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Wulfram 2 is a hybrid genre massively multiplayer online first-person shooter, massively multiplayer online real-time strategy, and simulation game currently being developed by Bernt Habermeier and published under the name SlurpySoft (Slurpy is the pen-name/callsign of Bernt Habermeier) using an original source code developed by Bolt-Action Software, of which Bernt Habermeier was a co-founder. Wulfram 2 is one of four known games to be developed by Bolt-Action Software, and is the only one still playable. Notable is the fact that Wulfram 2 is free to play, though the administration is accepting donations from the player-base and offering certain non-gameplay related benefits for it.
History
First published in late February 2002, Wulfram 2 is the sequel to the game Wulfram (1996), developed for and published by the Total Entertainment Network (TEN), and ShockForce (1998), developed for iMagic Online (now iEntertainment Network or iEN), but never published. Wulfram 2 shares much similarity with ShockForce.
There are strict rules, some censorship to protect against racist remarks. Donations are used by Bernt (aka Slurpy) to finance the servers and various game improvements. Moderators are the ones who control and enforce rules, they are players who dedicate their time to Wulfram.
Genre
Wulfram 2 does not fit into one specific genre, and there are few similar games, however certain first-person shooters with real-time strategy elements, such as the Natural Selection mod for Half-Life have similar gameplay elements.
Gameplay
Gameplay in most games of Wulfram 2 hinges around building and sustaining a base or number of bases centered around one or more "power cells" (PC's) which power a certain number of base items and have a circular field of effect. Power supplied by PC's is drained by base items at varying rates, and PC's cannot overlap fields, however multiple PC's can be deployed at the same point for backup use. The various base items include Gun Turrets (GT's), Flak Turrets (FT's or flaks), Missile Launchers (ML's), Fuel Pads (FP's), and Repair Pads (RP's or reps). Other deployable items include Darklights (DL's) and Skypumps (pumps), these two items do not require power sources.
Base items are created by and dropped onto the field of play by orbital supply ships, of which most games start with at least one, and may have a maximum of 3 for each team. Supply ships also have the capability of bombarding bases with orbital bombs, if the team has placed the ship above the target base. The game ends when one team has lost all of its Repair Pads, which serve as spawn points, and has no players remaining on the field. The supply ships functions are controlled by someone who has the Uplink, also called the Linker. The Uplink, or link, may be stolen by the other team, it is then set in self-destruct mode and detonates in thirteen minutes and is placed on order on the supply ship.
Players fulfill their role in the game by commanding one of two pilotable vehicles (Tank and Scout), and fending off players of the other team while trying to destroy their base using many varied methods depending on the situation. All vehicles have two default weapons, Autocannon and either the Pulse Cannon for Tank, or the Repair Beam for Scout, and also several optional tertiary weapon systems, including several types of missiles, mines, floating heat-seaking bombs called caltrops, flares, and a very low damage infinite range weapon used to force enemies to move away from higher level emplacements, called the maser. All of the tertiary weapons are obtained by landing on the Fuel Pad. One player, the Linker, is usually delegated to build, maintain, and defend the base(s) by placing mines and fighting flanking enemies. The game has many strategic elements not discussed here and is highly multi-faceted and can have a high learning curve for some advanced strategies.
The only other current mode of play involves single and team dueling between evenly or unevenly matched groups of players.
Currently, the maker added a new game feature called "Kudos." Where players give each other "points" (positive marks) or "dings" (negative marks) depending on whether or not the receiving party has done anything notable in the eyes of the giver, and sometimes given completely at random for no reason, depending on the person. Hower it does not affect gameplay, and for the most part is cosmetic. It is also one of the few notable changes in years that the developer has tried to put into the game.
Kudos
Recently, a new aspect on the game was added to the game called "Kudos." The system, as it is supposed to work,is essentially an awards system run by the players. As the players play, they accumalate "Grants" that they may use to either Kudo somebody who may have performed a good team effort or a noteworthy action (Basekill etc.), or Ding somebody who has done just the opposite. Dinging lowers your overall Kudo count, thus effecting your rank.
As players receive Kudos, they gain ranks. By gaining ranks, you increase your grant rate and your spot on the overall score list. This can work the other way around by accumalating dings, thus decreasing your rank.
See also
External links
- Ultimate Assassins - one of the most active, and oldest squads in Wulfram 2
- Final Destination - another active, and well respected squad in Wulfram 2. Has been around in various forms since 2002
- Women at War - A widely respected female gaming squad that has been around for 8 years since the beginning of Wulfram 2.
- A-Team - An established old squad returning with some of the most lethal and oldest players.
"Wulfram 2"