Publisher Sega and developer Relic Entertainment have shared more details about Company of Heroes 3’s dynamic campaign map, explaining the roles played by the airforce and navy, as well as how asymmetrical elements like Partisans will impact the conflict between the Allies and Axis.
The developer’s decision to move away from a linear mission-based structure came as a result of fan feedback and the success of the Ardennes Assault expansion, which already gave players dynamic campaign map.
Company of Heroes 3 will expand on the concept and, according to Executive Producer David Littman, “the connection between that strategic campaign map and the RTS battles is really the secret sauce.”
Company of Heroes 3’s campaign asks players to pay much more attention to logistics. You’ll need to keep track of where your troops are, ensure they have the proper support to land on enemy shores, all while being able to customize their composition to best suit your needs.
Bombers and fighters require airfields where they can land, which may see you having to push inland using your ground troops and secure enemy airbases.
Your navy can defend your supply line, bombard enemy positions, and transport ground troops attempting to attack or flank enemy positions from beaches.
The enemy will also have its own airforce and navy, which you’ll inevitably deal with. “The approach to both air and navy with regards to the enemy will be different because the German approach was different.” Campaign Map Lead Andrew Deneault explains.
“At the point that we’re beginning the campaign, German airpower was beginning to weaken […] the Germans are going to use their airpower in very specific ways, against the player’s ports, against the player’s supply lines, and against the player’s naval power in the region.”
Partisans are another strategic resource available to players during the campaign. They’re able to perform certain actions without consuming as many resources as regular troops.
They can also get behind enemy borders without requiring a line of supply and reconnaissance, then sabotage enemy positions but also delay or confuse enemy forces.
Just like the assets available to you on the campaign map determine how the RTS battles play out, the consequences of these battles are felt afterwards.
As Littman notes, losing half of your squads can translate into your army having fewer veteran troops to fight subsequent battles.
Company of Heroes 3 is slated to launch on PC in 2022 as the first entry in the series that follows the Allied campaign in Italy.
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