
Multiplayer
We need and want to update our Multiplayer system. Firstly, we want to increase our tournament formats. Recently, we have tested our very first knock-out tournament. Secondly, we’re planning to keep growing the number of maps available as Battlefields. Also, there’s some fantastic custom multiplayer maps that our users have uploaded which really mix things up. Our plan is to add official rankings within Battlesector. We’d like to give our community the possibility to play both in public matches for fun and in ranked games for a more focussed challenge.
Planetary Supremacy
The Planetary Supremacy game mode was added to Battlesector ahead of Skulls in 2022. We’ve continued to tweak and improve this mode, including adding the ability to add custom maps from the Map Builder, but we know that you guys want and deserve so much more. So, a big part of our roadmap for Battlesector is to not just tweak Planetary Supremacy but to reimagine what it is and what it can be. We really want to give you something to get your teeth into.
Campaigns
We know that all of our players have a lot of love for the Age of Crimson Dawn campaign that comes included with the base game of Battlesector. Whilst the custom campaign creator has enabled the community to create some cool adventures, we also know that lots of you would like to see more narrative campaigns from us. Whilst we can’t say exactly what these will be right now, we can say that they’re coming, and we really look forward to telling some amazing new stories with Battlesector!
Factions
We are very excited to announce that the next major faction for Battlesector will be Astra Militarum.
Tournaments
To celebrate Skulls, we are thrilled to announce our very first knock-out tournament of Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector. The knock-out tournament will feature 32 players who will fight each other for the domain of Battlesector. Tournaments spots are limited and only the first 32 players to join, will be allowed to partecipate. For the ones who will not manage to get in the knock-out tournament, don't worry. We will announce also a classic tournament, that will follow Swiss Tournament rules.
We will give all the info regarding the 2 tournaments really soon. Stay tuned.
We are excited to announce that we are releasing a new DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Gladius: Demolition Pack.
New units join the fight!
11 new units are ready to enter the battle for Gladius Prime with the Demolition Pack! These new units are ready to demolish all the enemies’ defenses and they will give you more new strategic options.
Sydonian Dragoon - Adeptus Mechanicus Fast close-combat walker unit
Field Ordnance Battery - Astra Militarum Large man-portable artillery pieces able to shell out enemy units at long range
Chaos Terminator - Chaos Space Marines Elite heavily armoured infantry that excels against all targets and can use powerful combi-weapons
Talos - Drukhari Heavy assault creature with powerful close-range weapons
Wraithlord - Craftworld Aeldari Versatile monstrous creature equipped with a vast array of weapons and able to perform powerful melee attacks
Skorpekh Destroyer - Necrons Elite armoured close-range infantry unit
Burna Boy - Orks Anti-infantry unit equipped with a versatile flamethrower
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