[img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/b6b1d053e1a9dedf98d0196c51c78a76c8edf7da.png[/img] Community members! We previously announced that the Airborne DLC will be released on October 17th. In this blog, you can learn about a special, limited-time release offer we plan to give the community. We also shed some light on performance improvements we intend to bring to the game. The focus of this blog, however, is the opening mission of the Airborne DLC campaign. [h2]Pathfinders[/h2] The storyline of the Airborne DLC campaign opens with the 101st Airborne jumping into action in the early hours of June 6th, 1944. They were the very first US unit to be paradropped on this day. The [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_airborne_landings_in_Normandy]paradrop operation[/url] was split into two missions, code-named “Albany” and ”Boston”. These two missions would drop a total of over 13.000 paratroopers, after which a subsequent wave of glider aircraft, numbering over 1.100, would add almost 4.000 more airborne assault troops. Since the first (para drop) wave involved well over 800 aircraft operating in darkness, air traffic was going to be very dense, and it was going to be absolutely essential to offer the pilots some form of guidance to the six drop zones. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/91b786e84c2214ba628d7743a6a5bde8265e34c9.jpg[/img][i]Source: Historical Division, Department of the Army, 1947[/i] So, about 30 minutes ahead of everyone else, the pathfinders of the 101st were to be dropped over France; their very first task was to set up three [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca/Eureka_transponding_radar]“Eureka”[/url] ground-based transponder beacons to guide in the main paradrop wave of aircraft. Without these, the entire operation would be in jeopardy right from the start. The pressure to accomplish this mission could hardly have been higher. [h2]The mission in Gates of Hell[/h2] In the Gates of Hell mission, you will obviously be tasked with setting up the Eureka beacons. You will need to find the beacons first - as quickly as possible - and set them up to guide the main wave in. However, as is expected, there are Germans in the area, and you will need to deal with them. Since you’ve landed in France, there’s also a chance of running into the local population; you’ll need to deal with them and make sure you make the right decisions quickly because this will significantly influence the outcome of the mission. This makes for an entirely new and unusual experience. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/4914e8a7b337d64fbaee3ce49252a20b34ee499f.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/4914e8a7b337d64fbaee3ce49252a20b34ee499f.jpg]HD Link[/url] Setting up the beacons is one thing; dealing with constantly changing circumstances is another! You can’t expect to be left alone by the enemy; after all, the tremendous noise and fireworks associated with the massive formation of aircraft passing overhead obviously have been noticed. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/669330feced451722c93f027706f5dd0a9201512.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/669330feced451722c93f027706f5dd0a9201512.jpg]HD Link[/url] So, in true paratrooper style, you will have to deal with many different situations, and just like it happened in real life, you’ll have to adapt to these new situations swiftly. While you improvise, adapt, and overcome, the mission progresses quickly, with something unexpected lying around each corner. The new style of tactical instruction videos will tell you about the many challenges and objectives. These could be anything, but we’re not going to spoil them all since that would only take away from immersion! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/32c9ad98f8cecf0a3a8348f00dbe7a23d4034085.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/32c9ad98f8cecf0a3a8348f00dbe7a23d4034085.jpg]HD Link[/url] So there you have it; the campaign opener, titled “Pathfinders,” will pay homage to the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” bearing the brunt of the airborne landings, contributing hugely to the success of the Normandy landings in June 1944. You will be able to play all 12 missions in single-player or co-op with four friends. Can you achieve all the objectives of this mission? [h2]Performance update[/h2] We have managed to address one of the main concerns that the community expressed when we released the “Liberation” DLC, the performance of the maps. The main culprit were the buildings, which we optimistically modeled with quite a few more segments and parts than was ever made before. We took the time to go back and rework them with a slightly less ambitious goal, which should not feel significantly different on the visuals but greatly helps the performance for all the rigs. The improvement will be implemented in the next game update. It should get you a very nice jump in FPS. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/f89e0a2f027c2d3efba92520bebd26297b46c96d.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/f89e0a2f027c2d3efba92520bebd26297b46c96d.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h2]Important notice for modders[/h2] For modders of Call to Arms - Gates of Hell it is important to note that “French barn 01” was re- exported entirely; it was also structurally renamed in the sub- files. This means that on all current maps, when loaded, the barn will appear all sorts of jacked up. In order to fix this modders/ mappers are urgently advised to open their maps, and replace the barn with itself, and to re- save the map. This is a case similar to when we advised you to re-export your mods when we added tags. We don’t foresee us ever needing to do this again with any building, but for this one it was necessary. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/8bb7e9929f2a1877a359662226ab12c60bf2bc3b.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/8bb7e9929f2a1877a359662226ab12c60bf2bc3b.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h2]QoL Update[/h2] We will release a Quality of Life update roughly at the same time we release the “Airborne” DLC. This update will contain a number of important improvements, such as a performance upgrade, but there is much more to it. We will specify this QoL update in the next few days, in a separate announcement. [h2]Airborne Release[/h2] We will release the Airborne DLC on October 17th. For the first 2 weeks after release, Airborne will be sold with a discount of 20 percent! This is a special offer for our loyal player base and early adopters - make sure to wishlist the Airborne DLC so you don’t miss the moment! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2904660/Call_to_Arms__Gates_of_Hell_Airborne/ [h2]Did you know?[/h2] [list] [*] Gates of Hell is the first and (so far) only title by Barbedwire Studios [*] Its initial years of development were entirely financed by the developers themselves[/list] [url=https://discord.com/invite/zyRrWbDV2F][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/199e04efee454ca9eca8491d8f1d0299ad146a8e.png[/img][/url]