All Quiet in the Trenches is set in a (fictional) secondary theatre of war on the Western Front. Many soldiers stationed away from the main front lines probably did not come into direct contact with poison gas very often. Nevertheless, poison gas is one of the most well-known and devastating weapons of the First World War. That's why it was clear to us from the very beginning that we wanted to incorporate this topic into the game.
Poison Gas in the Diary
With less than one percent of all World War I deaths, poison gas is considered an ineffective weapon in retrospect, but its cruelty and the effects it had on soldiers give it its terrible reputation.
We have written several new journal entries on this topic, which deal with various aspects of gas warfare. We plan to have 6-8 stories by the time of release of the next update, but due to our dynamic storytelling, it is of course possible that you will not experience all of them in one playthrough.
Gas Masks
We designed the gas masks in the game based on the German ‘GM15’ rubber mask and the French ‘M2’ mask. Both variants have been given their own storage locations: A carrying bag for French soldiers and the ‘Bereitschaftsbüchse’ ('emergency box') for German soldiers.
Gas Attacks in the Trenches
During the trench phase, occasional gas attacks may now occur. The main consequences are increased exhaustion and mental stress for the soldiers.
The use and duration of a gas attack depend on the wind. Gas can affect life in the trenches for several days, but it is ineffective in strong winds. The wind, in turn, depends on the weather. So heavy rain now has its good sides too.
Chlorine Gas on the Battlefield
Some new levels have been designed in which chlorine gas is used. Soldiers who are near poison gas clouds automatically put on their gas masks.
The gas clouds behave similarly to artillery smoke or smoke grenades. However, gas adds additional penalties to the visibility impairment: reduced stamina and lower soldier effectiveness.
Stamina Adjustments
As part of this, we have made minor changes to stamina, which is reflected in the game via the ‘Out of Breath’ attribute. In addition to balancing changes, we have introduced a mechanic where soldiers who are not given a break on the battlefield will eventually become unable to carry out orders.
