IScal

IScal (name pending) is a highly modified fork of the July 2020 Escalation release. IScal is a "tactical" "shooter", where several military factions with unique looks, different guns, and different languages do small scale battle, to either eliminate each other, or attack or defend specific objectives. While it has a lot of extra features, improvements, and changes, at its core it is still very much an "SS13" experience, and its controls and general gameplay feel reflect that. Do not go in expecting the "most refined 2D shooting experience", SS13 jank cannot be escaped, it is just part of the experience.

Gameplay Differences

Probably the most important thing for any newcomer from either IS12, or from Escalation (what three of you left that haven't already played this and somehow aren't banned) is what's changed in the gameplay. So to make things convienent here are the differences

A lone Krasnyj Pakt soldier traversing the snowy woods.

General Differences

• There are weapon attachments you can get in the character creation screen. You can only pick two though, and putting them on your gun will slow you down when the gun is in your hands. Keep in mind not all roles have access to attachments either.
• There is a cover system. Pressing spacebar will allow you to take cover and stand up. If you are behind an object such as sandbags, brustwehrs, or trees, bullets will fly over you instead of hitting you, as long as the person shooting you is not right up on top of you.
• Your name is randomly generated. Due to how the different languages and factions work, you can no longer pick your own name. One will be generated for you.
• Custom lighting system! Lights are now a filter effect, and thus move 100% smoothly instead of having to update with the MC. This has its pros and cons, but overall it reduces lag by 99%.
• Squad highlighting. You will be able to visually tell who is in your squad, and what their role is, as well as be able to follow where you SL is.

From IS12

• You only get one life. You cannot respawn once you die. Try to be careful.
• More intricate squad system. You do not just pick your class anymore, instead you pick which squad you want to be apart of, as well as your class.
• Multiple factions on the same side. No more just red vs blue, there's actual factions now with different guns, and depending on the map and mode, people who do not speak the same language can be fighting together on the same side.
• You no longer need to manually wield guns. Guns now wield automatically when you pick them up, as long as your other hand is empty.
• Unloading your gun is now done by clicking on your held gun with your offhand. Like how you do it in all other SS13 servers that aren't IS12.
• There is no combat mode. Instead to shoot accurately, toggle aim mode with right mouse button.
• Much heavier focus on automatic guns. If you played Coldfare, you should be used to this. If not, prepare to hold down LMB and shoot your offbrand AKs at whatever moves in the bushes.

From Escalation

• Whitelist per unity system has been removed. Teams are balanced automatically. No more trying to herd the cats that are SS13 players. You just pick your squad and your role now.
• All real world nations have been removed. It is not the 1980s, this is not the real world. If you're annoyed by that, don't play.
• The game mode actually works correctly now. It can be lost and won and end like a normal round of SS13, no more waiting for the admins/referees to declare a winner, and then the game crashing.
• Reduced lag (as long as there are below 65 players). Escalation ran like shit. It still runs like shit. This one doesn't run like shit as much.
• New projectile and aiming system. You now need to tap right mouse button to aim properly, and projectiles no longer float lazily across the screen towards their target.

Setting and Lore

The setting is IScal is not the same as IS12 Warfare/Reborn, and does not take place in the same universe. Instead it takes place in its own universe, and tells the story of a bloody civil war between two warring political factions in the fictional nation of Tavoria.

Lore

The country of Tavoria is facing brutal hardships. An economic collapse has left most of the population without work, and slow government response has left the people angry. With tensions on the rise, and the looming influence of the Rhinelands and Rus regions surrounding the country, the country has been left split between a separatist faction known as The People's Radical Party (Narodna Radikalna Stranka), and The Democratic Labor Party (Demokratska Laburisticka Stranka). The Radicals are backed by the communist led and Rus funded PMC group, the "Krasnyj Pakt" (Red Pact), while the Democratic Party has sought aid from the Royal Army of Tavoria, and the Rhineland backed and funded "Blauen Krallen" (Blue Talons) PMC group. The war is only just beginning... these are dark times for Tavoria...

Playable Factions

Below are the playable factions in IScal.

• Demokratska Laburisticka Stranka Tavorije or "The Democratic Labor Party of Tavoria" are the primary force fighting for keeping the union of Tavoria together. Formed in response to the creation of Narodna Radikalna Stranka, they are just as ragtag as their enemy, relying mostly on surplus weapons from what's left of the countries official military and military support from the Blauen Krallen. Made up of mostly inexperienced but passionate young men, and led by bitter old vets, The Democratic Labor Party of Tavoria fight fiercely to as they see it, save their nation from destruction.
• Die Blauen Krallen or "The Blue Talons", are a PMC that hails from, and is financially backed by the Germantic speaking nation of Rhineland. Rhineland has a lot of interest in keeping Tavoria a "democratic" nation, and are the Blauen Krallen are the Rhineland's way of sending military support without "directly" involving themselves.
• Narodna Radikalna Stranka Tavorije or "The People's Radical Party of Tavoria", are radical separtists who are, to put it lightly, deeply unhappy with the current state of a affairs in Tavoria. They wish to make Tavoria a communist nation once again, as it was on the old days, and if not, then they wish to make their own nation, and not be bound to Tavoria any longer. They are just as rag tag as their opposing army, and require a lot of aid from the Krasnyj Pakt. Just like forces of the Democratic party, they are young, inexperienced, and fiercely passionate about doing what, in their eyes, is best for their nation.
• Krasnyj Pakt or "The Red Pact", are a PMC force that hails from, and is backed by Rus. Rus shares the People's Radical Party's ideals of making Tavoria a "red" nation once more, and while the country isn't in a political position to send troops in directly, they are more than welcome to financially support and equip the Krasnyj Pakt to do it for them.