This post was written with the aim of clearing up some confusing aspects of Red Orchestra, and to answer some common questions. Also, it aims to provide some interesting reading material while waiting till the release date.


What is Red Orchestra?
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 aims to be a realistic, World War II-themed, multiplayer, first-person shooter. Set on the Eastern Front between 1941 and '45, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 depicts the epic struggle between Soviet and Nazi forces. The game's creators, Tripwire Interactive, developed the game out of the previous UT2004 mod, Red Orchestra: Combined Arms. While the game is a first-person shooter in the tradition of more familiar WWII-themed games, Red Orchestra is unusual in its emphasis on realism and authenticity.

Is this the same as the Unreal Tournament Mod?
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a full standalone game. It does not need Unreal Tournament to run - that was the old mod version (known simply as 'Red Orchestra'). The game is built on Epic's Unreal 2.5 technology, with some graphical enhancements (such as motion blur) from us.

The primary focus is definitely multi-player. There is a single-player offline practice mode. Yes, the AI has been significantly enhanced - the damn bots can take a map right out from under you now. You can order the bots around singly or in squads. However, it comes truly alive in MP. It is heavily realism-biased, with all weapons operating true-to-life in terms of rates of fire, ballistics and so on. No artificial "balancing" of weapons - you come round a corner with a Kar98 rifle in your hands and meet a Soviet coming the other way with a PPSh SMG and you are most likely to go down. Catch the same Soviet avtomatchik in more open ground and you'll knock him down while he sprays bullets everywhere. No cross-hairs and don't paint a cross in the centre of the screen - it won't help. Unaimed, the gun sways in your hands and the bullets go exactly where the gun is actually pointing. Aim ("Iron Sights") and you'll be a LOT more accurate. Rest your weapon on something, or brace against a wall, or fire from prone and you'll be yet more accurate.

Vehicles included - 14 of them, ranging from the Soviet BA-64 armoured car, through to the Tiger, Panther and Soviet IS-2. Multiple crewable positions per vehicle, realistic ballistic performance, armour performance, AP and HE performance, gunsights and so on...

What are some features?

• Fight intense battles on 13 authentic Eastern Front combat environments
• Crew 14 fully realized vehicles with highly detailed exterior and interior models
• Choose from 28 authentic infantry weapons
• Full 32 player online Multiplayer Support
• Unique Setting – the only FPS to focus on the WWII Russian Front
• Engage enemy tanks at 800 metres and more with the Simulation-level armored vehicle combat
• Fight the full range of combined arms infantry and vehicle combat in detailed environments based on real-world data, from city-centre to deeply rural settings
• Realistic bullet and projectile ballistics will make you duck for cover
• Coordinate strategies with your team-mates via Voice Over IP
• Authentic Immersive Sound FX and 3d Positional Sound System
• 3d “Iron Sights” and unique 3d scope system
• True weapon deployment system including resting rifles on support
• Historically accurate artillery system
• Distance-based sound system dynamically creates the battle ambiance
• Advanced player movement system featuring diving over obstacles and leaning
• Custom 8 way animation system for highly realistic player animations

Is it geared towards tactical play?
Initial reports and previews have highlighted the importance of teamwork, and the intense realism component of this game creates substantial tactical depth.

What classes can i play?
This depends upon the Map which is played, since the objectives vary, and depending upon when the Battle, after which the Map was modelled, did take place.
Rifleman: Bolt Action Rifle, with Grenades. Can be found on nearly every Map, without Limitation.

Semi-Auto Rifleman: Semiautomatic Rifle, most of the time with Grenades, most found on Late War Maps, but usually no more then 2-3 per side, seldom more and never unlimited.

SMG-Trooper: SMG, most of the time with Grenades. Can be found on nearly every Map, most of the time up to 3 per Side, seldom more, sometimes in Late War Scenarios unlimited amount per Side

MG-Gunner: MG, usually with Pistol and Grenades. Can be found on nearly every Map, most of the time limited to 1 or 2 per side, never unlimited amount.

Sapper/Engineer: Rifle or SMG, Grenades and sometimes with Pistol. Can be found on all Maps with Destructable Objects (Road Blocks, Doorways and Tanks), not avaible on all Tank Maps, but most. Number per Side vary between 2 and 4.

Anti-Tank Infanterist: Anti-Tank Weapon, SMG (sometimes a Pistol instead of SMG) and sometimes Grenades, can be found on every Tank Map. Can be unlimited but is mostly limited to 2-4 per side.

Commander: SMG (rarely Rifle), Pistol, Grenades and Binoculars. Can be found on nearly every Map, seldom more then 1 per side, and then mostly only 2. Can call in Artillery and place Rally Points. More to that in the next Question.

Tank Crew: Pistol, sometimes with an SMG, and seldom additional Grenades. Can be found on every Tank Map, on Combined Arms Maps limited to #Tanks times 2, on "pure" Tank Maps they are unlimited per side.

Tank Commander: SMG, Pistol, Binoculars and sometimes with Grenades. Can be found on all Tank Maps, usually limited to #Tanks, very rarely unlimited. The Tank Commander can call in Artillery, and place Rally Points in the same way a the Commander.

When, and how, is it being released?
The current release date is "sometime this March (2006)", and it will be available over the Steam distribution platform. As of late February, the game can be preordered and pre-loaded via Steam.

Where can I learn more?
Official Website
Your questions will have most likely been answered here:
Unofficial RO: Ostfront FAQ
You can buy RO:Ostfront here:
Steampowered Distribution

Tips and Tactics:
Red Orchestra: Ostfront Resources are in bold.
Resources referring to the original Red Orchestra are in italics.
(NB. These categorisations are not definitive.)
Infantry Tactics
More Infantry Tactics
CQC Guide
Grenade Tactics
Machine Gun Tactics

Tank Tactics and Guide
Tank Tutorial, focusing on Russian Tanks (Detailed)
Basic Tank Tutorial (Detailed)

Red Orchestra 3.0 Tactical Manual (Extremely Detailed)

Bibliography:
Wikipedia Entry on Red Orchestra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Orc...Ostfront_41-45

"Red Orchestra Game" Website and Forums
http://www.redorchestragame.com/

"Red Orchestra Mod" Website and Forums
http://www.redorchestra.clanservers.com/

Official Red Orchestra Game Manuals
http://www.redorchestragame.com/inde...13_sectionid=5

Tactical Gamer Red Orchestra Forums
http://www.tacticalgamer.com/red-orchestra/

Map List and Images (for ID purposes)
http://rolldabass.googlepages.com/home