June 20, 2008
New Exteel Developer Diary
NCsoft has released a new dev paper
for their upcoming mech-based MMO, Exteel. The dev paper can be read in its
entirety below. Additionally, they have also released a new crop of screenshots.
Exteel is scheduled to release later this year.
Click here to see all
new Exteel screenshots.
Exteel Dev Paper:
The Boomrocker Mechanaught – Weapon Highlights – Battle Map: Defrosted Summit
The Boomrocker represents the
heaviest of the early-era Mechanaughts, trading speed and mobility for armor and
toughness. At this point in the pilot’s progress, these Mechanaughts become more
specialized towards their specific tasks and pilots will start to upgrade their
own Mechanaught not as a whole set, but part by part, to create the best mix for
themselves. The Boomrocker is the first heavy Mechanaught and while currently
many see its design as being a little inefficient in compared to modern-era
heavy Mechanaughts like the Haskell or Hellbent Butcher, it would serve
up-and-coming pilots more inclined for the support role than any other
Mechanaught.
Comparably priced to the Rushnik
(light) and Trooper (medium) Mechanaught designs, the full Boomrocker set, which
includes the head, core, arms and legs, costs 54,000 credits. The Boomrocker is
heavy, outweighing all other early generation designs. Understandably, it’s much
slower and drains much more power boosting or jumping than the others. However,
it can withstand a bit more punishment, not to mention regulate heat more
efficiently. The Boomrocker head is equipped with two Mechanaught Processing
Units (MPUs), meaning two purchasable skills can be equipped and used at any
time.
The designers of the Boomrocker
intended for it to stay slightly behind the front lines and support Mechanaughts
with heavy fire from cannons, rockets and other weapons. It’s not a Mechanaught
built for mobility or speed and shouldn’t be used as such—but that’s not saying
the Boomrocker (or any other heavy Mechanaught) can’t be dangerous in a
close-quarters fight.
Weapon Highlights
-
Core Charger – Another form of
“rectifier,” the Core Charger is technically not a weapon at all, though a
Mechanaught wields it like one. It fires a beam of energy particles that, when
aimed at an ally, improves the molecular bonding of a damaged Mechanaught,
recovering some of its ability to absorb damage (certain purchasable skills
may also degrade an opponent’s ability to absorb damage). Like other weapons,
however, rectifiers will overheat after repeated usage. The Core Charger-C is
the base level rectifier. -
Force Shield – Unlike other solid
material shield designs, the Force Shield uses a strong magnetic field in a
circular pattern to reflect incoming enemy fire. While the Force Shield is
much more efficient in deflecting ranged weapon fire than other shields, its
design does not make it very effective against melee weapons. -
Dazzler – The Dazzler is a top
tier shotgun-style weapon that typically doesn’t deal the most damage, but has
a better range and re-fire rate. It’s said to have gotten its name from
Mechanaughts dazzling opponents with their superior piloting skills as it is
extremely hard to aim, requiring patience and tenacity, but ultimately
rewarding the dedicated pilot with results. -
Iron Curtain – Another top tier
weapon, the Iron Curtain is a hard-hitting rifle design that’s intended to put
down the enemy at long range. There’s nothing fancy about it—just accurate and
easy to use with decent heat management. If you have the money it’s hard to go
wrong with the Iron Curtain.
Battle Map: Defrosted Summit
Set in a working research facility nestled on the slopes of a precipitous snowy
mountaintop, Defrosted Summit is one of Exteel’s more vertically-oriented maps.
Don’t let the beautiful scenery fool you, however—Defrosted Summit is perhaps
the most dangerous map in the entire game.
Teams typically start on raised
platforms at either end of the main facility, which normally serve as docking
facilities for incoming craft. Mechanaught pilots can then egress downwards to
facility, which features a number of balconies, copulas, and platforms, the very
bottom of which is the entrance that leads into the main central tower. Inside
the tower is a set of ascending ramps that eventually leads to the top of the
facility, and those that control this high point can control the flow of battle.
One word of caution, however: watch
your step! The bulk of Defrosted Summit is completely open to the environment
and the human-sized safety rails won’t prevent your Mechanaught from slipping
off the sides of a ramp or getting blown off a platform by a well-timed cannon
round. To fall off the facility means instant death, so do everyone on your team
a favor and stay away from the edges. Mechanaughts don’t have parachutes.