Advance to Contact

Advance to Contact
Platform	Empire: Total War
Mod Type	Total Conversion
Era	Modern Day
Mod Leader	Darkhorse, Hross
Release Status	0.5.1 Beta
Forum / Thread	Here

Wiki Admin Note: Although the beta was released no viable download can be found at this time (Feb 2019) - therefore mod page moved to 'Unreleased' category, if a download is found please update.

Description

Advance to Contact (AtC) is a custom battlemod modification series for Empire Total War. Launching with Project Millennium, which is the first in a long line of custom battlemod releases, this project in particular will focus on the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. The mod's first release will focus on 4 factions and a handful of custom maps. Confirmed factions are the United Kingdom, United States, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the Taliban Insurgency. It has also been confirmed that the AtC team are looking into adding factions (which must meet strict criteria) and an AUPP (Additional Unit Project Patch) after the first release. It is also known that the team are considering looking to other projects, such as the Falklands.

Features

AtC’s first target is a battle-mod that has chosen the warzone of Afghanistan as its target. With 4 basic factions, accurate rosters, new play methods and gameplay overhaul. Primarily we intend to realize our vision of modern warfare by a high level military simulation of weapons, tactics and strategy. AtC is going to be an adrenaline pumping test of your skills in live combat, there will be little time to think, reactions, instinct and preparation will be key to this all new approach to Total War gaming. Starting in 2009/10 present, the player will be able to take control of realistic units and battle both for and against the ISAF. The units will range from line infantry and special forces, local militias and even suicide bombers, players will be able to use artillery, IEDs, HMGs, snipers, grenades, RPGs and all the load-outs you’d expect to see in a realistic simulation of the conflict. We will then like to release a series of patches to add factions and units to the Afghanistan project. More and more unique ISAF factions and units will be added over time, from France to Hungary, Poland to Spain. A network of Insurgent factions will be developed, watch and play as the battles spills across the border into Pakistan in a content patch, adding another coalition faction and a new insurgency group to play as. Following this, we have the long term aim of creating a series of new projects, each focusing a particular conflict. Play as the British in the 1982 Falklands War, France in the 1956 Suez Crisis, Australia in Vietnam and more. And lastly, we hope to add vehicles into our mods if the tools ever allow.

“Project Millennium”

Project Millennium is Advance to Contacts' first development. The mod focuses on the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, following operations "Herrick" and "Enduring Freedom" numerous other ISAF deployments, and in addition those of their Afghani allies.

The mod will pit the player, against the rough and ready Taliban, who have their own distinct set of units and skills. Players will struggle to find them as they are forced to patrol through Sangin, others will use their insurgent fighters to lock up their advanced enemies enemies in shock and surprise by means of ambush, IED's, mortar, or open firefight. Playing as the highly advanced and extremely well equipped ISAF forces, many will pick off their enemies at ranges with superior weaponry and support options. Thwarting thwart ambushes and forcing their opponents to fight in the open. Calling upon artillery & close air support options to decimate insurgent aggressors at danger close ranges. Or, playing as the ANA, using dynamic, young, but corrupt, and shaky forces and survive the insurgency. Playing with a mix of western styled elite units, and poor tribal militia's in the same faction! A truly unique style of play.

History

Nations At War (NAW) was one of the top three most popular and highly anticipated mods for ETW. It was formally led by C1a5s1C, who unfortunately disappeared, along with a large amount of the original team. Darkhorse, one of the original team, took over the mod, announcing Hross as co-leader. And during the long wait for modding tools, the team and the project has developed, and whilst many mods and teams have fallen by the wayside, NAW has gone from strength to strength. Their path of development has been to change form in an attempt to remain practical, successful and relevant to the means at our disposal. The team, which includes a handful of original NAW members, as well as new members, has evolved as well as the goals of the project. The culmination of their evolution is that they are now proud to announce that the Nations at War project is now thriving under a new banner: Advance to Contact. Currently, the mod has had several successes. There are copious amounts of research, a handful of models, a working map of Kajaki Dam and a working map of Sangin, some sound work, published unit rosters, and there is a new website, a new public thread, and videos.

On September 11 2010, Advance to Contact relaunched with a new public thread. A monster of nearly 2000 words, the thread featured descriptions of the mod, a FAQ, a preview video, and plugged their own website and was many weeks in development.

Beta release

It was announced on November 17th 2010 in the new AtC public thread that a beta was to be expected shortly. The announcement, made by Darkhorse was confirmed by Falconpilot. This news came after a string of developments, such as the working GMG weapon. The beta is believed to include accurately sized and armed units from 3 of the 4 factions, a new UI, and new music amongst other things. Unfortunately it is not expected that the teams weapon models will make it in despite their advances.

The Team

AtC are still recruiting

The Leadership Team

• Darkhorse
• Hross

The Research Team

• Head of research

o Darkhorse

• Content Team

o GeneralL
o 10Greenbottles
o Babo
o Avion365
o SeawolfRN

• Advisors

   o Hross
   o Farnan

Graphics and Aesthetics

• Modelling

o Raradir
o Yosemite
   o Wartotalworldguy
   

• 2D Art

o Delta228
o Luigi/Grimbold
   

• Visuals

o Emperor BLUBBS IIV
o Aanker

Sound and Videos

o Alba gu Brath

Scripting

o Falconpilot
o Aanker

Mapping

o Falconpilot

Media and Publicity

• External Website

o Darkhorse

• New Public thread

o Darkhorse

With thanks too...

   * Farnan
   * Aanker
   * King Sama
   * Luigi/Grimbold
   * A Company Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
   * University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
   * TWCenter modding services

Included Mods

None