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Doink9731
May 11, 2011

I'm living in a nightmare.
:siren: Founder's Packs are now available at the new eternalcrusade.com :siren:

Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade is a 3rd-person, Massive Combat RPG. Players select one of the factions of the 41st millennium and fight other players for control of an open, persistent world, claiming territory in massive battles and hacking their way through procedural content while earning the right to customize their characters in a deep progression system drawn from Warhammer 40,000 lore.

Eternal Crusade's combat is fully action-based - you shoot or swing with a button and it's up to your skill whether you pull off a headshot or block that incoming chainsword. Both ranged and melee weapons have equal emphasis – as in the iconic battles of Warhammer 40,000, combat begins at a distance with guns and heavy vehicle-mounted weaponry before progressing to bloody blade-on-blade action with brutal executions.


What business model will the game use?
Although it’s still under consideration, the current plan is that Eternal Crusade will be “premium with a free-to-play option.” By purchasing a copy of the game, you will have access to it forever with no need for a subscription. There will be post-launch expansions, as well as a cash shop for customization & convenience items.

If you don’t want to buy the box, you can still try the game as a free-to-play version of an Ork character. In contrast to the premium Orks, your progression will be slower and some options will be locked off, but you’ll be able to go anywhere and fight for the Waaagh! If you like it but still don’t want to pay the full price, you can unlock some of the missing options with microtransactions.

Are there quests?
Not in the traditional sense. Instead of looking for quest-givers to give you things to do, you can just head out into the world to find procedurally-generated content in your own or the enemy’s territory.

Behaviour Interactive is currently working on short, horde-style firefights and longer dungeon-delving experiences. In both cases, the content is randomized so it’s new every time, but with parameters and details specific to the locations.

Of course, you can always look to the community channels and your faction leaders to get some direction. In addition, there are mid- and long-term opposed goals for factions that appear on a regular basis as part of the ongoing server-wide campaign system.

Can I play solo?
Solo players can easily find and join battles with their faction by either looking at the world map or deep striking into the top conflicts of the moment. They will also be able to access and progress through procedural content – it will definitely be a challenge, however!


Even though Eternal Crusade is an MMO in a persistent open world, the combat plays out like a proper third-person shooter. You point where you want to shoot or strike and hitting your target is based on skill. There are no ability bars or auto-attack systems, and if you want to evade or block an incoming attack, you press a button to roll out of the way or hold down the guard button.

At the same time, Eternal Crusade is a tactical experience with an RPG system, so positioning, teamwork, and your choice of wargear are also key components to victory. You may be an amazing shot with your Stalker Bolter, but when a Havoc has you pinned down and Raptors are advancing you’re going to have a tough time maintaining that defensive position!

How can you have an RPG system with skill-based combat?
Like many action games these days, an underlying RPG system affects how you fight in a variety of fashions. This includes the obvious methods such as modifying your health or the damage when you strike, but character and weapon stats can also change the way you shoot or swing.

For example, you can aim in any direction and fire away, but the spread on your shots comes from a variety of factors, including what kind of gun you're using, its upgrades, and an accuracy stat from your character. Your spread may increase while moving and decrease while zooming with a scope, and the extent to which these modifiers affect you may themselves have their own stats! Melee weapons are similarly affected, with the force on an attack compared against the stability of the victim to determine staggering, knockback etc.

How are the classes balanced?
Each faction has a set of primary classes (the number may vary on faction), and depending on how you build your loadout (accessories, weapons, items, etc) for that class there are a multitude of possible specializations. Eternal Crusade is also a massive tactical wargame so not every specialization will be equal when going toe to toe with each other - you should either bring friends to make up for your weaknesses or deploy your loadout in the circumstances that favor your specialty.

Since you can change classes and loadouts whenever you deploy to the field, you're not locked into your choice for hundreds of hours or anything (though that's not to say all the choices you make in your progression will be easy to reverse).

Certain classes (such as Terminators) have a resource cost associated with spawning them and exceptional players can earn access to hero classes as well. A given player’s opportunity to use these characters is limited and they must be supported on the battlefield, but with their power and ability to enhance the capabilities of primary classes those around them, they can turn the tide of war. Of course, killing a hero is also an exceptional action that shall be rewarded.

Can I be a healer?
Yes, although you should think of them more like combat medics or support classes. These characters may be better at healing than others, but they still have limited resources to work with and should still be spending most of their time fighting.

That said, everyone has a little bit of healing potential. When a character hits 0 health they enter a downed state where they start bleeding out (unless they've taken so much damage they've blown past the death threshold of course). Friendly units can rescue a downed character and bring them back with a little health, or enemy units can execute them up close with any weapon to earn a little XP and prevent them from coming back.

Both executions and rescue actions take time and can be interrupted, so you have to decide if doing so is worth the risk. Some characters may be better at rescuing than others.

Are there vehicles?
Yes! Expect the most iconic vehicles for each faction to be available for driving, ride-alongs, turret-manning, etc.

Is there friendly fire?
Yes. There is also a system for penalizing excessive friendly fire, although this will be receiving extensive iteration as the game develops.


Do characters have levels?
No! You’ll pick what unit class type you want to bring to the battlefield and have access to a huge amount of customization, but since this is a PvP-focused game the progression won’t be primarily about increasing power, but rather gaining access to a wider variety of skills and better specialization.

How do you equip your character?
Before you get to the field, you create Loadouts for your different classes, made up of weapons you’ve earned and accessories you’ve unlocked. However, your progression is generally horizontal - the more powerful an item is, the more “points” it requires from your loadout in order to keep PvP balanced.

With a few exceptions, each character generally has access to both ranged and melee attacks at any time. For example, if your assault unit has sword, axe, or power fist in one hand, they're going to have a pistol in the other.

There are exceptions, of course. Heavy guns prevent you from having much melee capability, of course, and if you choose to equip dual lightning claws then you're not going to have any ranged options in your loadout. But your average soldier on the field is able to do both in some capacity.


Will there be trading and crafting?
Yes, in a form that fits with the Warhammer 40,000 universe. You won’t be able to be a “crafter”, but there is an extensive upgrade system for weapons.

Will I be able to customize my characters' appearance and color scheme?
Yes! Although you’ll generally keep a sub-faction appropriate color-scheme, there are many options for changing up your armour, accessories, etc.


Is this a single-server MMO?
Behaviour Interactive are aiming to have one Realm/World/Instance for the whole world. If they achieve this, it means that every player will be able to combat each other in the world – giving the possibility for truly amazingly huge battles. We are aware of the fact that a networked signal takes time to travel depending on the distance from the servers to your home, but we have built our game logic in a way such that up to a certain degree this should not be an issue .

Behaviour Interactive's confidence in this approach comes due to our partner MuchDifferent and their PikkoServer technology. They have a distributed server system, which enables us to handle each server not on a per zone basis (like in other MMOs) but rather on player density. This means that if more players are in the same area, more servers are handling that area. In fact, they are able to adjust the spread of the servers on the fly, depending on where the players are going and how many players are converging in one specific area.

If at any point in development Behaviour Interactive hit a wall and realize that this approach is too bold and they cannot guarantee that everyone will be able to have fun, they will investigate splitting up the servers into regions to provide better quality network connections.

How are you going to deal with cheating?
Because Behaviour Interactive are using a server which is owned by them, they have possibility to maintain and change the software on it, there is virtually no possibility of using third-party programs to alter the game logic and give any advantage to any player.

Behaviour Interactive achieve this by verifying every important gameplay mechanic on the servers, movement, combat etc. The server takes care of all these calculations to ensure that there cannot be any cheating – after determining the result of those calculations, your computer receives get a visible representation of (for example) how your shot played out.

What engine are you using?
At the moment Behaviour Interactive have a demo/prototype running and are in pre-production working with an engine, capable of delivering our goals. For various reasons related to production, Behaviour Interactive cannot reveal our engine at the moment.

However, the engine support x64 architecture so Behaviour Interactive are not limited by the 32bit memory problems of only being able to address 4gb of memory. Furthermore, it supports DX11 and all its features so they should have no difficulty creating the best looking Warhammer 40,000 game to date.


Will the world be instanced?
The PvP gameplay of Eternal Crusade takes place primarily an open world, without any instancing. Our PvE game modes take place in instanced dungeons and hives below the surface of the planet, but you get to them by finding them in the open world and entering. There may be further use of instancing in the game, but it should generally be the exception rather than the rule.

How do the Campaigns work?
As the four armies clash on the surface of the planet, the (npc) High Command for each army receives intelligence about the planet and set objectives to act on. Campaign objectives are always opposed by at least one other faction. These grand clashes rage across one or more of the continents on the surface for a set period of time.

When the High Command receives new intelligence, they change their objectives and focus their efforts into a new campaign on a different continent (or continents). The results of the previous campaign will be meaningful and lasting, and some campaigns will be heavily story driven, helping to uncover more about the lore of the universe and the planet itself.

What can I do if I don’t like PvP?
Eternal Crusade is a game primarily about player-run factions clashing against each other for control of the planet. However, there are other ways for players to contribute to their faction’s conquest. To that end, Behaviour Interactive are targeting two PvE game modes for launch; tentatively known as Underworlds and Hives.

In Underworlds, you and your friends will crawl through the procedurally generated ruins beneath the surface of the planet. Never the same twice, Underworlds will test your teamwork and your skill as you carefully conserve health and ammo to delve as deep as possible, slay foul threats, and unearth powerful rewards. This mode is inspired by classic ARPGs like Diablo II and Left 4 Dead.

In Hives, you and your friends will drop into a Tyranid Hive and hold out as the ravenous alien hordes rush you in increasing waves. Similar horde mode game types can be found in Space Marine and Mass Effect 3.

Both PvE modes will allow you to earn contribution to your faction’s cause, and your faction will reward you appropriately for your efforts!

Will the Tyranids affect Campaigns and Territory Control?
Absolutely. From time to time, the Tyranid threat spreads and Capillary Spires burst out of the ground, conquering outposts and strongholds. Each faction must do what they can to flush the Tyranid threat out of their territory or risk losing it to the Great Devourer- along with any benefits that come with it!

Naturally, owning more territory draws more attention from the Tyranids, but these ravenous monsters are a threat for every faction to manage as campaigns go on.


Who’s writing this thing?
Black Library authors Anthony Reynolds and Graham McNeil are currently building up the background of Eternal Crusade, detailing the story behind the planet and all the factions involved. Expect some details on this front very soon!

Does that mean there are going to be cinematics?
The game’s story will not generally be told to you, but instead created through the actions of the players. In addition, the world of Eternal Crusade has a rich history written into the geography itself. As players explore the surface, fight through the Underworld, and advance through campaigns, all will be revealed...


What can we expect from the Heads-Up Display (HUD)?
Style-wise, the plan is to strike a good balance between an immersive in-helmet feel and a clean minimalist look. The HUDs, like the Front-End, are themed to fit your chosen faction. You can expect the standard HUD elements to be displayed – health, minimap, chat, objectives, ammo, squad members, etc.

Will we be able to customize it in any way?
Not at the moment. Eternal Crusade is not a classic MMORPG with tons of ability bars. Behaviour Interactive are designing finely crafted experiences about being a Space Marine, Eldar, Ork and a Chaos Space Marine. The GUI is key in supporting these experiences, and so Behaviour Interactive focusing on doing exactly that. Behaviour Interactive will offer skins and variations which you will be able to access later.

Will you support community created mods/add-ons?
At this time, this is not planned for launch. If Behaviour Interactive do they will use a proper mod manager with tools for sharing and rating.


How can I play with my friends?
The Battle Squad is the core of the game. With friends (old or new), you’ll be able to create and earn rewards for your small community and then join Strike Forces made up of many Battle Squads. Strike Forces are the pillars of their factions and will make a huge impact in the gameworld.

As a team, either with your Battle Squad or an impromptu field group, you will traverse the landscape in various modes of transportation and participate as a unit in territory conflicts, or seek out and fight together against Tyranids and other forces in various forms of procedural content.

Who leads the factions?
A player-selected Council determines the focus of their factions in campaign and territory control, and also has some say over resource distribution. Strike Force leaders also have access to similar powers in a more limited fashion. Expect more details on these features throughout production.

Are there any player- or community-owned spaces?
Yes – different levels of community may own different types of spaces on ships in orbit that can be improved and customized. More details on this will be revealed throughout production.


Which Warhammer 40,000 armies are in the game?
At launch, there will be Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines, Orks and Eldar. Tyranids will also be in the game, but only as NPCs. Behaviour Interactive aim to release the rest of the races from the universe over the lifetime of the game.

Players may make characters in multiple factions, but non-combat interactions between factions are extremely limited. All the factions are unique and opposed to one another in their goal to conquer the planet!

When you create your character, you also choose one of that race’s sub-factions (Chapters, Clans, etc.) to identify with. Each faction features a unique selection of classes drawn from their lore, and each character in a faction has the opportunity to choose from a variety of classes when they deploy on the field.

How are you going to make sure the factions are equal?
Although Behaviour Interactive are investigating a system to prevent truly huge faction imbalances (51%+), in general Behaviour Interactive are not going to force faction balance. In fact, we don’t think of this as a four-sided game, but potentially an infinite-sided one!

Factions in Eternal Crusade don’t “win” by owning more territory than everyone else. Instead, you advance the cause of your faction by accomplishing distinct goals that provide rewards, give you recognition, and/or affect the long-term narrative. If one faction seems overly powerful, other factions can work together against them. This can take the form of an official alliance between their leaders, or happen naturally by virtue of the fact that the most powerful faction has territory that several other factions want.


When is it coming out?
Late 2015.

When is the beta?
Behaviour Interactive can’t say quite yet, but there will definitely be both closed and open beta phases. Sign up on this site to get access details.

What platforms will it be on?
Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade is being developed for PC and next-gen consoles.


:siren: Come chat with us in #EternalCrusade on SynIRC :siren:

Behaviour Interactive's Youtube Channel & Twitter Account

Dumb Stuff I Made
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFUA5V944_8

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Doink9731
May 11, 2011

I'm living in a nightmare.
Reserved in case this game isn't Major Kong riding the Hype Toilet to it's fiery end.

Four Score
Feb 27, 2014

by zen death robot
Lipstick Apathy
Did the images containing class lists really require the stupid unfunny "misconceptions"?

On an unrelated note, this has not changed my bid in the GW dead pool thread in TG.

Doink9731
May 11, 2011

I'm living in a nightmare.

First Bass posted:

Did the images containing class lists really require the stupid unfunny "misconceptions"?

Yes. Yes they did.

jabro
Mar 25, 2003

July Mock Draft 2014

1st PLACE
RUNNER-UP
got the knowshon


I'm confused. This is being made by a company that does Facebook casual games? You go to the company home page and the first thing you see is a huge graphic for MLB Ballpark Empire. This doesn't worry you?

Doink9731
May 11, 2011

I'm living in a nightmare.

jabro posted:

I'm confused. This is being made by a company that does Facebook casual games? You go to the company home page and the first thing you see is a huge graphic for MLB Ballpark Empire. This doesn't worry you?

It does, but I'm a sucker for false hope.

Zaodai
May 23, 2009

Death before dishonor?
Your terms are accepted.


Let's be fair, they also made past game of the year winner "Doritos Blast 2", as voted by Doritos executives.

Cool Blue Reason
Jan 7, 2010

by Lowtax

jabro posted:

I'm confused. This is being made by a company that does Facebook casual games? You go to the company home page and the first thing you see is a huge graphic for MLB Ballpark Empire. This doesn't worry you?

I was worried too until I saw this extremely compelling in-game footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLeMGo0l4mo

Bleusilences
Jun 23, 2004

Be careful for what you wish for.

This why companies should never release real alpha gameplay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewi2Ob91zU4

Kimsemus
Dec 4, 2013

by Reene
Toilet Rascal
As long as the pacing is more akin to Planetside 2 and less Unreal Tournament 2004 I'm in.

Lemon King
Oct 4, 2009

im nt posting wif a mark on my head

Bleusilences posted:

This why companies should never release real alpha gameplay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewi2Ob91zU4

Looks about right for being in heavy development. But yeah they shouldn't have released stuff this early, just good concept art and model renders.

Frustrated
Jun 12, 2003

Bleusilences posted:

This why companies should never release real alpha gameplay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewi2Ob91zU4

Wasn't this game already made 3 years ago? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMuxtDM0Qtw It's literally exactly the same thing down to the targeting when you're in the air.

puberty worked me over
May 20, 2013

by Cyrano4747

Frustrated posted:

Wasn't this game already made 3 years ago? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMuxtDM0Qtw It's literally exactly the same thing down to the targeting when you're in the air.


Yeah but it's an ~*MMO*~ (Sub 20 player instanced multiplayer TPS with progression mechanics and microtransactions)

Four Score
Feb 27, 2014

by zen death robot
Lipstick Apathy

Bleusilences posted:

This why companies should never release real alpha gameplay:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewi2Ob91zU4

Why are they recreating Space Marine from scratch? :ughh:

Inverse
Jun 30, 2010

At least they let you know straight up that all the content in the game can be bought with 450 green humi credits.

Zzulu
May 15, 2009

(▰˘v˘▰)

Extra posted:

Yeah but it's an ~*MMO*~ (Sub 20 player instanced multiplayer TPS with progression mechanics and microtransactions)

They plan to have thousands of players in the same area, in an open world much the same way Planetside 2 does it

WhiskeyJuvenile
Feb 15, 2002

by Nyc_Tattoo
40k? take my money

here's my referral code: EC-PUAUQH1PMT3WC

I think you get 4,000 space bucks for using it

puberty worked me over
May 20, 2013

by Cyrano4747

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

4,000 space bucks

Maybe it would be a good idea to start a referral chain in PGS?

Here's mine, enjoy your spacebux: EC-RSZMJ1NOK7SFP

Zzulu
May 15, 2009

(▰˘v˘▰)
gonna hold off just a bit on buying anything until I see how the game development progresses

Right now it looks like garbage, but it is like 16 months from being complete or something

Infeckt
Feb 17, 2014

EC-8KM5VVQLURBAV

Glad to see I'm not the only one here who likes to impulsively burn money throw money at promises and dreams. Just kicked the Star Citizen habit too.

Seriously though, someone needs to jump on this new business model trend and start a nonprofit akin to AA for this poo poo.

Kaizer88
Feb 16, 2011
It's not the EC game, but my god, this is how a Warhammer game should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNT8LQnImiI

Exmond
May 31, 2007

Writing is fun!

Kaizer88 posted:

It's not the EC game, but my god, this is how a Warhammer game should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNT8LQnImiI

It should look like a CG trailer?

Also Yuck at the founds pack. Please pay $500 for our game!

Zzulu
May 15, 2009

(▰˘v˘▰)
it's actually fourty dollars

Lemon King
Oct 4, 2009

im nt posting wif a mark on my head

First Bass posted:

Why are they recreating Space Marine from scratch? :ughh:

Its glossed over in this video but Behavior wanted camera and controls somewhat close to Space Marine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MumYPtiRaw

Killsion
Feb 16, 2011

Templars Rock.

Exmond posted:

It should look like a CG trailer?


It's in-game footage. Seeing as it's UE4, that doesn't surprise me at all it looks so good. Also the guys making this did E.Y.E. so I got high hopes for that one.

Yardbomb
Jul 11, 2011

What's with the eh... bretonnian dance, sir?

Killsion posted:

Also the guys making this did E.Y.E.

This is basically all you have to say to make me interested in a game.

Skoll
Jul 26, 2013

Oh You'll Love My Toxic Love
Grimey Drawer
E.Y.E wasn't bad at all. Just really loving weird.

Exmond
May 31, 2007

Writing is fun!

Zzulu posted:

it's actually fourty dollars

There is a $450 dollar founder pack plus you can put in addons like Heresy Limited Edition: Asuryan's Fury (A gun) selling for $35. A single gun for $35.

Archonex
May 2, 2012

MY OPINION IS SEERS OF THE THRONE PROPAGANDA IGNORE MY GNOSIS-IMPAIRED RAMBLINGS

Kaizer88 posted:

It's not the EC game, but my god, this is how a Warhammer game should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNT8LQnImiI

I love how if you take the perspective of the camera and where everyone is positioned into account it turns out the space marines are blowing hundreds of rounds just hosing down random walls.

Truly they got the spirit of Warhammer down right. More dakka is always good. :orks101:

Archonex fucked around with this message at 18:47 on Jun 27, 2014

Rhjamiz
Oct 28, 2007

Honestly, if all it ended up being was an Open-World Fight version of Space Marine, that'd be worth forty bucks right there.

Recruit Code
EC-UYVFEYL9193Q2

Rhjamiz fucked around with this message at 19:08 on Jun 27, 2014

Lemon King
Oct 4, 2009

im nt posting wif a mark on my head

Exmond posted:

There is a $450 dollar founder pack plus you can put in addons like Heresy Limited Edition: Asuryan's Fury (A gun) selling for $35. A single gun for $35.

Its a gun plus 35 bucks in Emperor Points.

randombattle
Oct 16, 2008

This hand of mine shines and roars! It's bright cry tells me to grasp victory!

Skoll posted:

E.Y.E wasn't bad at all. Just really loving weird.

In fact it was the opposite. It is really good.

Infeckt
Feb 17, 2014

Lemon King posted:

Its a gun plus 35 bucks in Emperor Points.

True, but the 35bux only "unlocks" the gun and the points are given allowing you to equip it.

Zzulu
May 15, 2009

(▰˘v˘▰)
You could always not buy the gun skin

extraordinary
Jun 9, 2011
Gave them way more money than I should have. But I want to believe.:negative:

HerpicleOmnicron5
May 31, 2013

How did this smug dummkopf ever make general?


Of course the Orks are the free to play race. Clever way to give them a numbers advantage.

By the way, one of the lead level designers does a Dark Heresy campaign with a bunch of youtubers, so at least he knows his stuff and cares about the subject matter which bodes well for the game as a whole.

Bridgeburner_
Oct 23, 2013

HerpicleOmnicron5 posted:

Of course the Orks are the free to play race. Clever way to give them a numbers advantage.

By the way, one of the lead level designers does a Dark Heresy campaign with a bunch of youtubers, so at least he knows his stuff and cares about the subject matter which bodes well for the game as a whole.


I seriously would have loved the F2P race to be Imperial Guard. And within that, if you bought the game and chose to play Imperial Guard, you could run around :commissar: F2P players. It would make for terrible game design of course,that goes without saying, but at least half a week of pure, unmitigated, unadulterated Soviet political commissar simulator 2015(2016?) fun before the model collapsed on itself. Oh well.

randombattle
Oct 16, 2008

This hand of mine shines and roars! It's bright cry tells me to grasp victory!

Nah IG wouldn't work f2p because they are supposed to be coordinated and organized. Orks are supposed to run around yelling HOW I SHOT GUN? LOOOL it just works better for the average pubbie attitude. IG should be one person controlling a commissar with a couple dozen npc minions.

HerpicleOmnicron5
May 31, 2013

How did this smug dummkopf ever make general?


Imperial Guard could also be an NPC type, holding any neutral areas. To explain the Space Marines killing them, its just a purge and they chose to stick around, just like in Dark Crusade. Silly Guardsmen.

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Lemon King
Oct 4, 2009

im nt posting wif a mark on my head

randombattle posted:

Nah IG wouldn't work f2p because they are supposed to be coordinated and organized. Orks are supposed to run around yelling HOW I SHOT GUN? LOOOL it just works better for the average pubbie attitude. IG should be one person controlling a commissar with a couple dozen npc minions.

Way to bring back the CoV Mastermind. :allears:

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