Half-Life 2 Empires mod

Empires is a mod currently in development for Half-Life 2 that combines first-person-shooter and real-time-strategy gameplay. One player per team will be the commander, playing the game from a top-down perspective with the ability to construct bases and give orders. All remaining players will be soldiers, playing the game from a first-person perspective either on foot or in an aircraft or vehicle. Ultimately, it is up to the commander to determine his teams strategy which will inevitably determine whether his team is victorious. In-game help and NPC characters will offer advice and keep the commander aware of events on the battlefield.

As a normal player, it is up to you to follow your commanders orders and do the grunt work of piloting tanks and bombers in order to destroy the enemy. If the commander is not acting in the teams best interest, he can be voted out. As the game progresses, upgrades will be available in many forms to players. Normal players can be promoted in rank and earn command of a squad of infantry, custom abilities, and upgraded attributes such as improved weapon handling. Upgrades will also become available to vehicles and aircraft.

Maps will consist of large roaming areas like those common in Battlefield 1942 with plenty of room for aircraft to maneuver and smaller maps which mainly focus on infantry combat. Maps can either be played individually or strung together in the form of a campaign which will progress the storyline and culminate in a sweeter victory or even more bitter defeat.