WHAT IS THE GAME ABOUT?

A detailed description of the game.

WHERE CAN I BUY THE GAME?

The game is not currently for sale. The game is in active development and currently in Closed Beta Test (CBT) via SteamWorks.

After conducting an early open test period to gain performance and player engagement metrics, as well as feedback, we moved to Closed Beta Test (CBT) with those testers. We plan on doing another open test when we are closer to final release; at which time we will issue free keys as-needed.

I HAVE THE GAME. WHERE DO I START?

Install the game through Steam by redeeming the Steam key. This will give you access to the GA (General Availability) builds. If you want access to the latest internal DEV builds, which contain bug fixes, tweaks, new features etc, and which will later become the GA build, you can download it via the Beta tab on Steam. For more info, see the DSS page.

After installation, jump into the game by reading the Quick Help.

You can view the game docs (updated to reflect changes in new releases) from within the game launcher or game by pressing F4 (commands), F5 (manual), F6 (quick help).

GAME TIERS

The game has a Starter Kit primary tier which provides immediate access to the game, while providing various items and unlocks.

It also has four tiers called Tactical Advancement Kits which also provide immediate access to the game, as well as various bundled items and unlocks.

These TAK tiers can also be stacked. For example, you can start off with a Starter Kit, then later obtain any of the four TAK tiers at any time. Or you could start off with a TAK L1, then later obtain any of the other three TAK tiers as-needed.

Depending on your tier type, some items (e.g. the Starter Kit does not come with a jetpack) may have to be obtained from the supply packs (supply, medical, weapon) scattered around the game world (planet, stations etc). Their locations are indicated by lit beacons. From these packs you can get medical kits, weapons, items (jetpack, wingsuit/wingchute etc).

There is no monthly subscription. When the in-game store is enabled, the same items available in the various tiers, can also be purchased individually. They can also be obtained for free via periodic supply pack loot drops.

GAMEPLAY FLOW

The game is pure PvP, and takes place in an open world persistent universe.

Players start off as an infantry marine for either the Terran Military (Galactic Command) or Terran Insurgents, with a choice of character class, weapons etc.

During the course of the game, players engage in various activities as infantry, with access to various air, land, sea, and space combat assets, including specific (server dependent) World Event game modes.

GAME DOCS

The game docs are available in-game via hotkeys. F4 (commands), F5 (manual), F6 (quick help). They are also available here for printing.

IMPORTANT LINKS

About Line Of Defense
Game Docs & Maps
Dev Roadmap
Changelog
Known Issues
Tech Support
Discord Server Invite

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SUBJECT TO CHANGE
updated: 11-09-2019

Minimum Requirements

• Windows 10 (64-Bit) w/ all Service Packs
• Intel Core i5-3570K @ 3.8 GHz / AMD FX-8310 @ 3.4 GHz
• 8GB RAM
• nVidia GeForce GTX 780 / AMD Radeon RX 470
• DirectX compatible sound card
• Broadband internet connection
• 15GB hard disk drive space

Recommended Requirements

• Windows 10 (64-Bit) w/ all Service Packs
• Intel Core i7-3820 @ 3.6 GHz / AMD Ryzen 3-3200G @ 3.6 GHz
• 16GB RAM or higher
• nVidia GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon R9

Optional Hardware Components

• XBox 360 or XBox One controller for Windows
• DirectX compatible joystick

GPU and CPU benchmarks

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MONTHLY FEE

There is no monthly subscription fee. The game was designed to support either F2P (Free-to-Play) or B2P (Buy-To-Play) monetization models; with both supporting in-game transactions via the purchase of items.

In the case of either model, the Starter Kit is the lowest barrier to entry. The four optional Tactical Advancement Kits are similar to DLC which can be purchased either at the start, or later.

DO I HAVE TO BUY STUFF?

Once you buy the game, either via a Starter Kit or Tactical Advancement Kit, you can play for as long as you like without having to buy anything else.

As you play, you will earn Combat Experience Points which you can use to purchase certain in-game items.

Using in-game currency, you can also buy individual items from within the game’s cash shop interface via Supply Platforms located through the game world.

Below are the class of items which you can purchase in the game. See the online game dB for a full list.

• Combat Experience Points
• Combat Training Certificates
• Standard inventory items (e.g. body armor, jetpack), neural implants
• Weapons, weapon attachments, ammo, explosive ordnance, deployable units
• Androids (as NPC companions)
• Limited vanity items (e.g. colored body armor)

NOTE: You cannot buy vehicles or aircraft. They can only be obtained by purchasing CTC which gives access to them for a limited period of time.

HOW DOES THE FINANCE SYSTEM WORK?

The game’s currency, GALCOM Credits (GALCRED), can be purchased with real money.

GALCRED can then be used to purchase various game items.

The current exchange rate (subject to change) is 100 GALCRED = $1 USD.

Available purchase tiers:

GALCRED USD

500 $5.00
1000 $10.00
1500 $15.00
2000 $20.00
2500 $25.00
5000 $50.00


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The game is pure PvP (with some PvE in the form of world events) takes place in an open world persistent universe, and supports various game play modes documented in the game docs.

Players start off as an infantry marine for either the Terran Military (Galactic Command) or Terran Insurgents, with a choice of character class, weapons etc.

During the course of the game, players engage in various activities as infantry, with access to various air, land, sea, and space combat assets, including specific game modes called World Events.

A TYPICAL GAMEPLAY SCENARIO

• start as infantry combatant deployed to a planetary base (e.g. Heatwave)
• fight some guys (or NPC androids in a world event)
• grab a fighter or shuttle, do some aerial combat, jump to another planetary base (e.g. Frostbite)
• exit craft, do some infantry combat, grab a fighter and go to space
• do some space combat, dock at a station or carrier, exit the craft in infantry mode
• do some infantry combat inside the station or carrier
• use an HAIS-MK2 device to drop launch to the planet below via an airlock. your space craft is still docked at the station or carrier
• back on the planet, do what the hell you want, grab a vehicle, do some mayhem etc
• use a DJP to go from one planetary scene to the other, then jetpack to the top of a building and snipe fools from atop
• jetpack off the building and onto an airborne aircraft, wait for it to gain altitude, then do wingsuit drop behind enemy lines
• use a DJP to go from the planet, back to the station/carrier, go to the airlock, board your fighter, join the battle

QUICK RUN THROUGH THE GAME WORLD

The game features a large connected world. Below is a quick run that takes you through each of the thirteen scenes.

The game docs are available in-game, but you should probably print the online versions as well.

WARNING: All space and planetary defense systems are active, and unless they have been re-programmed (see p16 of quick help) by other players, by default they will engage all detected targets.

1. Create a character as normal. Note that your account type (Starter Kit or Tactical Advantage Kit) determines your deployment location options. More info here.

2. Deploy from the Starguard carrier which has three massive decks. You can go to each one using the t-shafts (see p6 of quick help) located there.

3. Use a DJP (see p6 of quick help) on one of the Starguard decks to go to the Arkangel station.

4. Use a DJP on Arkangel to go to Vanguard station.

5. Use a DJP on Vanguard to go to Templar station.

6. Use a DJP on Templar to go to Overwatch station.

7. Use a Tacops terminal (see p13 of quick help) at Overwatch and spawn a space craft. This launches you into the Zilon space scene.

8. Use a jumpgate (see p6 of quick help) in Zilon and jump to Sygan space region.

9. Use a jumpgate in Sygan and jump to Lennen space region.

10. Use a jumpgate in Lennen and jump to Lyrius space region.

11. Dock (see p15 of the quick help) at the Arkangel station.

12. Go to the airlock (see in-game map, M) and grab an HAIS suit. Use (see p8 of quick help) the suit to drop-launch from orbit to a location on the Heatwave starbase below.

13. Use (see p7 of quick help) your jetpack (if you have one) to get around Heatwave faster.

14. Use a Tacops terminal (see in-game map, M) to obtain an aircraft. Fly around, then use a jumpgate to Frostbite starbase.

    NOTE: Later when player controlled vehicles and M.I.C.E units are unlocked (upcoming build), you can use also use them to get around.

15. Complete your exploration, then in an aircraft, use a jumpgate to Nightbridge starbase; then later go to Gulge starbase from there.

16. Use a jumpgate to fly from Gulge (or from whatever starbase you are on) back to Lyrius space.

17. Use a jumpgate to fly from Lyrius space back to one of the starbases on the Lyrius planet below.

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The battle is waged between the Terran Military forces of GALCOM (Galactic Command) and the Terran Insurgents, a para-military group.

Line Of Defense hails from an original IP that has thirteen alien nations and over twenty-three castes (Military, Insurgents etc) in a vast universe that spawned several game series (Battlecruiser 3000AD, Universal Combat, Galactic Command, All Aspects).

While some may shrug or frown at the only two factions, there is no empirical evidence or research to suggest that having any particular number makes a game any good or bad. Yes, we all like choices and having a choice is good. But in LOD, with two sides, each with four unique classes – which can cater to any type of character – there are even more possibilities than having more factions and less choice.

Depending on how the game is received, we will of course add other aliens and castes via add-on updates.

More info

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At this time, there is no character customization. We will be looking into this at some point down the road depending on suggestions and demand.

You can customize your character class.

You can also buy one of four (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue) different color schemes for your player’s armor and which you can switch to.

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The game is targeted for quick “jump in, jump out” engagements. So we made the control schemes as simple as possible and modeled after various gaming standards.

This means that mouse and WASD keyboard commands are used. We also have optional support for joysticks and the Xbox360 and XboxOne controllers.

The scheme allows you to seamlessly control your infantry character as well as vehicles and aircraft with very little variations. So going from infantry to vehicle or aircraft is not very different.

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The game’s hybrid tech supports both dedicated server as well as peer-to-peer (client hosts and plays) session hosting for PC and consoles. It supports a large number of players in a persistent, non-sharded, non-instanced, game world.

Our revolutionary Wide Span Global (WSG) technology supports various networking and game hosting configurations in a distributed multiplayer environment. It combines several game scenes (aka maps, levels etc) to create a seamless world scape; all linked via low latency protocols.

DEDICATED & PERSISTENT

The game world is currently locked to support up to 256 players per scene. When a scene is full, access to it is prohibited.

There are currently a total of thirteen (4 planetary bases, 4 space regions, 4 stations, 1 carrier) scenes.

A full WSG server cluster supports (256 x 13) 3328 clients. Don’t get confused by this number – they’re not all going to be interacting with each other at the same time due to there being a 256 client limit in each of the 13 scenes.

Though the engine is capable of supporting a larger number of clients, the cap in the number of clients per scene is based on the server config, in order to keep performance in check. The novelty of 1000 clients fighting a battle within proximity of each other, is just that – a novelty.

SESSION BASED

This option allows any player client to host a game for up to 64 players. During setup, sessions can be public or set to private with a password. The player can also setup which supported World Event will be running during the session.

Unlike a WSG dedicated server, for efficiency, player hosted servers can only demand load (with cycling as-needed) the scenes used in the World Event.

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Click for larger version
The game takes place across two Terran Quadrant star systems, Sirius and Barnard’s Star, located in a small section of the larger persistent universe that our previous Battlecruiser and Universal Combat games took place in.

These regions in Line Of Defense are also smaller in this game due to performance and gameplay considerations. To get an idea of the massive scope and scale of the universe feature in the IP, download the Universal Combat CE 2.0 game that is currently free on Steam.

Our ultimate goal with the game’s design is to expand it to other areas via DLC, until the game features the complete universe, albeit with the same small space and planetary sizes.

This first release of the game features the following regions, of which only the Lyrius planet – where the conflict takes place – is terraformed. The other planets and moons will be terraformed in future DLC updates, thus expanding the gameplay areas progressively.

4 space regions (Lyrius, Lennen, Zilon, Sygan)
4 planets (Lyrius has four bases. Heatwave, Gulge, Nightbridge, Frostbite)
7 moons (Primus, Veran, Eclipse, Wayward, Bloom, Omaris, Stigler)
4 stations (Arkangel, Vanguard, Templar, Overwatch)
1 Engstrom class carrier (GCV-Starguard with three decks)

The game docs contains internal layout schematics for all the stations, and the carrier.

Due to the significant size of the game world, as well as the design, the need for control over server population, performance considerations etc, there is no seamless space planet transition. Instead, going from planet to space, and vice versa, is done via jump gates. When players jump from one region to the other via a jump gate, the target scene is then loaded.

SPACE REGIONS

There are four space regions each containing a planet, moon or both, primary station and theme. Each space region is roughly 4,500 sq. km, with a buffer zone around it. When you reach that buffer zone, the ship starts to degrade, until destroyed if you don’t turn back.

Each planet and moon is built to support multiple regions. In the initial game release, only the Lyrius planet can be entered. The other planets and moons cannot be entered as they have not been terraformed.

The four space regions are linked together by jumpgates each of which has a single target destination.

Stations are linked to starbases on the planet via Dynamic Jump Pads. For example you can use the DJP on the HEATWAVE starbase on the planet to go to the ARKANGEL station in space and vice versa.

You can dock a fighter or shuttle with a station or carrier, exit the craft, then walk through the installation in fps mode. From within the installation, you can use t-shafts to move from deck to deck or use a DJP to go to another station or starbase. You can also use an HAIS MK2 to enter the planet below.

LYRIUS (ARKANGEL station):
Contains 1 planet (LYRIUS) and 2 moons (PRIMUS, VERAN)
Linked to LENNEN
Linked to HEATWAVE, NIGHTBRIDGE, FROSTBITE, GULGE starbase

The region also has the GCV-STARGUARD, the last surviving Galactic Command craft from the GALCOM, Insurgent conflict in Lyrius. It is currently unmanned and in orbit above the planet.

LENNEN (VANGUARD station):
Contains 1 planet (LENNEN) and 1 moon (ECLIPSE)
Linked to LYRIUS and SYGAN

SYGAN (TEMPLAR station):
Contains 1 planet (LENNEN) and 2 moons (OMARIS, STIGLER)
Linked to ZILON and LENNEN

ZILON (OVERWATCH station):
Contains 1 planet (LENNEN) and 2 moons (WAYWARD, BLOOM)
Linked to SYGAN

PLANETARY REGIONS

There are a number of regions on the Lyrius planet, each containing a primary starbase and unique theme. Each region is roughly 256 sq. km, with a buffer zone around it. When you reach that buffer zone, the ship starts to degrade, until destroyed if you don’t turn back.

The game world supports dynamic Time Of Day (TOD) where each full day to night transition on Lyrius planet spans 3 hrs of real-time.

The four starbase regions on Lyrius are linked together by Dynamic Jump Pads and jumpgates. Each of which has one or more target destinations in another space or planetary region or station.

In infantry mode, you can use a DJP to go from one starbase region to another or to a station or carrier in orbit around the planets. You can also use a jumpgate to fly between starbase regions or to space.

STARBASE01 (HEATWAVE starbase):  (Desert Climate Zone, DCZ)
Standard starbase
Linked to NIGHTBRIDGE and FROSTBITE
Linked to ARKANGEL station

STARBASE02 (NIGHTBRIDGE starbase):  (Moderate Climate Zone, MCZ)
Standard starbase within an abandoned city
Linked to HEATWAVE and GULGE
Linked to ARKANGEL station

STARBASE03 (FROSTBITE starbase):  (Artic Climate Zone, ACZ)
Standard starbase
Linked to HEATWAVE and GULGE
Linked to ARKANGEL station

STARBASE04 (GULGE starbase):  (Hot Climate Zone, HCZ)
Standard starbase
Linked to NIGHTBRIDGE and FROSTBITE
Linked to ARKANGEL station

WORLD NAVIGATION

• As infantry on the planet, you can use a Dynamic Jump Pad to go from any Lyrius base to another or to one of the four stations or the GCV-Starguard carrier – and vice versa.
• As infantry on the planet with a vehicle, you can use a shuttle or heavy gunship to load your vehicle in, then deploy it in another Lyrius base using a jumpgate.
• As a pilot on the planet, you can use a jumpgate to go from any Lyrius base to another base or to one of the four space regions – and vice versa.
• As infantry inside a station or carrier, you can use turbo shafts (T-Shaft) to go from one area to another.
• As infantry inside a station or carrier, you can requisition a fighter or shuttle, launch into space; then use a jump gate to travel between space and planetary regions.
• As a pilot in space, you can dock with any of the four stations or carrier, exit in infantry fps mode and move around inside.
• As infantry with an HAIS-MK2 suit (found inside the station and carrier above Lyrius planet), you can use the airlock to do an orbital drop to any base on the Lyrius planet below.

SCENE TRANSITION

There is no seamless space<--->planetary transition. For an explanation, please see this blog post.

Basically, if we allowed all the scenes to be cohesively connected, among other things, there would be insurmountable challenges to making the game perform as expected. These include performance, scene loading, there would be no way to properly handle client population control (critical to the performance and handling of the game world) given its size and scope. Note that all the scenes, including the planetary bases, are hand-crafted and themed. So they do not benefit from procedural generation.

The game docs has more details on how to get around in the game world. The In Pursuit Of Awesomeness dev blog gives an insight to the custom engine we built to make the game.

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On a planet, while moving around on foot as infantry, you can use a Dynamic Jump Pad to move from one planetary base to another. Some DJPs also link to a station or carrier in space.

On a planet, if you are flying around in an aircraft, you can also use a jumpgate to move from one planetary base to another, or to space.

In space, if you are in a space craft, you can use a jumpgate to go to another space or planetary region. You can also dock with a station or carrier.

You can also use a High Altitude Insertion Suit MK1 to jump from one planet location to another.

The High Altitude Insertion Suit MK2 allows you to launch from a station (Arkangel) or carrier (GCV-Starguard) docking bay to the planet (Lyrius) surface below.

More info: How is the game world divided FAQ entry.

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Yes – depending on the server configuration. In both cases, when you log off, all your stats are saved and restored when you log back in at another time.

DEDICATED SERVER

The game server is fully persistent with no instancing or sharding. Each dedicated server config supports up to 256 clients per scene (more info); and each scene is its own session, thus forming part of the server cluster. If a scene goes off-line for any reason, players can still connect to other scenes, thereby continuing the battle.

As long as the server cluster is up, the conflict continues 24-7 regardless of whether or not you are logged in. There is no battle reset.

SESSION SERVER

The game server is hosted (up to 2-64) by a player (on their own machine or via third-party hosts). Other clients join via a server browser which shows active servers depending on their configuration. This config only supports a single scene (host configured) at a time; with the battle moving to the next scene based on the server config.

As long as the player host server is up, the conflict continues 24-7 regardless of whether or not you are logged in. However, as scenes are run based on the server config sequence (e.g. the player host may choose to host only space combat scenes), the scene resets with each reload.

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The game is pure PvP. There are no missions or quests.

World Events are gameplay modes which can be active depending on the server config. These events run on top of the default (Incursion) mode such that you can still gain CEP, rank, medals/ribbons etc.

Most world events take place across the partitioned game world consisting of four planetary bases (Heatwave, Frostbite, Gulge, Nightbridge), four stations (Arkangel, Overwatch, Templar, Vanguard), and the Starguard carrier.

Though there are also space regions which can be traversed during gameplay, there are no specific world events that feature purely space combat. It’s not that kind of game. But by all means, if you come across a hostile craft, as you would on the planet, feel free to engage.

INCURSION

This is the default baseline PvP game mode. As the player stats (kills, CEP, rank, medals/ribbons) are character specific and persistent, they are reflected in this and any specific world event played.

OBJECTIVES	WIN CONDITIONS	BONUS	TIME LIMITS
Engage enemy combatants	N/A	N/A	N/A

HOSTILE INTENT

Fight for control of the four planetary bases (Heatwave, Frostbite, Gulge, Nightbridge), four stations (Arkangel, Overwatch, Templar, Vanguard), and the Starguard carrier.

Each entity can be captured by activating the terminal inside, thus changing its alliance to your faction for a period time before it can reset.

There are various incentives for capturing entities. These include air drops of inventory (items, weapons, ammo etc), vehicles, aircraft etc.

OBJECTIVES	WIN CONDITIONS	BONUS	TIME LIMITS
Capture and hold bases and installations	Team with most points	Extra CEP for winning team members and those who activate|deactivate defense systems	N/A

HOSTILE INCARCERATION

The GCV-Starguard carrier has a detention hold on deck two where prisoners are held.

Hitting someone with a Hostile Incarceration Dart (HID) thrown or fired from a TKR9 weapon, instantly teleports them to this detention hold.

The captive can only come out after a five minute stay, or if someone with the Advanced Programming Spec II CTC, hacks into the terminal outside the door and disables the force-field.

The incarcerated player loses 15 CEP. The player doing the incarceration gains 15 CEP.

To lower the force-field, use the terminal near the detention hold by pressing and holding F until the operation is complete.

OBJECTIVES	WIN CONDITIONS	BONUS	TIME LIMITS
Engage and send enemy combatants to the detention hold	Team with most points	Extra CEP for winning team members	Server Config (mins)

ENEMY MINE

The space defense systems, planetary defense systems, and sentry androids are in PASSIVE mode by default.

Use the terminal inside the starbase, station or carrier, to change the mode to engage ALL HOSTILES.

OBJECTIVES	WIN CONDITIONS	BONUS	TIME LIMITS
Enable defense systems. Engage enemy combatants	Team with most points	Extra CEP for winning team members and those who activate|deactivate defense systems	Server Config (mins)

PLANETFALL

All players are prisoners of war stuck aboard the GCV-Starguard with no weapons or items. The carrier is in shutdown phase, and its life support systems have failed.

Relying solely on melee weapons found in certain parts of the carrier, players have to fight their way off the carrier before its life support goes offline within five minutes of session start.

There are two methods of getting off the carrier:

1: Obtain an HAIS suit at an airlock location, and use it to drop to the planet below. After selecting a planetfall drop location from a map, fly down to the selected landing point while evading radiation zones and hostile surface to air weapons fire from the planet’s automatic defenses.

2: Use an AI controlled K19XZ shuttle which departs the carrier docking bay within five minutes of session start. Then using a wingsuit (found in certain parts of the carrier), jump out of the shuttle at any point once planetfall is established, while evading radiation zones and hostile surface to air weapons fire from the planet’s automatic defenses.

NUCSTAR nuclear devices automatically detonated at the base, spread radiation outward toward the center of the base. As the blast from the nuclear fallout spreads toward the base center, radiation can injure and will ultimately kill players. The outward spreading blast eventually pushes surviving players toward the center of the base, for the ultimate showdown to find the ultimate SERE operative.

OBJECTIVES	WIN CONDITIONS	BONUS	TIME LIMITS
Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape	Don’t die	Standard CEP awards	N/A

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The Starter kit (SK) is a basic faction specific package that gets you into the game. It has various restrictions not present in the Tactical Advancement Kit (TAK) tiers.

For example, you can only deploy from deck 1 of the GCV-Starguard carrier. Terran Military deploy in the Commander’s Quarters & Officers Quarters, and Terran Insurgent deploy in the Guest Quarters.

During gameplay, you can also seek out free items (e.g. jetpack, wingsuit/wingchute), ammo etc spawned at random from the various packs (Portable Supply Pack, Portable Weapon Pack, Portable Medical Pack) scattered around the environment (marked by light beacons).

Until account and feature restrictions are implemented, there will be no CTC restrictions on item usage. So for example, if you have a Starter Kit (it does not come with a jetpack), you can seek out a jetpack, wingsuit/wingchute, weapons etc in the various packs above and be able to use them.

Similarly, buying a game tier does not immediately guarantee access to the items not already implemented or unlocked in the game. For example, if you buy a TAK LIV and the GLE22 grenade launcher has not yet been unlocked, you won’t be able to use it until it is unlocked later on during development.

Check the online dB for a description & stats of each item

RESTRICTIONS

• 2 character classes (Assault Force Marine or Insurgent Infantry)
• 1 character slot
• 1 primary loadout slot + 1 custom loadout slot
• Can only deploy from the Starguard carrier
• No leaderboard stats tracking
• Combat Experience Point capped
• Can only requisition one random asset per class at supply platform
• Items picked up in the game world do not persistent across regions
• Cannot requisition androids at supply platform
• Cannot create fireteam
• Cannot create squad
• Cannot create Forward Operating Base

Each faction based Starter kit comes with the following items.

Terran/Military
Soldier Enlistment Kit (SEK)

• M117 rifle
• SP911 pistol
• MAG_P3 x3
• MAG_AR1 x3
• MEDKIT25 x1
• CTC: Basic Weapons Proficiency
• CTC: Light Weapons Training

Terran/Insurgent
Battle Survival Gear (BSG)

• XN32 rifle
• M310 pistol
• MAG_P1 x2
• MAG_AR2 x2
• MAG_AR4 x2
• MEDKIT25 x1
• CTC: Basic Weapons Training
• CTC: Light Weapons Proficiency

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A Tactical Advancement Kit is an optional package which has various item bundles and perks not present in the Starter Kit.

In addition to having several benefits, a TAK tier also comes bundled with various items. You can buy any TAK level you want. e.g. If you have TAK LIV, you could still buy TAK L1 if you wanted the M117 assault rifle. These are items you can also find in the game world for pickup.

During gameplay, you can also seek out items (e.g. jetpack, wingsuit/wingchute), ammo etc spawned at random from the various packs (Portable Supply Pack, Portable Weapon Pack, Portable Medical Pack) scattered around the environment (marked by light beacons).

Until account and feature restrictions are implemented, there will be no CTC restrictions on item usage. So for example, if you have a Starter Kit (it does not come with a jetpack), you can seek out a jetpack, wingsuit/wingchute, weapons etc in the various packs above and be able to use them.

Similarly, buying a game tier does not immediately guarantee access to the items not already implemented or unlocked in the game. For example, if you buy a TAK LIV and the GLE22 grenade launcher has not yet been unlocked, you won’t be able to use it until it is unlocked later on during development.

Check the online dB for a description & stats of each item

BENEFITS

• 10 (4 male, 2 female) characters
• Character slots (2, 4, 6, 8) based on TAK tier
• Primary loadout slots (1, 2, 3, 4) based on TAK tier + custom loadout slots (2, 4, 6, 8) based on TAK tier
• Can deploy from any scene (station, carrier, planet)
• Leaderboard stats tracking
• No Combat Experience Point cap
• Can requisition all allowable assets (air/space craft, vehicles etc) at supply platform
• Items picked up in the game world persist across regions
• Can requisition androids (e.g. to join Fireteam or squad) at supply platform
• Can create fireteam
• Can create squad
• Can create Forward Operating Base

TAK LEVEL IV

• SP911 pistol
• TL22 assault rifle
• GLE22 grenade launcher
• Energy Lance CL2
• Wristlaser CL1
• AMMO: MAG_P3 x4, MAG_AR2 x4, MAG_AR4 x4
• ENERGYCELL40 x2
• WLAPG grenade x2
• Flash grenade x2
• Plasma grenade x2
• Zoom Scope 1 attachment
• Night Optics 2 attachment
• Wingsuit/Wingchute
• Armor CL4
• Jetpack MK2
• Portable Shield Unit
• MEDKIT25 x2
• MEDKIT40 x2
• CTC: Basic Weapons Proficiency
• CTC: Light Weapons Training
• CTC: Advanced Weapons Training
• CTC: Beam Weapons Training
• CTC: Item Training
• CTC: Wingsuit Training
• CTC: Jetpack Training
• CTC: Ground Vehicle Training
• CTC: Ground Vehicle Proficiency
• CTC: Ground Vehicle Expertise
• CTC: MICE Class License
• CTC: Light Fighter Class License
• CTC: Medium Fighter Class License
• CTC: Heavy Fighter Class License
• CTC: Super Fighter Class License
• CTC: Class A Gunship License

TAK LEVEL III

• SCAT2 pistol
• MK330 machine gun
• Energy Lance CL1
• AMMO: MAG_P2 x4, MAG_P4 x3, MAG_MG1 x4
• ENERGYCELL40 x1
• APG grenade x2
• Flash grenade x2
• Smoke grenade x2
• Laser Marker 1 attachment
• Armor CL3
• Jetpack MK2
• Portable Cloaking Unit
• MEDKIT40 x1
• CTC: Basic Weapons Proficiency
• CTC: Heavy Weapons Training
• CTC: Beam Weapons Training
• CTC: Jetpack Training
• CTC: Ground Vehicle Expertise
• CTC: Heavy Fighter Class License

TAK LEVEL II

• HK900 shotgun
• DTR4A sniper rifle
• Combat Knife Type 01
• AMMO: MAG_SS2 x3, MAG_SR2 x3
• ENERGYCELL25 x1
• Proximity grenade x2
• Armor CL2
• Jetpack MK1
• MEDKIT25 x2
• CTC: Medium Weapons Training
• CTC: Sniper Weapons Training
• CTC: Jetpack Training
• CTC: Ground Vehicle Proficiency
• CTC: Medium Fighter Class License

TAK LEVEL I

• SCAT1 pistol
• FG45 assault rifle
• AMMO: MAG_P1 x3, MAG_P4 x2, MAG_AR1 x3
• ENERGYCELL15 x1
• Armor CL1
• Jetpack MK1
• MEDKIT25 x1
• CTC: Basic Weapons Training
• CTC: Light Weapons Training
• CTC: Jetpack Training
• CTC: Ground Vehicle Training
• CTC: Light Fighter Class License

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Combat Experience Points (CEP)

• Gained through gameplay or purchased (using GALCRED) in bulk
• Lost for various illegal actions such as killing other friendly players, destroying friendly units etc
• Are awarded for performing various in-game actions such as killing the enemy, healing a fellow team mate, destroying or hacking enemy assets, completing a world event etc
• Can be used to unlock various ranks/decorations
• Can be used to obtain Combat Training Certificates (CTC)

Combat Training Certificates (CTC)

• CTC implants are consumables (like ammo) which wear off based on time or usage. Others are permanent. All CTC included in a TAK tier are permanent.
• Gained through gameplay (e.g. in supply packs spawned in the game world) or purchased individually.
• Usage requires injection via an implant injector. Once activated, they give various abilities.
• Can be acquired but not activated until needed
• Can only have a certain (e.g. 4) number active at any one time

Example of CTC usage:

To be able to fly light fighters and drive certain ground vehicles, you need Light Fighter Class License (+260) and Ground Vehicle Training (+225) for a total of 485 CEP.

So if you have 500 CEP, and activate both of the above, then 485 is deducted from your total.

List of CTC and CEP awards (updated regularly)

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As part of the game’s release on Steam Early Access, which contains a wealth of benefits from the Tactical Advancement Kits, those who purchase the game during the limited time Early Access period will also get a choice of four Commander Perks (see below) based on the Early Access tier (Commander, Ambassador, Emissary) purchased.

Some items (Jetpack MK1B, TAB MX1B, Portable Supply Pack, Special Ops ribbon) in the bundles are also not available for sale in the game and thus are unique to Early Access participants.

Airborne Ops (pilot class)

• JETPACK MK1B. Not available for purchase. A variation of the JETPACK-MK1 with a unique texture scheme
• Wingsuit Training CTC
• Jetpack Training CTC

Tactical Assault Ops (heavy class)

• TAB MX1B. Not available for purchase. A variation of the TABMX1 with a unique texture scheme
• Ground Vehicle Training CTC
• HAV Class License CTC

Tactical Support Ops (support class)

• Portable Supply Pack. Using Tactical Info Pad allows the player to create a supply drop once a day and at a chosen location. This drop contains various supplies and disappears after a period of time.
• Item Training CTC
• Item Proficiency CTC

Special Ops (sniper class)

• WINGSUIT-SC / WINGCHUTE-SC. A variation of the standard wingsuit / wingchute combo with a unique texture and smoke flares which emit when wingsuit is deployed.
• PL12 sniper rifle
• MAG_SR3 x2 sniper rifle ammo mag
• NV Scope SR 2 sniper rifle attachment
• Sniper Weapons Proficiency CTC

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Character progression is handled in various ways:

• Combat Kills:You accumulate these based on combat actions against the enemy.
• Combat Experience Points:Through various combat actions (e.g. kills), you gain CEP.
• Ranks:The accumulation of CEP awards you various combat ranks and decorations (medals, ribbons). These are also dynamic; in that depending on your CEP count, you can lose rank and decorations over time.
• Combat Training Certificates: These are used to improve certain character attributes and skills.

The combination of CEP and CTC is critical to character progression and the combination allows you to build up your character class as you see fit. You can chose to be a stealth player (sniper) whose sole purpose is to aggravate the forces behind enemy lines, while sneaking around and hacking into base units. Or you can choose to be heavy infantry guy with various weapons of mass destruction.

More info: What are CEP and CTC

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Right off the bat, we’re not doing a game whereby you can just pull a weapon or vehicle out of nowhere. So whatever item you have is either visible or has a plausible explanation as to why it is not visible.

By default you can carry one primary weapon, one secondary weapon and as much ammo and inventory items as your character allows. If you have a backpack or weapons pack, you can carry additional items depending on their capacity.

Similarly, your character can only attach certain items to key points. e.g. if you have a backpack or weapons pack attached to your back, you can’t have a jetpack or wingsuit, since those attach to the back as well.

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Your character can perform various basic physical actions including the ability to crouch, go prone, swim, sprint etc.

The action speeds are character and stance related. For example, the Assault Force Marine runs at 9 m/s with default carry weight, while the Insurgent Sniper runs at 10.5 m/s.

Each stance has a different speed associated with it. e.g. the Assault Force Marine walk is 3.3 m/s, running is 9 m/s, crouch walk is 2.4 m/s, prone walk is 1.5 m/s, swimming is 4.5 m/s. The character can also sprint at 4x the run speed.

Jumping is based on the previous velocity plus 8.8 m/s upward velocity.

All movement speeds are further affected by the amount of items being carried because weight is also modeled.

Also supported are various gestures such as salute, point etc.

With certain implants some actions can be improved beyond human capabilities. e.g you can run sprint faster if you have the BIO-QUICK implant.

NOTE: The game supports location based damage. This means that head shots are 100% lethal, injury to body (arms, legs, torso) will impair movement actions etc

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ASSET TYPES

There are various assets (vehicles, air/space craft etc) in the game

• weapons (machine guns, combat and sniper rifles, pistols, automated turrets, rocket launchers etc). Most weapons have a variety of customization such as scopes, ammo etc
• various inventory items (e.g. body armor, motion detectors, portable turrets, scopes etc)
• aircraft (various fighter classes, gunships and shuttles), naval units (small transports)
• vehicles (ranging from fast and nimble hover bikes to massive tanks)
• defense and offense units (e.g. SAMS, turrets, cannons)
• special units (shields, radar, jammers etc)
• various mech-type battle suits etc.

MULTI-USER ASSETS

Various vehicles, aircrafts and gunships can support more than one player. Some have positions for the pilot/driver, gunner(s) and/or passengers.

Also there are some massive gunships and vehicles capable of transporting up to 16 players at a time.

All aircraft and vehicles are created at supply platforms located on the planet (near launch pads) and inside stations and carriers. Depending on your account (Starter Kit or TAK) and certification, you can create the one you want.

After creating a multi-user asset that has been launched, others can join by selecting an available seat (gunner, passenger).

Others wishing to join a multi-user asset during the creation stage, must do so at the supply platform. As an example:

• PlayerA creates the craft, clicks OK, then waits for PlayerB
• PlayerB at the same terminal, selects JOIN to see if any docked assets are available. The craft that PlayerA created will be displayed
• PlayerB selects the docked asset created by PlayerA, and clicks JOIN
• PlayerB now waits in the ‘lobby’ for PlayerA to click LAUNCH
• Both players are then teleported to the asset

For more info, see the Quick Help.

ASSET OWNERSHIP

Players cannot own assets.

However, if you have a Tactical Advancement Kit tier, you can purchase an “asset lock key”, which allows you to create any asset (vehicle, aircraft, defense system etc) that you want; and be able to spawn and use that asset at any time.

For example, if there is a fighter that you like, you can create it as long as you have the required CTC and an “asset lock key”.

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FIRETEAM

A fireteam is a group of up to 8 players from the same side and working as a team. They are the equivalent of player guilds. They can also contain AI controlled Androids.

The person creating the fireteam becomes the leader and with the ability to setup map waypoints with specific orders for each member or the entire fireteam.

Groups that want to create larger fireteams can do so by creating several 8 player fireteams and giving them different named designations. e.g. Fireteam Alpha, Fireteam Bravo, Fireteam Charlie etc.

Also, only the leader of a fireteam will be able to build bases once that feature is implemented in a future update.

The following CTC are required to create a fireteam.

• Advanced Programming Spec III
• Advanced Tactical Specialist
• Tactical Insertion Protocol

There is no CTC requirement to join a fireteam. You need 1000 GALCRED to create a fireteam, and at least 500 CEP to join a fireteam.

SQUAD

A squad is a team of up to 4 players from the same side and working as a team. They can only contain human players.

The person creating the squad becomes the leader.

Squad leaders cannot set waypoints or give orders to the team.

The following CTC are required to create a squad.

• Advanced Programming Spec I
• Tactical Insertion Protocol

There is no CTC requirement to join a squad. You need 500 GALCRED to create a squad and at least 250 CEP to join a squad.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE

An FOB is created when a Mobile Forward Base vehicle is spawned into the planetary scene by the leader of a Fireteam. It can then be used by the Fireteam members as healing/repair stations, supply platform, and troop spawn point.

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Each base has a series of special installations which it requires for continued operation. These installations operate only within the confines of that base. So for example, if the Area Defense Shield at one base goes down, it has no effect on the same unit at another base.

AREA DEFENSE JAMMER (ADJ)

Protects the central area of the base from launched missiles which are jammed and self-destruct when fired.

ASSET REQUISITION CENTER (ARC)

Produces assets (vehicles, aircraft etc) for use by players.

Regenerates certain base assets (e.g. defense systems) at certain intervals after being destroyed.

AREA DEFENSE SHIELD (ADS)

Protects the central area of the base from launched missiles which are destroyed by the shield when fired.

BARRACKS

Regenerates player health, fatigue and armor at a certain rate as long as you are inside the building. The longer you are inside the building, the higher these values will be regenerated.

COMMAND & CONTROL

This unit is responsible for the status certain base units (ADJ, ADS, ARC, COMMS, EWR, LAUNCHPAD, DEFENSE SYSTEMS). There is a Tacops console from which these units can be activated/deactivated.

COMMS CENTER

Provides access to global communications. If this unit is offline, then communication is restricted to only players within the current base. e.g. if the comms unit in Heatwave is down, you can’t communicate with anyone outside of Heatwave.

It also provides the map overlay used in assets and inventory items (e.g. Tactical Info Pad). Without this, those maps will only display static.

EARLY WARNING RADAR (EWR)

This is a base wide early warning system which sounds an alarm when hostile units are first detected within a certain proximity of the following units.

HANGER

Can automatically repair and rearm vehicles which are inside or nearby. The longer you are inside or near the building, the higher these values will be regenerated.

Provides free Energy Cells to players with a Portable Repair Unit.

LAUNCH PAD

Can automatically repair and rearm fighters, gunships and shuttles. The longer you are inside or near the building, the higher these values will be regenerated.

NUCLEAR PLANT

Provides power to all units at the base. If it goes offline – and the solar reactor is offline – then each of the key base installations will start to shutdown. This unit also produces Energy Cells which are required by various units in the game. These spawn at random locations all over the base and can be collected by players.

SOLAR PLANT

Provides backup power to all the units at the base. This unit also produces Energy Cells which are required by various units in the game. These spawn at random locations all over the base and can be collected by players. NOTE: The solar plant only produces Energy Cells during the day.

STARBASE

Provides free Energy Cells to players with a Portable Repair Unit or Portable Medical Unit.

SUPPLY DEPOT

Regenerates player body armor.

Provides free Energy Cells to players with a Portable Repair Unit or Portable Medical Unit.

Provides free ammo for any weapon owned by a player.

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The game allows a fixed number of characters per server.

When you die, you will spawn at the nearest friendly base and with most of your stuff; though you will lose some random stuff (e.g. weapon, ammo etc) that is on your character at the time of death.

If your alliance has its own Forward Operating Base (FOB), you can spawn there as well.

If you are part of a fireteam that has an FOB, you can spawn there too.

During gameplay, your character’s important attributes are monitored & tracked. Location based damage is also featured. This means that specific body parts such as head, legs, arms, torso when damaged, will impair their use. For example, if you get shot in the leg, you won’t be able to walk or run fast. Head shots are always lethal, regardless of shield, armor or the condition of any other body part.

LIFE FACTOR

This monitors your health. If you take injury such as during combat or the environment (e.g. you fall from a tall building, you drown), your LF will go down. If it ever gets to zero, you will die.

If your LF goes down to 50, this will affect your movement speed and ability; and if it goes down to 25 or less, your vision will be impaired.

If you are injured, you can find a safe place and remain there while your LF gradually increases as you self-heal.

Using a MedKit will cure your injury and increase your LF.

FATIGUE FACTOR

This monitors your fatigue and directly affects your health. If you perform strenuous actions (walk, run, swim, sprint, drive etc) consistently, your FF will increase and eventually will start affecting your LF which will start to go down.

Since all items in the game have weight, the more stuff you are carrying, the more this will affect your FF as well as your movement speeds.

Sprinting has a rapid effect on your FF. Between 0% and 90% fatigue, you can sprint for 20 seconds (scaled by total carrying weight) before reaching 90% Fatigue Factor.

In order to reduce your FF, you should stop all movement and rest for a bit and it will gradually go down.

Using a MedKit will reduce your FF.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE POINTS

These are tracked as you perform certain actions during your gaming session.

COMBAT KILLS / DEATHS / ASSISTS / PLAY TIME

These are tracked as you perform these actions during your gaming session.

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Only players who have bought a Tactical Advancement Kit (TAK) have their stats tracked in the leaderboards.

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Exposed public console commands can be entered in the chat box. Exposed dev only console commands can be entered in the console.

CURRENT LOCATION

/where, /wheream, /loc

PING TO SERVER NOTE: should be 200ms or less!

/ping x where x = on|off e.g. /ping on

CURRENT FPS

/fps x where x = on|off e.g. /fps on

CLEAR CHAT

/clear, /clr

SET FOV NOTE: Infantry default is 70. Aircraft/Vehicle default is 90

/set_fov x where x = 40 – 120 e.g. /set_fov 70

SUICIDE NOTE: Subtracts 1 kill and applies a friendly fire CEP penalty

/suicide

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Below is a list of SteamWorks services which we either currently support, plan to support, or have no plans to support.

Steam Account Sign-In

Yes. In fact, this is the only supported account sign-in that we offer. Regardless of where you buy the game, you need a Steam account to login.

Steam In-Game DLC

Yes. You can purchase any of the game’s Tactical Advancement Kit bundles as DLC.

Steam Voice Chat

No. We do plan to support this in a future release. Of course you are free to use third-party voice chat apps as well; but they won’t be officially supported.

Steam Controller

No. We do plan to support this in a future release. The PC version has minimal support for Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers.

Steam Leaderboards

No. We have our own leaderboards.

Steam Workshop

No. The game cannot be modded and so there are currently no plans to add this.

Steam Wallet & Inventory

Yes.

Steam Micro-Transactions

Yes. See Above.

Steam Trading Cards

No. In the future, we will consider the possibilities of implementing these based on current game assets and comics

Steam Big Picture Mode

No. We will review this post-release, and see if it’s worth doing or not.

Steam VR

No. We currently have no plans to support VR of any kind.

Steam Networking, Servers & Matchmaking

No. We have our own networking design and server clusters.

Steam Cloud

No.

Steam Anti-Piracy

No. We do not use the Custom Executable Generation (CEG) because the game does not need it.

Steam Anti-Cheat

No. We do not use Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC).

SteamBox

No. The game is only supported on Windows platform. It has been approved for both Xbox One and PS4, though we do not yet have a release date for those. There are no plans to support other platforms (Linux, OSX).

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DOES IT HAVE VR SUPPORT?

No. And there are no plans to support VR of any kind. Ever.

DOES IT HAVE LOOT DROPS?

There are various types of FREE packs spawned around the game world and which can be looted for items.

However, unlike owned (bought) items, the items obtained from these packs are not permanent. So if you die or jump to another region, you will lose them. For example, if you own (obtained via a tier or in-game cash shop) a machine gun, then while in Heatwave you obtain a sniper rifle from a Portable Weapon Pack, then jump to Frostbite, you will still have the machine gun, but lose the sniper rifle.

Using these spawned packs gives you a chance to obtain and check out items without having to purchase them. So if you obtain a sniper rifle, then like it, you can later decide to buy your own which you can then take anywhere in the game.

During world events, NPC infantry and androids also drop loot when killed.

See PORTABLE WEAPON PACK, PORTABLE SUPPLY PACK, PORTABLE MEDICAL PACK

DOES IT HAVE RESOURCE GATHERING?

You can collect Energy Cells produced by the Nuclear and Solar plants and which are scattered throughout the game world.

These ECs are used by various assets (vehicles, aircraft etc) and certain inventory items. They can also be used or exchanged with other players.

DOES IT HAVE BASE BUILDING?

No. The ability to construct planetary FOPs (Forward Operating Base), adding defense systems etc, is planned for a future post-release update of the game.

DOES IT HAVE CRAFTING, TRADING, MINING?

No. It’s not that kind of game.

DOES IT HAVE PETS?

Wait! Wot?!?! Pets? Absolutely not!

However you can obtain AI controlled androids who then act as your fireteam mates and/or sidekicks. You can give them basic orders, but their primary role is to follow you into combat and defend you at all times.

You can also use them to create your own fireteam if you don’t want to join a fireteam of human players.

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