Contention server plans for the C-130

[AhSoul]

Update from Contention in their Discord yesterday.....

Overview

• The SPS Team is very excited for the upcoming C-130 release. This will be a significant module release for our campaigns and we plan on utilizing it as much as possible.
• The C-130 will revolutionize logistics gameplay on Contention. Players will be able to help their team in a variety of new ways. You’ll be able to deliver reinforcements, produce resources, drop CTLD units, and much more.
• The C-130 will be incorporated into all Contention (and Incursion!) campaigns. The unfortunate reality is that it will have to go on both teams. This might end up being a nightmare for VID’ing in some cases, but it’s not going to be diving into furballs so the odds of seeing two Hercs on opposite teams next to each other are slim. And no, it’s not possible to force liveries on certain planes without removing the ability for everyone in every plane to change liveries. So we will just have to live with this little dilemma.
• The C-130 will be given many unique logi features. We have developed some extremely basic functionality that will be ready to go on day 1 (described below) and over the next few months we will be working on an incredible logistics mini-game within Contention.
• We still don’t know exactly what the Herc will be able to do in terms of features. We’ve seen the clips of it dropping crates, carrying vehicles, etc but we don’t know exactly how any of those systems will actually function. It’s incredibly important that we’re able to make all that stuff work within the scope of Contention. Some of those features may be cool, but if they conflict with our systems or can’t be controlled properly then we might have to disable them. Hopefully it all works out. We would hate to have to restrict any cool new stuff.
• We will NOT be implementing any form of weapons warehousing. This is bad gameplay for a server like Contention where we encourage players to fly whatever they want, whenever they want. We don’t want there to ever be a lack of your favorite weapons. Instead, we’re going to get very creative with custom systems.

Short-Term Plans

• The Day 1 implementation of the C-130 logistics system will be an EXTREMELY BASIC, TEMPORARY, PLACEHOLDER SYSTEM that will be replaced.
• This basic system will include: Reinforcement Deliveries & Resource Generation Deliveries along with other systems that already exist on the server.
• C-130 players will be able to do the job of an AI cargo plane and manually bring reinforcements to Airfields, Airfield SAMs, FARPs, and Strongholds.
• C-130 players will also be able to generate resources for their team by doing delivery missions.
• CTLD is planned to be added but might require some tweaking initially to work with the new systems of the aircraft but that is all TBD and will be determined after release.
• Other features like airlifts, factory repairs, industrial center/c2 repairs and reinforcements, outpost construction, etc are all planned but will not be ready on day 1.
• There will be a changelog explaining how all the new systems work when the module releases.

Long-Term Plans

• The next 2 major updates will bring some huge changes for the C-130 and all other logi aircraft.
• Update v1.10 (the next major update) is the CTLD Rework! We're ditching the current CTLD system and making a better, modernized version that will integrate smoothly with all Contention systems. It will bring some really awesome new functionality for all CTLD aircraft and refine all the current systems to be much more user-friendly, optimized, and modernized since the current CTLD system is very old.
• We’ll start sharing more info about this system as we get closer to its release.

Update v1.11 is the SPS LOGISTICS MEGA-SYSTEM!

• We haven't talked much about this publicly. This system will essentially create a brand new game mode inside of Contention and Incursion for logi players. There will be extreme levels of depth and complexity for players who want to dive into logi activities and lead their team to victory.
• Progression System: The core of the logi system will be the progression system. We want players to feel fulfilled when completing logi tasks beyond just a small credit bonus. We want to reward you with permanent account upgrades. Players completing logi activities will earn XP and progress through a leveling system. Leveling up will unlock access to new missions/activities, larger rewards, new CTLD options, and much more. High-level logi players will be a huge asset to their team. C-130 players will be able to replace all AI cargo flight functionality, complete a variety of new tasks, generate hundreds of thousands of resources, and complete tons of dynamic logi missions with varying levels of difficulty and reward.
• When this system gets released there will be infinite options for logi gameplay. You'll be able to do nothing but fly the C-130 if you want, and you'll be helping your team out tremendously by doing so. This will eventually be the biggest and most complex logi system ever developed for DCS.
• This is just a very short surface-level description of the planned system. This wall of text would be about 10x bigger if I went into more detail now. Stay tuned for more info about Update v1.11 as we get closer!
• We don't know when the C-130 will be releasing but a lot of players have been asking about our plans for the past few months. Hopefully this answers most of your questions! Please feel free to ask about anything we couldn't answer in this post.
• Please let us know what you think about all this and share your ideas for the C-130!

Edited Saturday at 12:23 PM by AhSoul