Introducing Red Alert 20XX news

Hello everyone,

I'me happy to introduce my modest mod for Yuri's Revenge : Red Alert 20XX. I'll take this first article to introduce the mod by describing the design philosophy and the factions.

==========Design philosophy==========

Here are a few changes you can expect in the global gameplay of RA20XX :

1. No more Yuri shenanigans. The cold war theme is what made RA1's universe so good, and it's also the reason why YR didn't resonate with me. Even if I kinf of like Yuri's faction from a mechanical point of view (mostly the asymetrical gameplay that comes with it), I just can't bear it. So no more third faction;

2. RA2's sci fi is stupid sci fi. Most of the technology in RA2 are not what I expected coming from RA1 and TS. Sure, Giant Squid, sonar attacking dolphin, weather control devices are original idea, but I just plain dislike them. In RA20XX, the Soviet are mostly inspired from RA1's Soviet, and the Allied are a mix of RA1'Allied and TD/TS/CNC3's GDI. Both of those faction also take idea from other C&C, notably Generals;

3. Non obsolete infantry. Overall vehicle speed has been reduced, making infantry/vehicle composition more effective. Also, infantries take less damage from anti-vehicle's weaponry;

4. Factions and countries with more personality. Factions will respect their asymetrical gameplay (so no Soviet Airfield and planes, as it seems the default in every mods). The country system in YR was underwelming. In RA20XX, each country has two new assets, and four new units that replaces the faction's vanilla units;

5. A less cartoonish palette. Most of the animation are changed to be a bit darker, removing the overly bright yellow explosions for vanilla YR. Voxels are also a bit darker, making them less like toys;

6. More visual effects. Destroying a building will now leave flame and smoke on the ground, vehicle will react to being shot by tilting a bit, weapons will create light and elite weapon will be color-coded to distinguish them from regular weapon.

==========Faction==========

==========The Allied==========

The Allied forces value tactical approch and flexibility, leaving brute force to the Soviet. They tend to use basic ballistic weaponry in early game, and deploy high technology later on. They rely more on infantry usage than the Soviet, have more mobility, more range and their cannon are more precise than their adversary. Overall, they have much more tactical opportunity and can easly strike behind ennemy lines in many ways. Their defense are not reliant on power, an advantage even tho they don't have the highest firepower. As their techtree expands, they'll use EMP weapon to incapacitate vehicle and long range sonic armament, which pierce through everything.

However, the Allied are no match against Soviet forces on a 1v1 situation. Their ligther armor and lower DPS will forces generals to be creative. Fortunaly, the Allied's arsenal has all the tool it needs to evade direct confrontation. There are three countries :

The USA : The isolationist and corporate heaven America, specialize in superweapon usage and spec ops tactics.

The European Union : The Allied world-police supernation, specialize in high technology and armor.

The Pacific Shogunate : The protectorate of the Pacific, under the absolute autority of imperial Japan, specialize in air superiority.

==========The Soviet==========

Leave subtlety to the Allied; the Soviet engage head-on into battle whatever the cost. Not only do they have impressive firepower and armor, but their usage of flamethrower and tesla technology gives them an edge in early game. They also make more usage of imprecise weapon with large AoE, effective against infantry army. They rely mostly on vehicle, and have a few tools to assure their survival on the field. With the Battle Lab build, it's more of the same, but better : better firepower and armor, mixed with radiation armament. The Soviet also uses propaganda on the field, giving a buff to affected units.

The Soviet do not have much in term of protection against airpower, leaving them vulnerable to the Allied's fighter jet and bomber. Their reliance on power to defend themselfs can also be seen as a weakness. But in direct confrontation, the Soviet have no equal. There are three communist subfaction :

The USSR : The old guard of the communist world, trying to maintain its power but still seen as the leader, specialize in pure brute force.

China : The new challenger to the communist hegemony, open on the world and neocolonialist, specialize in infantry usage and propaganda.

The Eastern Republic : Designed to be the first responder in the case of an aggression with the west, specialize in radioactive armament.

Untill next time!