The BIG patch Preview!

[Konstantin Fomenko]

As you might know we are releasing our biggest patch ever in the next few days. And to show you that we have a good reason for taking our time with this patch and Steam release, here`s a preview of the new features and fixes.

:::::Major Fixes and Additions:::::
-Expanded human homelands - adding more buildings slots and houses
-Expanded Elven homelands - can build on majority of trees, new walled houses locations
-Added small watch towers on all homelands for all races
-Majority of buildings can now be upgraded up to level 5 - greatly improving the buildings performance: higher starting level of spawned units, faster and cheaper unit spawn, cheaper technologies more hit points, faster and cheaper repair, fire resistance and other minor benefits
-Updated cinematics on all homelands - with more props and better cameras
-All homelands now get unique art sets - so each building in each region looks distinctly different
-Fixed remaining Out of Sync issues
-Fixed game getting stuck on a loading screen if PvP connection failed
-Fixed getting start on black screen if PvP fails to initialize a match
-Fixed PvP and CoOp searching by players name finding random armies with huge strength difference
-Added background combat sounds for battles
-Added 15 new achievements
-Greatly reduced bloom effect in game and polished the lighting cycle, fixed ultra-bright object textures
-Each race now uses original racial set of interface art

:::::Minor Fixes and Additions:::::
-Fixed Orc Warg Pen and Goblin Hut spawning units over limit and too fast
-Orc Grand Hut will now spawn units much faster ,and spawn several if player is away for a while
-New SFX and effects for mass healing and healing potion
-Fixed various issues with Elven symbiosis and Alchemy lab buildings
-Improved snow and rain effects for more intensity and better emersion
-Added localization for Buy crowns and Invite a Friend text
-Fixed positioning of Quest and Forum buttons.
-Expanded the size of description pop-ups so text will not longer overlap for unit descriptions e.t.c
-Fixed Orc Warg Farm not spawning cavalry units
-New AI for town sieges defenders cavalry - seeking and destroying any units on the level
-Fixed cavalry spawn location on Illas tiltos siege level
-All cavalry unit speeds slightly reduced
-Fixed invisible Orc buildings bug
-Updated all loading screens - keeping only the best once and removing the rest
-Fixed broken palisade on human Wold homeland
-Fixed broken large gatehouse on Rollingplain homeland
-Fixed all bridges on Erthee L`Bala homeland

:::::Balance Adjustments:::::
-Increased house prices
-Wall upgrades now take much longer to construct
-Stone wall prices greatly increased
-All Orc units now train much faster
-Most Orc unit cost reduced by 50% or more
-Increases starting armour of most Orcish units
-Ogre gains Charge ability
-Orc formations now last much longer, and are much better
-Lowered bold thrower accuracy alittle bit, and decreased damage as well
-Archers now start each battle with full arrow quiver
-Dragons and all custom heroes can now be leveled up in NPC town up to level 60
-Greatly reduced the price to level Dragons, Hero at NPC towns
-Regular units now can be leveled up to level 10 in NPC towns