As the end of the year approaches, the download count for Mental Omega 3.0 closes in on the round number of 100,000. Seeing this much interest in our little project and having entered the TOP100 of ModDB's 2014 Mod of the Year for the 5th time in a row in this annual contest rekindles my interest in continuing it. While we didn't make the update many were waiting to happen this year, we haven't been slacking off and I hope the new content we've been working on and the improvements to what you already have will make up for it next year. There is a big thing coming along with long overdue fixes and I think you'll like it.
Big thanks to everyone who voted for us this year, the second round is still on-going so if you'd like to vote for us again, head to the voting page with the TOP100 mods.
Yuri is love, Yuri is life. Yuri restarts the Psychic Amplifier project and is keen on defeating the Allies hidden within the London Fortress without having his forces ever set foot on the British Islands. His device is capable of reaching the Euro Alliance forces from mainland Europe, however Yuri does not just pick a random location for the construction site. Yuri sends a message, Yuri defies all authority. He has constructed a device in Rome and takes the role of the Puppet Master.
Operation: Puppet Master
However, there are others who want to try their hand at pulling the strings. In order to take out the device, a risky plan is put into action, perhaps the only way to prevent the Psychic Amplifier from completely taking control over your troops. What does it take to create a safe area within the Amplifier's zone of influence? Play 'Puppet Masters' and claim the mission's namesake as your title.
Map Preview #15: (2) Knockout (urban; standard map pool) by Toveena
Map Preview #16: (2) Battlebase Beta (urban; standard map pool) by Toveena
Map Preview #17: (2) Amazonas Zeta (temperate; standard map pool) by Toveena
Map Preview #18: (2) Freezing Field (snow; standard map pool) by Toveena
We like symmetry. We are the fans of symmetrical maps, which is probably something you have already noticed. With so many subfactions and different balance setups, if you added the factor of completely assymetrical maps, that would be quite a mess. Be it remakes, maps inspired by layouts we've liked, we want to give the players even chances when it comes to terrain design, especially on 2P maps.
It shouldn't be a surprise by now that Mental Omega 3.0 and its future developments are often made possible thanks to Ares Expansion DLL. The entire 'big thing' we're working on right now relies on its new features. Before we get to that however, there are other misc things Ares allows us to create.
The newest addition to the Euro Alliance arsenal is the Lightning Rod, which is accessible from the Shield Command. Placing this structure on the battlefield will temporarily grant you an emergency power boost using the natural energy of lightning (1000 power units, which decreases steadily as the Rod approaches the end of its lifespan). It will also boost the firepower of all Thors near the Rod itself.
There are several Ares features put to use here. Such as a support power which places a structure on the battlefield, done with UnitDelivery. Increasing a Thor's firepower and making it show a fancy red arrow is done with AttachEffect. To properly apply the effect to the units nearby, use of Custom Armor (the weapon affects Thor and Thor only) and Airburst enhancements (makes the effect always active via targeting of any unit on the battlefield, but the sub-weapon is the one which applies the effect to the Thors) was made. Since the Lightning Rod isn't supposed to stay alive forever, it shouldn't be possible to prolong its lifespan with Force Shield, which is where we use Force Shield modifier.
Euro Alliance Lightning Rod support power (artwork by Nooze)
As you are probably aware of by now, the original Floating Disc has been downgraded in Mental Omega 3.0 a bit. Under its new name, the Invader, it is now a Tier 2 flying anti-infantry unit. It retains some of its sabotage capabilities as it will still be able to drain money from Refineries or disable any defensive structure, even the unpowered ones. The original ability to shut down a player's entire power supply by attacking a single Power Plant felt like too much, which is why that particular ability has been removed.
Invader using the draining ability
However, thanks to a new feature in Ares DLL, the customization of draining abilities for the Invader has been expanded. It is now possible to make this particular unit shut down power just from the Power Plant it is attacking with the Drain.Local tag. You can also customize the exact amount of power the unit will drain with Drain.Amount. More information as usual is in the documentation. In the next version of Mental Omega, the Invader will be able to shut down a single Power Plant. Watch out for those Nuclear Reactors!
"Proselyte, intel acquired from the Kanegawa Industries Complex in Kagoshima contained the blueprints of several mechanical frames we have not seen before. We assumed they were prototypes, the only one which was successfully realized by the Pacific Front forces being the Tsurugi Powersuit.
However, a recent sighting by our Initiates has confirmed activity of a small division of bipedal walkers which resemble the design included in this captured material. We must be careful. Perhaps the Pacific Front is planning a rebellion, or maybe it's the Chinese who have found a way to complete one of Kanegawa Industries projects. We are unsure if these suits are manned or not, which may bring our psychic powers into question. We cannot allow this!"
Enjoyed "Contagion" from the Twisted Insurrection soundtrack? You might want to check out these two new tracks I've created for the next update of Aro's Tiberian Sun modification. After creating a subtle remix of "Act on Instinct" for the Allies in Mental Omega 3.0 I thought I'd have another go at the classic Frank Klepacki song and make a version suitable for TIn's eclectic electro soundtrack as well.
Viperbeat
Act on Insanity
Do you know how to unlock the Cyborg Commando in Beta Revision 1 yet?
If you'd like to help develop Mental Omega further, write an e-mail to mental.omega.apyr@gmail.com
Right now we're in need of additional Voxel Artists, 3D Artists, Mission Scripters and Voice Actors.
Single contributions are welcome.
Edited by Speeder, 15 December 2014 - 06:49 PM.
