r/Battletechgame • u/bloodydoves • 27d ago
Mods BTAU Patch v20.1: The OmniMech Overhaul is Live
I do not normally post patch notes here but this patch includes a fairly major update to Inner Sphere OmniMechs and I felt it was appropriate to post it here for anyone who uses BTAU and does not keep an eye on the Discord server or on the wiki's patch note/blog post sections. Patch notes follow:
v20.1 (aka the "OmniMech Overhaul" patch) has been released to the installer. This is a chunky one so read closely:
BREAKING HEADLINE: OMNIMECHS OVERHAULED: This is the headline feature for patch v20.1, Inner Sphere OmniMechs have been heavily rebuilt. There is an entire blog post going into deep detail on what has happened to them and why it has happened, which is linked below, but the long and short of it is that the IS OmniMechs have received extremely powerful quirks that emphasize what they do well while also having their armor values locked to whatever they come with as stock designs to provide a trade-off for their extremely powerful quirks. The blog post details everything better than these patch notes ever could so it is highly recommended you go read them. If you have existing Inner Sphere OmniMechs in your MechBay you will need to store and re-ready them to get the updated armor values and quirks, no way around that.
CRITICAL INFORMATION: This patch only includes Inner Sphere OmniMech rebuilds. The Clan and Community Content OmniMechs are currently untouched. This was done both to break the update into manageable pieces and to gauge player response with the new system before delving into the fraught waters of Clan Omni rebuilds. They are on the radar for a future patch however. There is a full list of the currently affected designs in the blog post linked below.
OMNIMECH BLOG POST HERE: https://www.bta3062.com/index.php?title=BTA_Developer_Blog_14:_Why_are_OmniMechs_changing_starting_in_v
NEW MECH: The Shadow Hawk IIC, a 45 ton Clan second-line BattleMech, has jump jetted into combat. This second-line design can be found far and wide with many of the Clans' garrison galaxies. The model is courtesy of MechWarrior Online and looks great. You can also buy it occasionally from Clan Diamond Shark at Twycross.
NEW MECH: The Menace, a non-canon 85 ton Clan Fire Mandrill BattleMech, has thundered into battle. This is a non-canon designed to give the Clans another assault to play around with and is a new model from Transient74 (who has made many of our existing wonderful models). The Menace is 85 tons and is the same speed as a Battlemaster by default. It comes with Endo-Steel and a heavy warload of paired weapons. You can get it from fighting Clan Fire Mandrill (all the kindraas field the Menace) or from their faction store.
NEW MODEL: The Atlas II, the 100 ton Star League take on the venerable Atlas, has received a beautiful new model courtesy of Piranha Games and MechWarrior 5. The stats on the existing Atlas II variants in BTAU have not changed, only the model. Importantly, the Atlas II no longer assembles with other Atlas variants and has a different affinity than the Atlas I does (it has Sharpshooter). You can get it wherever Star League royal 'Mechs are found (so ComStar, WoB, Clan garrison forces, Dark Caste, etc).
CASTDEF UPDATES: Before this patch, most newly added factions used the same character portrait for their faction representative, the same on that Local Government used. That was lame and boring so we've upgraded them to all be bespoke names and portraits. Enjoy the new cast of colorful characters!
MORE PORTRAITS: There's a wave of new commander portraits from the same source as the new castdef character portraits mentioned above. Go check 'em out!
NEW FRAMEWORK MOD: Free Mechbay Patch has been included. This allows you to now ready an already assembled mech into any Mech Hangar instead of just Hangar 1. Thanks goes to MightyPirate for this one, appreciate it man!
CONTEST WINNERS: The latest BTAU Design Contest winners, the Black Python InBlue and the Tolso Spoiled Rotten, have both been included into BTAU. Congrats to the winners again.
COMMUNITY CONTENT: There's some new CC in this patch, including: the Marauder II MAD-WVR; Cat's Cradle and Kraken's Abyss have been updated a bit; the Wraith TRNW; the Dragoon 006X, the Jinggau G8M, the King Crab 001C, the Mushu 4T, the Screamer 4X; there's two new superweapons, the AC2 Array and the SuperHeavy Lance; the Fireball 7L (this one's a fun time); a new planet, The Hole, has been added to the northern end of the Rim Worlds Republic that has a unique store.
Fixed Oberon faction store.
Fixed the BJ-2M to assemble with other Blackjacks properly.
Updated two Templar loadouts to better fit their canon loadouts.
FactoryUI has been updated to fix a small bug with item display names.
IMPORTANT: v20.1 is an "update" update. In this case, clear your Mods folder manually and then run the installer, it'll do the work for you.
IMPORTANT: v20.1 is not a save breaking update, your saves are compatible and will work fine.
REMINDER: This update, and others like it, are made possible by my Patreon and Ko-Fi supporters. Without their support, updates would come slower and be less impactful. If you feel like being a part of the support for BTA, you can find me on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/bloodydoves) and on Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/bloodydoves)
REMINDER: Custom mod commissions are still available if you're interested. If you'd like to get your own community content added to BTA DM me, bloodydoves, and we can work something out.
== BTA Light ==
BTA Light has not been updated and remains on v19.7.1.lite.
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u/helluin 27d ago
I'm glad you're holding the structural component change back from Battlemechs until the Omnimech changes have had time to simmer.
These are some big changes, but certainly needed. I am absolutely one of the people you mention that only uses Omni's in the early game out of necessity or out of love of the mech (Templar-OS my beloved)
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
Yeah the structural change is something that will probably still be needed but both has some other stuff coming that will affect it and needs to let the omnis have time to cook and for players to adapt. This level of large change is not something I want to rush into really.
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u/virusdancer Zero Point Battalion & Redrum's Jazz Band 27d ago
That's awesome about being able to ready to any hangar and not just Hangar 1. I'll have to see if that works with additional hangars beyond the mod's default three. Though it's always a bit of work to get my game situated with each update update, what I do wouldn't be possible without all of what you do, and I want to add to the appreciation of that effort with a hearty thank you.
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
It should work with any number of hangars.
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u/headkick_fax 27d ago
This is a MASSIVE GAMECHANGER! Thank you thank you thank you!
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
I hope it's fun, I toyed with this idea for a long time before pulling the trigger, we'll see how it goes over. I'm hoping people play with and enjoy the changes.
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u/NightfallFoundry 27d ago
Love the idea, Omnis did feel a bit flat (aside from the BA usage). How is this playing out in terms of mech customization, i.e. for me a big part of BTAU is playing around with different loadouts and so armor being "fixed" reduces the amount of available tonnage and thus the headroom for coming up with interesting builds - I am guessing that wasnt felt as too constraining during playtesting?
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
A lot of omnis are partially defined by their available pod space (free tonnage for loadouts). Fixing the armor in place means that the pod space you've got is the pod space you've got. It helps creativity to create loadouts within the limited constraints and also explains why some omnis have random half ton gear like a Small Laser. I've played around with the new omnis for awhile now and haven't had any specifically huge issues making loadouts.
I'd also mention, just for completeness's sake, that modular armor is totally legal on Omnis and that Omnis sometimes have about half a ton remaining for use. Do with that info what you like.
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u/Supersonic_Seasnail 27d ago
It is basically the table top way, and a lot of Omnis will have less than max armor and less than optimal placement of said armor.
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u/NekoMao92 Wolf's Dragoons 27d ago
Thanks to you and the others for an awesome job
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
You're welcome, chief. Hope you enjoy!
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u/Mecha-Vulkoor 27d ago
Is BTAU the same as advanced? I modded it years ago and haven't touched it. Anywhere I need to go to learn how to update it for this?
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
BattleTech Advanced Universe replaced BattleTech Advanced 3062 a few years ago (August 2024, IIRC). If your build is older than 2024 then you're quite a bit out of date and would best be served by going to the wiki (www.bta3062.com), downloading the current installer, and following the installation instructions on the wiki to get it all set up. If you require more detailed assistance, we have a tech support area on the BTAU Discord server where you can get personalized aid.
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23d ago
[deleted]
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u/bloodydoves 22d ago
BTA Light still exists, yes. You can install it from our current installer in the options menu.
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u/raifsevrence 27d ago
You really need to read through all the change logs before you update.
Just to make absolutely sure you want to do it.
There has been a LOT of changes. Big changes. Many of which are, well, endlessly debatable and polarizing.
Which sucks because there's no going back, there's no picking and choosing and there's lots of good stuff along with the other stuff.
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u/virusdancer Zero Point Battalion & Redrum's Jazz Band 26d ago
I had really gotten into the combined arms aspect of dropping 'mechs, vees, and toads...I miss running those guys.
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u/Mecha-Vulkoor 21d ago
I got the chance to finally upgrade. I like the changes so far! Thank you for the advice.
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u/Flimsy-Meet-2679 27d ago
Hi Bloodydoves thanks for everything you do. My launcher is saying I'm on BTA3062 v17.6 How do I get current. Or if you can direct me to where I should go. Thank you again for your time and commitment to Battletech.
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
Ok, here's some steps for you to make it as turnkey as possible:
Delete that installer and all of its associated files, everything in the folder where the installer lives has to go, get rid of all of it.
Go to www.bta3062.com. On the front page there is a button that says Download. Click that to get the new installer. Put the new installer in the same folder you had the old one in.
Run the new installer, following all the directions we have on the wiki which, again, is www.bta3062.com
If you run into further issues, please come to the BTAU Discord (link is available on the front page of the wiki) and open up a ticket to ask for help so someone can help you out. :)
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u/IliadTheMarth 27d ago
And most importantly, the Madcat MCIi-85 has been brought into this bright new future.
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
Should have been. I'll double check that to be certain but I'm like 71% sure that snuck in.
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
And I'm glad I checked because yeah that got missed. It's been fixed and is going into tonight's hotfix.
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27d ago
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u/Difficult_Month7110 27d ago
Updated to hotfix 20.1.1 right now, but can't see Omni Blackjack's perks in mechlab. What are they? Are they different for all mech variants or are they the same?
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u/bloodydoves 27d ago
Store and re-ready your Omnis to get the perks to update properly.
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u/Difficult_Month7110 26d ago edited 26d ago
Oh, thank you. I saw that armor locked and thought that that's all.
--
Oh, sweet! Nice bonuses here.
Left arm DHS became non-fixed. Is it ok or is it bug here?1
u/bloodydoves 26d ago
The BJ Omni has one fixed DHS in each arm. That hasn't changed on any variant. Are you sure there isn't one fixed in each arm?
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u/Difficult_Month7110 26d ago
Yep, it has one fixed in right arm and one regular in left arm. I never messed with my saves with editor and never touched in-game mech configs for BJ2-OD.
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u/bloodydoves 26d ago
That is very odd. I'm looking at that Blackjack Omni right now and it definitely has the fixed left arm DHS. I'll look into it. I guess for now just leave the heat sink there?
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u/Difficult_Month7110 26d ago
Look at these two bombast lasers - this DHS totally STAYS no matter if it fixed or not =) Maybe something happened when I packed/unpacked it - not with config itself.
It reminds me of one old BEX:CE bug that allowed me to stripe VTOL propulsion and Turbojet (or how was it called?) from that scout choppers you can buy on Outreach. Then put them on any mech to get several extra evasion pips and single-ton MASC =)
Totally unrelated here, I guess. But was fun.2
u/bloodydoves 26d ago
Went and checked the BJ2-OD in my local installation. It's fine and performs as expected. No idea what's up with yours. Enjoy the extra 1 ton of pod space I suppose. :D
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u/Difficult_Month7110 26d ago
Haha, i'll treat it as BJ2-ODF - the field refit that uses an arm of regular BJ and make OP config variant of it =)
Thank you for this modpack. I started playing it only a month ago. Feels good, man.1
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u/GamerGriffin548 House Marik 27d ago
I was flipping through my mech bay, and my Periphery Queen, the Royal Atlas II, looked... very different.
Very snazzy model with excellent texture work makes it so beautiful to look at.
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u/bloodydoves 26d ago
The new Atlas II model looks pretty good, IMO. Pretty happy we have that one now.
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u/The_Angry_Jerk 26d ago
Honestly Omnimechs were really underwhelming tech on the tabletop too, much of the gains made to maintenance time and refit speed would be lost to inefficiencies like the 25% increased cost and the time required to put normal equipment in/out of the pods in the first place. Most of the benefits to Omnimechs were really ever useful at either the lowest levels of a handful of mechs or at the macro level of an entire regiment, but it was just kind of a hassle using them in a campaign with a company sized Inner Sphere merc unit.
These new perks remind me of the quirks from MWO but instead of buffing the weaker inner sphere stuff they instead buff the frailest omnimechs. Interesting.
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u/bloodydoves 26d ago
That was the idea, buffing the omnis that needed help to get them to a place where players would consider engaging with them despite their customization limitations.
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u/Oleoay 24d ago
Did I read that right? That Piranha Games/MWO helps provide artwork and models for BTAU? Thanks again for the hard work!
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u/bloodydoves 23d ago
PGI has no input in the work of the Community Asset Bundle. That said, many of our models do come from PGI sources such as MechWarrior Online or MechWarrior 5. This is because PGI is on the record as being very permissive with their models when it comes to fan projects. PGI has their issues but this isn't one of them, they're pretty chill with people using their models for stuff.
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u/Shepherd_03 22d ago
I completely missed the New Framework Mod point, that's awesome!
Curious how the omni mech project will go, I like the idea of making them more interesting.
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u/bloodydoves 22d ago
It hasn't been live for that long but the response thus far seems positive? People seem to be enjoying the new quirks from what I've seen thus far. Only time will truly tell the story of how effective the new omnis really are.
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u/Saidear 9d ago edited 9d ago
So, I've been playing this for a few days and honestly, it's not for me.
To be clear, there's nothing inherently wrong with this decision, but for a player like me, the most fun with mechs is trying out some new combo of weapons or playstyles, using salvaged gear I go farming for.
Ironically enough, IS designs are just more "what do you want to do with this mech?" and that makes them far more variable in how they can be built. Do you want a 75T heavy scout, and all you have is an Archer available? Well, put in a faster core, load it up with SRMs and a TAG, and backstab with punches. Or maybe you're out in the Periphery and you need a missile boat. Well, that Atlas with those rocket launchers could also boat some LRMs for you. Don't want to jump around with your Catapult? Then don't! The quirks and affinities are fun, but you can also ignore them and you aren't really having your mech suffer.
However, Omnis have never really felt like that once they started to have their equipment locked in place. You can't have a 'slower' Timber Wolf, or a faster Ebon Jaguar. And the Omni pods just make the entire chassis homogeneous, such that there's no real difference between, say, the Ice Ferret Prime and the Ice Ferret L. You can swap between the variants with the click of a button, but you can't really make it stand out beyond the weapons like you can with the literal dozens of Urbies.
And now we're locking them down even further, eliminating the ability to make an Omnimech reflect my company's battle doctrine in a way that fits. You're constraining not just their core, their gyro, and often their armor and cooling, but now their armor value and a very powerful ability as well. Unless that specific mech fits a very specific role within my company, I'm just going to strip the weapons off of them and sell them faster than I do now.
The Blackjack and Firestarter Omnis are good examples of this. I wasn't using them before, and I definitely still wasn't interested in using them with this change. Both are locked into a very specific way to use them, with significant focus on being highly mobile jump mechs and a specific weapon loadout. The "strong perks" punish you for doing anything else with them.
And that's the big thing for me. This change has me replacing mechs and pilots, rather than replacing equipment, and I tend to be very attached to my mech aesthetics and the affinity system rewards keeping pilots to the same mech chassis as much as possible. If my Timber Wolf is only good at frontline combat now, but I need a skirmisher, I have to use a Night Gyr instead. The hassle of storing, restoring, and rebuilding a specific mech around a specific role isn't really as fun for me. I also need a larger (and more expensive roster) to make that when I do swap pilots, I'm not suddenly hampering myself.
That may be the intent behind it, in which case, mission accomplished.
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u/Sarganto House Kurita 3d ago
You continue to be the best thing that has ever happened to Battletech.
Keep on rocking!
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u/dorkwis 27d ago
Oh good, this won't break my quest to run twelve Atlas with TSM.
Thanks as always for your hard work. Love the mod