Hello, hello, hello!

It’s good to be back. In today’s DevBlog, we’ll highlight a major new update for WARNO’s Map Editor that has been recently rolled out, plus a preview of a handful of new Traits coming your way.

Let’s go!

Map Editor Update

When we first released the map editor earlier this year, we also announced the milestones you could expect from this handy and deep but relatively early version of our battlefield-making tool. One of the first updates is out in the wild: you can now create a tactical scenario (Conquest or Destruction) playable in Skirmish and online from any existing maps - and integrate them into a mod.



For a Skirmish scenario to be considered valid, you have to design it with:

• A playable zone that delimits the battlefield.
• A least two deployment zones (and matching reinforcement arrows).
• At least one command zone.
• Optional: starting points to establish the camera position on each side.

More details and instructions on how to export all the required files and incorporate them in a mod are included in the readme file how_to_make_a_scenario.txt, available in the Tools folder of the game. Be sure to check out this video made by our valued community member and beta tester Awoodenbox as well.



What’s next for the map editor? We are already working on the next updates:

• Allow the export of battleground scenarios (which are tactical scenarios launched when you play an Army General’s battle without auto-resolving).
• Full map export will allow you to create brand-new battlefields.

New Traits

Next up: new Traits! Hot on the heels of the two new traits recently added (AIRLIFT and ELECTRO-OPTICAL DAZZLER), more are coming your way. Some of the following text and titles are still work-in-progress. The new traits will be delivered as soon as they are ready (which - hopefully - shouldn’t take too long).

SMOKE LAUNCHER
This one trait doesn’t cover a new mechanic but rather a visual and text indicator to identify those vehicles fitted with smoke launchers (a community-requested addition). All units equipped with such a smoke device will automatically feature the trait, and subsequently, the useful icon will be displayed on the unit card.



FIRE DIRECTION
This particular trait will be found in a new type of command squad to be featured in the ART tab. These are units that, on top of the usual LEADER trait ability, will affect indirect fire units within their area of effect by greatly reducing their aim time. In exchange for using up one ART slot, you get a nifty bonus-providing unit featuring the FIRE DIRECTION trait. For the Steel Division 2 veterans out there, this particular trait will be akin to the Artillery Leader trait.



SIGINT
This trait means that the unit is equipped with radio direction-finding systems. It can detect and pinpoint enemy radio transmissions, even without seeing an enemy unit in-game. This means that the unit gains the ability to detect the presence of enemy units within its areas of effect (that’s right, there will be multiple areas of effect). Key to note that the enemy unit will not be spotted. A SIGINT unit will feature two ranges. A different label will be displayed depending on which of the two ranges a unit is detected. You will know instantly how close a unit is without needing a line of sight, but you will not know exactly where, type, or how many units, for instance.



Credit for this trait goes to Strike Team member int, who devised, modded, and tested it before presenting us with the gameplay specs. It had such a cool Aliens motion tracker vibe we just had to integrate it!



UAV
You might remember this one as being on the list thanks to the recent Nemesis #2: Plateau D'Albion vote winner. A unit with the UAV trait (being remotely piloted) will be impervious to Suppression and autoevac. Like the recently added recon plane, the OA-37 Dragonfly, the UAV will be featured in the REC tab, not AIR. UAVs in WARNO, being small and stealthy, are naturally hard to spot, including by radar. Likewise, they will be a challenge to actually target despite not featuring any ECM.

EA Pack Plus Out Now

Did you have a chance to check out the beefed-up EA Pack available now? Not long ago, we added two brand-new divisions as a mea culpa and token of gratitude to all Early Access owners of WARNO. NATO’s US 35th Infantry Division and Warsaw Pact’s Rügener Gruppierung have been added to the original five divisions, bringing with them a host of new toys and a brand-new nation: the Polish Armed Forces.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978610/WARNO__Early_Access_Pack/

Until Next Time

That’s that. Let us know what you think! Note that we have some exciting new stuff to share with you regarding our upcoming major NORTHAG expansion. This means that from the next DevBlog onwards, we’ll up the tempo and release a DevBlog twice a week!

Join the WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.

See you on the battlefield, commander.