Back to Basics is a free mod for Company of Heroes that reworks core features of the original gameplay to put further focus on strategy, tactics, and player skill. Back to Basics can be played PvP, but also features AI opponents that can challenge battle-hardened players.
## About This Game
Join our Discord: ! This is our main community hub
where we share our development progress, offer technical support and grant the
opportunity to discuss the mod.
* ## New Content
Back to Basics features over 30 brand new units spread across the four
factions, while existing ones were revised to fit the core gameplay the mod
offers. Each unit was carefully selected and designed, offering diversity
while retaining clear unit roles and purposes to avoid unnecessary unit
overlap. Many of the original core unit designs and envisioned roles were kept
intact to retain a sense of familiarity, yet were expanded upon to enhance the
overall depth and complementary dynamic between units.
Command Trees have been expanded to permit various progression paths that
synergise with various faction strategies. The nodes for each branch were
shuffled around to offer more interesting choices throughout, while also
mitigating the evident power differences between branches. Practically every
feature in each of the Command Trees received some attention; from minor
balance adjustments and bug fixes, to fully revised functionality of certain
abilities, units, and upgrades, and plenty of new content has been added with
the aim to broaden the versatility of each tree.
* ## New gameplay mechanics & enhanced combat
Along with new units, abilities, upgrades, and command trees, the mod features
an entirely new weapon damage model as well as brand new gameplay mechanics.
The damage model is generally more lethal with a lower time-to-kill than the
base game. At the same time it is as fair, balanced, and consistent as
possible with almost all instances of instant squad wipes removed from the
game. New gameplay mechanics featured in Back to Basics include “Enfilading
fire”; squads receiving fire from multiple directions are prone to taking more
damage, “Anti-blob”; clumped up infantry squads receive penalties to their
overall combat effectiveness, and “Regeneration”; infantry squads out of
combat will slowly regenerate hitpoints over time.
Those who take the time to understand and adapt to the enhanced damage model
and mechanics will find that the battles are dynamic, with a wide spectrum of
playstyles being viable. The impact of utilising different types of weaponry
is strong and worthwhile, as each weapon has a unique role and performance.
Consequently, proper army composition and unit positioning are essential
factors that players have to consider in order to turn battles into their
favour.
* ## AI as core feature
Back to Basics touches every aspect of Company of Heroes AI as well as
introducing entirely new features for an experience that is unique to Company
of Heroes as a whole. All combat logic is replaced with custom functionality –
individual units are more aware of their surroundings and have much more
complex behaviour. AI difficulty scaling no longer relies on scaling unit
hitpoints.
Custom logic for spreading out units across the map allows the AI to have a
good variety of head-on engagements as well as flanking attacks. Larger-scale
AI decisions and unit purchase logic have been remade almost entirely from
scratch. Changes include fixes to major bugs, a massive rebalance of existing
and newly added functionality, and full integration of the mod’s unique
content and features. The result is a dynamic AI that is much more aware of
the various unit class interactions, continuously trying to counter whatever
the player is fielding. Our implementation of AI build orders and personality
randomisation should result in diverse choices of tech paths and army
compositions game to game.
AI now has custom functionality for closing in on and assaulting positions,
taking cover, pulling back and retreating. Various unit classes also feature
custom behavior, such as general vehicle combat, team weapon utilisation, HQ
truck setup, indirect fire unit control (barraging, avoidance of danger), and
capability to recognize specific threat types.
All-in-all, players may experience a refreshed AI battle experience, featuring
8 AI difficulties that can be challenging and unpredictable for all skill
levels, while also being both fair and enjoyable to play against.
* ## Full campaign compatibility
Campaign compatibility is supported for all three major campaigns (Invasion of
Normandy, Liberation of Caen, and Operation Market Garden), as well as the
three tales of valour (Tiger Ace, Causeway, and Falaise Pocket). The campaigns
have seen major enhancements and fixes to many of the iconic missions and
objectives. Scenarios now also incorporate many of the mod’s unique content
and features for an overall refreshed experience.
* ## Quality of Life
Back to Basics features an array of adjustments that aim to improve the
overall player experience. Changes range from minor bug fixes to overhauled
mechanics and gameplay features, including more responsive unit behaviour and
vehicle pathing as well as the elimination of the “invincible at 5% health”
bug for vehicles.
## Mature Content Description
The developers describe the content like this:
War themes, strong language, blood & gore, intense violence, use of
alcohol, use of tobacco.
Company of Heroes: Back to Basics