WoWS: Public Test 0.6.6 Details

Stage one of the Public Test will be running from 25 May at 18:30 CEST until 29 May at 15:00 CEST (UTC+2). Keep in mind that this is a testing environment, and unannounced maintenance and patch deployments can happen at any time during the Public Test phase.

Because the version update is still being tested, the information in this Bulletin is tentative and reflects the state of game development at the time of publication. Certain changes and new features may be stripped or implemented in a different way by the time the final version of this update goes live. Screenshots, specific values of certain characteristics, and details of in-game mechanics will not necessarily be relevant after the update is released.

Scenarios

Initially, Cooperative battles were introduced mostly for training purposes or for the sake of upgrading ships from stock to top, but they were never considered a fully-featured game mode. However, we saw that many players enjoyed fighting against bots. The huge amount of positive comments regarding Halloween mode made us certain that a new game mode would be in demand—one in which players are not just fighting until all enemies are defeated or for victory points, but feel like they are real participants in a naval operation. That is why we are introducing a new mode called “Scenarios”, which contain “Operations”.

With the release of update 0.6.6, four different operations will be available that you can have a go at during the Public Test!

In this Operations PvE mode, seven players cooperate against AI enemies in various situations. Take this opportunity to participate in interesting and eventful battles to earn new achievements and valuable rewards. In version 0.6.6, Operations will be available for players with Service Record level 8 or higher, with Tier V and VI ships.

Right after the update, only one operation will be available. Other operations open one by one (you can see the date when the operation will become available displayed over the locked operation) and will become “Operation of the week” until the next operation is unlocked. Operations that have already been unlocked can be played, but only within an extended division that includes at least four players. For testing purposes, we will rotate the “Operation of the week” every hour on the Public Test.

Each operation has a set of main tasks and several optional tasks. If you complete all of them in one run, you will earn the biggest reward! Go for it, or simply have fun with your friends within a division of up to seven teammates. Remember, however, that this is only available in Operations mode.

Specifically for Operations mode, we added new maps, ships, destructible ground facilities, battle interface elements, and even a repair ship! Join in to be amongst the first to try out the new features and changes!

The release of Scenarios will be accompanied by two minor changes: we have changed the battle type selection screen and increased the number of levels in the Service Record to 15 by “inserting” a new Level 8. All details will be available immediately before the release of version 0.6.6.

---

 

Audio Improvements

Update 0.6.6 will bring sound improvement all around.

We updated and improved the in-game sound effects, such as weather during battle and ambient environmental sounds, as well as the sound of a ship’s flooding. We added new sound effects and updated the existing ones for the movement of all battleships and ambient environmental sounds in ports. We added many music compositions to denote different combat states throughout the interactive in-game music pattern of a battle, for the title track and for the beginning of a battle during countdown.

We’ve introduced dynamic background music consisting of two layers: as the distance closes between you and an enemy ship, more intense music will play with drums and various sound effects like bass or drum plate beats.

The new Ultra High audio quality settings are worth a separate mention. It will be available for download right in the launcher. Version 0.6.6 will bring in intensified gun sounds, vibrant Post Effects for hits, delays to sound effects such as explosions and landing sounds over long distances. This delay is directly related to the distance. The conversion for the most common sound effects will be set at maximum quality.

Mod makers, good news for you! We’ve updated the sound engine WWISE (2016.2.1 build 5995) and all officially released modifications in the .wem format. As is the case with the sounds of main guns, torpedoes and secondary armament, version 0.6.6 will support voiceover mods in the .mp3 format, too.

---

 

Other Improvements

As requested by many of our players, we’ve reworked the torpedo-launch functionality. If a ship is destroyed when it is launching torpedoes, all torpedoes will now launch—just give the order in time!

One more enhancement for the torpedo launcher: torpedo tubes will now be included in the “Switch camera automatically to each main gun” function.

To make your gameplay even more enjoyable, we’ve added one more improvement. When designating the target for AA, if line of sight to the aircraft is broken (i.e. the aircraft is temporarily out of detection range) and sight is then re-established, the focus command does not need to be re-designated again until the aircraft have landed or are destroyed.

We have made changes to the Controls Settings as well. We added an intermediate option for the alternative battle interface mode. Now, it has three settings: Off, Adaptive, and Full. Unlike Full, the Adaptive option will show extended information about the ships in three instances: when capturing a target at the specific distance from your ship (approximately 6.7 km), and for a group of ships that fall into the viewing range of your binoculars, depending on the zoom.

---

 

Balance Changes

German battleships are no longer the only ones to have special HE shells! Starting from Tier IV, German cruisers will now have it as well. To put it simply, we have increased the HE shells’ penetration and now their relatively small damage is compensated by higher penetration.

However, these are not the only chagnes to German cruisers. Nurnberg has become more effective thanks to the circular rotation of its rear main-calibre guns, as this is where the main firepower of the cruiser is concentrated. At the same time, the Tier X Hindenburg is now fully protected from explosions by large-calibre HE shells.

Japanese destroyer Yugumo has been a litle behind in its performance against other Tier IX Destroyers. In many ways it was connected with the limited choice of torpedoes, which forced players to play aggressively at short distances. Such a playstyle is not necessarily enjoyable for everyone, so we decided to broaden the range of options by adding the 12km Type93 mod.3 torpedoes that most players are familiar with. They should allow players to perform better with this ship while using a less aggressive playstyle.

And last, but certanly not least, we have lowered the citadels for the Battleships Montana, Iowa, and Missouri. Their upper border is now almost at the waterline level. This will allow players to play these ships more actively and manoeuvre more freely, as hitting their citadel is now a little harder.

There are more features to test and even more to enjoy in the upcoming Update!
Hop onto the Public Test server to go hands-on with the new stuff before it comes into the game later this month.

Earn Another Round of Rewards!

Image	Flag Name	Flag Effect
	Wyvern	+50% Credits
	Ouroboros	+777% to Free XP
	Hydra	+50% to XP +150% to Commander XP +250% to Free XP
	Red Dragon	+100% to XP +100% to Commander XP

 

You will be able to claim your rewards on the dedicated website. Information regarding when you will be able to redeem them will be sent to your registered Test Account email address on the day of the release of the update or slightly after. Please note that only players with a Public Test account registered to the same e-mail as their live server account will be able to redeem their rewards.

What resources will you get on the Public Test server?

• Tier V ships will be credited to all players at the start of the test, together with 15-skill-point commanders.
• Research prices of Tier V+ ships are significantly lowered, so that players can easily reach the top tiers in just a few battles.
• Research prices for modules will be discounted.
• Account Level 15 upon first login.
• Premium Account for 14 days upon your first login.
• 30,000 Doubloons.
• 500,000,000 Credits.
• Assorted signal flags for testing: 10 of each Signal Flag.
• Ability reset for Commanders will be discounted: 1 Doubloon = 1 Skill Point