The Plague
| Warlords | |
| |
| Warlords as seen in Red Faction 1 PS2 (top left), Red Faction 1 PC (top right), Red Faction II (bottom left), and Red Faction: Guerrilla (bottom right) | |
| Author | Nathan Camarillo (RF1, RF2) |
| Game | Red Faction, Red Faction II, Red Faction: Guerrilla |
| Supported Gametypes | DM, TDM, CTF (RF1 PC, RF2, RF:G), BM (RF2, RF:G), BM (RF2, RF:G), AR (RF2), DC (RF:G), DMO (RF:G) |
| Released | Stock Map (RF1, RF2, RF:G) |
Warlords is a Red Faction series map that features two opposing bases nested in a canyon. Warlords has the distinction of being the only map in the Red Faction series to be featured in some form in three out of four major releases.
- Warlords first appeared in the PS2 version of Red Faction 1 as a deathmatch map, and later in the PC release of the game as a capture the flag map.
- The original PS2 version of Warlords was included in all versions of Red Faction II.
- Much later, Warlords was revisited, and entirely reconstructed for inclusion in Red Faction: Guerrilla.
Red Faction 1
Warlords made its premiere as a DM map in the PS2 version of Red Faction. Here, the map was a popular choice for split-screen multiplayer and bot matches. This original incarnation of Warlords featured two neutral-colored bases inside a large canyon with an empty middle section.
When Red Faction was released on PC, with it came a new and improved CTF version of Warlords. This went on to be arguably the most popular CTF map in the game, and is still a popular choice for public servers and competitive matches today. In revisiting this map for play in CTF, the developers made a great deal of changes from the original PS2 DM version. In this incarnation, the bases are color-coded to each team, and are much larger than in the original. The addition of bottom and top tunnels, as well as the center bridge also make the map significantly more interesting to play. The bottom tunnels of Warlords connect the ground and second floors of each team's base with the respective locations in the opposing base, and runs straight under the center of the map. The top tunnels link the top sections of each base, and also connect with the bridge in the center of the map which houses the game's superweapon, the Fusion Rocket Launcher.
The Plague is a result of the nanotechnology experimentation conducted by the Ultor Corporation and, more specifically, Dr. Capek. The disease was featured in Red Faction.
Progression
Though the exact nature of the Plague is never explained in the game, fans have speculated about its progression.
The Plague results from human exposure to nanites created by Capek. It is thought that when such nanites enter a human body, they begin to attack the brain. The attack stops all non-essential neuro-muscular functions, causing the victim to fall to the ground and making them unresponsive.
It is at this point that the nanites proceed to replicate, systematically taking over the entire body of the victim. Some nanites appear to over-replicate, producing tumor-like bulges on the victim's body. The victim's body and immune system will either accept the nanites -- leading to severe mutations -- or reject the nanites, resulting in death.
Cure
Curing the plague is fairly straightforward; in Capek's own words, all that needs to be done is stop the replicators. This is done by administering an antidote -- likely a chemical solution that interrupts the nanites' replication process. Once the replicators are stopped, the remaining nanites will eventually stop operating, and the body will slowly return back to normal.
Trivia: Through out the whole missions of red faction there are some graffiti saying "the plague is coming for you" it maybe a reference for upcoming missions and enemies.