Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

This is more updates to the Forge of Empires mod.

• Fix a very old bug where sometimes the game would repeatedly tachyon blast the same planet, cluttering the logs.

• Fix a bug where Human Empires could not hack superterminals.
  
• Hovering over a Swarm Lure now gives more information about its locusts.
  
• Fix a null reference in the Armada unit description code.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/ogg/2001070/announcements/detail/524227425953908206

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

This is more updates to the Forge of Empires mod.

• Make it harder for Hunter Fireteams to get stuck on Spheres (dyson, chromatic, etc).

• Spire Sidekick can now be balanced differently than Fallen Spire.
  
• Armada Empire Locusts are much faster but less tanky.
  
• The Armada Empire now uses the Overall Power Level mechanism, allowing the AI to potentially spawn ExoWar units against them.
  
• The Superterminal hack for Armada can now be balanced separately from the regular Superterminal hack. Then made the Armada superterminal hack harder.
  
• Made several Tiberium ships immune to zombification.
  
• Buff the Tiberium Desolation.

I'm finally back from being sick, and release two new updates last week:
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/ogg/2001070/announcements/detail/524226158154220377
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/ogg/2001070/announcements/detail/524226792651751860

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

This is more updates to the Forge of Empires mod.

• Fix a build-process bug that was causing Steamworks integration problems for OSX.

• The Description of the DZ Empire in the game lobby now mentions that it does not work as the sole empire with most Sidekicks. If you want to use a Necromancer (or Dyson) and the DZ, Badger would recommend using the Necromancer (or Dyson) Empire and a DZ Sidekick.
  
• Make the Vanguard a bit faster for the Spire Sidekick.
  
• More metal for the Ark Sidekick.
  
• Ark Sidekick now starts with a Battlestation and a Support Fleet; it was really too weak without it.

• The Armada Empire can now hack a Superterminal.
  
• Locust Buffs: When your locusts die, they respawn as a weaker version. This gives them more staying power in tough battles. Also spawn a few more locusts.
  
• Adjust the Tiberium ships a bit; net buff to player. Improve the balance of the Tiberium ship cost; their strong ships are now more expensive. Add some new Tiberium ships. The AI no longer spawns Hunter Abominations at CPA time; instead they spawn a new ship, the Desolation, and it is part of the CPA itself. Many Tiberium Ships now spawn weaker ships when they die. This gives them a bit more of a theme as a faction. Spawn weaker ships in the CPA at the beginning of the game, and only spawn the bigger, scarier ships later.
  
• Killing AI Command Stations now gives science.
  
• Give a bit more warning for the Anti-Armada CPAs.
  
• The Armada Empire can now dismantle their claimable starbases (the ones seeded on the map) rather than claiming them.
  
• The Shipyard for the Armada Empire now mentions that it builds for flagships on adjacent planet. This fix also applies to the Necromancer.
  
• Fix a bug where you could get negative tiberium. As part of this fix, building Armada structures that don't cost tiberium don't require you have positive tiberium.
  
• Fix a bug where Kilrathi Locusts were upgraded by the wrong tech.

I've been really sick the last three weeks, so I haven't made new progress on Heart of the Machine. I am finally recovering and returning to work properly, so update 28 will be coming along before too much further. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2001070/view/524223621534581155

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

This is more updates to the Forge of Empires mod.

• Fix a busted module for the DZ Sidekick.
  
• Remove the standalone Reaper faction from the Game Lobby; it does not seem to work.
  
• The Scourge Infused Empire is now more careful with its initial Scourge structure spawning to prevent duplicate structures.

• If you were playing with the Armada Empires in particular, then savegames including those won't carry forward into this build. Badger has been reworking that faction heavily based on player feedback.
  
• The Armada Empire can now tune its difficulty in the Game Lobby.
  
• Adjust the armor/albedo/other stats for the Armada Empire a bit; previously they were very uniform. This also applies to the Kzinti AI Type.
  
• Fix a compatibility bug between the Armada Empire and the Spire Sidekick.
  
• Terran Sabres no longer contribute toward AI Counterattacks.
  
• Significant rework of the Terran/Kilrathi weapons. Previously there was a lot of uniformity, especially for the Kilrathi being ruthless against low armor ships. This also applies to the Kzinti AI Type. Since this changes a lot of weapons, this is the part that will break Armada save games.
  
• Nerf Armada Cannons.
  
• The Armada Warleader can now upgrade itself with science.

We're up to Update 27 now on Heart of the Machine: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2001070/view/524223621534581155

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

Lots of tuning by Badger for his various mods.

• Some tweaks to the Hateful AI type, including turning down its CPAs.
  
• Hopefully fix some fortresses to be upgradable (that should have already been) with the Scourge Infused Empire.
  
• Hybrids are a bit cheaper for the Dyson Empire.
  
• Give a bit more HaP for the Dark Zenith Empire, and update the journal a bit about that empire type.
  
• Some buffs to metal income for the Ark Sidekick.
  
• Buff metal income for Spire Sidekick, as well as a few more sockets for their cities.

• The Spire Infused Empire now specifically states in its description that it is not compatible with the Fallen Spire.

We're up to Update 27 now on Heart of the Machine: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2001070/view/524223621534581155

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

Lots of tuning by Badger for his various mods.

• Fix a Spire Sidekick bug with the Dark Zenith.
  
• Hopefully Armada Mines and Dyson Empire Drills will now die properly.
  
• Decrease Spire Sidekick HaP income; you currently get huge amounts you can't spend.
  
• Make Spire Golems cheaper to repair for Spire Sidekicks.
  
• Make some Terran Flagships reasonably sized that were the wrong size before.
  
• A number of Armada ships should now be able to load into their flagships.
  
• Top tier terran/kilrathi ships have more mass.
  
• The Game Lobby Armada Power knob (which affects income) now works.
  
• A bit more science for the Armada, and Terran/Kilrathi Ranger upgrades now cost the same.
  
• For each game, the Armada can only find 3 (of the 4) extra starbase types on the map.
  
• Change the icon for Reapers to be Parasite instead of Tethuida, for better visual contrast.
  
• Armada Starbases get more sockets.
  
• Buff Armada Locusts.
  
• Adjust some Dyson Empire spire defensive buildings.
  
• Tweaks to the Templar Exorcist/Knight.
  
• Dyson Empire can now upgrade its forcefields.
  
• Drones from Dyson Empire Moons should now attrition if the Moon is elsewhere.

• Radiant Dyson Tweaks has been discontinued as a mod, since it was altering a different mod that has changed too much for it to still function.
  
• Further decreased the displayed fleet strength of Exodian Blade.
  
• Wreckage of the Exodian Blade will now correctly have a movement debuff for the enemy ships in the same system.

Update 25 just dropped for heart of the Machine: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2001070/view/524223243273371658

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

• Make the Hateful AI type just a little bit worse.
  
• Some nerfs to the biggest ships of the Flenserite AI Type.
  
• Human Ark Sidekick metal income buffed.
  
• Lots of balance to the Armada Empire.
  
• A few minor fixes and clarity updates to the DZ Empire.
  
• Full rework of the Spire Sidekick! Full rework of the Spire Sidekick. The Spire Sidekick no longer has any dependency on a Human Empire; it can now be played freely with any Empire. Badger notes: I find playing as the Spire Sidekick alongside a Dark Zenith Empire (which I mostly let play itself unless I want to hit a specific target) makes for a really fun way to invade the galaxy.
  
• Dyson Empire had a few nerfs to Moons, in particular the Templar Moons.
  
• Scourge Infused Empire's Swarm Summoners attrition more slowly, and now only cost Corbomite.

• Fix a bug where the Victory/Defeat screens weren't playing.
  
• AIW2 on Linux now connects to Steam. This was broken by the changes to make Steam work on OSX.

Heart of the Machine is continuing to evolve, and is racking up positive reviews. Thank you so much for the ongoing support!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

• Lots of buffs to the Dyson Empire, and bugfixes for the Dark Zenith Empire.
  
• Armada Empire now needs to use Multi-Phasing flagships to attack new AI installations that hide in multi-phase. (Badger has been wanting something like this for a while; there's a lot of cool things one can do with phasing).

• Performance improvements to the marauders; they were notorious for bogging down the game when they got strong. Thanks to CRCGamer for this.
  
• Improvements to the Exodian Blade mod.
  
• The steamworks integration has been updated for OSX and linux, which should make it so that silicon-based macs are now able to use steamworks features. It's unclear if intel-based macs will still work with this or not, but it has not effect on windows and should not affect linux either.

Heart of the Machine is continuing to evolve, and is racking up positive reviews. It's currently on discount for 35% off during the summer sale!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/

Full release notes here[wiki.arcengames.com].

This is basically an unofficial DLC4, and it's free, and it's created by one of the main developers of the game (Badger). Originally, the Sidekicks mod started life as something a lot more modest, but it grew to a degree where the name was really no longer relevant. So... what is this thing:

• 4 new player empires.
  
• Dyson Empire: 4 races unite to create dyson spheres to help resist the AI
  
• Scourge Infused Empire: Control your scourge allies as they help you fight the AI
  
• Dark Zenith Empire: Lead the Dark Zenith as they seize the galaxy
  
• Armada Empire: 2 races fight the AI and their new allies, while making friends along the way.
  
• 13 AI Types, including the brand new "Hateful" AI type, that just uses people's least favorite AI ships

• Mod organization: Featured Mods are now shown at the top of the mod list, along with Forge of Empires, with the goal being to make it easy for players to find interesting and exciting mods to enhance their gameplay.
  
• Four mods are featured to start with:
  
• Points of Interest and Generator are both cool mods to increase the variety of your galaxies.
  
• DPSHud gives you a new way to understand combat.
  
• Extended Ship Variants gives you a lot of new ship lines to play with.

Heart of the Machine is continuing to evolve. It's currently on discount for 35% off for the first time ever! Update 18, Update 19, and Update 20 all went live this week, and are each notable in their own way. They've been in progress for a while. Update 21 will be out later tonight, in just a few hours, and has the new The Executive Tomb side story. This is a great time to dive into the game if you haven't yet!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/