Alongside this new game mode, we've incorporated a number community suggested features and squashed several bugs! We're still in the process of adding dozens of new XP unlockable appearances to our updated character creation process, that's coming together nicely and should be ready next week.

Edyn's King of the Hill!

• Score is gained only by capturing and then holding one of the 8 monolithic Shard objectives.

• Shards start off completely undefended and do not require any siege damage to capture.

• Shard holders will gain a single point per minute, and can gain multiple points for holding multiple Shards.

• Each time a Shard is captured it will grant the holder a random powerful global buff (affecting all settlements) which will be displayed on the new leaderboard.

• You cannot build structures or train units on any of the Shards. However, you can send reinforcements and guards to try and fortify your position.

• Defending a Shard is very difficult, the territory comes with a major defensive disadvantage in combat. They will exchange hands often.

• The colonise unit time increment penalty has been removed as you'll need to burn through many colony units in order to control the Shards in this mode.

• Beginner Protection does not protect Shards from being captured.

Rewards:

A new time limited title "King" (or "Queen" if requested!) will be bestowed to the player that finishes in first position. Note: We will likely be running KOTH monthly, so the title will pass over to the next monarch that finished in top position and so on. If the title holder joins the subsequent KOTH game, we're planning to give them a special advantage at the beginning of the game! The usual currency rewards will be in place for the top 10 positions.

Gameplay & Fixes

• You can now preview all items before purchasing any pass sold by Skeev.
• 'INCOMING' missions now display their settlement origin instead of destination coordinates.
• 'INCOMING' supportive/friendly missions now display what units or resources are contained.
• Mission speed is recalculated after battle, if slower units die, the mission return speed will be faster. Units displayed in the mission container will be updated to reflect.
• Mission banners now display a timer on the world map.
• If you are already building a colonise unit on a different settlement, the notice will inform where.
• Several minor UI tweaks and improvements.