Rise of the Reds mod for C&C: Generals Zero Hour

Hello Everyone! We hope you've all had a great week.
If you've been following our social media or the Discord, you will have seen that we have been extremely busy hosting many dev streams, and lots of behind the scenes showcases of upcoming content - chief of which has been our work on expanding and optimising the roster of GLA base defences.

There are a few reasons for this new expansion. One thing that we try to do with every major update is to set content up so it is future proofed as much as possible ready for version 2.0. As such we have decided to change how GLA base defence upgrades work under the hood, allowing for the potential of more variants and upgrades going forward. We've had the classic options of 'Camo-netting' or 'Fortification' as upgrade paths since the GLA were reintroduced in version 1.7, and after seeing how enthusiastically many members of our internal team were to some of the unique GLA defences added in Rise of the Reds: HanPatch, we thought it was time to modernise how these defences worked and make the process of adjusting these defences easier for ourselves and submodders in the future. Thus, we are capitalising on these new optimisations and will be adding in a 3rd 'special' variant for all GLA defences in 1.9, as well as also optimising their models to be less CPU intensive. This is the first of those optimisations, the reworked tunnel network.

During the 2010s, many of the extremist movements that would later unite into the Global Liberation Army used different methods to control their territories. While the Middle Eastern groups operated in a nomadic fashion in between their attempts at capturing local population centres, the Central Asian groups used their region's vast mountain ranges for shelter.

After the founding of the GLA under Warlord Mohmar, both methods saw extensive use and evolved with each other. Whenever the GLA seized control of a city, it imposed a brutal occupation regime which conscripted the local population into forced labour, serving as supply porters or construction workers. Those who were deemed especially undesirable or rebellious, if not executed outright, were assigned dangerous tasks like mine clearing or tunnel digging.

The more the GLA found itself on the back foot against the US-Chinese coalition, the more it moved its operations underground. Originally built as connections between natural cave systems or the basements, sewers and subway lines of major cities, this Tunnel Network became the logistical backbone of the organisation. It was not only used for fast and covert troop movements but also as a shelter for high-ranking leaders and common followers alike.

As the bombardment intensified, the tunnels served as protection for the family members of GLA fighters, who would support their men and fathers by re-building equipment, tending to the wounded and maintaining battle-damaged vehicles underground. On the surface, the entrances of the Tunnel Network were often modified with additional equipment.

Tunnels equipped with camo-netting are concealed from the enemy. This makes them uniquely useful as forward staging points for raids, ambushes and backdoor infiltrations of enemy bases from unexpected directions.

Render Description: MARS2588

Fortified Tunnels can withstand more damage. In addition, they are equipped with the salvaged turrets of broken tanks for stationary fire support, making them the ideal kind of tunnel for a defensive perimeter.

Render Description: MARS2588

When equipped with a crane, Tunnels can provide repair support for vehicles and buildings on the surface. This is typically seen inside the perimeter of a GLA base, where concealment and defence are less of a concern.

Render Description: MARS2588

As I'm sure your saw, and have seen on our social media channels, the tunnel rework is the first of a few updates to the other GLA defence structures, so if you want a sneak peak of what's coming soon check those out 😊

That's all we have for you this week, stay safe, look after yourselves, and if you feel a loud rumbling underfoot, it's probably nothing and we are totally not expanding the tunnel network to specifically your house. Don't worry about it.
Till next time generals!