THQ's Homefront 2/Progression System Overview

Document Status: Yellow [First pass. Requires additional passes to flesh out details]
==High-Level==
*For all actions during MP matches (kills, objective completions, match victories, etc) the player earns XP:
**Bonus XP / unlocks can also be acquired by completing ‘Assignments’ (“Kill 50 enemies and win the 5 matches”, etc)
*XP accrues across matches and sessions and, at key milestones, the player ranks up:
**In keeping with the first game and the fiction of the world these ranks will be military in nature
*There are two interlocking progression systems:
**Overall progression – This is the backbone of the system and governs the players’ ranking. All XP contributes to this
**Class progression – Earning XP as each class allows for those classes to be ranked up
*There will be between 30-40 overall ranks (equating to 50+ hours gameplay), and 10 ranks for each of the 4 classes:
**This is a smaller number of overall ranks than HF1 but it’s a conscious decision to ensure each is meaningful
*Each new rank will be accompanied by unlocks:
**With each new overall rank unlocks are non-specific class items (such as Infantry Abilities) and personalisation images
**With each new class rank unlocks include weapons, weapon attachments and class-specific abilities
==Overall Progression==
*Overall Progression is represented as a vertical tower / ladder showing:
**Current rank badge
**Progress towards the next rank
**Upcoming unlocks
**The ranks of the players’ friends
*The player can scroll up and down the tower to view upcoming / previous unlocks and how close they are to their friends
*Upon hitting each new rank the player is awarded with a selection of unlocks (see the ‘Unlocks’ slide later), and a new rank badge that, ideally, can appear on the in-game character model (on an arm band for instance):
 
File:HFRA7.png
==Class Progression==
*Class Progression is represented as a tree with the player able to choose how they want to specialise their class
*Upon reaching a new class rank the player will be presented with a selection of class-specific unlocks (see the ‘Unlocks’ slide), plus 1 upgrade token to use on unlocking a new class-specific attribute or ability
*Available class progression tree unlocks include:
**Class-specific Infantry Abilities / Equipment
**Weapons
**Weapon Attachments
**Drone Upgrades / Abilities
 
File:HFRA5.jpeg
File:HFRA6.jpeg
==Available Unlocks==
===Overall Rank===
*Infantry Abilities (General) – Ability perks that the player can assign to any class
*Vehicle Abilities – Vehicle perks unlocked based on XP awards while in vehicles
*BattlePoint Purchase Options – Allows players to purchase multiple items during matches with BattlePoints (eg RPG launcher)
*Personalisation Images – Can be placed on the players’ guns and vehicles (from the Personalisation meeting)
*Name Tag Icon – A personalisation option that appears on the death cam and in the lobby. Similar to the dog tags in C2 and BF
*Mystery Packs – A random selection of bonus items and short-term buffs.
===Class Rank===
*Weapons – Sniper class can unlock new types of sniper rifle for instance
*Infantry Abilities (Class-Specific) – Ability perks that only apply to particular classes (a sniper range boost for instance)
*Drone Upgrades / Abilities – Allows the player to customise their class drones (increased range, movement speed etc)
*Weapon Attachments – Unlocked per weapon class
*Weapon Skins – Alternate skins for the players’ weapons. Could mirror the graffiti Resistance theme used in SP?
==Potential Monetisation Options==
*Class Shortcut Micro Transactions
**Allows a player to unlock all class-specific items (essentially maximising the rank of their class)
**Can be sold per-class or for all classes
**Commercially very successful in BF3…
*Mystery Packs
**Contain a set number of random mystery items including:
***Match start BattlePoint bonuses and short-term double XP boosts
***One off free BattlePoint purchases (extremely rare would be a free tank purchase for example)
***Time-limited Infantry and Vehicle Ability boosts
***Weapon camos and new personalisation options
**Very popular in Mass Effect 3
*Max Rank Cap Increase
**A DLC pack could increase the max level cap (complete with new unlocks)