Blog#18: You're in the Army Now!

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You're in the Army Now!

[...] Because this topic is so intertwined with engineering issues of load, lag, hardware, and software, we know that our mass combat ideas will have to undergo a lot of change as we test and receive feedback about how well they are working. So the normal disclaimer that this material represents work in progress subject to change is even more appropriate than usual. [...]

 

In order to join or lead a unit, a character must have trained the necessary skills, earned the necessary merit badges and gained the necessary abilities. Being a soldier is a whole career path in Pathfinder Online. Characters will need to specialize in soldiering to become leaders of larger units, and even at the squad level, characters who are more experienced will have more options than less skilled characters. [...]

 

What we hope to create is a system where players naturally re-create a lot of real-world military tactics and strategies. We want you to care about terrain, about line of sight, about being flanked, pincered, and encircled. We want to see lines break and reform, units to withdraw and be replaced by fresh troops. We want being a solider to be as fulfilling and interesting a long-term play experience as being an adventurer or a crafter.