2026.01.30.3 Doctrines Have Arrived (Shared Progression Is Now Live)

[h3]Patch Notes Summary (Jan 16 → Jan 30)[/h3][p]AI + Vehicle Pathing[/p]

• [p]Improved ground vehicle pathing to reduce crashes and unnecessary driving through landscape objects. They should be a lot more intentional for when they decide to kool-aid man through walls[/p]
• [p]Fixed large vehicles attempting to route through infantry-only gates[/p]
• [p]Cleaned up navigation and collision in key zones (HMB + Treasure Island choke areas)[/p]

[hr][/hr][p]Performance + Stability[/p]

• [p]Fixed Niagara StackWalkAndDump micro-stutter issue in heavy combat[/p]
• [p]Fixed replicated DOT crashes under strain[/p]
• [p]Multiple crash fixes (ResourceComponentSOC, closing-game timing crash, GetAlliedUnits crash)[/p]
• [p]Projectile and spitter net traffic optimizations to reduce rubber banding[/p]

[hr][/hr][p]Airstrikes + Call-In System[/p]

• [p]Airstrike balance pass with cooldowns ranging from 5–7s up to 360s (MOAB) Global Cooldown system![/p]
• [p]Updated Call-In visuals and graphics[/p]
• [p]Added Ammo Crate call-ins[/p]
• [p]Added Gas Strike to airstrike system[/p]
• [p]Dragon Gunship duration increased to 60s[/p]
• [p]MOAB now deals absolute damage (cover no longer blocks)[/p]

[p]Juggernaut + Special Infected Fixes[/p]

• [p]Fixed Juggernaut roar causing car drop/glitch behavior[/p]
• [p]Applied fixes for Juggernaut rubber banding[/p]
• [p]Slowed down gas tower expansion speed by 50% and doubled survivable time inside gas zones by 50%[/p]
• [p]Scientist and Spitter immune to gas call in strike[/p]

[p]Doctrines UI + Progression[/p]

• [p]Major Doctrine UI polish: resizing, spacing, margins, icon updates, localization updates[/p]
• [p]Added starting Doctrine Points option in Custom Game Settings[/p]
• [p]Increased Doctrine level cap from 500 → 800 to resolve some bugs reported during experimental of people running out of points to spend after we made some upgrades a bit more expensive[/p]
• [p]Fixed multiple doctrine unlock issues (walls, barbed wire, cannon turret, guard tower M107)[/p]
• [p]Some text was updated like Flashbang cooldown reduction percent to make it more clearer it applies to Winters/ Spec ops and Operators if they have that ability. [/p]

[p]Economy + Balance Adjustments[/p]

• [p]Adjusted airstrike pricing and doctrine costs based on playtests lowered overall to make them more enjoyable[/p]
• [p]Reduced Operator XP grind by ~34–40%[/p]
• [p]GC36 + New Operator Skin added under Allen Walker called "Onslaught"[/p][p][/p][p][/p]
• [p]Greatly reduced weapon XP requirements per level for Operators[/p]
• [p]Custom game starting money increased up to 4 million[/p]
• [p]Added the ability to set Starting Doctrine points for those that just want to bypass progression in a more casual game[/p]
• [p]Half Moon Bay (Stray Ember was rebalanced based on weeks of communicating with the community to address turret limits, guard tower limits and power issues). Making it a lot more forgiving in your sessions![/p][p][/p]

[p]Weapons + Combat Updates[/p]

• [p]M203 grenade launcher ability added to Assault and as a new perk for the Operator[/p]
  • [p]Assault can only get it from the Doctrine unlock[/p]
• [p]Spec ops throw demo charge added to Operators as a new ability[/p]
• [p]Demo Charge strengthened and retuned[/p]
• [p]Infantry explosives buffed vs Juggernaut[/p]
• [p]Vehicle cannon turn speed and pop cost balance pass (Bradley, Abrams, Cerberus)[/p]
• [p]Turrets lights now properly rotate when they "Look around" at night[/p][p][/p]

[hr][/hr][p]Visual + Audio Updates[/p]

• [p]Updated loading screens from contest submissions[/p]
• [p]Fixed nights being too dark, added Moonlight lighting support[/p]
• [p]Medium GI now uses Screenspace GI, Low disables GI entirely[/p]
• [p]Fixed weapon flashlight attachment pivots and turret visual desync issues[/p]

[p]Camo + Cosmetic Systems[/p]

• [p]Vehicle camo system implemented with replication support[/p]
• [p]Recruit Popup + Weapon Market camo selector initial pass[/p]
• [p]Added "signs" from legacy (Online support too!)[/p]
• [p]Support Pack camo unlocks are now back in the rebuild! supports online play too![/p][p][/p]

[p]Quality of Life + Restrictions[/p]

• [p]Fixed exploit bypassing Doctrine restrictions via upgrade buttons[/p]
• [p]Added sky validation to block invalid building placement where you could build production structures over say a bridge and units would not land correctly[/p]
• [p]Added preset landing points to the Motor pool, barracks and main tent to resolve long standing issues with units landing in stupid spots[/p]
• [p]Ammo boxes no longer grant unintended LOS[/p]
• [p]Ammo crates no longer explode when destroyed[/p]
• [p]M / P and other "live" keys no longer trigger the action associated\\ with them when you are focusing a type box.[/p]

[p]Calypso is under going a revamp and is removed from the rotation for the next week [/p]

• [p]To improve vehicle pathing for ground vehicles and airborne.[/p]
• [p]Resolve some rough patches for bad collision where units would get stuck.[/p]
• [p]We had this map in rotation around early January and we decided to pull it alongside improving pathing for Stray and Blacktide so we could rework parts of the map. [/p]

[p]Very still W.I.P we expect to readd this map sometime next week![/p][carousel][/carousel][hr][/hr][h2]Screenshot contest on Discord![/h2][p]We are doing a screenshot contest for updating our loading screens submit your art here-> Rebuild only![/p][carousel][/carousel][hr][/hr][h3]Friday, January 30[/h3][p]Alright everyone, quick report on where we are today.[/p][p]This is not a short update.[/p][p]This is a full development report.[/p][p]The rebuild reset the board.[/p][p]Doctrines are the start of the real long-term game.[/p][p]This post is meant to clearly document:[/p]

• [p]What is now released[/p]
• [p]Why it exists[/p]
• [p]What problems it is solving[/p]
• [p]What is still being tuned[/p]
• [p]What we need from players this weekend[/p]
• [p]What options are coming so people can shape the game to how they want to play[/p]

[p]This is the foundation going into February.[/p][hr][/hr][p]As of today:[/p][p]Doctrines are released.[/p][p]This is the new progression system for Cepheus Protocol going forward.[/p][p]In Legacy builds, we effectively gave players top-end tools too early:[/p]

• [p]Abrams[/p]
• [p]Bradley[/p]
• [p]MLRS[/p]
• [p]Apache[/p]
• [p]Endgame weapons within minutes[/p]

[p]There was no real ladder.[/p][p]No structured tempo.[/p][p]No meaningful progression loop.[/p][p]That is now fundamentally changing.[/p][p]Doctrines are the backbone for:[/p]

• [p]Unlocks[/p]
• [p]Economy scaling[/p]
• [p]Long-term pacing[/p]
• [p]Team progression[/p]
• [p]Strategic identity over hours of play[/p]

[p]The rebuild was the restart.[/p][p]Doctrines are the actual game structure being rebuilt on top of it.[/p][hr][/hr][p]The goal is simple:[/p][p]We want Cepheus Protocol to feel like you and your friends are building toward something together over time.[/p][p]Not rushing the entire tech tree in the first 10 minutes.[/p][p]Not having every weapon available instantly.[/p][p]Not having progression be meaningless.[/p][p]Doctrines exist so the game has:[/p]

• [p]Early game pressure[/p]
• [p]Midgame growth[/p]
• [p]Late game payoff[/p]
• [p]Real strategic choices[/p]
• [p]A shared campaign-like loop in co-op[/p]

[p]This is how the game becomes sustainable long-term.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Doctrine Points are shared across the match.[/p][p]This is not individual grinding.[/p][p]All players contribute toward the same tree.[/p][p]That means:[/p]

• [p]Your team progresses together[/p]
• [p]Your upgrades are part of a shared strategic plan[/p]
• [p]Co-op sessions feel like collective effort, not disconnected builds[/p]

[hr][/hr][p]The Doctrine tree is split into three stages:[/p][p]Stage 1 → Stage 2 → Stage 3[/p][p]Important design rules:[/p]

• [p]There is no prerequisite besides paying into the next stage[/p]
• [p]You can take upgrades from any stage[/p]
• [p]Some upgrades chain forward across stages[/p]

[p]Example:[/p]

• [p]XP upgrades scale from Stage 1 into Stage 2 into Stage 3[/p]
• [p]Ammo reserve upgrades begin early and reach full power late[/p]
• [p]Gas efficiency follows the same progression[/p]

[p]The intent is stacked modifiers and long-term strategy.[/p][p]Not instant power spikes.[/p][hr][/hr][p]The current tree contains roughly two to three dozen items, including:[/p][h3]Economy and Efficiency Passives[/h3]

• [p]Increased ammo reserves[/p]
• [p]Increased XP gained from kills[/p]
• [p]Reduced structure costs by category[/p]

[h3]Ammo Reserves by Unit Type[/h3][p]Upgrades are split by:[/p]

• [p]Infantry[/p]
• [p]Vehicles[/p]
• [p]Helicopters[/p]

[h3]Gas Efficiency Scaling[/h3][p]Doctrines improve how much gas units can hold by type.[/p][p]This directly supports longer operations and late-game pacing.[/p][h3]Unlocks and Progression[/h3][p]Doctrines now govern unlock structure for:[/p]

• [p]Weapons[/p]
• [p]Abilities[/p]
• [p]Classes[/p]
• [p]Airstrikes[/p]

[p]This is the system that finally allows progression tempo to exist in Rebuild.[/p][p]You should not be rushing Abrams, Bradley, MLRS, or other endgame tools immediately anymore.[/p][hr][/hr][p]We are introducing a major infrastructure component:[/p][p]Logistics Requisition Center[/p][p]Built by Engineers.[/p][p]Purpose:[/p]

• [p]Passive Doctrine XP generation through infrastructure[/p]
• [p]Helps maintain Stage 2 to Stage 3 pacing[/p]
• [p]Provides an alternative to purely kill-based progression[/p]

[p]Key details:[/p]

• [p]High energy cost[/p]
• [p]High upfront money cost[/p]
• [p]Up to 10 globally[/p]

[p]This is designed to reward strategic buildup, not just frontline farming.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Doctrines are live.[/p][p]The UI is being finalized right now.[/p][p]Target window:[/p]

• [p]Monday to Tuesday[/p]

[p]Some placeholder icons may still exist briefly while final assets are swapped in over the next couple of days.[/p][hr][/hr][hr][/hr][p]Let me be extremely clear:[/p][p]We are not pretending balance is “done.”[/p][p]Doctrines are a foundational restructure.[/p][p]Now we tune.[/p][p]A lot of major balance pressure points have already been progressed significantly, but we need more real match data.[/p][p]We need to know:[/p]

• [p]What feels off[/p]
• [p]What feels too easy[/p]
• [p]What feels too punishing[/p]
• [p]What feels unfair[/p]
• [p]What upgrades feel mandatory[/p]
• [p]What pacing feels too fast or too slow[/p]

[p]This weekend is where we gather that data in real sessions.[/p][p]This is how the system becomes solid.[/p][hr][/hr][p]One of the biggest goals going forward is flexibility.[/p][p]Not everyone wants the same experience.[/p][p]Some players want a sweaty hardcore strategy grind.[/p][p]Some players want a casual pandemic sim where they mess around for hours.[/p][p]We want to support both.[/p][p]Custom game options are going to expand heavily before Civilian Evacuation.[/p][p]Examples of what we are working toward:[/p]

• [p]Starting with all Doctrine Points[/p]
• [p]Increasing or decreasing Doctrine XP gain rate[/p]
• [p]Turning Supply systems on or off[/p]
• [p]Turning Gas mechanics on or off[/p]

[p]The goal is that players can shape the experience:[/p][p]Hardcore tactical progression, or relaxed sandbox apocalypse.[/p][p]Both are valid.[/p][p]We want Cepheus Protocol to accommodate the full range.[/p][hr][/hr][p]We started active Save System work on Wednesday and we’ll have more to show early next week. Full details will keep getting posted as we progress.[/p][h3]How saves work in most games[/h3][p]In a typical game, a save is tied to one mode of play:[/p]

• [p]You save your session[/p]
• [p]You load it later[/p]
• [p]It usually stays single-player, or it becomes a completely separate “multiplayer server save” system[/p]

[h3]What we’re building for Cepheus Protocol[/h3][p]Our goal is to let you treat a session like a real campaign that can move between offline and online play.[/p][p]The intended flow is:[/p]

• [p]Start a session offline if you want[/p]
• [p]Save it whenever you want[/p]
• [p]Later, you can take that same save and host it online so friends can join and continue the same world[/p]

[p]This is built specifically for co-op groups who cannot always start and finish a long session in one sitting.[/p][h3]What this enables long-term[/h3]

• [p]Pandemic co-op sessions you can pause and resume across multiple days or just by yourself if you want[/p]
• [p]Start a run solo, then bring friends in later without restarting[/p]
• [p]A clearer structure for future systems like Civilian Evac and long-form progression[/p]

[hr][/hr][p]Please play Doctrines in real sessions.[/p][p]Test:[/p]

• [p]Progression pacing[/p]
• [p]Shared Doctrine Points feel[/p]
• [p]Stage advancement timing[/p]
• [p]Upgrade relevance[/p]
• [p]Difficulty curve[/p]
• [p]Network performance under match load[/p]
• [p]Any bugs, desyncs, or edge cases[/p]

[p]And tell us directly:[/p][p]What do you love?[/p][p]What do you hate?[/p][p]What feels wrong?[/p][p]What feels right?[/p][p]This feedback is massive right now because this is the foundation the entire game scales around going into February.[/p][hr][/hr][p]This Weekend[/p]

• [p]Doctrine release testing[/p]
• [p]Balance feedback collection[/p]
• [p]Data gathering[/p]

[p]Monday to Tuesday[/p]

• [p]Doctrine UI finalized[/p]
• [p]Placeholder elements replaced[/p]

[p]Tuesday to Wednesday[/p]

• [p]Save system rollout[/p]

[p]Following Weeks[/p]

• [p]Bug fixing[/p]
• [p]Quality of life[/p]
• [p]Operator polish[/p]
• [p]Civilian Evac groundwork[/p]

[p]Mid February:[/p]

• [p]Livestream covering Civilian Evacuation direction and next-stage expansion[/p]

[hr][/hr][p]The rebuild reset the board.[/p][p]Doctrines are the real progression game now.[/p][p]This is the long-term structure:[/p]

• [p]Shared progression[/p]
• [p]Structured unlocks[/p]
• [p]Strategic scaling[/p]
• [p]Player-controlled customization[/p]
• [p]Persistent co-op sessions through saves[/p]

[p]Thank you again for the overwhelming support lately.[/p][p]Together, we are building something truly remarkable in Cepheus Protocol[/p]