Hey everyone, Welcome to Hell Let Loose! We've put this together this quick guide to give you an intro into the roles, mechanics and teamwork involved in Hell Let Loose so that when the landing craft doors open you can hit the beach running! Some of the Black Matter team have also shared their top tips to succeeding in battle, so keep an eye out for those a bit further down! Thank you so much for coming and checking us out during our free weekend, welcome to the community! [h1]Joining a Server[/h1] Before joining a server we recommend checking over your game settings. Visit the options tab located at the top of the menu where you can edit graphics and change keybinds. Once you feel comfortable with your settings it’s time to join a server. Oh and don’t worry, you can change your settings anytime in-game using [ESC]. [b]How to join a server[/b] The server list can be accessed from the "Enlist" button on the main menu. Players can apply filters and sort the list by selecting the filters or columns at the top. To join a server in the list, simply select a server you like and click “Join Server”. If the server is already full, you may be placed in a queue or you need to find a server with available slots. [b]Finding the right server for you[/b] As servers are located all around the world, try to pick a populated server within your region. A ping under 150 is ideal for Hell Let Loose's fast paced gameplay. To quickly find all servers in your region, try sorting the list by ping to show the closest servers to you first. [b]Official vs Community servers[/b] Servers fall into one of two categories, Official or Community. Official servers are run by the developers and have no fancy rules to worry about. Community servers on the other hand are run by our amazing members of the Community. These servers are governed by their Admins and their rules. You’ll often find more cohesion and teamwork in Community servers due to the welcoming hearts of the Community backing the server. [h1]Getting Started[/h1] Before you can get your boots wet, you’ll first need to select a team, a unit, a role and finally a spawn location. Upon joining a server you’ll be greeted with the Team Select screen, pick the side you wish to play as! Germany or the US? Once you have picked a team, it’s time to join a unit. [b]Unit types[/b] In Hell Let Loose there are three types of Units: Infantry, Armor, and Recon. Infantry Units are primarily responsible for attacking enemy Units and capturing territory. Armor Units command tanks and recon vehicles to support infantry and destroy enemy armor. Recon units are responsible for scouting out enemy movement and garrison placement, as well as covertly dismantling enemy nodes. To join an existing unit, click the [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/ab42a7f5a96dd3744078bbda471f1d759feff93a.png[/img] icon on an existing unit that has available slots. We recommend starting off in an Infantry unit to learn the basics. Now it’s time to pick a role! [b]Roles - Infantry[/b] [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/181130e5ff5a37d1479419d8fc35992b05d0756e.png[/img] - [i]Commander[/i] Far from a frontline role, the Commander communicates with officers to control the flow of the battle. To assist with this, he can utilize the team's resources to call in special abilities like a recon pass or a bombing run. He also decides when to spawn tanks for the Armor Units. Due to the immense responsibility the Commander has, he can only be selected by players of level 10 and above. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/7d2b7dd1b5126163293f3bcce934b85bb06eb4aa.png[/img] - [i]Officer[/i] One of the most important roles in the Infantry Unit, the Officer is responsible for leading his comrades on the battlefield. He can use his watch to place down OPs for his Unit and, when supplies are close by, Garrisons for his team as well. His binoculars allow him to mark the location of enemy Units and structures for the other Officers to see. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/74854ffb4f7d93d54060f3a2ad97bb9ebb8f1c33.png[/img] - [i]Rifleman[/i] The Rifleman, as his name suggests, is equipped with a powerful rifle for engaging enemy Infantry at all ranges. A good all-rounder, he is also equipped with an ammunition box for resupplying trigger-happy teammates. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/0c9cb0377328722c9b62d9a7341ccbf43c0d1f15.png[/img] - [i]Assault[/i] A dedicated attack role, the Assault has access to a myriad of high fire-rate weapons for closing in with the enemy, and a good supply of smoke and fragmentation grenades to help him on approach. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/39af96f57c5c25d8713c6bb0e5c271be479abafa.png[/img] - [i]Automatic Rifleman[/i] The Automatic Rifleman is heavily armed and capable of suppressing enemies on the move with his fully-automatic weapon. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/1dd3eea8b79ec6755035cd6567149f282ac2a5c9.png[/img] - [i]Medic[/i] Limited in firepower, the Medic is a dedicated support role capable of reviving and bandaging teammates. He is equipped with smoke grenades to help cover his revive attempts. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/d338756bbafddff706e6f648705456eabc5dea0d.png[/img] - [i]Support[/i] A good addition to any Unit, the Support brings with him a crate of supplies. The supplies can be used by the Officer to build a Garrison, or by the Engineer or Anti-tank to create defensive emplacements. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/bbbb0c1fd98971b8f843cb5e16cf62409f239eb2.png[/img] - [i]Machine Gunner[/i] A menace on the defensive, the Machine Gunner uses his mounted up belt-fed machine gun to tear through enemy infantry. He can also brace his weapon to control the recoil of his weapon when firing on the move. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/243c723bb0d3623853451043439d9e79e380942f.png[/img] - [i]Anti-tank[/i] The Anti-tank is responsible for protecting his Unit from enemy armor. Equipped with a rocket launcher for point defense, he can also use a Support's supplies to set up an AT gun for engaging tanks at range. Be sure to aim for the side or rear of the tank to guarantee a penetrating hit. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/e446b16d9dc8331505bae564a712d1180db5a4d6.png[/img] - [i]Engineer[/i] With a myriad of tools to support his teammates, the Engineer is a dedicated rear-line role. His wrench can be used in conjunction with supplies to construct barricades, bunkers, and more. His blowtorch can repair friendly armor, and his mines can be put down to keep the enemy from getting close. [b]Roles - Armor[/b] [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/03333b59df5f278220f4d475fecec7fcebfdee65.png[/img] - [i]Tank Commander[/i] Responsible for leading an Armor Unit, the Tank Commander can communicate with the Commander and other Officers to report on enemy movement and coordinate manoeuvres. Depending on the size of the Unit, he may have to operate the gun or drive the tank as well. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/40f4369106285283bdd6390ba8da6ed64228042a.png[/img] - [i]Crewman[/i] Lightly armed and somewhat defenceless, the Crewman's responsibilities lie with operating vehicles. Coordinating with the Tank Commander, the Crewman must move his selected vehicle into a defensible position and engage the enemy. [b]Roles - Recon[/b] [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/999c5e0a5b27994cbfb88947cbea502749cf7fba.png[/img] - [i]Spotter[/i] The leader of the Recon Unit, the Spotter is responsible for communicating with the Commander and other Officers and reporting on enemy positions from behind enemy lines. He can place OP's for himself and his Sniper, and can sabotage and destroy enemy Nodes and Garrisons when the opportunity presents itself. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/e48c3d9c4ee12813a869e6e929422f90b58ef11b.png[/img] - [i]Sniper[/i] Armed with a scoped rifle, the Sniper can engage enemy Infantry from significantly longer range than any other role. As such, he is responsible for moving in conjunction with his Spotter and eliminating high value targets - Officers, Commanders, and other Recon Units. [h1]Deploying[/h1] Now that you’ve joined a unit and selected your role, it's finally time to join the soldiers on the frontline. You’ll need to begin by selecting a spawn point from the map, but where should you spawn? Read the types of spawn points below to understand their differences. We recommend spawning on an Outpost or Garrison to begin with if they’re available. They’re usually placed by other players closer to the action. Once you have selected a spawn point, click deploy on the lower right of the screen. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/8c29da865a5c19cd4f889bc9f0d61d8f782841a6.png[/img] - [i]Headquarters(HQ)[/i] Headquarters are your team's base location, where your team's vehicles respawn and artillery guns are located. These spawns are commonly used during the beginning of the match when no other spawns exist yet. If you join a match in progress, it is recommended to spawn on an Outpost or Garrison instead which will likely be closer to the action. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/4722108ce33b1c2220fdf659da078415a42addef.png[/img] - [i]Outposts (OP)[/i] Outposts are placed by Officers and are only available to their unit. You’ll need to look for an Outpost placed by your unit’s Officer as you’ll be unable to spawn on any Outpost belonging to a different unit. If you can’t find any Outposts placed by your Officer, simply ask for one or pick a different spawn location. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/b9d47178c70f3aac41e1b7fff9b51219c4ce2bf9.png[/img] - [i]Garrisons[/i] Garrisons are also deployed by Officers but can be spawned on by the entire team. They’re often set up in defensive locations and can be a reliable way to spawn close to the action. If your team’s Garrisons ever come under attack, be sure to defend them, losing a garrison can have a large impact on the outcome of a match due to the effort required to place one. [img]https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images//34012997/ef57d1eeccd0f2afd8ec4a65d5e130b780f2ee28.png[/img] - [i]Airheads[/i] An airhead is a team-wide spawn point that can be air-dropped into any active sector by the commander. Because they can be placed in any active sector, airheads can be extremely effective at launching attacks on sectors by deploying in enemy territory. If you see an airhead on the deploy screen, give it a go! [h1]Communicating[/h1] Hell let loose is all about team tactics and coordination. While getting kills can aid in a victory, a team that is communicating well and organizing their frontline will always come out on top. Talk to your unit using [C] or to players in your proximity using [V]. If you are unable to use a microphone to communicate, text chat is also available using [K] for Team chat and [L] for Unit chat. Be sure to ask if others can hear you, and your mic volume is not too quiet or loud. [b]Leading a Unit[/b] Once you feel like you’ve got a good understanding of how the game works and feel confident in leading a unit into battle, give the Officer role a try. To play as an Officer, create a unit by selecting the [b]+[/b] icon next to a unit type in the list. When playing as an Officer, be sure to place Outposts and Garrisons for your team as well as communicating with other Officers using [X] to talk over the Leadership voice channel. [h1]Developer Tips & Tricks[/h1] [b]Spawning do’s and don'ts[/b] Take a look at the Garrison and OP icons before you select them to deploy. If they are marked with red, enemies are close to the spawn point. If you decide to spawn when enemies are nearby, try to secure the area before moving forward to the objective. [b]Unit Composition[/b] As an Officer of an Infantry Unit, try to have the Support and Engineer role filled at the beginning of the round. Nodes and Garrisons are always in short supply, and having these set up will assist greatly in the upcoming battles. [b]Key Deployables[/b] [i]Nodes (Engineer)[/i] Nodes are crucial to keeping your team well-supplied! They generate resources once deployed, which can be used by your commander to spawn tanks and call in powerful support abilities. Ask your Officer for supplies, and he can either send a Support your way or get the Commander to call in a supply drop to get the Nodes built. [i]Repair Station (Engineer)[/i] Repair Stations can be placed in the front line to rapidly repair multiple vehicles at once. This can save on Armor Units from needing to drive back to HQ to repair, and can save your expensive tanks from being destroyed in a pinch. [i]Belgian Gate/Hedgehog (Engineer)[/i] These deployables allow a well-supplied engineer to quickly block off a road to enemy armor. Be careful of placement, as they can block friendly vehicles as well. [b]Combat tips[/b] [list] [*]Bullets don’t just kill, they suppress also! Rain lead down on enemy positions to pin them down and provide suppressing fire for your team to advance. [*]You can steady the aim of many weapons by holding down the [Shift] key while aiming down the sights. You can only hold your breath for a short period of time so be swift with your shots! [*]Medics can revive downed players. If you’re downed and see a medic nearby, call out for help, it could save you a lot of time redeploying. [*]Players can bandage each other. If you run out of bandages, find a friendly and ask them to patch you up. Be quick though, if you don’t bandage in time you’ll bleed out. [*]A good defence is just as important as a good offense. If you see one of your team’s sectors under attack, fall back and defend the point. [*]You can ping a location for the rest of your unit by pressing [Middle Mouse Button] [/list] [h1]Team up and dominate the battle[/h1] Be sure to check out our Reddit and Discord where you can find like-minded players eager to team up and conquer the battle! [url=https://discord.gg/jpuwDXvmqd]Hell Let Loose Discord[/url] [url=https://www.reddit.com/r/HellLetLoose/]Hell Let Loose Community Reddit[/url] You can also chat to us here on Steam, or over on our [url=https://twitter.com/hell_let_loose]Twitter[/url]! [h1]Onwards to the Frontline![/h1] That wraps up our Free Weekender's Guide to Hell Let Loose! We hope you found this helpful and have a fantastic time on the frontline. We've got a very exciting year ahead of us as we head towards our launch out of Early Access and the arrival of the Eastern Front! If you enjoy your time with Hell Let Loose this weekend you'll be able to pick it up at a 25% discount until the close of the free weekend on Monday 29th at 5pm GMT. https://store.steampowered.com/app/686810/Hell_Let_Loose/ We'll see you on the frontline!