Charge valiantly into battle and onwards to victory! Lead men as you issue orders to the rank and file, a unique system composed of multiple traits and abilities to define, distinguish and characterise the relatively huge selection of classes and so much more to be seen in this game-play focused major update release.
Come have a read at our latest blog post. There’s a whole lot more to grab your hands on to besides what has been mentioned above! But before you do so, as with every other major release, there's a new trailer to check out.
Class System. Roles Redefined
There wasn’t much that helped distinguish the great selection of classes that Holdfast: Nations At War features prior to this update. Officers, line infantryman, guards, grenadiers, musicians, rifleman, marines and indeed all of the classes in the game which make part of either the army, naval or coastal military branches are now assigned specific roles that distinguish them from the rest in the field of battle.
Command
Steadfast the men in the rank and file and take lead with the infantry officer class! Order those good men in the ranks to fire volleys while standing shoulder to shoulder or gloriously charge with bayonet equipped.
Officers can request others in high-command as well as others in the ranks to come to their aid. It will certainly come of use while performing strategic manoeuvres or when suffering heavy losses in defence of pivotal positions.
You’ll find more details about this new gameplay mechanic further down below in our blog post.
Rank & File
If leadership isn’t your forte, heed your nation’s call and do your duty in the ranks! Line infantryman, grenadiers and guards receive additional bonuses by following an officer’s command. These range from benefits in firearm accuracy to improve your chances of hitting your intended target or increasing your melee damage.
Officers purchasing their commission for the sake of fame and glory at the cost of needless loss of life in the ranks due to strategic blunders was certainly of no shortage during those times. We’ve made sure to focus our design on allowing players to cease taking orders from these murdering officers. You are by no means required to follow the lead of an officer whilst playing with one of the classes in the rank and file but are rather encouraged to do so.
Skirmisher
Not too keen on standing in ranks? Select one of the skirmishing classes. Riflemen excel at picking targets at longer ranges while light infantrymen move about faster on the battlefield and benefit from an increase in firearm accuracy while crouching thanks to one of their traits.
Stand nearby those in ranks or go about your way looking for more favourable positions as you carefully sight your next target. Some say that officers in their distinguishable uniforms make for easy pickings should your shot reach its intended destination.
Support
Make your mark on the battlefield by standing in support of those at the front! Fortify strategic positions with the sapper, bring good health back to the injured with the surgeon, increase firearm accuracy of those in the ranks with fifers, drummers, pipers or violinists as you strum jolly tunes in otherwise dreary moments or rally the troops by holding straight and high your standard for an increased reload speed with the flag bearer class.
These classes play an equally important role and they too have the ability to change the course of battle.
Artillery
Bombard strongholds or thin down the opposing faction’s ranks with field guns, mortars, rockets and multiple other artillery pieces at your disposal. Artillery units excel at destroying fortified emplacements and they too played pivotal roles in what was then a modern army.
You’ll be saving or otherwise ending the lives of many. Only those that are up to the task should select these classes.
Crewman
Man the guns and fire those broadsides! Sailors and adept sailors alike take up the role of crewing sail ships of war in the continued fight at sea in Holdfast: Nations At War. Make good use of the arsenal on deck to sink enemy vessels or firmly grab cutlass or pike in hand and prepare for heated boarding engagements.
Officer Orders. Make Ready, Fire!
Reinforce your ranks, lead the charge and command devastating volley fires! Staying true to the tactics of war during the Napoleonic era, this new gameplay feature brings with it additional firearm accuracy or melee damage bonuses to those in the rank and file bravely standing shoulder to shoulder.
Line infantryman, grenadier and guard units all of which brand the rank and file ability are provided with the option to follow the command of an infantry officer and be rewarded for it. Whilst playing as an infantry officer, press the ‘Q’ key as indicated on the new hint’s user interface next to the minimap and follow suit.
High-Command Orders
» Form Line - Instruct the rank and file to form line for glorious musket volley fire to follow. Use the scroll wheel to rotate the marker.
» Make Ready! - Instruct the rank and file to make ready their muskets. Infantryman standing in line will receive an order to aim their firearms in preparation for volley fire to commence.
» Fire! - Instruct the rank and file to commence glorious volley fire. You increase firearm accuracy of all those good men that act on your order by 20%.
» Fire At Will! - Instruct the rank and file to commence fire at their own will. You increase firearm accuracy of all those good men standing in line by 10%.
» Cease Fire - Instruct the rank and file to cease fire. Make use of this to let the gentlemen know they should stop firing.
» Charge! - Rally your men before a glorious charge and order them to move forward with bayonets equipped. You significantly increase melee damage for a short period of time.
» Break Rank & Follow - Instruct the rank and file to break their ranks and follow. Make use of this to let the men know you’re moving position.
» Reinforce - Inform the high-command and other gentlemen in the ranks that you’re in dire need of reinforcements. A beacon will be placed on your location.
Class Selection. Military Branches
Sectioned into multiple military branches classes now come with multiple traits and abilities to define, distinguish and characterise them. They also come with a unique set of weaponry of which we have continued to expand on in this update’s release.
Stick with us for a short while longer as we go through the entire selection.
Infantry Officer
Role: Command - Branch: The Army
Leads his men to victory. Commands the rank and file.
Abilities
» High-Command Army - An officer in command. You are able to issue orders to the rank and file.
Traits
» Distinguishable - Stand out from the rank and file. You appear differently on the mini-map.
» Resilient - A strong sense of duty. Melee damage dealt to you by other players is reduced by 25%.
» Sword Specialisation - Excels with the use of swords. Your damage when wielding a sword is increased by 5%.
» Pistol Specialisation - Excels with the use of pistols. Your damage when firing a pistol is increased by 25% and accuracy by 10%.
Line Infantry
Role: Rank & File - Branch: The Army
Steadfast. Well trained with the use of muskets.
Abilities
» Rank & File - Drills, drills and more drills. Your extensive discipline allows you to receive firearm accuracy and melee damage bonuses from orders given by officers. You also gather benefits from musicians and flag bearers.
Traits
» Musket Specialisation - Excels with the use of muskets. Your damage when firing a musket is increased by 15%. You also deal 5% more damage when striking with a bayonet.
» Rank Discipline - Drilled and disciplined in the art of firing whilst in formation. Your accuracy when crouched and shooting with a firearm is increased by 7%.
Grenadier
Role: Rank & File - Branch: The Army
Largest of soldiers. Increased melee survivability.
Abilities
» Rank & File - Drills, drills and more drills. Your extensive discipline allows you to receive firearm accuracy and melee damage bonuses from orders given by officers. You also gather benefits from musicians and flag bearers.
Traits
» Resilient - A strong sense of duty. Melee damage dealt to you by other players is reduced by 25%.
» Bayonet Specialisation - Excels with the use of bayonets. Your damage when striking with a bayonet is increased by 10%.
Guard
Role: Rank & File - Branch: The Army
Elite infantry. Guards the high-command and excel in melee.
Abilities
» Rank & File - Drills, drills and more drills. Your extensive discipline allows you to receive firearm accuracy and melee damage bonuses from orders given by officers. You also gather benefits from musicians and flag bearers.
» Guardsman - Duty bound to guard the high-command. You reduce the damage dealt to nearby allied officers by 17% (Stacks 3 times).
Traits
» Elite Infantry - Heavily trained and experienced. The damage that you deal with melee weapons is increased by 35%. You are guaranteed to end your opponent in a single strike when wielding a bayonetted musket.
Light Infantry
Role: Skirmisher - Branch: The Army
Quick footed skirmisher. Moves about at a greater pace.
Traits
» Light Footed - Fast and nimble. Your running speed is increased by 5% but you deal less damage with melee weapons.
» Skirmisher - Drilled with knowledge on skirmishing tactics. Your accuracy when using firearms while crouching is increased by 10% but you receive more damage when stricken by melee weapons.
Rifleman
Role: Skirmisher - Branch: The Army
Sharpshooter. Picks infantryman from a distance.
Traits
» Marksman - Crack-shot. Your accuracy when using firearms is increased by 25% but your reload speed is decreased by 15%.
» Chosen Man [British] - The prestigious 95th. You're a chosen man! It makes you feel special.
Flag Bearer
Role: Support - Branch: The Army
Standard bearer. Supports the rank and file with bonuses.
Abilities
» Standard Bearer - Parade your faction’s colours in the field of battle. You improve the rate at which firearms are reloaded for the rank and file by 10% when your flag is equipped.
Drummer, Fifer & Bagpiper
Role: Support - Branch: The Army
Plays fine melodies. Supports the rank and file with bonuses.
Abilities
» Musician - Pomp and circumstance. You increase firearm accuracy of the rank and file by 7%. Bonus stacks upwards to 10% if another musician plays a tune with you.
Surgeon
Role: Support - Branch: The Army & Navy
Studies medicine. Supports allied troops by healing them.
Abilities
» Medicine - Well versed in the field of medicine. You are able to heal wounded players.
Traits
» Distinguishable - Stand out from the rank and file. You appear differently on the mini-map.
Sapper
Role: Support - Branch: The Army
Constructs defensive works. Supports allied troops.
Abilities
» Engineering - Well versed in the construction of military works. You are able to enact various defensive emplacements and repair cannon.
» Explosives Handling - Well versed in the handling of explosives. You are able to carry explosives.
Traits
» Explosives Specialist - Trained with the use of volatile explosives. The rate at which you move while carrying explosives is increased by 25%.
Carpenter
Role: Support - Branch: The Army & Navy
Axe wielder. Great at destroying enemy emplacements.
Abilities
» Explosives Handling - Well versed in the handling of explosives. You are able to carry explosives.
Traits
» Axe Specialisation - Excels with the use of axes. Your damage when wielding an axe is increased by 5%. Your damage is also significantly increased when destroying player-built defences, doors and other military works.
» Blunderbuss Specialisation - Excels with the use of blunderbusses. Your damage when firing a blunderbuss is increased by 5% and accuracy by 10%.
» Explosives Specialist - Trained with the use of volatile explosives. The rate at which you move while carrying explosives is increased by 25%.
Cannoneer
Role: Artillery - Branch: The Army
Cannoneer. Great at destroying fortified emplacements.
Abilities
» Artillery Operator - Well versed in the operation of various artillery pieces. You have priority over the use of field guns, siege guns and mortars.
» Rocket Operator - Well versed in the operation of rockets. You have priority over the use of rocket launchers.
Traits
» Cannon Specialisation - Excels with the use and firing of cannons and mortars. Your ramming and pushing speed is increased by 15%.
Rocketeer
Role: Artillery - Branch: The Army
Rocketeer. Great at destroying fortified emplacements.
Abilities
» Artillery Operator - Well versed in the operation of various artillery pieces. You have priority over the use of field guns, siege guns and mortars.
» Rocket Operator - Well versed in the operation of rockets. You have priority over the use of rocket launchers.
Traits
» Rocket Specialisation - Excels with the use and firing of rockets. Your loading speed is increased by 15%.
Captain
Role: Command - Branch: The Navy
Authority aboard a vessel. Commands the ship’s crew.
Abilities
» High-Command Navy - A captain in command. You have priority over sailing a naval vessel.
Traits
» Distinguishable- Stand out from the rank and file. You appear differently on the mini-map.
» Resilient - A strong sense of duty. Melee damage dealt to you by other players is reduced by 25%.
» Sword Specialisation - Excels with the use of swords. Your damage when wielding a sword is increased by 5%.
» Pistol Specialisation - Excels with the use of pistols. Your damage when firing a pistol is increased by 25% and accuracy by 10%.
Marine
Role: Rank & File - Branch: The Navy
Marine. Repels boarders and headways coastal invasions.
Abilities
» Rank & File - Drills, drills and more drills. Your extensive discipline allows you to receive firearm accuracy and melee damage bonuses from orders given by officers. You also gather benefits from musicians and flag bearers.
Traits
» Musket Specialisation - Excels with the use of muskets. Your damage when firing a musket is increased by 15%. You also deal 5% more damage when striking with a bayonet.
» Rank Discipline - Drilled and disciplined in the art of firing whilst in formation. Your accuracy when crouched and shooting with a firearm is increased by 7%.
Sailor
Role: Crewman - Branch: The Navy
Ship’s crew. Cutlass is their primary weapon of choice.
Traits
» Able Swimmer - Lightly equipped. Your swimming speed is increased by 35%.
» Pistol Specialisation - Excels with the use of pistols. Your damage when firing a pistol is increased by 25% and accuracy by 10%.
Adept Sailor
Role: Crewman - Branch: The Navy
Veteran crewman. Spots enemy ships at the distance.
Traits
» Able Swimmer - Lightly equipped. Your swimming speed is increased by 35%.
» Pike Specialisation - Excels with the use of boarding pikes. Your damage when wielding a pike increased by 10%.
» Pistol Specialisation - Excels with the use of pistols. Your damage when firing a pistol is increased by 25% and accuracy by 10%.
Violinist
Role: Support - Branch: The Navy
Plays fine melodies. Supports the rank and file with bonuses.
Abilities
» Musician - Pomp and circumstance. You increase firearm accuracy of the rank and file by 7%. Bonus stacks upwards to 10% if another musician plays a tune with you.
Traits
» Able Swimmer - Lightly equipped. Your swimming speed is increased by 35%.
Coast Guard
Role: Rank & File - Branch: The Coast Guard
Guards fortifications. Muskets and cannon are his forte.
Abilities
» Artillery Operator - Well versed in the operation of various artillery pieces. You have priority over the use of field guns, siege guns and mortars.
» Rank & File - Drills, drills and more drills. Your extensive discipline allows you to receive firearm accuracy and melee damage bonuses from orders given by officers. You also gather benefits from musicians and flag bearers.
Traits
» Musket Specialisation - Excels with the use of muskets. Your damage when firing a musket is increased by 15%. You also deal 5% more damage when striking with a bayonet.
» Cannon Specialisation - Excels with the use and firing of cannons and mortars. Your ramming and pushing speed is increased by 15%.
Customs
Role: Rank & File - Branch: The Coast Guard
Skirmisher on patrol. Moves about at a greater pace.
Traits
» Able Swimmer - Lightly equipped. Your swimming speed is increased by 35%.
» Light Footed - Fast and nimble. Your running speed is increased by 5% but you deal less damage with melee weapons.
» Skirmisher - Drilled with knowledge on skirmishing tactics. Your accuracy when using firearms while crouching is increased by 10% but you receive more damage when stricken by melee weapons.
Arsenal. Melee Weapons & Firearms
Your melee weapon and firearm selection just got a whole lot bigger! You’ll no longer be using that one sea-service musket whilst playing with army-based units. Instead, now each and every class comes equipped with a unique firearm and melee weapon loadout reflective of its role.
Guard muskets, dragoon muskets, blunderbusses, pistols, sabres, cutlasses, axes and pikes. Carbines have also been added to this very selection in this update.
Sappers. Infantry Stakes
Casually jumping over player-built infantry stakes without fearing for your good life is now a thing of the past as these stakes will deal damage if you run into them. The sapper that constructed the stake will be rewarded the kill.
Fires and the smaller variant of the chevaux de frise similarly deal damage as well. The placement of player-built defences has received some much-needed polish in this update. You’ll also find that we have facilitated the placing of sandbags on earthworks.
Swimming. Lakes & Rivers
The summer’s heat is getting a little bit too much handle? Come hop in for a swim. Lakes and rivers across a multitude of maps present on Holdfast’s army front can now be crossed due to this recent inclusion. It’ll serve to lessen the impact of chokepoints on maps such as Arendan River and Highlands where crossing off a bridge meant almost certain death.
While swimming, you cannot make use of any firearms or melee weapons to fend off enemy infantryman so be sure to pick a favourable moment before diving in.
Scoring. Surgeons & Artilleryman
Surgeons will finally receive a score for their good deeds. Healing another while playing with this class will gather you score pending on the health that has been replenished. Serving as an incentive for players to replenish their health by looking for a surgeon rather than respawning, a player will also be rewarded with some points when healed.
Similarly, those assisting with the loading or ramming of ammunition in artillery pieces will too receive additional points through assist kills should the shot make its way through those poor infantrymen.
Here’s the full changelog for all the bug fixes and additions we have undergone in this update.
Changelog 35 - Game Version 0.33.7144.40196
New Game Features
- Class System. Roles Redefined. Classes in the game which make part of either the army, naval or coastal military branches are now assigned specific roles that distinguish them from the rest in the field of battle.
» Command, Rank & File, Skirmisher, Support, Artillery & Crewman
- Class Selection. Military Branches. Sectioned into multiple military branches classes now come with multiple traits and abilities to define, distinguish and characterise them.
» Have a go yourself at all of the classes and see which ones you like best. There’s plenty to go over!
- Officer Orders. Make Ready, Fire! Staying true to the tactics of war during the Napoleonic era, this new gameplay feature brings with it additional firearm accuracy or melee damage bonuses to those in the rank and file bravely standing shoulder to shoulder.
» Officers are able to issue the following orders: Form Line, Make Ready, Fire, Fire At Will, Crease Fire, Charge, Break Rank & Follow and Reinforce.
» You can disable orders by inputting the following command per map rotation in the server configuration file: class_system_orders false
- Arsenal. Melee Weapons & Firearms. Your melee weapon and firearm selection just got a whole lot bigger! Guard muskets, dragoon muskets, blunderbusses, pistols, sabres, cutlasses, axes and pikes.
» Holdfast: Nations At War now features over 35 melee weapons and firearms.
» Carbines have also been added to this very selection in this update.
» Ramrods now make part of the cannoneer’s melee arsenal.
» Administrators should amend their weapon overrides in the server configuration file to match the new inputs listed on the Wiki as the weapon system has undergone a complete rework.
- Sappers. Infantry Stakes. Casually jumping over player-built infantry stakes without fearing for your good life is now a thing of the past as these stakes will deal damage if you run into them. The sapper that constructed the stake will be rewarded the kill.
» Fires and the smaller variant of the chevaux de frise similarly deal damage as well.
» The placement of player-built defences has also received some much-needed polish.
» Earthworks can be raised higher providing for greater cover.
» Facilitated the placing of sandbags on earthworks.
» Defences can be built closer to one another.
» Gabions no longer provide cover for firearms unless fully built.
» Multiple issues with objects jittering prior to their placement.
» Improved the visual identification for when an object cannot be placed due to an obstruction.
» Reduced the carry cooldown of explosives to 3 seconds.
- Swimming. Lakes & Rivers. Lakes and rivers across a multitude of maps present on Holdfast’s army front can now be crossed due to this recent inclusion.
- Player Scoring. Multiple additions to reward players for their actions.
» Surgeons will finally receive a score for their good deeds. Healing another while playing with this class will gather you score pending on the health that has been replenished.
» Assisting with the loading or ramming of ammunition in artillery pieces will too receive additional points through assist kills should the shot hit its intended target.
» Officers receive a score for successful kills by those in the rank and file.
» Players will also be rewarded with some points when healed.
- Carpenters reintroduced to the selection of Army Front classes. They come equipped with a blunderbuss and a two-handed axe.
- Grenadiers have been included to the Melee Arena game mode class selection.
Performance
- Solved an instance which was causing frequent lag spikes on the naval and coastal game modes.
User Interface
- The attributes tab in the spawn menu now serves to display various information related to classes. Traits, abilities, orders, the represented regiment, health points and multiple others.
- The equip tab in the spawn menu now serves to display various information related to firearms, weapons or secondary equipment.
- Hovering on a trait, ability or order in the spawn menu will display information relative to it.
- Military branches in the spawn menu now change according to the game mode being played.
- Redesigned the panels used to select shouts or a jolly tune.
- Implemented a new kill log icon for death by flags.
- Implemented a new shield objective icon serving as a better indication that a capture point must be defended.
- Capture point indicators on the minimap will now overlay all the others so they remain visible.
- Adjustments to the interface representing cooldowns for objects after they’re carried.
- You no longer display both the attacking and defending objectives while in free-flight. Instead only the defending objectives will be displayed to reduce clutter.
- Multiple amendments to localisation.
Graphical
- Solved an issue with normals present on the French Carpenter, Fifer and Drummer.
- Buildable chairs have been resized and their sitting position adjusted.
- The spawnable second variant of the large tent is now enterable.
- Flags now come with new wind physics. We’ll continue improving on this in future updates.
Quality Of Life
- You can now change the colour of the centre screen dot from the crosshair settings.
- You’ll now find it much easier to open, close and yes, sometimes even turn on doors.
Bug Fixes
- Solved an issue with the back wall of Fort Schwarz when destroyed.
- Solved an issue that allowed drummers and pipers to crouch and play a tune.
- Solved an issue that allowed players to ignite than carry an explosive.
Solved an issue with interaction labels on doors flickering.
- Solved an issue which allowed players to heal a player in the opposing faction.
- Solved an issue where players would teleport to the middle of the map for a short while when going to spectate.
Changelog 36 - Game Version 0.33.7146.35608 (Hotfix)
Bug Fixes
- Solved an issue which was causing certain players to appear to be frozen in place due to an exception.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all of those that joined us in the BETA as we underwent multiple iterations of game balance and bug fixes prior to this major update’s full release. Needless to say, we’ll continue monitoring and balancing accordingly.
Once again, we thank you for your generous support and as always, may good health be yours.
We’re working on the next update.
Discuss this blog post here.
Once again thank you for all of your support from all of us on the Holdfast: NaW team,
- Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Wrexial, PingPong, Walki, Cameron & Rejenorst
Anvil Game Studios
