Developer Blog #62
Sit back and enjoy this week’s devblog.
An unusual topic
Many months took place as we fine tuned and rolled up our final human models. A thorough research was made, along with dedicated community historians which agreed to help us, to try and find accurate references to make the best results. The models have been progressively made since November 2016. We’d like to now share with you the experiments that have been made with coats, now that we are moving onto the winter weather. Coats are especially difficult to animate, but we can overcome this problem with effort and fine tuning. The hardest part is to convey the folds and cloth appearance correctly, in such a way that the model still looks convincing when crouched or physically deformed from its initial position. Our artists made sculptures to study the forms and be able to make more realistic models. You may have seen some of the first iteration of finished models in the screens from previous weeks’ blogs, more refined ones will follow soon.
Now for some historical notes about the renders. The first soldier is a German officer with M36/40 greatcoat - look at the pistol holster on his belt. The second is a German SS squad leader with a late M42 greatcoat (look at the enlarged collar) with M38 camo blouse. In other words this variant would be seen on spring and autumn seasons of the Late War. The third is also squad leader with MP-40 pouches and a holster with a self-made winter camo cover. In fact, the germans had problems with winter camouflage and had to adapt their uniforms for the winter landscapes during the Early War, for this purpose they often covered themselves with white cloth sheets.
And now for something completely different:
New mechanics in the making
The last screenshot shown above is merely an experiment. We’re planning to invest time in making proper mountain warfare. This brings a whole set of challenges. Cliffs and rock formations are in the works, and careful evaluation to give soldiers the ability to climb them. Rock-climbing ropes to ascend and descend rock faces too steep to trespass otherwise.
In the Caucasus in 1942 there were particularly interesting battles that involved mountain fights at altitudes above 4000m. The experienced and unbroken soviet defence against the might of german elite mountain troops -- mules and kettenkrads for transporting equipment -- deployable dismountable guns for mountain warfare -- soviet light fighter-bombers blowing up rocky cliffs to create a stone avalanche over german convoys -- tedious corridor fights along foggy mountain routes -- soviet petroleum pools lit on fire as a reckless obstacle for the german advance!!
Now this is something quite interesting and definitely not seen before in similar games, and a staggering yet true piece of history. Yep - it’s on us to bring it to you guys.
And do you know what’s a cool thing about making fights along the Caucasus, Kuban, and Crimea? Yes, American and British lend-lease tanks! Tanks are always a sweet spot, are they not?
Did you know?
While the British found the Matilda II a much more useful tank than the Valentine, the Soviets thought the opposite (especially about the Valentine Mk. IX armed with a 57mm gun) when they received lend-lease tanks. The Matilda’s narrow tracks did not really help it’s mobility in the eastern front. The Matilda’s heavy armour and mobility tied with heavy tank brigades, along with the KV-1.