User blog:Bloodhit111/Escalation Update: Outfit Wars



One of our major goals with the Escalation game update was to provide dedicated Outfits meaningful endgame content. Outfit Wars not only introduces the first official competitive circuit for Outfits, it also takes players off-planet for the first time in PlanetSide 2 history.

Outfit Wars is a new monthly tournament cycle for aspiring Outfits to prove their valor and compete for the title of Auraxis's best. Outfits can opt-in now, before Qualification begins early next month, and culminates with the 3 top Outfits per Empire per server region (9 total Outfits per server) battling it out in 3 epic 48v48v48 skirmishes on Desolation, an all-new Asteroid continent built for competitive play. To the victor go the spoils, recognition, and glory eternal!



The initial Outfit Wars preseason cycle ("Alpha 1") kicks off this Friday with the Enlistment Phase, the first of four distinct phases that will complete the monthly Outfit Wars cycle. Each server region will run through the entire Outfit Wars cycle on a set schedule unique to their region. Check out the full Alpha 1 schedule below:

Outfit Wars Alpha 1: Enlistment Phase (Starts Friday, March 13)
Outfits can choose to opt-in starting Friday via the new Outfit Wars tab in-game* (*note: dates/resource costs below are Test server values and don't reflect what's currently on Live servers - see the full schedule below):



The Enlistment Phase kicks off for each server region at the following dates/times :


 * Connery (US West): Friday, March 13 at 8:00 PM PDT
 * Emerald (US East): Friday, March 13 at 5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM EDT
 * SolTech (Japan/Asia): Friday, March 13 at 4:00 AM PDT / 8:00 PM JST
 * Cobalt/Miller (Europe): Friday, March 13 at 12:00 PM PDT / 7:00 PM GMT

Only Outfit Leaders and Outfit members with Expedition Crafting Privileges can sign-up their Outfit during Enlistment, with the resource cost coming from their communal Outfit bank (for more on the new Outfit resource types, check out our Escalation Launch Guide). There is no limit on how many Outfits can sign-up in each server region during Enlistment.

Outfit Wars Alpha 1: Qualification Phase (Starts Monday, March 23)
Starting Monday, March 23, enlisted Outfits will begin competing for the right to represent their Empire in the first Outfit Wars tournament! The entire Qualification Phase occurs within the main game - along with accruing new resources to craft War Assets, Outfits can qualify for Outfit Wars simply by participating in normal PS2 gameplay in service of their Empire. Throughout the Qualification phase, Outfits will earn points for territory capture and control:


 * Facilities and Large Outposts are worth 15 on capture, and 6 points per tick while occupied
 * Small Outposts and Construction Bases are worth 5 points on capture, and 2 points per tick while occupied

Outfit Wars Leaderboards will be tracked via the same Outfit Wars tab within your in-game Outfit. At the end of the Qualification Phase, the top 3 Outfits from each Empire in each server region will advance to the Preparation Phase.

Qualification kicks off in each region as soon as Enlistment ends at the following dates/times:
 * Connery (US West): Monday, March 23 at 8:00 PM PDT
 * Emerald (US East): Monday, March 23 at 5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM EDT
 * SolTech (Japan/Asia): Monday, March 23 at 4:00 AM PDT / 8:00 PM JST
 * Cobalt/Miller (Europe): Monday, March 23 at 12:00 PM PDT / 7:00 PM GMT

Outfit Wars Alpha 1: Preparation Phase (Starts Monday, April 6)
Outfit Leaders can use this phase to set Outfit member eligibility to compete in Outfit Wars (nominally decided by Outfit rank). While each Outfit can field up to a full 48-player platoon during Outfit Wars, more than just the 48 can be made eligible - players can swap in and out during an Outfit Wars match, so long as the Outfit doesn't go over their 48-player cap. Only eligible Outfit members as designated by the Outfit Leader or by Outfit rank can participate in the match.

Preparation kicks off in each region as soon as Qualification ends at the following dates/times:
 * Connery (US West): Monday, April 6 at 8:00 PM PDT
 * Emerald (US East): Monday, April 6 at 5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM EDT
 * SolTech (Japan/Asia): Monday, April 6 at 4:00 AM PDT / 8:00 PM JST
 * Cobalt/Miller (Europe): Monday, April 6 at 12:00 PM PDT / 7:00 PM GMT

Outfits can ALSO use the Preparation Phase to craft War Assets to bring into Outfit Wars matches with them! Of the initial War Assets available, only the Bastion and Steel Rain can't be deployed during Outfit Wars matches. War Assets have a collective resource cost and capacity limit, so ready your arsenal wisely!

Outfit Wars Alpha 1: War Phase (Saturday, April 11)
Final match times will be announced later in March after we kick off the Qualification Phase. Stay tuned for more details, soldiers!

Outfit Wars has gone through extensive pre-Alpha playtesting thanks to PS2 community leaders and volunteers, but we fully intend to continue tuning, balancing, and iterating based off community feedback during this initial preseason cycle. We also have exciting ideas for how we can

It's time to show all of Auraxis your Outfit has what it takes to be the best, soldier - enlist in-game today! Original post