Isla Balkania (aka Project Massacra)

[icebreakr 3156]

IceBreakr proudly presents fifth island project for A2... Isla Balkania.

Balkania

A new island, formerly known as "Project Massacra", is coming together nicely. It is a fictional land created on real-life terrain data from various local sources from Balkan region (where it got the name). Regular builds will be released and with community's input we will build a place that will be used for many missions.

Inspirations were: Croatian and Slovenian seaside, real world data and photos, dangerous world airports, Red Dawn movie, The Hunting Party movie, Sahrani.

Two distinct landpieces stand out at the first sight: big island known as Balkania and much smaller Rahmadi.

When you travel by air south of Sahrani you soon enter the airspace of Balkania. Country, once known as Socialistic Republic of Balkania, plunged into the war during 90s, right after the death of a powerful leader Marshall Vito. After almost a decade long war three countries were formed with strictly set borders. United Nation intervened in the past decade during the "Big Massacre" and still maintains its presence but in much lower numbers. Their base is in the suburbs of the Komunovo.

1. Countries

Sahrani Colony (SACO)

Controls the biggest landmass of all three countries. SACO controls the Rahmadi island with a military base and a small fishing town. Rahmadi airbase is used as a staging area for any area conflicts and acts as a bridge between Sahrani and Balkania.

- local SACO forces are used for guarding Town of Komunovo (largest on the island that lies in the central Valley). Many units guard the important military installations and the border outposts in Northwest part. Inhabitants see them more as a frienldy police force than a real mean looking army. For any bigger conflicts a full RACS Army is "just around the corner" with full support. Colony is just a short flight from Sahrani. SACO has couple of A4 Skyhawk planes stationed at their airport shelters and very limited armor force. Infantry is their strength. SACO's stance is Independent.

Cittanova (CIT)

Small proud nation of an old fishing town firmly controls its borders near the sea. Their white-red flag can be seen almost anywhere. They have a smaller airport with aging Mig-21s and couple of military bases. They are extremely cooperative with US and always glad to send their trained soldiers to any worldwide hotspots. In exchange they get help in form of finances, military vehicles and other equipment. Their stance is therefor Blufor/West.

Cecania (CCA)

Cecanian community controls the East part of the island. Cecania has good ties with Russia, their ally. Its terrain is mostly lowland open terrain, but there are couple of hills. They managed to provoke US in 90s so far that they got bombed for five straight days. Bombing took out most of their infrastructure, but no foreign soldier ever stepped on their land. Their soldiers are experts in deception, concealment and guerilla tactics. Cecania managed to rebuilt a lot of stuff in the past years. Area is still pretty desolate, but they have managed to keep the power over lush forests in the South. Mainly due to their hero Commander Dragan that managed to defeat much larger armies entering his sector in the "Big Massacre" war in 90s. It is believed that Dragan forces obliterated several armored convoys and took out infantry teams in 5+ times stronger numbers. Their stance is OPFOR/East.

2. Airports

Due to heavy air traffic countries built 5 airports to accomodate all tourists and keep up with their defensive capatibilities.

SACO has three airports. One on Rahmadi, NW part of country and one in the Komunovo central valley.

CIT has a smaller airport in SW.

CCA only airport is at the far SE.

3. Towns

Each sector has its local town with military base. There are smaller villages that are guarded by police stations and military outposts and depots.

Currently there is no further info.

4. Town of Komunovo - Land Lot System

I've come up with an idea, a new system that will enable the Community (therefor name Komunovo) to have their work included in this map in form of their "hoods". I'll give out land lots (parcels) to different creators in a form of easy to edit island area, all marked on the ground. Objects will be included in the database, so placement is super easy. Each creator has free hands, he can make a private compound, factory, villa, camp, hotel etc.

Making of the "Hood" will be supereasy with clear installation, ever for rookies that never made an addon or a map. All objects and vegetation will be already in the library for them to use. Initial release will have empty hoods for community members to built (or not). More info soon.

5. Story

Sahranian Colony (SACO) is under direct threat from their neighbours. Riots broke out in Komunovo and a lot of foreigners are already fleeing the island. These riots are suspected to be fueled by CCA and CIT cells. CCA managed to amass a new armored division and their soldiers are conducting exercises in the close vicinity of Komunovo.

CIT forces are showing agressive behaviour on the NW border and constantly provoking.

UN advisors and soldiers are on various peacekeeping tasks all day long. World is only watching while Sahrani RACS is in full mobilization in order to defend SACO territory. It seems that Komunovo riots are just the beginning...

6. Progress

Island is still WIP. No size info yet. Many data published here can change in the upcoming weeks.

Community input is highly recommended. PM or public.

This map does not carry any political statement. It just provides you a new ground for your missions and your ideas.

My focus with this island is quality, not the quantity. Expect much more detailed terrain than in my previous island with excellent framerate performance.

No spoilers until initial release.

No date set on initial release :)

More info will be known when it reaches the first release state.

7. Team

Project Leader, Terrain Design: IceBreakr

Co-author, Building Design & Cartography: Mondkalb

Town Komunovo Warlords: [TBA - to be announced, map creators of their "hoods"]

Unit Design: Fox '09, Wld427 RACS

Beta testing: this project will be public soon as it reaches beta state.

Edited July 5, 2011 by IceBreakr

[-martin- 10]

Very good idea IceBreakr, I can't wait to see some screenshots of this, make sure to use some Balkan houses to make it like the real Balkan

[someguywho 12]

Damn this sounds epic. Another island to add to my IceBreakr collection :D

[ANZACSAS Steven 395]

Sounds Great m8.

:)

[oldbear 390]

As previously said, I am with you on this one, the idea of working as a team with fellow map makers pleased me the most !

[wld427 1705]

Im going to order the RACS Red Brigade to prepare for deployment :)

[bushlurker 45]

My focus with this island is quality, not the quantity. Expect much more detailed terrain than in my previous island with excellent framerate performance.

A promising Mission Statement, Ice!

Looking forward to seeing what you've been up to!

B

[jedra 11]

More detail, Good Framerates - can't wait! If it is as good as the rest then I for one am happy to wait for as long as it takes. Hopefully it won't be done before my Duala campaign is finished as I may lose focus!

[Nightrain 10]

Lovely idea Icebreakr. Its nice to see community members bringing all kinds of mods together :)

[mankyle 405]

If it has a rahmadi clone in the map It must be a Huge map. Is it a 20.8 x 20.8 km map?

If it is so it will be very nice to use air and sea assets

[hellfire257 3]

S...a...r...a...h...n...i.........

:eek:

:D

[topas 1]

make sure to use some Balkan houses to make it like the real Balkan

I was thinking something along the lins of the above; but with focus on cars. There was a Yugo addon for A1, right? We need a bunch of some rotten Yugos and Zastavas for this one :)

[icebreakr 3156]

I need to contact General_NS, yugo taxis would be cool :)

[superrat 10]

UUUU let me guess its montenegro (crni brezuljak) nice hope u give it detail to resemble region at least it reflect landscape good one

[CameronMcDonald 146]

Awesome, mate. :) Loving your work.

[topas 1]

I need to contact General_NS, yugo taxis would be cool :)

Be sure to do so then ;) looking forward to the outcome. I'm no expert in the automotive issues of the balkans, but afaik apart from licensed versions of Fiat, Renault cars were also popular there, right?

Anyway, fingers crossed for this one. Sounds like a project worty of constant tracking.

[R0adki11 3949]

Im going to order the RACS Red Brigade to prepare for deployment :)

The Nogovan Republic will support you if needed :)

[aidas2 10]

Hope you will include heavily destroyed towns, something like grozny, need atleast one city like that to get the feeling of war, not shiny new buildings like in A2 :/

[Jester_Darrak 10]

Most of the cars were either local cars (like the Yugo) or Volkswagen, e.g. Golf (Rabbit) Mk II diesel. It felt like every second car was a Golf, totally shabby, corossion all over but there were some cars in better shape, even with aluminum rims. So for the beginning the standard ArmA II vehicles might be good.

You have some rare SUVs too, but they are either stolen, from mafia guys or just filthy rich people. Well, that 3 options do not exclude each other if you take it further... :D

So, if you're doing a balkans map, do it like Chernarus. I'm serious, they both have so much in common. I had deplyoments in both Bosnia and Kosovo, we're good with what we have.

Nevertheless, good luck with that project, I'm really looking forward to testing it.

Kind regards, Jester

[-martin- 10]

I was thinking something along the lins of the above; but with focus on cars. There was a Yugo addon for A1, right? We need a bunch of some rotten Yugos and Zastavas for this one :)

Really? :butbut: Because I started to make a Yugo 45, I hope I didn’t make the mesh for nothing if there is already one.

[topas 1]

http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=2696 ;)

[icebreakr 3156]

We toyed around with General_NS's yugos in A1. And his excellent Peugeot 206s :)

To return back on the real topic - the map. How do you like the Sahrani/Red Dawn Movie/Rolling terrain setting?

Edited July 1, 2011 by IceBreakr

[aidas2 10]

Sounds good for me, but need massive valleys/ hills and include a massive destroyed city like grozny :P if its possible ofc, Namalsk props would be idea for that desolate feeling.

[yugoslav 13]

Ya, a war torn city would get the feel right. somthing like Vukovar or Mostar. i always liked the Yugoslavian Highways. If you got a chance to see the Movie Harrisons Flowers there is a good background when they are Walking through a JNA checkpoint into vukovar. Highways like that, very excited to play ur map.

[lightspeed_aust 681]

nice to see Ice - the Ghosts will be heavily involved in Europe after a fresh breakout of fighting in Podagorsk.