Possibility of a Contingency campaign?

[Shadow Wolf TJC]

While I'm, first and foremost, designing the Contingency mod as a fun multiplayer-oriented expansion pack, I'm also considering creating a campaign using the mod as a base. My primary goal for this kind of campaign would be to NOT be set exclusively, or almost exclusively, in T3 or beyond (sequel campaigns), or before T1 (prequel campaigns). Rather, I'd like to explore some scenarios in which players make use of the entire tech tree, from T1 to T3. This would include such scenarios as:

- Using Counter-Radar Sensors to allow a player with just Mortars and MRAs to defeat an enemy with Howitzers and Ripple Rockets.
- Using Cyborg Transports and hovercraft to reach objectives that are otherwise inaccessible to ground forces.
- Using NEXUS Link Turrets to capture mission objectives.
- Using EMPs to disable mission objectives without destroying them.
- Using a small squad of support units, including a commander, an EMP Mortar, some Counter-Radar and Counter-Battery units, some NEXUS Link Turret units, and a versatile selection of artillery units, in an infiltration mission.

I'd also like to explore a few other kinds of scenarios, such as:

- Fending off Scavenger attacks, but not destroying the Scavenger base.
- Using Scavengers to safely take out some NEXUS Link Turrets.
- Protecting convoys of allied units.
- Capturing a building before the enemy destroys it with an advancing LasSat barrage.
- Surviving enemy onslaughts until time runs out.

In order for the campaign to take place between T1 and T3 in a meaningful way, I've decided to focus on a story that has the player star as a commander of a New Paradigm splinter faction that managed to escape NEXUS absorption. The story would focus on that splinter faction's hunt for NEXUS, and discovering who, or what, NEXUS really is.

The campaign would be structured as follows:

Prologue: Origins

- A short 2 or 3-mission chapter that takes place in 2092, that tells the story of how the New Paradigm, then little more advanced than the Project during the start of its expeditions, managed to rise in power throughout the Western Sector. Missions would include liberating groups of survivors from bands of marauding Scavengers, and defeating a powerful warlord. During the final mission, the founder and leader of the New Paradigm, who envisioned the rebuilding of civilization, dies, and power shifts to his right-hand man, who would later work to establish the Western Sector as his own little empire. Tensions run high between 2 political factions: the Rebuilders, who are loyal to the founder's vision of rebuilding civilization throughout the world, and the Loyalists, who are loyal to the current leader's dictatorial rule. There is much fear of civil war within the New Paradigm's ranks and beyond, with one notable Loyalist (and the future antagonist throughout Chapter 1) seeking to rise in power and prestige, though none would predict what the trigger of this civil war would be...

Chapter 1: Building a New Paradigm

- The 1st chapter starts off shortly before Project Team Alpha arrives in the Eastern Sector, with your conniving ally (and the main antagonist of Chapter 1) being infected with the NEXUS Intruder Program, which later spreads to New Paradigm Command. As one of the few New Paradigm commanders that escaped the NEXUS Intruder Program, your missions include stealing the Synaptic Link technology before the New Paradigm Loyalists find it (though they later steal it from you, though not before researching Cyborgs), destroying a mysterious outpost (that's later discovered to be from the Project) before the Loyalists reach it, finding and destroying a NEXUS Link Turret with the help of some Scavengers, and ultimately, deposing your former comrade-turned-enemy while the Project deals with New Paradigm Command. The New Paradigm's civil war was brought to an end, though NEXUS was still at large...

Chapter 2: A New Threat

- The New Paradigm and Project Team Alpha fend off attacks by the Dominion, a faction of extremist Christian Dominionists that, although unpopular with, and kept in check by, the various Scavenger groups within the Central United States, rose to power with the help of NEXUS, whom they believe to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Missions would include protecting convoys of Scavenger refugees escorted by Project troops, and destroying Dominion long-range artillery batteries with the help of Counter-Radar Turrets. The Collective also make appearances, with the final mission involving the discovery of a data core from the Collective founder himself...

Interlude: A Collective Testimony

- A short mini-chapter describing how the Collective fell from grace, the player takes on the role of a Collective commander as they try to find out who, or what, NEXUS is, all while the NEXUS Intruder Program takes over the majority of the Collective personnel. Although they discover a valuable piece of information as to what NEXUS could be, and possibly a means to cleanse the Collective of their infection, they are unable to survive the imminent onslaught of infected Collective forces, though not before they were able to hide the data core in a safe place, which the New Paradigm recently discovered...

Chapter 3: The Search for NEXUS

- A chapter focused on putting a stop to NEXUS's schemes, the chapter starts off with the New Paradigm and Project Team Alpha finding the NEXUS Resistance Artifact from Chapter 3 of the main campaign, and confirming that Dr. Reed was responsible for starting the Collapse. Soon after, though, NEXUS fires a nuke at Team Alpha's base, though with the New Paradigm's help, Team Alpha was able to escape. The 2 factions then part ways, with the New Paradigm evacuating the Central Sector before a 3rd nuke (fired after Team Beta's base was destroyed, but not long before the Project destroys the missile silos) destroyed it, and heading to the Southeastern United States, where they encounter the Enclave, a survivalist organization founded by a surviving US senator and his personal guard to preserve the American nation. However, the Enclave is initially distrustful of the New Paradigm due to previous attacks by the Dominion and the Collective, and believe that the New Paradigm are also fighting for NEXUS. This all changes when NEXUS activated the Laser Satellites, and the New Paradigm needed to retrieve the LasSat coordinates from the Enclave's Uplink Center before it gets destroyed by NEXUS. The New Paradigm then send the satellite coordinates to the Project. They then try to survive while the Project works on cracking the missile launch codes. During that time, a LasSat kills the Enclave leader, forcing his second-in-command to enter into an alliance with the New Paradigm. Eventually, just before the LasSats finish off the New Paradigm and Enclave forces, the Project managed to launch the missiles and destroy the LasSats. However, NEXUS was far from over...

Chapter 4: Contingency

Throughout the campaign, there were hints that NEXUS had a contingency plan should the LasSats be destroyed. This contingency plan involved using the Kennedy Space Center (which, prior to the Collapse, was reopened for NASDA's use and refitted with more state-of-the-art beam-powered launch facilities) to launch a new array of LasSats and nuclear-armed satellites to initiate a 2nd Collapse. Although contact with the Project was lost after the LasSats were destroyed, the New Paradigm-Enclave forces managed to free the remaining Collective forces of infection, and rescue a group of Dominion defectors (that grew disillusioned with the Dominion after NEXUS nuked them in their futile attempt to prevent the New Paradigm from escaping) from what Dominionists remained that were still loyal to NEXUS. Afterwards, they would hijack a LasSat before it was launched into space, and ultimately, in an epic showdown, destroy the NEXUS forces before they're able to get the nuclear-armed satellites into orbit.

[Goth Zagog-Thou]

Oh my. I absolutely LOVE this idea! It slightly precedes the Original Campaign, and then parallels it .. genius!

It also leaves room for Campaign 4's story (how NEXUS ended up at Groom Lake in Nevada), and explains why remnant New Paradigm forces were looking for (and eventually find) the Project.

It's brilliant! I'll help you with this any way I can -- even if it means Cam 4 needs to be retooled. I love nothing more than consistency.

[aubergine]

Sounds awesome!

Possible JS API issues

- Using NEXUS Link Turrets to capture mission objectives.

If the objectives are droids, then that should be do-able and very easy to test with eventObjectTransfer(). If a structure, however, I'm not sure what effect Nexus link has on them. I posted a while back that if you Nexus the HQ you get sensor (visibility) reports, but don't actually capture the building. And from vague memory if you Nexus a factory or lab you can suck tech out of them.

- Using EMPs to disable mission objectives without destroying them.

There's currently nothing in JS API to know when an enemy has been disabled via EMP that I am aware of. *goes to do some digging* possibly DORDER_SULK?

- Using Scavengers to safely take out some NEXUS Link Turrets.

I've no idea how you would protect the scavs from NEXUS Links. ISTR that there was some sort of electrical resistance property in some of the stats files, but my memory of it is very vague and distant...

- Capturing a building before the enemy destroys it with an advancing LasSat barrage.

As mentioned above, no way to do this with Nexus Links that I know of. Also, no way to change player of a building via JS API.

Other comments

>> Prologue: Origins

Regarding the 2092 date, be careful with that one. In one of the cam videos, it mentions that NP and Project both get NEXUS infiltrated at the same time. I've not yet determined what date that happens on though - the vid is sub1_7pl.

Unless I'm mistaken, New Paradigm are in the Western sector (that's where Project's Team Alpha head to looking for syn.link tech):

"The New Paradigm is a survivalist organisation dedicated to creating a military state in the Western sector" from map1cexp.

Damn, I knew cataloguing and transcribing all those video clips would come in useful some day!

>> Chapter 1: Building a New Paradigm


Synaptic Link tech is definitely in Western Sector.

Also, it's my understanding that Nexus Intruder Prog really only affects technology, not people? Although syn.link tech could give NEXUS a way in to human brain? Other than Dr. Reed transferring his consciousness to NEXUS, I've not seen any indication yet that the Intruder Program can get in to people's minds, even if they're hooked up to syn.links - it would be the borgs or droids out in the field that get taken over.

Regarding destroying Project outpost, not sure this direct collision with main campaigns is a good idea... :s

>> Chapter 2: A New Threat

I'm not sure bringing a religious group in is a good idea :s What about Scientoligists instead?

I'm confused about NP and Project escorting scavenger convoys, especially as NP is getting Scavs to attack Project in this sector, and Project is at war with NP. Also Collective are based in Eastern sector (where Team Beta went) and were heavily at war with Project.

>> Interlude: A Collective Testimony

My understanding of the Collective is that they chose to be part of "the machine" and see it as a blessing. "Those of the Project are not of the Machine. They have been denied its blessing. We who have embraced the power of the machine have a destiny to sweep away such weak creatures" from this vid

I always got the feeling that the Collective are either followers of Dr. Reed or cybernetics enthusiasts who have been striving to become all-powerful machines.

>> Chapter 3: The Search for NEXUS

I like the idea that the survivors of the NP vs. Project war in Cam 1 are now working together (which would mean that the NP survivors would have ditched their "set up a military state" mission). It could be that when they confirm that Dr. Reed == NEXUS, they send this report to Team Alpha during Cam 3: cam3abf

What is the "Central Sector"? I've still not fully worked out the bounds of the East/West/North/South sectors!

I like the idea of the Enclave - why not have them instead of Dominion in Chapter 2?

I'm not sure calling Enclave "Survivalist Org" is a good idea, as that's what NP are described as in Cam 1.

>> Chapter 4: Contingency

I'd want to know a lot more about the story behind Goth's Cam 4 before considering this Chapter 4.

It's clear at end of Cam 3 that Nexus is still alive due to the evil NEXUS laugh after this at the end of the final video:


But I'm not sure launching new satellites would be high on the agenda for NEXUS, it just doesn't seem to sit well with the NEXUS modus operandi. Specifically, NEXUS is making use of existing stuff mostly, rather than creating new stuff. So I'd imagine that NEXUS would find some other existing thing to infect and control.

[Goth Zagog-Thou]

This is taking precedence over Cam 4. Anything done here will be reflected in Cam 4. Shadow has the Conn in this regard. I'll retool Cam 4 as needed.

[aubergine]

Some pondering on where the cams fit:

https://warzone.atlassian.net/wiki/disp ... /Pondering

[Shadow Wolf TJC]

1st and foremost, this is just a campaign idea that I'm considering, and throwing out there. There's no guarantee that I'll actually start work on this.

Regarding the 2092 date, be careful with that one. In one of the cam videos, it mentions that NP and Project both get NEXUS infiltrated at the same time. I've not yet determined what date that happens on though - the vid is sub1_7pl.

2092's just a date that I'm proposing for when the New Paradigm established their military state in the Western Sector.

Unless I'm mistaken, New Paradigm are in the Western sector (that's where Project's Team Alpha head to looking for syn.link tech):

Sorry. I was mistaken.

"The New Paradigm is a survivalist organisation dedicated to creating a military state in the Western sector" from map1cexp.

I thought that that's what the Loyalists, who were in power since 2092, wanted others to think.

Synaptic Link tech is definitely in Western Sector.

Also, it's my understanding that Nexus Intruder Prog really only affects technology, not people? Although syn.link tech could give NEXUS a way in to human brain? Other than Dr. Reed transferring his consciousness to NEXUS, I've not seen any indication yet that the Intruder Program can get in to people's minds, even if they're hooked up to syn.links - it would be the borgs or droids out in the field that get taken over.

True, though there's the possibility that NEXUS could use less advanced methods to coerce others to follow him, like, say, bribery, or promises of power? I thought that creating a conniving NPC within the New Paradigm, one who would be amoral enough to betray his comrades for power by plotting and scheming with NEXUS, to serve as the main antagonist of Chapter 1 would provide for a nice, if maybe cheesy, opportunity to progress the story.

Regarding destroying Project outpost, not sure this direct collision with main campaigns is a good idea... :s

Initially, when Project Team Alpha arrives at the Western Sector, I'd imagine that the Rebuilders faction of the New Paradigm (of which the player would be a part of) would initially be suspicious of them. For all they know, this mysterious Project could be the ones responsible for infecting the Loyalist systems with the NEXUS Intruder Program, though they'd soon find out that the Project is just a survivalist organization that's searching for artifacts (and the Project would see that there are signs of internal strife within the New Paradigm). The Rebuilders would later use the Project's war with the Loyalists for their own advantage, and would later call for a cease-fire with them once the Project destroy the Loyalists' HQ.

As for the location of the Project outpost, I was thinking of placing it within the ruins of the New Paradigm base, and the Project LZ, both from mission 5 in the main campaign (the mission where the Project is officially introduced to the New Paradigm.)

I'm not sure bringing a religious group in is a good idea :s What about Scientoligists instead?

The faction is based on the concept of Dominionism, which I personally found to be theocratic and anti-democratic in form, much like several Islamic states of today. As we know from the backstory of Warzone 2100, NATO was dissolved in 2050 due to growing nationalism, which, in 2075, eventually reached the point where nuclear attacks were conducted by terrorists. Mongolia starts a war with China, with Korea allied with Mongolia, and NASDA was formed to prevent nuclear attacks on North America. I'd imagine that the New Paradigm (or at least the Rebuilders faction) would see nationalism as a whole as an important catalyst that ultimately led to the Collapse, as without it, NASDA wouldn't need to have been formed, nuclear deterrence and all. I'd also imagine that the New Paradigm would see religious extremism and intolerance as being no better than nationalism.

Edit: By the way, I believe that not all Christians support Dominionism, just as not all Muslims support Islamism.

I'm confused about NP and Project escorting scavenger convoys, especially as NP is getting Scavs to attack Project in this sector, and Project is at war with NP.

Perhaps the New Paradigm forces that the Project were fighting were all Loyalist forces? Perhaps, upon the destruction of the Loyalist HQ, that some of the Scavengers became loyal to the Project, others became loyal to the Rebuilders, and still others became neutral with them both? In any case, the Scavenger refugees would no doubt be coming from the Central Sector...

What is the "Central Sector"? I've still not fully worked out the bounds of the East/West/North/South sectors!

...a made-up region of the United States in-between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, consisting of such middle US states as Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kansas. As such, they would likely have no past history with the New Paradigm when it was a military state.

Also Collective are based in Eastern sector (where Team Beta went) and were heavily at war with Project.

It's likely that the Collective would've sent some attack forces to the Western Sector since they would've probably traced the Project's transport's flight path from there.

My understanding of the Collective is that they chose to be part of "the machine" and see it as a blessing. "Those of the Project are not of the Machine. They have been denied its blessing. We who have embraced the power of the machine have a destiny to sweep away such weak creatures" from this vid

I always got the feeling that the Collective are either followers of Dr. Reed or cybernetics enthusiasts who have been striving to become all-powerful machines.

It's possible that they were once a faction that taught the need to transcend humanity in order to avoid conflict, and thus, a 2nd Collapse, and they felt that the best way to do so would be to merge with cybernetics. (Some may have been Scientologists in the past. ) Sadly, by doing so, it would've made it easy for NEXUS to just brainwash them with the Intruder Program.

I like the idea that the survivors of the NP vs. Project war in Cam 1 are now working together (which would mean that the NP survivors would have ditched their "set up a military state" mission). It could be that when they confirm that Dr. Reed == NEXUS, they send this report to Team Alpha during Cam 3: cam3abf

From the wording of the video, it seemed like Team Alpha had visited the New Paradigm installation personally, and recovered a "physical" artifact. Moreover, it is possible (and would probably make for an interesting mission) that the New Paradigm installation in mind could be one of the few New Paradigm installations that lost contact with all the others when the NEXUS Intruder Program infiltrated the core New Paradigm systems. It's possible that they've been under siege for quite some time, from both infected New Paradigm, and later, Dominion, forces, and as such, would initially be hostile towards the player and his Project allies.

I'm not sure calling Enclave "Survivalist Org" is a good idea, as that's what NP are described as in Cam 1.

Technically, the Project and the Collective could be considered survivalist organizations of their own as well, since they've had to deal with the effects of the Collapse.

I'd want to know a lot more about the story behind Goth's Cam 4 before considering this Chapter 4.

Same here, which is why I deliberately left the Project's fate open to interpretation, at least for now...

It's clear at end of Cam 3 that Nexus is still alive due to the evil NEXUS laugh after this at the end of the final video:

Indeed, but I'll leave it up to Goth's campaign to explain what's going on.

But I'm not sure launching new satellites would be high on the agenda for NEXUS, it just doesn't seem to sit well with the NEXUS modus operandi. Specifically, NEXUS is making use of existing stuff mostly, rather than creating new stuff. So I'd imagine that NEXUS would find some other existing thing to infect and control.

Given that NEXUS could build (or even research) all sorts of advanced stuff in addition to infecting existing stuff, it's possible that he could also find blueprints of, or reverse-engineer, said stuff so that he could build more if need-be. (He might even be able to reverse-engineer the LasSats.) But yeah, I'd imagine that he'd try to take control of the Kennedy Space Center's spacecraft launch facilities so that he could get more LasSats and nuclear-armed satellites back in orbit.

[aubergine]

2092's just a date that I'm proposing for when the New Paradigm established their military state in the Western Sector.

That's a really interesting idea, I hadn't even considered that the US might be splintering in to groups pre-Collapse. That could tie in nicely with some of Rman's short fictions, eg. it could be such a group that plants the bomb that takes Dr. Reed's sons' legs off, making them a prime target for post-Collapse absorbtion? Although, I guess NEXUS would prioritise killing those who injured Dr. Reed's son?

I thought that that's what the Loyalists, who were in power since 2092, wanted others to think.

Loyalists?

True, though there's the possibility that NEXUS could use less advanced methods to coerce others to follow him, like, say, bribery, or promises of power? I thought that creating a conniving NPC within the New Paradigm, one who would be amoral enough to betray his comrades for power by plotting and scheming with NEXUS, to serve as the main antagonist of Chapter 1 would provide for a nice, if maybe cheesy, opportunity to progress the story.

From cam1out2.ogg:

Open your systems to me. Let me meld your machines & cyborgs. We create perfect nexus of man & machine. Together we create new world. I give power beyond wildest dreams. Open systems & you will be strong. I can raise you as gods upon the blasted Earth!

Regarding destroying Project outpost, not sure this direct collision with main campaigns is a good idea... :s

Initially, when Project Team Alpha arrives at the Western Sector, I'd imagine that the Rebuilders faction of the New Paradigm (of which the player would be a part of) would initially be suspicious of them. For all they know, this mysterious Project could be the ones responsible for infecting the Loyalist systems with the NEXUS Intruder Program, though they'd soon find out that the Project is just a survivalist organization that's searching for artifacts (and the Project would see that there are signs of internal strife within the New Paradigm). The Rebuilders would later use the Project's war with the Loyalists for their own advantage, and would later call for a cease-fire with them once the Project destroy the Loyalists' HQ.

As for the location of the Project outpost, I was thinking of placing it within the ruins of the New Paradigm base, and the Project LZ, both from mission 5 in the main campaign (the mission where the Project is officially introduced to the New Paradigm.)

Still a bit confused by this - could you clarify: When would NP Rebuilders faction meet The Project? If it's when Project first lands in Western sector, that would mean that they are meeting Team Alpha which would raise questions as to why Team Alpha knows so little about NP at the start of Cam1.

My understanding is that Project hadn't gone anywhere in Western sector until Team Alpha get sent there, and then Team Alpha's activity in the sector is fully described by Cam 1. Thus, if Team Alpha make any contact with any other factions during the timeline of Cam 1, it poses some tricky problems having everything fit together and corroborating details.

I'm not sure bringing a religious group in is a good idea :s What about Scientoligists instead?

The faction is based on the concept of Dominionism, which I personally found to be theocratic and anti-democratic in form, much like several Islamic states of today. As we know from the backstory of Warzone 2100, NATO was dissolved in 2050 due to growing nationalism, which, in 2075, eventually reached the point where nuclear attacks were conducted by terrorists. Mongolia starts a war with China, with Korea allied with Mongolia, and NASDA was formed to prevent nuclear attacks on North America. I'd imagine that the New Paradigm (or at least the Rebuilders faction) would see nationalism as a whole as an important catalyst that ultimately led to the Collapse, as without it, NASDA wouldn't need to have been formed, nuclear deterrence and all. I'd also imagine that the New Paradigm would see religious extremism and intolerance as being no better than nationalism.

Edit: By the way, I believe that not all Christians support Dominionism, just as not all Muslims support Islamism.

It's going to lead to religious debate in the wz forums, which is going to get messy. I just think it better to avoid anything to do with religion.

Maybe have a "Cabal" faction based around Bilderburg (sp?) group survivors instead?

I'm confused about NP and Project escorting scavenger convoys, especially as NP is getting Scavs to attack Project in this sector, and Project is at war with NP.

Perhaps the New Paradigm forces that the Project were fighting were all Loyalist forces? Perhaps, upon the destruction of the Loyalist HQ, that some of the Scavengers became loyal to the Project, others became loyal to the Rebuilders, and still others became neutral with them both? In any case, the Scavenger refugees would no doubt be coming from the Central Sector...

Ok, that makes sense. So maybe if the player is part of The Rebuilders they could be watching some of the cam1 stuff from the sidelines, maybe even sabotaging Loyalists efforts to defeat The Project and then later helping The Project set up a base in the destroyed NP HQ? In fact, they could be the ones helping Project to gather core systems from destroyed NP HQ thus leading to discovery of additional NEXUS stuff (example: see cam1out5). The Rebuilders could essentially be helping The Project without the project realising it, and once Commander flies to help Team Beta the Rebuilders could make direct contact with the people still at Alpha base?

What is the "Central Sector"? I've still not fully worked out the bounds of the East/West/North/South sectors!

...a made-up region of the United States in-between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, consisting of such middle US states as Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kansas. As such, they would likely have no past history with the New Paradigm when it was a military state.

I'd very much like to get a map showing where the sectors are - I think deciding on where the sectors are, more specifically what regions they cover, would be of massive use to any and all future cam work.

Also Collective are based in Eastern sector (where Team Beta went) and were heavily at war with Project.

It's likely that the Collective would've sent some attack forces to the Western Sector since they would've probably traced the Project's transport's flight path from there.

Would it not be better to have them doing stuff in the Central sector first = why the scavs are fleeing central sector?

My understanding of the Collective is that they chose to be part of "the machine" and see it as a blessing. ...etc...

It's possible that they were once a faction that taught the need to transcend humanity in order to avoid conflict, and thus, a 2nd Collapse, and they felt that the best way to do so would be to merge with cybernetics. (Some may have been Scientologists in the past. ) Sadly, by doing so, it would've made it easy for NEXUS to just brainwash them with the Intruder Program.

From what I've learnt from the cam vids, they weren't brainwashed, they were actively seeking to become part of the machine. I'm pretty sure I had a discussion with Rman Virgil on this very subject but I'm struggling to find it via forum search.

I like the idea that the survivors of the NP vs. Project war in Cam 1 are now working together (which would mean that the NP survivors would have ditched their "set up a military state" mission). It could be that when they confirm that Dr. Reed == NEXUS, they send this report to Team Alpha during Cam 3: cam3abf

From the wording of the video, it seemed like Team Alpha had visited the New Paradigm installation personally, and recovered a "physical" artifact. Moreover, it is possible (and would probably make for an interesting mission) that the New Paradigm installation in mind could be one of the few New Paradigm installations that lost contact with all the others when the NEXUS Intruder Program infiltrated the core New Paradigm systems. It's possible that they've been under siege for quite some time, from both infected New Paradigm, and later, Dominion, forces, and as such, would initially be hostile towards the player and his Project allies.

Remember that cam3abf happens in Cam 3, not Cam 1. But yes, I would imagine that Project would send people to investigate all bases that they encounter / defeat. The Project clearly invest a lot in seeking out and researching technologies, after all it's part of their mission statement: "The Project is dedicated to recovering Pre-Collapse technologies and rebuilding the world."

I'm not sure calling Enclave "Survivalist Org" is a good idea, as that's what NP are described as in Cam 1.

Technically, the Project and the Collective could be considered survivalist organizations of their own as well, since they've had to deal with the effects of the Collapse.

Yes, but I think with the term being used to describe NP in the Cam 1 video that introduces them, it just feels a bit weird re-using the term. Post-collapse, all organisations are survivalist ("wars over cans of dog food" etc), including the scavs. It's only a minor point, but I just think it will detract from explaining what post-collapse organisations are about if we keep using the term, it'll be like "oh, another survivalist org... " from player perspective...?

But I'm not sure launching new satellites would be high on the agenda for NEXUS, it just doesn't seem to sit well with the NEXUS modus operandi. Specifically, NEXUS is making use of existing stuff mostly, rather than creating new stuff. So I'd imagine that NEXUS would find some other existing thing to infect and control.

Given that NEXUS could build (or even research) all sorts of advanced stuff in addition to infecting existing stuff, it's possible that he could also find blueprints of, or reverse-engineer, said stuff so that he could build more if need-be. (He might even be able to reverse-engineer the LasSats.) But yeah, I'd imagine that he'd try to take control of the Kennedy Space Center's spacecraft launch facilities so that he could get more LasSats and nuclear-armed satellites back in orbit.

[/quote]

Well, in the existing cam videos it mentions (either directly stated or inferred) on a few occasions that NP and Collective were searching for artefacts at the request of NEXUS. The Synaptic Link was one such example from Cam 1.

I'm just not sure that revisiting space with new and improved LasSats is a good direction to take... Mainly because they would have no targeting problems (like the pre-Collapse LasSats did) - as soon as they get up in to space that would give NEXUS a precision scalpel to cut the player off planet earth.

BTW, I don't want to discourage from this Cam being developed. I love the overall concept and it will be a great addition to the WZ community! I just want to avoid Bruce Willis' t-shirt changing colour from scene to scene in Die Hard, hence me raising the questions/issues here and above.

[Lord Apocalypse]

Still a bit confused by this - could you clarify: When would NP Rebuilders faction meet The Project? If it's when Project first lands in Western sector, that would mean that they are meeting Team Alpha which would raise questions as to why Team Alpha knows so little about NP at the start of Cam1.

This can be explained by its happening AFTER cam1 when the main alpha team forces are headed to beta, though it does give a little conflict with cam3 when what is supposed to be the remainder of team alpha arrives (though all of this could be made a bit fuzzy since we have the luxury of incomplete cannon)

It's going to lead to religious debate in the wz forums, which is going to get messy. I just think it better to avoid anything to do with religion.

It doesn't have to. If you look at Wing Commander Privateer you have religious nut jobs (Retros) that hate technology and think the universe is better off with out it. Also, most major religions have a fanatical minority that has done something extreme in its history. Christians have the dark ages most notably, the crusades, etc. You have an extremist form of nearly every major religion.

@Shadow Wolf
Have you started fleshing out the actual missions yet? Might want to get Chap 1 fleshed out more in mission and story details so that it can better fit with the original campaign.

The ideas behind the main chapters are really good, now its time to take one at a time and flesh each out individually so they can all come together (as well as make sure they don't clash with the main campaigns).

[Shadow Wolf TJC]

2092's just a date that I'm proposing for when the New Paradigm established their military state in the Western Sector.

That's a really interesting idea, I hadn't even considered that the US might be splintering in to groups pre-Collapse. That could tie in nicely with some of Rman's short fictions, eg. it could be such a group that plants the bomb that takes Dr. Reed's sons' legs off, making them a prime target for post-Collapse absorbtion? Although, I guess NEXUS would prioritise killing those who injured Dr. Reed's son?

Actually, I haven't been considering that the US was splintering either. All I thought was that the New Paradigm could be little different from the Project in terms of origins. For all I know, they could've come from the same kinds of groups: survivors of the Collapse that are looking to rebuild civilization from the ashes, though possibly with differences in how to accomplish that. Same could be true with the Collective, with their solution possibly being to abandon their parts of humanity that they felt were responsible for leading up to the Collapse, such as emotion (much like the Vulcans from Star Trek).

Still a bit confused by this - could you clarify: When would NP Rebuilders faction meet The Project? If it's when Project first lands in Western sector, that would mean that they are meeting Team Alpha which would raise questions as to why Team Alpha knows so little about NP at the start of Cam1.

My understanding is that Project hadn't gone anywhere in Western sector until Team Alpha get sent there, and then Team Alpha's activity in the sector is fully described by Cam 1. Thus, if Team Alpha make any contact with any other factions during the timeline of Cam 1, it poses some tricky problems having everything fit together and corroborating details.

Initially, the Rebuilders would observe the Project from a safe distance in order to see what they're up to. That conflict between them and the Project could be the Loyalists exploring the ruins of a former New Paradigm outpost, having heard of them being attacked by an unidentified force (which the Rebuilders later learn is the Project). Later on, when the Loyalists are defeated by attacks from both the Project and the Rebuilders (though they haven't yet met at the time), the Rebuilders would formally introduce themselves to the Project shortly afterwards, requesting a cease-fire.

It's going to lead to religious debate in the wz forums, which is going to get messy. I just think it better to avoid anything to do with religion.

Maybe have a "Cabal" faction based around Bilderburg (sp?) group survivors instead?

Maybe, though I'd still like to have a faction full of religiously-fanatic nutjobs. Perhaps I could describe the Dominion more vaguely as a group of fanatically extremist cultists?

Would it not be better to have them doing stuff in the Central sector first = why the scavs are fleeing central sector?

They're attempting to flee from Dominion oppression? Prior to the Dominion's assault on the New Paradigm and Project forces, they were shunned by the other factions in the Central Sector for their extremist ideals, and were previously kept in check by the other factions, that is until NEXUS "blessed" them.

Yes, but I think with the term being used to describe NP in the Cam 1 video that introduces them, it just feels a bit weird re-using the term. Post-collapse, all organisations are survivalist ("wars over cans of dog food" etc), including the scavs. It's only a minor point, but I just think it will detract from explaining what post-collapse organisations are about if we keep using the term, it'll be like "oh, another survivalist org... " from player perspective...?

True. I doubt that the player would care about meeting another "generic survivalist organization" unless they learn about what the organization is like, such as the Project's goal of rebuilding civilization, or the Collective being comprised of machine-worshipping transhumanist technophiles, or the Enclave being founded by a surviving senator and built around keeping America alive.

From what I've learnt from the cam vids, they weren't brainwashed, they were actively seeking to become part of the machine. I'm pretty sure I had a discussion with Rman Virgil on this very subject but I'm struggling to find it via forum search.

If that's so, then NEXUS would've used that to lead them into a trap, though it's possible that there were at least some Collective that were suspicious. If a stranger were to offer you a ride home, or candy, would you take it?

I'm just not sure that revisiting space with new and improved LasSats is a good direction to take... Mainly because they would have no targeting problems (like the pre-Collapse LasSats did) - as soon as they get up in to space that would give NEXUS a precision scalpel to cut the player off planet earth.

I'm only planning on letting NEXUS get just 1 LasSat up in space (with the New Paradigm capturing one of their own before NEXUS could launch it), though I'd also have to restrict it to requiring a LasSat Command Post present in order for him to be able to use it. The only excuse that I could think of is that NEXUS doesn't have enough time to get any satellites in orbit that could wipe out whatever he chooses as efficiently as the previous set of LasSats that he had in orbit (which were destroyed by the Project).

@Shadow Wolf
Have you started fleshing out the actual missions yet? Might want to get Chap 1 fleshed out more in mission and story details so that it can better fit with the original campaign.

The ideas behind the main chapters are really good, now its time to take one at a time and flesh each out individually so they can all come together (as well as make sure they don't clash with the main campaigns).

I'll see what mission ideas I can come up with later on.

[Iluvalar]

75% of contingency is going straight into garbage. It's nothing personnal, it's just game theory. I know you want too much that mod to work to care about logic and stuff I say... With the skills you are developing, you gona probably want to recycle the pieces of contingency that were functional and make a whole new mod or hopefully, you will join NRS3 if i can get my video card to work...

In any ways, I strongly suggest that you concentrate on failing to balance what you already have in contingency. The quicker you realize it's impossible, the quicker we gona have that next mod.

I wont even try to explain again why you'll fail, you don't seem to listen. yet...

[aubergine]

From cam2diin:

(Nexus voice) Warriors of The Collective, you have performed well. Your just reward is on its way. The project is fleeing its base and stealing your technology. You must stop them.

This is as a nuke is flying towards beta base, so NEXUS knows he's sending Collective to their doom, but that's OK because they might stop Project getting away with tech.

So NEXUS clearly doesn't care about anyone, sees everyone as pawns in his game. Might be interesting to factor that in to the contingency cam? Collective survivors would certainly hate NEXUS after that...

[aubergine]

From cam2diif.ogg:

Commander, we have grave news. Alpha base has been destroyed by nuclear missile attack. Elements of Team Alpha were able to escape overland before the nuke hit. All contact has since been lost with them.

Would be a great time for remains of Alpha and Rebuilders to team up.

[aubergine]

Update to one of my earlier statements about synaptic links not allowing Nexus Intruder Program to take over humans...

cam3_bn.ogg/.txt, Nexus states: "I'm now activating all your synaptic links so that your forces can meld with Nexus."

Does this mean Nexus is taking over people's minds via synaptic links?

[Shadow Wolf TJC]

75% of contingency is going straight into garbage. It's nothing personnal, it's just game theory. I know you want too much that mod to work to care about logic and stuff I say... With the skills you are developing, you gona probably want to recycle the pieces of contingency that were functional and make a whole new mod or hopefully, you will join NRS3 if i can get my video card to work...

In any ways, I strongly suggest that you concentrate on failing to balance what you already have in contingency. The quicker you realize it's impossible, the quicker we gona have that next mod.

I wont even try to explain again why you'll fail, you don't seem to listen. yet...

You know what Iluvalar? I've had it up to here with your constant stream of criticism now. I made my mod how I wanted it, and I presume that the same could be said for your NRS mod. Speaking of, I don't care about making my Contingency mod into a clone of your NRS mod. In fact, I personally prefer the gameplay style of the original Warzone 2100 over your mod. There! I said it.

If you want to keep on criticizing something that I've worked hard on for over 3.5 months now without offering constructive criticism, then I'll just ignore you like I would ignore a troll. I wonder if he's just jealous? I also have to question whether people still like his NRS mod?

Edit: If you don't like my Contingency mod, then fine. However, if you continue to bash it like you seem to have been doing throughout the mod's development cycle, then maybe you have a problem?

[Lord Apocalypse]

So NEXUS clearly doesn't care about anyone, sees everyone as pawns in his game. Might be interesting to factor that in to the contingency cam? Collective survivors would certainly hate NEXUS after that...

Either they would hate NEXUS or they would be rethinking being one with the machine. Either way it would be interesting to see how the collective handles this kind of schism within their ranks.

Would be a great time for remains of Alpha and Rebuilders to team up

Possible canon conflict though is how to explain the lack of intel given over during cam3. Easy enough to explain, just needs to be done in a way that the player would buy into it. Hectic retreat of main alpha team, rebuilders ask for silence until NEXUS is taken care of, etc.

cam3_bn.ogg/.txt, Nexus states: "I'm now activating all your synaptic links so that your forces can meld with Nexus."

Does this mean Nexus is taking over people's minds via synaptic links?

It's possible depending on how you think on it. Wi-fi connection could allow a direct interface with the link interface which could be hacked by NEXUS. Or, the interface itself has already been infected by the nexus intruder program which in turn would gain direct control of its human host (considering that the human brain is nothing more than an organic computer).

@Shadow Wolf
While Iluvalar's post comes off as harsh, brutish and rather rude he does make one small point. While contingency does look like a really good mod (downloaded but not played yet) I know from experience that in a nutshell he is partially right. He just didn't include his own mod though which he should have.

When I worked on the 1.11 update for the retail release I thought I had something great. Put a lot of work into it and thought it was great, but looking back on it I would have thrown out at least 30% of the changes I made and reworked a lot of other balance issues that sprang up. I think any game/mod designer would do the same after looking back at early work that they created. Its part of the process. I'm sure there is probably a small portion of Contigency that could be changed or thrown out but as none of these mods or even this version of warzone is a commercial release the only person who should really care about it is the author.

No matter what you do someone is going to call is garbage, weather you let it get to you is another matter. I wouldn't worry about unless it unless over half the people in that thread start hating it