As promised to help satiate your appetite for all things First Strike while we put the last finishing touches onto v1.2 (you know put a little bow on it and that sort of thing), we’d like to introduce you to two more maps that you can expect to wage war over in the not too distant future. The first, Rhen Var: Ice Plains will be new to all of you, but the second map we’ll be focusing on, The Battle of Ryloth will be familiar to those who have been following our progress for some time, so why are we coming back to it again? All in good time.
Backstory
Rebel agents have discovered a secret Imperial research facility on the remote ice planet of Rhen Var. The facility is well protected, with a full garrison at its disposal. Alliance tacticians have developed a two-pronged attack to secure the facility. The first unit is combat dropped into the ice plains east of the target; equipped with a full armour column they intend to spearhead a direct frontal assault. Spotting the Imperial forces erecting a forward command post outside an ancient Jedi Temple ruin, the Alliance commander knows that his forces must keep them occupied long enough for the second phase of the operation to proceed.
Armored Assault
And so the stage is set, a desolate wintry landscape, vast columns of heavy armour on both sides, this map evokes memories of the great tank battles of our age such as the Battle of the Bulge, but set in the Star Wars universe. With no aircraft featuring in this map, players can concentrate fully on tank vs. tank battle tactics, learning the weaknesses of each vehicle you can formulate the best plan to defeat them, but if being a tank commander isn’t for you there is still plenty for you to do including infantry anti-tank duties. If you are on the Imperial team you will also get to defend your forward command post situated amongst the imposing ruins of Rhen Var’s ancient Jedi Temples, or if you happen to be on the Rebel team you will get the chance to spot targets for Mortar Freerunners. Using an artillery spotting system unique to First Strike, you in conjunction with a gunner aboard these special Freerunners can rain accurate death down on your enemies from right across the map. Let battle commence.
Backstory
The Empire’s counter attack following its defeat at the Battle of Yavin is swift and brutal. The vast Imperial fleet combs the Galaxy in search of Rebel strongholds. Following the discovery by Viper Probe Droids of a Rebel base in the wastes of Ryloth in the Outer Rim, the Star Destroyer Vengeance has been dispatched to the planet to deal with the Rebel scum. Following a devastating orbital bombardment by the mighty war cruiser it is time for Imperial forces to be dropped to the surface to mop up any survivors. This should prove an easy victory for the Empire.
What? No Twi’lek Dancing Girls?
Yes, we have covered Ryloth in an update before, but that really concentrated less on the map and more on the ideals behind a combined arms map, and the new vehicles you’d get to pilot there, but this was thin on actual detail about the map itself, and after several different incarnations the one we have finally selected for your pleasure is a decidedly different animal to what we had back in February. With this map we have tried to provide you with as exciting a playground as possible for you to try out all the new toys in. Canyons in which you can engage in hair raising dogfights with enemy fighters, complex mining installations with a dazzling array of levels for infantry to explore, wide open desert wastelands ideal for ground battles, and last but not least, a fully realized Rebel Base to be assaulted or defended. When you first arrive on Ryloth you’ll be spoilt for choice and won’t know what you’ll want to try first, though I imagine attacking a base in a fully manned Imperial Lambda shuttle with all guns blazing will be pretty high on your list.
Well I hope you have enjoyed this latest update as we fast approach the release of First Strike 1.2. Yes we have slipped a little and it looks like the release is going to be just a little further away than we expected, but rest assured that all the content is now in game and locked. Now it is just a case of intense play testing and bug fixing until we can release to you a good solid and well balanced product that you will find will be well worth the wait.
