Hello everyone!

I'm happy to be back finally working on our game again, while still balancing all the studying I'm having to do for my current phase of training.

Today I'm excited to tell you more about our upcoming updates to armored vehicles, imaging systems, and a feature I'm particularly excited about... platoons.

I actually first wrote the concept for platoons over... eight years ago now? Back when I was still running our server for Project Reality.

We wanted to create a system that would allow a squad to choose a specific "role" that would grant them exclusive access to specific vehicles. Unfortunately, since Project Reality was only a Battlefield 2 modification... we were limited in what we could do.

However, when we started our own game project (Operation: Harsh Doorstop) we laid the groundwork for our vision of an improved squad system... which was platoons.

Platoons are squad categories that allow players to choose the type of role they want their squad to fulfill. Until now, there has only been an "infantry" platoon in our game... but with the upcoming update, we will be adding "Armored" and "Airborne" platoons for players to utilize.

Each platoon comes with access to unique equipment that players will need to operate specific types of vehicles. As we continue expanding out the platoon system, we're also interested in adding specialized roles to each platoon category... including JTAC roles for Airborne platoons, or JFSS for Armored platoons.

This new system will allow us to get even more creative with our factions... especially when we begin implementing commander roles, which will be covered in the next development blog.

The Platoons feature will also include a "claiming" system for vehicles, allowing squad leaders (and squad members) to claim vehicles for their squad. This allows squad leaders to manage whether a vehicle is locked (allowing only squad members to access the vehicle) or even un-claim a vehicle, if they wish to transfer ownership to a friendly squad.

The "claiming" system will also include a variety of other requirements for operating heavy vehicles, including crewmen or pilot equipment requirements for crewed vehicles... as well as requirements for players to be in squads with the required number of squad members to operate a vehicle.

However, even more important than platoons... is our update to armored vehicles.

In addition to a complete overhaul for sound effects and handling, our armored vehicles are being updated with unique features including thermal imaging and night vision.

After we added night vision for modern infantry equipment kits, we realized that expanding the system to support thermal imaging in vehicles wouldn't require a significant modification. So now, you can expect both night vision and thermal imaging for the appropriate vehicles to be included in the upcoming update.

Additionally, our team has been experimenting with new particle physics for destroyed vehicles including dynamic fire effects and more!

This is still only scratching the surface of all the new features that we've added to the closed beta... and if you want to come play the update for yourself, we encourage you to pick up the supporter edition on Steam and join our multiplayer playtests!

All owners of the supporter edition can get a Steam key to the multiplayer playtest through our website, if you don't already have one.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/47119/COMPLETE_EDITION_for_Operation_Harsh_Doorstop/

Thanks so much for your support so far, and I can't wait to show you more of what is coming... in probably the largest update to Operation: Harsh Doorstop that we've ever launched.

See you again soon!

Connor "Bluedrake42" Hill
Founder