Hello commander!
We hope you are ready for some single-player WARNO fun! Today marks the day of the new milestone SOULT, bringing you a duo of Operations!
In today’s update, we present you two brand-spanking new, fully voiced, and scripted single-player tactical battles, known as Operations.
But before we continue, first, a bit about the milestone’s historical namesake: Jean de Dieu Soult.
Introducing the historical SOULT
As always, we name our milestones after important French military commanders (chiefly high-ranking generals and marshals from the Napoleonic Wars). This one is no exception: Jean de Dieu Soult was also known as the ”Duke of Damnation” by the British, who believed this French commander to be one of their staunchest adversaries during the Peninsular War (1807-1814).
Originally a country notary, Soult made it all the way to the top, quickly rising through the ranks during the French Revolution. He showed his prowess in combat during the Battle of Fleurus. In 1799, he became a division general before being promoted to one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire in 1804. In the Battle of Austerlitz, Soult played a key role in the decisive attack that resulted in the French victory.
Afterward, he was sent to Spain and ultimately ordered to command all French forces during the Peninsular War. In the war-torn Iberia lands, he was considered one of the best strategists, yet a poor tactician. Soult was once described as able “to move troops over great distances, to regroup them at a given point and date like nobody else could… but once there, not knowing exactly what to do with them.” Despite some smaller victories, Soult was eventually outmaneuvered and driven out of Spain by the later Duke of Wellington.
There is more to SOULT
Another claim to fame: Soult was also one of the biggest looters of the Grande Armée, though compared to some of his base colleagues, his fancy was piqued more by priceless artworks than gold or silverware. Soult also gained another mark of infamy by being considered one of the greatest turncoats of the era.
After Spain, for instance, he turned royalist with Napoleon’s first defeat and exile. However, with Bonaparte’s return, Soult served him once again, this time during the Battle of Waterloo, as Napoleon’s chief of staff. Defeated a second time, he was exiled to Germany before being allowed to return on a royal pardon. Back again, he managed to make it to Minister of War, where he was responsible for creating the French Foreign Legion. This frequent shifting of allegiances led him to serve Napoléon, Louis XVIII, Charles X, and Louis Phillipe, often at the expense of his former comrades.
What can you expect with WARNO’s Operations?
Now, for the meat of SOULT: our new Operations. The milestone will contain two missions, accessible in the single-player menu. All missions can be played from one side only, NATO or Warsaw Pact, and are scripted tactical battles with special objectives and conditions.
Operations in WARNO are tactical war scenarios placing the player in command of a military formation during our hypothetical World War III. These are akin to Steel Division 2’s Historical Battles, which in WARNO’s case are clearly ahistorical, but based on grounded reality and detailed research. There is another major difference: while Historical Battles could be played from both sides, Operations will be playable with one side only and solely versus the AI. This answered a tricky balancing and development question for us. Now, in WARNO we can design and release unique, memorable, and interesting Operations much quicker!
SOULT’s Operations are only the beginning; many many more Operations are in the works! Expect more details and news to drop in the coming weeks. What’s more: your feedback matters more than ever. The community’s input (that’s you) will be key in shaping, updating, and improving future Operations.
The details of SOULT’s Operations
So, what can you expect with this milestone?
Black Horse’s Last Stand
The battered American 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment needs to hold the line near Bad Orb and successfully resist the Soviet spearhead of the 39th Guards Motor Rifle Division. You’ll need to conduct a fighting withdrawal while establishing your new HQ. As you continue to resist, you are able to call in a pair of A-10 Warthogs with West German territorial reserves deploying later.
If you want to read some more details on the first Operation, Black Horse’s Last Stand, make sure to check out this previous DevBlog here.
Red Juggernaut
Comrade commander, you’ll lead the heroic tankmen of the Soviet 79th Guards Tank Division in an effort to smash the improvised NATO defenses on the outskirts of Frankfurt. Nothing can stand in the way of the full might of the Soviet Army after the hard-earned breakthrough north of Fulda. Frankfurt lies in your grasp, but to claim the prize, the improvised NATO defenses close to Hanau need to be destroyed.
Check some more details on the second Operation, Red Juggernaut in this dedicated DevBlog here.
See you on the battlefield
That’s all for today’s SOULT. The only thing left to do? Get playing! We want to know what you think of our new Operations, so don’t hesitate to drop us a line. But no complaining, spamming, or otherwise unhelpful or childish behavior - we want to know your constructive feedback and experiences. Let’s make a better WARNO together. Have fun!
Don’t forget to join the passionate WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commander!
