WildStar “Warplots” Elder Game Content Announced

Carbine Studios was on hand at PAX East this past weekend to let fans get a taste of their upcoming MMORPG WildStar .

. In addition to the demo out on the show floor, the team announced some new Elder Game content, which can be accessed once players reach level 50. Known as “Warplots”, this new game mode is a 40v40 PvP team battle mode where teams must defend their own fortress while simultaneously infiltrating their opponent’s.

The first step to accessing this new game mode is to start a War Party and purchase a Warplot using in-game currency acquired through PvE gameplay. Once the Warplot is purchased, the base is completely customizable via the purchasing of “Plugs”. Plugs serve as utilities that can be slotted into size-specific sections of the Warplot and serve a variety of tactical purposes. Larger plugs include the “Hazard” utilities; One such Hazard is a nuclear plant that serves as a defensive trap for intruders, exposing them to radiation and doing continuous damage over time as enemies cross through the hazard on their way to the back of the base. Smaller plugs include a military research center to boost friendly unit capabilities, a minefield, robot factories, a teleportation system to facilitate travel, and even an incinerator. Each plug can be further upgraded twice to unlock additional benefits, and includes a secondary capability. Plugs are upgraded by spending resources earned through play, but some have additional requirements such as the need for an architect and nano-packs in order to be improved.

Each Warplot can also be fitted with a super weapon that can tip the scales in one team’s favor during battle. The super weapons shown off behind closed doors at PAX included a multiple rocket launcher which, as one might expect, fires an absurd barrage of missiles at a designated target. The second super weapon shown off was an orbital laser, for those who need to couple precision targeting with their mass destruction. On top of these devastating tools, the center plug for each Warplot is a boss summoner, which allows the team to bring forth raid bosses and other captured creatures from PvE play into the PvP battlefield. These bosses come at the cost of single-use boss tokens, which can be purchased with War Coins earned by both playing and winning matches.

War Coins can also be spent on Warplot decor, and while some of these are simple aesthetic touches to personalize the team’s fortress, many of them are also weaponized to perform secondary functions. Each fortress can have up to one hundred pieces of decor on the field, with an additional hundred that can be stored in the community crate that is shared by the Guild. One of the unique aspects of the Warplot game mode is that damage carries over between matches, so teams will have to constantly build their fortress back up if a match is exceptionally hard on their base. The good news is that this can be done while waiting for a new match to begin. In an attempt to alleviate queue times, Carbine Studios has implemented a system where Guild leaders can customize the Warplot by accessing the build map as new matches prepare to launch. Those not actively building up the Warplot can also use this time to take part in combat practice. When the new match is set, the Warplot will land on the battlefield, and the match begins.

The Guilds themsleves will be completely customizable as well. Guild leaders can create ranks with custom permissions for their War Party, so that everyone has an assigned job and specific level of access to the Warplot. Creating a reliable Guild is essential to Warplots, as match selection will be determined based on overall team ranking, in addition to the value of the Guild’s War Coin bank. In order to increase team ranking, Guilds will have to win their PvP matches using one of two win conditions: Either by destroying the two generators located in the back of their opponent’s Warplot, or by energy attrition, meaning that once a Warplot is out of usable energy, that team loses. Energy is consumed whenever players need to be revived or Plugs need to be repaired, introducing an almost RTS style of resource management into Warplots.

Winning a Warplots match results in bountiful rewards including loot bags, prestige, and Elder Gems. The more victories a Guild achieves, the better, and more personalized, their Warplot will become. Additional rewards can be earned during each “Season” of play. Seasons won’t be introduced until post-launch, but they’ll consist of time-sensitive play periods where Guilds will have the chance to win exclusive rewards.

In addition to the Warplots closed-door reveal at PAX East, Carbine Studios also announced that WildStar has gone gold. The game will launch on June 3rd for PC, and pre-ordering is now available on the official website. Pre-orders can be placed for either the Standard Edition going for $59.99, or the Digital Deluxe Edition for $74.99 which includes exclusive in-game rewards. (Those pre-ordering the Standard Edition will also have access to a few pre-order exclusive rewards as well.)