December Newscast

Good day everyone!

November and December have been a busy time for TI. We made it to this year's Top 100 mods, got interviewed by CnCSaga.de and introduced a whole new Tech Faction. And to top it off, we're about to hit the next release in just four days!

In our last feature, we briefly analyzed the new Forsaken faction, their origins and their structures. This time we survey their infantry and vehicles, as well as a couple of upgraded GDI and Nod units that have been rolled out into production.

Let's begin!

Generally speaking, the Forsaken units are not as tough as those of GDI and Nod, but they compensate this with more firepower and better environmental adaptations. One example is the trait common to all mutants and Tiberium life forms - the ability of their bodies to repair and replace damaged tissue by adsorbing Tiberium particles, and the immunity to Tiberium toxins that comes with it. In other words, any mutant can pass through a Tiberium field unharmed and regain health by resting on a Tiberium field. Many Forsaken vehicles are also light enough to pass through Tiberium vein fields without awakening the veinhole monsters.

Aside from human fighters, the Forsaken have apparently succeeded in being the first to tame and train Tiberium life forms, in particular Fiends and Wyverns. Tamed Fiends and Wyverns have been seen guarding Forsaken base perimeters and accompanying vehicle patrols. Perhaps not all Tiberium life is as alien as we think.

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Warriors are one of the most common Forsaken troops. Despite wielding only light armour and dual TMP machine pistols, Warriors are fierce soldiers trained in real combat. It is said that for every one Forsaken Warrior you need five GDI Rangers or Nod Militants.

Upon ranking up into veterans, Warriors are upgraded with a portable cloaking device. While functioning identically to Nod's stealth technology, salvaged samples suggest the devices are actually product of custom Forsaken research and craftsmanship, demonstrating their resourcefulness. How they've been able to replicate such technology remains unknown.

Requires: Forsaken Barracks

Forsaken Skirmishers are an all-female band of warriors armed with RPG/homing missile launchers. They are the primary anti-tank and anti-air support units of Forsaken troops.

Like Warriors, veteran Skirmishers are upgraded with a portable cloaking device.

Requires: Forsaken Barracks

Martyrs are sickly mutants near the final phases of their Tiberium transformation. In order to save their fellow mutants from the burden they would become, they have chosen to give up their lives in suicide missions. Their sacrifice is highly venerated among the Forsaken.

Martyrs are often packed with explosives and used to carry out suicide attacks, detonating themselves upon reaching the target. Due to the irregular supply of Martyrs, only a limited amount can be trained at a time.

Requires: Forsaken Barracks, Radar

"The Reaver" is an infamous and highly experienced Forsaken commando whose real identity is a mystery. His weapons of choice are his customised MAC-10 machine pistols and a portable cloaking device, allowing him to remain invisible to the naked eye. Only when using his weapons is the cloak momentarily disabled.

However, the Reaver's most dangerous feature is his ability to commandeer any vehicle. He can sneak up to a target undetected and dispose of the crew in an instant, granting him complete access of the hijacked vehicle.

Requires: Forsaken Barracks, Forsaken Command Bunker, Technology Center

Forsaken Trapper Cycles are light-weight, high-speed motorcycles excelling at hit-and-run tactics. Most are built from salvaged Nod Recon Bikes, their missile launchers replaced with a sidecar-mounted automatic grenade launcher that can switch over to anti-infantry web rounds. These vehicles are often used to harass fortified enemy positions and to pin down potential hostages.

Requires: Forsaken Factory

The Drifter IFV is a robust yet versatile transport. Using its forward-pointing machine gun, the Drifter can provide suppressive fire while driving straight to and past enemy lines. The vehicle has room for up to four passengers.

Requires: Forsaken Factory

While Forsaken Brawler Tanks are not as durable as military-grade battle tanks, what they lack in armour they make up with firepower. Their powerful anti-armour cannons can out-range and out-power conventional tank cannons, but their slow rate of fire often restricts them for flank attacks, hit-and-run tactics and fire support.

Requires: Forsaken Factory, Radar

The Leviathans are the largest and most powerful of known Forsaken vehicles. Despite being haphazardly crafted from scrap metal and various industrial and military equipment, these beasts are surprisingly resilient, demonstrating the ingenuity of Forsaken engineers and mechanics. Leviathans are armed with two cannons that fire special, explosive shrapnel shells, acting like enormous shotguns. While inaccurate, these shells are particularly devastating to infantry, light vehicles and structures.

Requires: Forsaken Factory, Forsaken Command Bunker, Technology Center

The Forsaken Ambush is a powerful ability reserved only for esteemed Forsaken commanders...or the highest bidder. It consists of a team of elite Forsaken Warriors and Skirmishers who burrow and attack a chosen target using ad hoc underground passages. This allows them to bypass enemy defences and even Sensor Arrays.

Requires: Forsaken Command Bunker

Infantry touched up by Crimsonum, voxels and cameos made by ErastusMercy.

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These are all the Forsaken armaments we have reliable intel on for now, but rumours and unverified reports suggest they may have more surprises up their sleeves.

Next up are some new products from GDI and Nod's R&D.

Marauders used to have rudimentary hover packs that allowed them to glide over the ground at high speed, but they weren't able to actually fly, until now. Joint GDI and GT research has managed to produce the first mass-producible portable jet-packs, enabling Marauders to traverse any terrain.

Meanwhile, Siege Troopers have been upgraded with new exosuits that should help them better carry around the heavy mortar equipment.

The Brotherhood of Nod has unveiled a new, larger walker body for their Cyborg Reaper units. The new Reapers are constructed in Fists of Nod, but they still require a Hall of Faith to supply the cybernetic technology. They are no longer classed as infantry, as such they're unable to fit inside personnel transports. To compensate for these drawbacks, the new Reapers are significantly faster and fire more missiles per volley than before.

Models created and animated by Nolt.

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Last but not least, we have some new battlefields opened by ErastusMercy and our newest member, TrainStation. Click the map preview for a full image.

[4] Escalation by TrainStation

[6] Island City by TrainStation

[6] Forsaken Night by ErastusMercy

[5] D-Day (Survival Mode) by ErastusMercy

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That's all for now. Stay tuned for more!

Oh, and if you haven't already, don't forget to vote us a second time on MotY Awards!