With Warhammer 40,000: Darktide set to release on Nov. 30, players are gearing up to face the forces of Chaos for the fate of Tertium. Central to this cause is the Mission Terminal, the centerpiece of the Mourningstar hub in Darktide.
It is here where players share the space with others and access a variety of missions. At any given time, there will be a selection of missions available to take on, each relevant to character competency, dynamically populated to complement the predetermined narrative or emergent events that unfold in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
For developers Fatshark, the legacy of working on the Vermintide series has made the Mission Terminal possible, a system that suits the overall universe while ensuring that the gameplay experience is more dynamic than anything seen in the series thus far.
Inspired by the analog nature of the technology layer present in Warhammer 40,000, the Terminal emulates the space cop fantasy where the world is alive, and it remains everchanging, reflecting the perils and urgency of its contents. The grounded nature also plays a huge role in keeping players engaged with easy-to-understand information, with missions being displayed in several ways:
- In a small panel: where users get a very condensed idea of what they can expect about the selected mission
- In a medium panel: where users get access to quick play (a fast way to queue in missions) or events of critical nature get displayed; this panel also acts as a legend for better explaining the small panel’s iconography
- In an expanded panel: where users get all the information they need to embark on said mission
By progressing and succeeding in the pushback against Chaos, players will earn the trust of the Inquisition, and that will be reflected in the Mission Terminal. Higher difficulty missions, better rewards, and more opportunities to face danger head-on become possible. As for missions of critical timing, these get highlighted in the middle of the Mission Terminal, promising better rewards and higher intensity in combat, with survival a slimmer possibility than usual.
Once access to the Mission Terminal is granted, players can easily team up or strike out solo on missions. The first player in a team will get to initiate a vote for whichever mission chosen, and the democratic process ensures fairness even in the face of impending doom.
Do note, however, that certain missions possess modifiers, or Special Conditions, that can change up the gameplay. An example is the Power Supply Interruption modifier, which plunges the entire level into darkness and paves the way for a new way to play.
A Special Condition could also apply on a more global scale in Tertium Hive, transforming into a Global Condition. During a Global Condition, the game will alter the missions more frequently. There could, for example, be a blackout in the hive, and therefore almost all the missions available are affected by Darkness.
Always be sure to keep a keen eye on the Mission Terminal in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide; it becomes more than just an avenue to start enjoying the game, and a constant reminder that safety is never guaranteed.
