Escape From Mars Wico [Update WIP]

This is now the official version; Duckroll is no longer updating the version on his steam workshop.

NOTE: Aug 1, 2023. I am working on a major update to the scenario.

Please test the update here: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3184932156

Challenging, combat and exploration orientated single player and co-op survival that forces you to scavenge and steal instead of mining. Includes technology unlocking and difficulty progression.

Scenario Description

You're not a miner, or a rocket scientist. You're just a low ranking AI technician that found out something you weren't supposed to know. Somewhere along the line, you trusted the wrong people. Now you're trapped on the Red Planet, surrounded by forces that want you dead.

There's no easy route to success here, you will have to claw and scrape your way to freedom with minimal resources. But as they say in the labs of Europa, an AI technician is never alone.

- Single Player and Co-op supported. Dedicated server is untested / unsupported at the moment. - Refineries and Arc Furnaces are disabled until you complete the scenario. - Assemblers are enabled, however! You can salvage and disassemble with it - Building hydrogen and Ion thrusters likewise are disabled until the scenario is over - Several other technologies are initially unavailable but are unlocked as you progress - Most settings are there for a reason, but feel free to change efficiency/inventory ones! - The scenario is combat orientated, you should build your vehicles with armor and weapons

Setting

After an initial rush to colonise and terraform parts of Mars, rising living costs, job automation and failed terraforming experiments drove colonists to leave for greener pastures. With the cost of land on Mars sunk to near-worthless levels, the majority was bought up by Galactic Corporation for mining, manufacturing and research operations.

Today the surface is largely the domain of drone ships operated from safe outposts or even geosynchronous Mars orbit, as human personnel are costly to maintain, transport and insure. Remnants of more optimistic times still litter the planet, buildings that are slowly turning the same rusty red hue as the soil around them.

Features

Steal Technology

Given your background, your character does not know how to build everything a real engineer could. You can however unlock blueprints by stealing them from G-Corp databases. This involves discovering databases to hack throughout the world.

Raid convoys

Without access to refineries, you have to acquire resources by stealing borrowing them from your ex-employer. However, raiding many convoys will eventually cause the G-Corp AI to send escorts and group shipments into single large cargo transports instead of many smaller ones. This same system is used to determine the strength of patrols sent to intercept you if you stray too close to an active G-Corp facility.

The corporation employs both air and land to move goods, all sent towards their heavily defended Mars HQ tower, where they are shipped off planet.

AI Companion

Mining and rocket engines might not be your thing, but AI is. You will be guided by a fully voiced AI, helping you decide what to do next and warning you of hazards. The scenario progresses at your own speed and doesn't force you to jump through any hoops, however. You can ignore the AI if you wish and find your own solution.

Multiple Victory Solutions

There's more than one way to complete the scenario, so decide yourself between brute force fighting and clever investigation and engineering.

Explorable POIs

Aside from the suggested story-line areas to explore, there are also buildings and other sites of interest dotted around the map unrelated to the main goal.

Modding Information

I recommend against using your own mods that add blocks as it may unbalance the scenario. Aesthetic and utility mods like Easy Inventory will be fine.

The mod attached to the scenario is a small ~5MB addition that mainly includes code to make all the convoys, research etc work. It also includes the sound and some LCD textures.

Once you have completed the scenario, it's actually safe to remove the mod. It will break the enemy AI and some LCD screens will go blank, but if you're planning to continue in space, then it won't make any real difference.

Credits

Attached mod includes the environment file from Almost Total Dark by cenda http://www.freesfx.co.uk/info/eula/ Used for airplane sound effect in the flight simulator http://www.freesound.org/people/kennysvoice/sounds/351695/ Parts taken and edited for https://www.soundmorph.com/sounds Some sounds used for MrEd AI Includes code from Whip's Turret Rotor Control Royalty free music used from https://machinimasound.com/music/damnation/ Uses Morijester's Wreck Remover and Drill Sampler Uses Bruce Needlee's Hercules Crane Convoys move around with the help of Wicorel's Autopilot System Big thank you to Alpha testers who provided feedback: Bad Humor, DarkDragon and HPBraincase Special thanks to the modders that helped me on Discord, without which I couldn't have made this scenario: Phoera, Digi, Phoenix84, Rexxar, plaYer2k and theCalcaholic

Known Issues:

None currently