The BLOODY BATTLES special campaign event offers the potential for some incredibly intense combat for players old and new. No more run-of-the-mill Intermission. No one will be wandering around the map asking where the fight is. Rapid access to the full equipment list. Less demand on the fine volunteers who make up the High Command. A shorter campaign with more unforgettable encounters.

Over the past year, the WWIIOL:BE game management team has been designing and hosting dynamically managed events. Usually falling in between campaigns as a break from the regular “grind”, these events were designed to be different and exciting by focusing combat to smaller area and having specific and easy to understand objectives. These events are the model for the new BLOODY BATTLES special campaign event.

“But Motormouth, wtf is the BLOODY BATTLES format???”. Well I'll tell ya, read on:

The game map will be separated into “phases”. Phases will run two or three days, the longer ones reserved for weekends. Two day phases have 2 ground objectives and 1 air, while the three day setup will have 3 ground and 1 air. Each of these objectives has a points value:

Primary:    5 points
Secondary:    3 points
Bombing:    3 points

Either side might hold an objective for any amount of time during the phase, but the winner is the side that holds the objectives at the end of the phase. These won't end at the same time, we will alternate between time zones. A side wins the bombing objective by simply having done the most damage to the RDP factories when timer has run down. At the end of the phase, the server is locked and set up for the next one.

The phases will move East or West depending on who wins. To avoid the “ping pong” effect different spaces on the map will be used for every new phase. As they move along, so do the equipment lists. Phase 1 will start out at Tier 0 and so on. By phase 6, we'll be at Tier 3. Easy!

“OOOH! Sounds interesting....but how does my side win!?”

This was a head-scratcher for the team, but after an intense (read: LOUD) meeting, we finally came up with victory conditions.

The winner of the BLOODY BATTLES campaign is the first side to either:

A) Push their opponent off the map or
B) Accumulate 90 points

“This is different...I'm not sure...”

Oooohhh...I haven't even told you the best part yet!

RPATs, Americans and semi-autos will be included in every BLOODY BATTLES campaign.

“!!!”

RPATs will explode into combat at Tier 2, Americans and semi-autos hit the ground in Tier 3. No more waiting for weeks or months for a Special Event!

“Why are you guys doing this?”

We're trying something different using all the best that the Battleground Europe has to offer because we want you to have more fun playing.

We've got a few things left to do before we're ready to launch. DOC already has a list of some kickass phases designed, with names like “Long Day at Longwy” and “Black is the Forest”, and he's working on more. Each phase will have a web page with the back story and the objectives clearly defined. A scoreboard is being created to keep track of each battles and the points tally.

“Black is the Forest”
Battle phase 5
Primary Objective: Nettersheim (Allied owned) – 5 points
Secondary Objective: Euskirchen (German owned) – 3 points
Factory Bombing - 3 points
Equipment - Tier 2
Duration - 2 days

The war has raged on for over two years now. Thousands of German soldiers have laid down their lives for the Fatherland, fiercely steadfast but fighting against overpowering numbers and struggling to fuel their mighty war machines. French and British forces have slowly pushed the war out of Belgium and across the border into Germany. The heart of the Fatherland is in very real danger of falling. The only hope for survival and possible victory lies deep within the dark forests that grow on the Eifel hills. With winter rapidly approaching, the dense forests of Euskirchen will become choked with snow and grind the advance of the enemy to a near standstill. Soldaten, you have 2 days to repulse the enemy and prove you are worthy in the eyes of your ancestors. Fight!

We're really excited to be offering this new campaign option to you all and we're asking for your support as we work to improve the game you know and love.

S!