Alpha Patch 4.10.3 has been released and is now available to test on the PTU environment! Patch should now show: VERSION 4.10.3-PTU.12999338 Audience: Wave 1 Server Info: PTU Channel - US Only Long Term Persistence: Enabled Testing/Feedback Focus Stability, Bugfixes, LTP between PTU releases New Missions: Vanduul Incursion New FPS Weapon: LBCO Skarnov Rifle Features & Updates New Missions: Vanduul Incursion Intersec Defence Solutions has opened a new contract line against the Vanduul and the Shattered Blade clan. These contracts will be fought out in deep space rather than at existing locations, and will put experienced pilots and ground teams up against the most aggressive force in the system. Expect to meet Blades, Glaives, Scythes, Stingers, and more. Most of this contract line will require completing the Vanduul Tech Smugglers work for Welcome To Nyx before it becomes available, but for the PTU, all of the contracts will be available Shattered Blade Raid (Rank 1): Clear Shattered Blade forces out of auxiliary stations scattered across the Nyx system Retake Ship (Rank 2): A vessel has been boarded by the Shattered Blade. Get aboard and take it back Vanduul Clan Extermination (Rank 4): Hold out against escalating waves of Vanduul ships across three difficulty tiers 3-Way Standoff (Rank 4): You, the Vanduul and the Shattered Blade all converge at once. Everyone is a target, including you [redacted] Takedown (Rank 4 to 6): Fight through waves of Vanduul until a [redacted] is drawn to the incursion site, across five difficulty tiers Gather Vanduul Cryopod: Recover cryopods from the field The higher difficulty tiers are built for crews rather than solo pilots. New Locations New space and FPS combat points of interest placed throughout the Nyx system Vanduul Cryopods A second cryopod variant has been introduced. The existing red pods hold living Vanduul, while the new tint marks a dead one. Dead pods are the more valuable of the two and can be traded to Wikelo Rewards Completing the harder tiers awards blueprints for a new energy rifle, two new heavy armor sets, a new flight suit, and a set of new ship weapons New FPS Weapon: LBCO Skarnov Rifle Weight: Average Fire modes: Fully automatic / Single Damage: 27 Projectile Velocity: 500 Aim down Sight Time: 0.25 RPM: 375 Mag size: 30 Electrical Jump Range - 5M Max Jump range 3m Design Notes from Zac It's been a while since the Lightning Bolt Co. has unleashed a weapon onto the verse but with this new fully automatic DMR, they're here to make an impression. The Skarnov rifle, like the other LBCO weapons leaves the target with an electrified pulse that denotates and chains to other nearby targets causing devastation for enemies in tight proximity. It's got a really consistent but high vertical recoil profile allowing skills operators to shut down highly armoured enemies easily but as an energy weapon the danger of over heating is present. The skarnov is effected by the atmospheric temperatures its used in, causing hot environments to cause overheat faster and colder environments to build up heat slower. One more thing is that whenever we do weapons, It's been requested that for the PTU we make weapons easier to use in the verse for feedback. For PTU phases, the weapon and ammo can be found in the following locations: Area18 - Cubby Blast GrimHex - Skutters Levski - Conscientious Objects Checkmate - Weapon Shop