Sandbox – Frontline: Grand Canyon and Sunny Valley
3 min readHello everyone,
Frontline 2.0 is here and ready to be tested on the Sandbox Server. Frontline test now offers two 30v30 setups. The first introduces a few new mechanics, while the latter lets you try familiar modes on larger maps with twice as many vehicles per team.
- Massive 9 km2 clashes across the Epic Normandy map with unique objectives for each team, five-man-strong Platoons, Garage-based redeployment, and service during battle
- Huge Tier X battles with Standard and Encounter modes’ rules across two all-new arenas—the 1.2×1.2 km Grand Canyon and the 1.4×1.4 km Sunny Valley
Battle Setup
Vehicles: All Tier X vehicles except for Premium and Special Event tanks.
Teams: 30 players per side. The matchmaker creates teams based on balance requirements and limitations established in 9.18, ensuring the difference in the number of light tanks, TDs, and arty within each part of the list is just one vehicle at the most. The difference in the number of Platoon players is set to two at the most. The number of SPGs is limited to six at the most per team.
Maps: The matchmaker chooses between two maps, Grand Canyon (Encounter battles) and Sunny Valley (Standard and Encounter battles). To provide each of the 60 players with enough space for maneuvers, we increased map sizes to 1.2×1.2 km for Grand Canyon and 1.4×1.4 km for Sunny Valley.
NOTE: At this point, the two new maps are merely prototypes of future arenas, designed to evaluate new combat scenarios. As we get closer to finalizing gameplay elements for each, we’ll bring maps to completion, too, texturing highly-detailed objects and environments for you to enjoy.
Victory conditions: Capture the base (the enemy base for Standard mode, or the neutral one for Encounter battles) or destroy all enemy vehicles.
Base capture: Just as in Random Battles, once a tank enters a circle, capture begins. Three players can participate in capturing at the same time, and the capture speed hits its peak at three players. In Standard mode, base capture pauses if an enemy tank enters the circle. However, this won’t reset the timer. The timer resets if a tank in the circle, which is actively capturing points, receives any amount of damage or has a module damaged. In Encounter mode, base capture is halted when an enemy tank enters the circle and resumes when it leaves. The base is fully captured when the meter reaches 100.
Battle duration: 20 minutes. If the time limit expires and neither team captures the opposing base or destroys all vehicles, then the match is a draw.
Economy
Frontline’s economic system is a work in progress. We used the Tier X economy as the foundation and are currently collecting stats to fine-tune vehicle earnings.
We can’t thank you enough for the comprehensive feedback you’ve sent us so far, and encourage you to keep providing us with thoughts as we continue to work on the new mode. Your input on all aspects of the two setups will shape the future work on Frontline and ultimately help us deliver a truly worthwhile scenario.
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Excellent!