LawBreakers update 1.3 landed yesterday with a ton of new features and changes to Boss Key’s mature character shooter. One of the biggest changes listed in the LawBreakers patch notes is that roles are now being limited in quick play. Unlike Overwatch’s complete removal of stacking characters (Blizzard removed character stacking in one of the early updates), LawBreakers now features a two-role limit. Once two people have selected a particular role, you’ll have to find somebody else to play as.
One of our main goals with this change is to increase the variety of gameplay you’ll encounter, both in terms of enemy types you’ll face as well as sometimes needing to switch off of your main role. We also want to reduce a lot of the frustration that comes with playing against stacks – if you’ve ever run into 5 Juggernauts defending a Blitz goal you know what we mean.
Boss Key also cites getting ready to add a competitive ranked playlist as a reason for the decision to limit roles. Surprisingly, there are no character balancing tweaks in this patch, though Boss Key says there are some major character revisions coming to future updates.
Finally, patch 1.3 is our first without any role balance changes. We’ve got some major balance adjustments coming down the road that need more time the in the testing-oven before they’re ready to go live, and in the meantime we wanted to get the new role limits out to the community as quickly as possible.”
The biggest feature to me, though, is the addition of tutorials, which was a major downside when I reviewed the game last month.
LawBreakers Update 1.3 Patch Notes
NEW ADDITIONS:
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New Map Variant – Promenade at night!
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New Feature – Role limits now set to 2!
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New Feature – Kick decals can now be imprinted on the world!
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New Feature – XP Bonus Tracker shows active streaks and bonuses in main menus.
MAP & MODE CHANGES:
BLITZBALL MODE –
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Increased the radius for reducing the Blitzball shield from 850 → 1000.
OVERCHARGE MODE –
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Increased the radius for reducing the Battery’s shield from 750 → 850.
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Increased contest radius for the Battery to 1000.
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Changed contest area shape from a sphere to a cylinder for better contest detection.
UPLINK MODE –
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Increased the radius for reducing Uplink shield from 750 → 850.
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Increased contest radius for the Uplink to 1000.
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Changed contest area shape from a sphere to a cylinder for better contest detection.
TRENCH –
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Added collision to the top of the the central zone (above capture point B) so that Harrier’s can now throw their Supercharger Stations up there. Other projectiles should behave more consistently as well.
BUG FIXES:
UI –
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Fixed an issue where character podium visuals would break when FOV was set to extreme values.
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Deadzo portrait icon now shows correct silver image in menus and in game.
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Fixed an issue where the camera would detach from ragdoll during the death recap screen.
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Game Mode UI Fixes
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Fixed an issue where the Uplink world icons would stick around if you died while holding the Uplink.
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Fixed an issue where the Turf War HUD icons could show 2 different states simultaneously.
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Removed loss of consecutive match bonus warning when in lobby between matches or when playing in Custom Game.
SOUND –
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Fixed missing or delayed SFX while playing in Occupy matches.
MAPS –
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Map rotation: Fixed issue where the same map or mode could be played consecutively and overall distribution being incorrect.
GAMEPLAY –
- Matchmaking can no longer be entered with an old version of the game.
- Fixed an issue where players might slowly drift around without any controller input during their first spawn.
- Harrier
- Fixed animation on Blastback ability to no longer look completely horizontal when performed.
- Fixed issues where Raycaster lasers would look like they were coming out at 90 degree angles from feet.
- Multiple fixes for Shoc-Croc lasers not rendering properly during spectator view.
- Fixed visual issue when looking at Convergence ability to better tell where the ability is actually aiming.
- Visuals
- Improved Blitzball model visuals when viewing up close.
- Fixed multiple issues where weapon impact and ability FX would stick around in world.
- Adjusted glow values on all “Hadronium Blue” weapon skins to fix them becoming too bright and distracting.
- “Hadronium Blue” Crisper skin fix for the glow visuals fading out when being used.
GENERAL ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS:
- New Feature – Tutorials!
- Tutorial section is now available with videos about Roles, Maps, and Modes.
- Play around on our Tutorial Sandbox map to get a better grasp on mechanics and roles.
- Match leavers now automatically receive a D grade for matches they abandon.
- Adjusted score grade requirements so that players will see S and S+ grades more often for performing well in match.
- Optimized performance logic behind spawning FX.
- Added an “Update Available” notification message for Steam and PS4.
- Improved matchmaking logic to not automatically re-queue players joining a match in progress whose MMR is out of range.
- Optimizations for weapon impacts to address performance hitches on PS4.
- Articles can now be scrolled through by using the thumbsticks.
Are you going to give LawBreakers a go now that update 1.3 is out?
[Source: Boss Key]
