The Hegemon

The Hegemon are the new faction you can fight against in the Infinite War mode. Their ships are loaded to the brim with the best technology available in the galaxy, making a fight even a single Hegemon ship a difficult battle to win.
And of course, you'll rarely find them alone. Capital heavy, sporting particle accelerators and antiproton cannons, you'll need a balance of maneuverability and firepower to challenge the Hegemon... as well as a ship with equally advanced modules.

The galaxy in Infinite War

The galaxy is somewhat different in Infinite War than in the normal campaign mode, with new options and challenges for the player. The objective is still to conquer the galaxy (of course!) and this can achieved by conquering the homeworlds of each faction. Expect a more challenging battle than normal in these homeworlds. One of the things which has been changed is that in this game mode, the Empire is no longer omniscient. The vast majority of the galaxy is covered in fog of war, and it is only through exploration and conquering additional sectors that more sectors are revealed.
To assist you with this, you can now choose to deploy hyperspace probes. These provide permanent surveillance of surrounding sectors, giving you an early warning about forces encroaching on Imperial space. Additionally, you can also deploy starforts. Starforts are massive, static structures equipped with high-end modules, providing the Empire with a defensive anchor which is extremely difficult to dislodge. Well-placed starforts on contested borders can change the tide, keeping Imperial space reasonably safe and freeing you to tackle other fronts.

Ramming speed!

One of the issues HEXTERMINATE had in the past was how powerful the ramming ability was. The Marauders in particular are keen to ram your ships and it was not uncommon to see capital ships get skewered by small marauder ships. This was changed in order to make the early/mid-game more welcoming, but with the desire to bring the ability back to its original level in certain cases. To achieve this, a new module has been added: a ramming prow. Ramming prows are armour modules with a somewhat reduced armour rating but which deal substantially more damage during a ramming manoeuvre, while suffering very little damage themselves.
These modules are currently only installed in Hegemon ships (although of course you can install some in your own ship), which should make it far less of an issue for newcomers while increasing the challenge for more experienced players.

The next steps

With the galaxy generation now working and the Hegemon faction coded in, the work that remains involves finishing the user interface and testing. The latter in particular will require some time to ensure that the players have a good, fun experience in Infinite War. I am currently looking into releasing the update on the 26th of June (next Sunday). Thank you for reading!

[ 2020-07-19 14:43:08 CET ] [ Original post ]

"This galaxy is ours." — Emperor Elion VII

A fairly straightforward statement, although not one echoed by all of the other factions in the galaxy. HEXTERMINATE puts you in command of the Imperial flagship, under orders to conquer the galaxy. Diplomacy has been discarded in favour of the "more firepower" approach, as 'making friends' is not on the Emperor's agenda. How difficult can it be?

• Modular construction
  Each ship is built out of hexagonal modules which slot together, including armour, reactors and weapons. With dozens of different types and rarity levels, you build the spec you want. It is your choice how you will tackle galactic conquest: from massive behemoths with layered armour to blitzing sniper battlecruisers. Given that every module is individually destructible, a few well placed shots at your enemy's ships can be devastating.
  
  
• A living galaxy
  The galaxy changes over time as the various factions vie for power. Fleets embark on missions, sectors are won and lost, every game will play out differently. Even in the middle of a fight reinforcements can turn the tide for either side.

• Your own fleet
  Assemble a fleet to accompany you in your quest, from long range gunships, front-line battleships and support vessels. Or decide to keep all the glory for yourself, fighting on your own against a hostile galaxy.
  
  
• Perk system
  Further customise how you tackle HEXTERMINATE by acquiring perks as you destroy enemy ships: from access to experimental ships to add to your fleet to increased rate of fire for each landed shot, you'll find a range of options to complement your style of play.