Hi-Rez Studios today announced a major update for their upcoming F2P (free to play) FPS (first person shooter) Tribes: Ascend (currently in 'closed' beta). The new update removes several classes, adds all new weapons, and adds all new class customization options long-awaited by players.
Tribes: Ascend, the ‘resurrection’ of the long-dormant Tribes franchise, is currently in development at Hi-Rez Studios and in closed beta. If you’d like to get a free key to join the closed beta, all you need to do is head on over and ‘Like’ the Tribes: Ascend Facebook page.
Major (and I mean major) changes in the Feb. 2 update (v0.1.742.0) include:
- The class and purchase systems have undergone a major overhaul. The new system allows greater customization within a given class.
- There are now 9 classes instead of 12 (Pathfinder, Sentinel, Infiltrator, Soldier, Technician, Raider, Juggernaut, Doombringer, Brute). Generally, the weapons and gear of the classes that have been removed have been added as purchase options for the remaining classes.
- New players receive 3 classes to start for free (1 of each armor type): the Pathfinder, Soldier and Juggernaut.
- Each class has a default loadout associated with it that includes your Armor (Light/Medium/Heavy), a Primary Weapon, a Secondary Weapon, Belt item, a Pack, and two Perk Slots. Alternate weapons for each slot can be unlocked with XP or Gold.
- Class specific skill trees have been removed and replaced by a weapon-centric and armor-centric upgrade system. Upgrades are still unlocked using XP.
- Perks have been overhauled. With the new patch, there are 18 perks in the game -- nine assigned to Perk Slot 1 and nine assigned to Perk Slot 2. You now unlock Perks using XP or Gold. Once a perk is unlocked, it can be used on all classes.
- Perks now have a tiered upgrade system that allow you to further improve the Perk with XP or Gold. For example, the Pilot Perk gives +10% vehicle health, and has upgrades that provide +10% more health, with a final upgrade giving Ejection Seat).
If you’re already in the Tribes: Ascend closed beta, don’t worry—all purchases made will be refunded appropriately so you take your hard-won earnings on a spending spree in the new system.
In addition the massive upgrade and purchase system overhaul, 16 new weapons have been added to the game:
- Light Assault Rifle (Pathfinder Secondary)
- Explosive Nitron (Pathfinder Belt)
- Phase Rifle (Sentinel Primary)
- Falcon Auto-Pistol (Sentinel Secondary)
- T5 Grenade (Sentinel Belt)
- Stealth Spinfusor (Infiltrator Primary)
- Prism Mines (Infiltrator Belt)
- Thumper (Large version) (Technician Primary)
- Sparrow Pistol (Technician Secondary)
- Motion Sensor (Technician Belt)
- MIRV Launcher (Juggernaut Primary)
- X1 LMG (Juggernaut Secondary)
- Disk Toss (Juggernaut Belt)
- Heavy Bolt Launcher (Doombringer Primary)
- Mines (Doombringer Belt)
- Nova Colt (Brute Secondary)
Last but not least, the update will bring numerous fixes and tweaks to the game. You can read the complete patch notes here (the Link takes you to the developer post in the Tribes: Ascend forums).
If you’re new to the game, check out my (now outdated) class guides (links below). Although this patch will change the game significantly, you can still get an idea of what the game is like (I’ll update those class guides eventually…probably just in time for Hi-Rez to change everything again.)
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