Dev Journal #8: The Actors of War on Stage Pt. 1

[h2]The United Earth Force – Discipline and Steel[/h2][p]Previously, we spoke about the environment as the grand stage. It’s the backdrop where the player directs an epic performance of conquest and survival. Every stage needs its first actor, and in the Ashes 2 universe that role belongs to humanity’s last line of defense and the foundation of our world design.[/p][p]The United Earth Force (UEF) are the disciplined, determined human soldiers from across the globe whose identity is grounded in our near future and forged in the fires of desperation. From a visual perspective, the UEF are our anchor. Their design language is grounded in the recognizable forms of this century’s military and that serves as a bridge between our world and the future-fiction of the game. The UEF vehicles rumble on treads, wheels, and jet engines we are familiar with, and emphasize strength and survivability over speed or grace. We think of them as tough turtles on the battlefield; slow to move, but nearly impossible to crack.[/p][p][/p][p]UEF shape & color language[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]Actor Visual Language:[/h2][p]The art team here has worked to ensure that each faction represents their standing and philosophy in this universe through visual language. Each faction has its own materials, shaders, and animation styles and all must coexist in the same lighting, at the same camera distances, and on the same environmental stage. For the UEF we focused on macro readability: blocky silhouettes, low reflectivity, and consistent dirt and wear masks that make them pop against terrain without feeling sterile. Metal and polymer armor panels are rough, distressed, and scuffed from years of use. Their mid-tone greys are punctuated by a muted color palette which directly mirrors a practicality that reinforces their humanity.[/p][p]The UEF’s design challenges us to balance realism with readability. In massive battles, hundreds of these units can fill the screen, so we have to rely on strong silhouettes and consistent material types to help players parse the chaos. At a distance, they read as solid blocks of determination; up close, they tell a story of a force stretched thin but unbroken. The UEF are the stubborn present, holding on against future extinction with grit and steel.[/p][p][/p][p]Ashes 2 unit (actor) aesthetic pillars[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]Curtain Call:[/h2][p]In an RTS, clarity is king. But clarity doesn’t have to mean simplicity. Through careful shape language, material definition, and motion, we’ve built a world where players can feel the difference between factions — not just see it. The UEF represent the unyielding strength of humanity, scarred and stubborn yet resolute. Their machines may creak and smoke, but they endure. As the first faction to take the stage, they remind us what it means to fight not for glory but for survival. And as always, the player / director, decides how this story will unfold.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]Future Entry Teaser:[/h3][p]In our next art focused dev journal we will shift from grit and grime to gleaming precision and explore the Post-Human Coalition, a faction that has left the human body behind in pursuit of digital immortality…[/p]