1.1 Basics

The Storm of Steel is a multiplayer modification built on Source™ about the First World War (1914-1918), aiming to create a very realistic experience, while differentiating ourselves from other "World War" mods.

TSS will be available free for download to anyone that owns a copy of Half-Life 2.

1.2 Teams

This is a list of all the countries that are currently planned for the mod.

--1.2.1 Great Britain

Great Britain is leader (So to speak) of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and joined the war on August 4th 1914, due to a pact with Belgium, and brought with them the entire British empire.

Britain was also the first country to deploy heavily armoured vehicles.

--1.2.2 Imperial Germany

Germany, being a large empire (The Second Reich) was asked for help by Austria-Hungary, if war was declared. Thus making Germany one of the the first countries to be at war. Declared war with Russia on August 1st 1914.

Germany was the first to make use of such weapons as Gas and the Flamethrower (Along with france).

--1.2.3 Australia and New Zealand Army Corps

The ANZACs were part of the Commonwealth and entered the war when Britain declared war on August 4th 1914. The ANZACs saw most of their combat in the failed Gallipoli campaign.

--1.2.4 The Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire first joined the war on the side on the central powers on November 2nd 1914, and 3 days later declared war on Britain.

Turkey was on the defending end of the failed 1915 Gallipoli campaign.

--1.2.5 Canada

Canada entered the war with the rest of the Commonwealth when Britain declared war on August 4th 1914.

Canada is known for their famous actions at Vimy Ridge and Kitchener's Wood.

--1.2.6 France

France, bound by treaty to Russia, entered the war on August 3rd 1914, and saw ruin to the majority of its cities.

France is well known for their large part in the war (Possibly the largest), And being the first to use Flamethrowers.

2.1 Britain

This is a comprehensive list of most of the personal weapon systems used by Britain in the war.

--2.1.1 Rifles

Rifle Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III:
Damage: High
Range: Medium-Long
Secondary: Bayonet. Grenade Launcher
Status: Modeled and Skinned

Rifle, Pattern M1914 Mk. III:
Damage: High
Range: Long
Secondary: Scope
Status: Modeled

--2.1.2 Machineguns

Light Machine Gun, Vickers, Lewis .303:
Damage: Medium
Range: Short-Medium
Secondary: Bipod
Status: Modeled

Heavy Machine Gun, Vickers Mk. I:
Damage: High
Range: Long
Secondary: Tripod
Status: Modeled

--2.1.3 Pistols

Pistol, Webley Mk. VI:
Damage: Medium
Range: Short
Secondary: None
Status: Modeled

2.2 Canada

This is a comprehensive list of most of the (Unique) personal weapon systems used by Canada in the war.

2.3 Germany

This is a comprehensive list of most of the personal weapon systems used by Germany in the war.

2.4 Turkey

This is a comprehensive list of most of the (Unique) personal weapon systems used by Germany in the war.

2.5 Special

This section is a Work In Progress.

3.1 Basics & Selection

Illustration 1. A crude mock-up of the class selection.

Above is an example of what our class menu may look like, I will start by identifying all the things you may see in the illustration.

Everything above and below the Method pane (With a few exceptions) is simply information about the current Map the player is on (Ypres in this case).

Role: This is where you select the class you wish to play as. These classes vary depending on the map and country you have selected.

Loadout: Here you choose your Weapons, Artillery, Armour, and Equipment. What you can carry is limited by weight and the amount available, and what map you are on. When an item is selected, it in bold and underlined.

The first row is the Weapons you can choose from. You may choose one weapon and one attachment for the weapon.

The second row is your Hand Artillery, you may choose up to 6 grenades, of two types (You cannot take all three types).

The third row is where you choose the Armour your would like to wear. You can choose 1 headpiece and 1 chest piece (If available).

the forth and final row is various Equipment you can select from; This can be anything from Signaling flares to Secondary weapons.

Ammunition: Here you can specify how much ammunition for you current weapons you would like to carry. (Note that the No. 23 grenades are crossed out because the player does not have a grenade launcher)

Note: This is the Weapons, Armour etc, of the Rifleman class. Each class has unique load outs to choose from.

3.2 Rifleman

Riflemen are the main-stray of any infantry unit, whose key role is to take and hold objectives. And although more specialized roles are best left to others, Riflemen are still able to fill in for most classes, excluding the fire-power and range of a machinegun, and the command of an officer. A Rifleman’s loadout generally consists of a rifle, bayonet, grenades, and a steel or leather helmet, or more specialized equipment.

Note: As with all the classes, this information is not finalized.

--3.2.1 Britain

Primary Weapons:
SMLE No.1 Mk.III // Note: The SMLE takes 2 clips at a time.
Pattern 1914
EY 'Nade Launcher // (SMLE Attachment)
P07 43cm Bayonet // (P14/SMLE Attachment)

Side-arms:
Combat Knife(?)
Trench Club

Note: (?) means it is an idea to consider.

Artillery:
No.5 Mill's Bomb
No.27 Phosphorus // Smoke-grenade
No.15 Ball, Fuse // Longer throw time, lighter than Mill's?

Armour:
Mk.I Steel Helmet // Used in 1915+
M1905 Service Cap // Used prior to the Mk.I
Captured Grabenbrustpanzer(?) // German armour, rather heavy

Equipment:
Wireclippers // Attached to the SMLE
Respirator // Anti-gas mask
Extra Ammunition Bandolier(?) // Allows 10 extra Five-round clips

--3.2.2 Germany

Primary Weapons:
Gewehr 1898
Karabiner 1898
Rifle Grenades // (G/K98 Attachment)
20cm Seitengewehr // (G/K98 Attachment)

Side-arms:
Trench Spade
Trench Club

Artillery:
M15 Stielhandgranate
M17 Stielhandgranate // (1917+)
M15 Kugelhandgranate
Geballte Ladung // Several stick grenade warheads tied together

Armour:
1910 Bayern Mütze // Cloth cap. Only option in 1914?
1915 Preußen Pickelhaube // Leather helmet. Used in 1915
M16/17 Stahlhelm // Steel helmet. Used in 1916-18
Grabenbrustpanzer // Chest armour, rather heavy

Equipment:
1915 Gummimask // Anti-gas mask
1917 Lederschutzmaske // Anti-gas mask

--3.2.3 Turkey

Turk Classes are TBD (Along with all further turkish information)

3.3 Officer

An Officer's (Whether a senior or a non-com) role is to command his men in and out of the fray. His primary job is the directing of his men and guns, and the overseeing of the completion of their objectives. Better Officers are also expected to lead his men by example. Officers are generally better equipped than enlisted men due to private purchase, and are often found with smaller arms, such as carbines and pistols.

An Officer's presence may provide some bonuses and morale boosts (Such as speedier captures and better use of equipment). And Officers are the only ones who can give orders and direct artillery strikes.

--3.3.1 Britain

Primary Weapons:
SMLE No.1 Mk.III // Note: The SMLE takes 2 clips at a time.
P07 43cm Bayonet // (SMLE Attachment)

Side-arms:
Webley & Scott Mk.VI // Reloads with a clip?. Optional spike bayonet(?)

Artillery:
None

Armour:
M1905 Service Cap // Cloth cap

Equipment:
Binoculars // Used for marking checkpoints (For which soldiers to move to) and targeting artillery
Webley & Scott Flare Pistol // Serves same purpose as binoculars. Can fire illumination rounds, and can be used as an emergency weapon
Respirator // Anti-gas mask
Extra Ammunition Bandolier(?) // Allows 10 extra Five-round clips

--3.3.2 Germany

Primary Weapons:
Gewehr 1898
Karabiner 1898za
20cm Seitengewehr // (G/K98 Attachment)

Side-arms:
Pistole 1908
Mauser C-96

Artillery:
None

Armour:
1910 Preußen Schirmmütze // Cloth cap
1916 Einheits Schirmmütze // Cloth cap

Equipment:
1915 Gummimask // Anti-gas mask
1917 Lederschutzmaske // Anti-gas mask
M1908 Fernglas // Binoculars (See British binoculars)
Flare Gun // See British flare pistol

3.4 Support

A Support's job, is essentially supporting attacking and defending troops. Whether it's a volley from a machinegun, or clearing mines, or many other jobs. Support is a very diverse class, as one could be equipped with a machinegun, while another a tank-rifle and such. The Support class is also responsible for such equipment as telephones and trench mortars.

Unlike most other classes, the Support not only has a limit of the class itself, they also have a limit to most weapons and equipment.

--3.4.1 Britain

Primary Weapons:
SMLE No.1 Mk.III // Note: The SMLE takes 2 clips at a time.
Vickers Mk.I H.M.G. // Deployed on flat ground, not ledges. Two men to carry(?)
Vickers Lewis .303 // Deployed on ledges & ground
Mk.I Stokes Mortar // Portable mortar, deployed on front legs

Side-arms:
Webley & Scott Mk.VI // Reloads with a clip?. Optional spike bayonet(?)
Trench Club

Artillery:
No.5 Mill's Bomb
No.27 Phosphorus // Smoke-grenade

Armour:
Mk.I Steel Helmet // Used in 1915+
M1905 Service Cap // Used prior to the Mk.I
Leather Jerkin(?) // A leather shrapnel vest

Equipment:
Webley & Scott Flare Pistol // Can fire illumination rounds, and can be used as an emergency weapon
Respirator // Anti-gas mask
Extra Machinegun Ammunition(?) // Allows extra rounds for lewis or vickers

--3.4.2 Germany

Primary Weapons:
Gewehr 1898
T-Gewehr 1918(?) // 13mm Anti-vehicle rifle
Maxim MG08 // Massive sled, hardly mobile
Maxim MG08/15 // Deployed on ledges & ground
Klein Flammenwerfer // Portable Flamethrower

Side-arms:
Mauser C-96

Artillery:
M15 Stielhandgranate
M17 Stielhandgranate // (1917+)
Geballte Ladung // Several stick grenade warheads tied together

Armour:
1910 Bayern Mütze // Cloth cap. Only option in 1914?
1915 Preußen Pickelhaube // Leather helmet. Used in 1915
M16/17 Stahlhelm // Steel helmet. Used in 1916-18
Grabenbrustpanzer // Chest armour, rather heavy

Equipment:
1915 Gummimask // Anti-gas mask
1917 Lederschutzmaske // Anti-gas mask
Flare Gun // See British flare pistol

3.5 Marksman

Marksmen are stealthy and deadly. Equipped with a sniper rifle, a Marksman is used for taking out long ranged targets, such as officers or even radio equipment, and used a matter of methods to complete their objectives, they even disguised themselves as dead trees in No Man's Land. Snipers were shot on site when captured, as it was common practice for them to fire on troops in peacetime and cease fires.

--3.5.1 Britain

Primary Weapons:
Pattern 1914 // Always has a scope attached

Side-arms:
Webley & Scott Mk.VI // Reloads with a clip?
Combat Knife(?)

Artillery:
No.27 Phosphorus // Smoke-grenade

Armour:
M1905 Service Cap // With camo-bands(?)

Equipment:
Respirator // Anti-gas mask
Hand-held Wireclippers
Binoculars

--3.5.2 Germany

Primary Weapons:
Gewehr 1898b // Turned-down bolt, scope attached

Side-arms:
Pistole 1908
Bayonet

Artillery:
M15 Stielhandgranate
M17 Stielhandgranate // (1917+)

Armour:
1910 Preußen Schirmmütze // Cloth cap
1916 Einheits Schirmmütze // Cloth cap
M16/17 Stahlhelm // Stirnpanzer plate attached

Equipment:
1915 Gummimask // Anti-gas mask
1917 Lederschutzmaske // Anti-gas mask
M1908 Fernglas // Binoculars (See British binoculars)
Hand-held Wireclippers

Further Classes are under discussion.

4.1 Incursion

Incursion is an objective based game mode, with infantry and possibly vehicles.

--4.1.1 Basics

Objectives: Each map features unique objectives and goals, which can be completed by a number of means, each with different rewards. Example: The british must capture a german trench to advance in the map. If captured, the germans will be pushed back, and the british will begin spawning at the captured trench if all the german equipment at the trench is destroyed. If the equipment is destroyed and the germans retake the trench, the germans can no longer call in artillery strikes or restock ammo at the trench.

Spawning: Players spawn in waves, and the more players that are dead at the time, the longer it takes to sally-up and reinforce; And each time the team spawns, their Spawn-tickets are drain by a few, if a team runs out of Spawn-tickets, they can no longer spawn.

Vehicles: This game mode will feature vehicles, although maybe not initially. Vehicles will be controlled by a crew of players, each with different roles in the vehicles, such as gunner, driver and commander. Players will need to be a certain classes to drive some vehicles.

--4.1.2 Goals

Completing Objectives: If a team completes all primary objectives, they are victorious over the enemy. Although some maps may feature secondary objectives that are not necessary to complete, in order to win.

Spawn-Tickets: If an entire team is dead and has zero Spawn-tickets, they are defeated, and the enemy is victorious. Spawn-tickets can be increase by completing certain objectives.

4.2 Entrenchment

This game mode is being planned.

4.3 World War

World war is an all out team-death match game mode, and may or may not be seen in the mod.

--4.3.1 Basics

Spawning: Players spawn individually. There are no spawn tickets in World war, rather the game is limited by a time or score limit.

Vehicles: This game mode may feature vehicles. Vehicles will be controlled by a crew of players, each with different roles in the vehicles, such as gunner, driver and commander. Players will need to be a certain classes to drive some vehicles.

--4.3.2 Goals

Time-Limit: If the time limit runs reaches an end, the team with the best score (Kill/death ratio) wins.

Score-Limit: If a team reaches a pre-set score limit, they are victorious.

5.1 Western Front

Maps in the western front are best in France, belgium and other such countries. All maps with Germany are on the Western Front.

Map objectives are being determined.

--5.1.1 Loos

When: September 25-28, 1915

Who: British Expeditionary Forces & Germany Army

Terrain: Damaged town. Large metal bridge with towers.

The battle of Loos comprised part of the French and British Artois-Loos Offensive, in autumn 1915.

The attack followed a four-day bombardment, and the release of 5,100 canister of chlorine gas, much of this gas blow back at the british trench, killing seven men.

Although the 2nd and 3rd BEF corps captured the town of Loos, the offensive was an overall failure on the british end.

--5.1.2 Second Battle of Ypres

When: April 22 to May 24, 1915

Who: British Expeditionary Forces & Germany Army

Terrain: Ruined city. Large cloth hall and St. Martins church.

In april 1915, Erich von Falkenhayn launched germany's only major offensive on the western front during 1915, who was focusing on the russia in the east.

The battle was also the first in which gas was used, and 5,700 canisters of chlorine gas were released on the morning of april 22nd 1915, against Canadian and French Territorial Division soldiers.

Germany, after taking several miles of ground from the allies, were defeated in the town of Ypres on may 24th, but continued to bombard it to complete ruin. The battle ended with some 69,000 allied and 35,000 german casualties.

--5.1.3 The Somme Offensive

When: July 1 to November 18, 1916

Who: British Expeditionary Forces & Germany Army

Terrain: Dirty british trench, large german trench with some concrete buildings. No Man's Land filled with craters, barbed wire, and bodies.

The Somme offensive was the largest allied attack during 1916, north of the Somme river between Arras and Albert, and is remembered for the record of over 58,000 british losses on the first day.

The main purpose of the offensive was the divert german war efforts from Verdun, where the french were suffering heavy casualties. The attack was preceded by an 8-day bombardment of the german lines, by nearly 3,000 british & french guns, and a Creeping Barrage in front of the infantry.

On july 1st, 27 Divisions - 750,000 men - over 80% of which were the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF), the defenders were 16 divisions from the Second German Army. Not only did the preliminary bombardment fail to destroy the german barbed wire and bunkers, but it also ruined any chances of a surprise.

By the end of the offensive on the 18th of november, the allies had gained 12 kilometres of ground, and lost an estimated 620,000 men, while it is estimated that the germans lost around 500,000.

--5.1.4 The Battle of Cambrai

Note: This map will not be in the mod until vehicles are implanted

When: November 20-30, 1917

Who: British Expeditionary Forces & Germany Army

Terrain: Large german trench, dry dirt covered No Man's Land, no mud or craters.

The 1917 battle of Cambrai represented the first time tanks were used in large numbers, previously being deemed to be of limit use in combat, and were no longer valued for surprise tactics.

In late November 1917, Third Army commander Julian Byng, britain's Commander-in-Chief Sir Douglas Haig (although Haig wasn't interested at first), and Lieutenant-Colonel John Fuller launched an attack on the Germany Hindenburg line at Cambrai, with 476 tanks, six infantry divisions, and 14 squadrons of RFC planes, plus 2 divisions of Cavalry.

The germans were pushed back 6km on the first day alone, and the british gained control of Flesquieres on the second day. Although virtually all momentum had been lost.

The germans launched 20 divisions of troops and regained nearly all ground lost to the british, using the Hutier infiltration tactic.

Although the british failed to gain the breakthrough they had hoped for, this battle demonstrated the power of tanks when used in force.

--5.1.5 The Battle of Vimy Ridge

When: April 9-12 , 1917

Who: Canadian Army Corps & Germany Army

Terrain: Large german concrete fort and bunkers, dirty, crater laden No Man's Land.

Some 12 kilometres northeast of the Arras, Yimy Ridge ridge became important early in the war, due to its over looking view of the allied-held town, and was captured by the germans in 1914, where they built heavy concrete fortifications.

In late 1916, the Canadian Corps were to recapture the ridge, under command of the british general Julian Byng. Preparations for the attack consisted of a miles of tunnels and a three week british artillery barrage, and a creeping barrage to move directly ahead of the infantry.

The offensive was launched on April 9th, and within the first half hour, the Canadian 1st division, under command of Arthur Currie, captured the first german line, and within the hour, the second had also fallen to the Canadians, and by April 12th, Canada had captured the entire ridge.

The offensive was judged as an excellent success, and was the single most successful allied-offensive in 1917. Although Canada suffered 14,200 casualties, and the germans faced a higher 20,000 casualties.

5.2 Gallipoli Front

The Gallipoli front has the location of the failed British/ANZACs offensive in 1915, against Turkish army forces.

Gallipoli maps are being determined and wrote up.

6.1 Stamina

Stamina affects your ability to perform certain actions, and it is drained by various things.

Draining: Stamina is drained by Sprinting, Jumping, Climbing objects, Using certain weapons, and other such actions.

Affects: Have little or no stamina results in not being able to run, jump, perform various actions, and decreases your ability to keep your weapon steady when aiming down the sights.

Regaining: By not running or performing tiresome actions, including fire you weapon a lot, you will steadily regain your stamina.

Long-Term: If you draining you stamina too often and too much, you will start to regain it slower, and drain it faster. These affects take awhile to wear off.

6.2 Sprinting

By Sprinting you can greatly increase your speed for a short while, although Sprinting drains your stamina very fast, and you cannot fire or aim your weapons while Sprinting

6.3 Stances

The mod will feature various stances, each with benefits and ailments.

Standing: The default stance, you move the fastest when standing, and can perform all actions, although the cannot steady you weapons as well as when in the other stances.

Crouching: When crouch you are lower to the ground and can aim more accurately, although the cannot sprint and you move slower than when standing, and some actions cannot be performed.

Proning: When in prone, you are laying on you front, you can aim very accurate and are hard to see and hit, although the cannot perform most actions, including melee attacks, you also move very slow while prone.

7.1 HUD

The mod will have minimal HUD (Heads Up Display), displaying only very vital information.

Ammunition: The HUD will display how many clips/bullet you currently have. It will not, however, show you have many rounds you currently have loaded into your weapon.

Life: Your life will not be displayed on the screen, as there are not hit points in the mod, although the HUD will inform you of where you are hit.

Dying: Your death in the mod will be determined by where you get hit, not by hit-points or a life-meter. Using a fully-modeled locational damage system, the mod will deal you death with a shot to the head or heart (but a slow death with a heart shot), but cripple you with a leg or foot shot, although you may still bleed to death from a severe injury, even if in the leg. Wounds cannot be heal - there were no medics or doctors on the front in the First World War.

Chat and Kills: The HUD will show chat from other players, system messages, and radio commands (But not voice commands). The HUD will also say when a player has killed another player, and with what weapon.

Map and Compass: You can press and key to bring up a map of your locations, that displays legends and objectives, as well as a compass to guide you around. You cannot perform normal actions while your map is up.

There is no crosshair, the only way to aim is with Iron-sights, firing from the hip is not very useful.

7.2 Scoring

A player's score is based on his Kills, Deaths, and most importantly his Objective completion points, which are awarded for completing or helping complete objectives.

Points: The player receives Ten points for completing primary objectives, and Five points for secondary objectives. A player with high points will be ahead of players with good Kill to Death ratios, but few points.

Kills & Deaths: The player receives a kill point when he kills a member of the opposite team. Two kills are deducted for killing a team mate. You receive a death point when you are killed by any player, or by yourself. Switching teams does not count as a death.

Victories: You receive Two points when your team is victorious over the enemy. Also, you receive an extra 5 points if you get the winning kill or complete the last objective.