Star Citizen Cold Weather Warfare Field Guide
Star Citizen Cold Weather Warfare Field Guide
Cold-weather warfare is defined as military operations affected by snow, ice, thawing conditions or cold. Emphasis is on climate and not terrain. Therefore cold-weather warfare may be conducted on a variety of terrains, from arctic plains to boreal forests to hilly and mountainous areas.
For academic purposes, we attach the caveat that these military operations must take place within an atmosphere that meets or exceeds the Armstrong limit of human-survivable atmospheric pressure (0.0618 atmospheres).
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Key takeaways
Cold-weather warfare involves military operations affected by snow, ice, thawing conditions or cold.
Armor and worn apparel should be chosen based on the expected temperature as well as the duration of exposure to it.
Primary weapons should be chosen based on expected engagement range and biome type.
It’s important to pay attention to meteorological conditions, avoid crossing over peaks or large ice sheets, and use natural obstructions to conceal vehicle movement.
Challenges of cold-weather warfare
In Star Citizen, cold-weather climates range from an average temperature of below 10*C, but can fall to as low as -200*C. Temperatures are colder at night and in shaded areas, but warmer during the daytime. Blizzards and windstorms can be common, and areas affected by them may experience lower temperatures.
Terrain can be flat, hilly, or mountainous. Each type of terrain may be further characterized by forests, frozen lakes, rock formations, or any combination thereof. Trees can be partially or completely covered in snow. Frozen lakes and other ice sheets can be difficult to distinguish from large, snowy expanses. Visible portions of rock formations range from reddish-brown to dark grey in appearance.
Footprints can be left in the snow, and clouds of snow can be kicked up by thrusters and other vehicle movement.
Undersuits and the most well-insulated light armor have a limit of -40*C. But the majority of light armor has a limit in the -30*C range. Medium armor tends to have a limit of -60*C. Some heavy armor can tolerate temperatures as low as -80*C, though most have a limit somewhere in the -70*C range.
Novikov armor is a unique two-piece armor set designed specifically for cold climates. It can tolerate temperatures as low as -250*C. It’s considered heavy armor, and has high damage resistance across all damage types. Novikov armor typically comes in high-contrast color schemes.
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Considerations to take into account
Temperature is the most eminent threat when conducting cold-weather warfare. At -50*C, a marine can survive for just over 9 minutes in the nude. Medium armor can improve survival time to over half an hour at the same temperature, while Novikov armor can afford a marine up to an hour.
Rocky and icy terrain can be difficult and dangerous to pass. Snow can conceal rock formations and ledges from view until it’s too late, particularly when travelling up or down a slope. Large expanses of ice such as frozen lakes can cause vehicles to slide wildly, or foot-mobile individuals to slip.
In wooded areas, trees break up the terrain and can disguise movement during an approach or withdrawal. Some snow-covered trees have natural hollows that are effective at concealing small groups and possibly even some vehicles.
Footprints and tracks in the terrain disappear after several seconds. But ground vehicles in transit and aerospacecraft flying close to the ground can create trailing clouds of snow, which may visually give away their location at a considerable distance.
The bulk and high-contrast color scheme of Novikov armor makes it stand out amid the predominantly white, green, and grey environment of cold-weather climates. But other armors which may have better coloring for the environment are much more limited in the range of temperatures they protect against. As of a3.16, undersuits are insulated better than—or the same as—all light armor.
Weapon choice should be based on expected engagement ranges. Engagement range is likely to be dictated by the operational area’s biome. Such cold-weather biomes can range from wide-open snow fields with clear lines of sight over several hundred meters, to densely-packed forests with substantial visual and physical obstructions every few meters. The longer the typical engagement range, the more accurate a weapon is needed. As the engagement range shortens, fire rate and magazine capacity increasingly take priority over accuracy.
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Surviving to fight in cold weather
The first step to conducting and surviving cold-weather warfare is making sure you’re equipped properly.
Choosing suitable armor may be difficult. You’ll need to consider how cold the climate can get and how long you’re likely to spend exposed to the elements. If you’re going on a short patrol and can easily withdraw to a nearby structure or vehicle, then you can likely get away with wearing armor that’s less appropriate for the climate.
When it comes to a primary weapon, your decision should be based on the biome(s) you expect to be operating in. A sniper rifle like the A03 is well suited to biomes where clear sightlines beyond the 500 m range are the norm and cover that would allow you to close range is sparse. It’s fire rate and magazine capacity provide better utility at shorter ranges than other sniper rifles. An S71 assault rifle with a 4x scope also makes a good choice for a scouting rifle, trading the A03’s range for twice the ammunition.
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It’s important for you to pay attention to meteorological conditions. Cloud cover can prevent airborne threats from spotting you, while blizzards can conceal your movement entirely. But remember that blizzards can conceal the enemy, too.
When you find yourself in a blizzard—walk, don’t run. If you’re driving a vehicle, drive slower than usual. Blizzards can hide your movement, but they can also make ledges and cliffs impossible to distinguish until it’s too late.
Make sure to note any changes in your direction of travel. Communicate those changes to anyone who is traveling with you, especially if you are the point person.
Avoid crossing over or traversing along peaks. Otherwise, you’ll be backlit by the sun. Being backlit by sun will make you easily visible to the enemy during travel.
Travel around large expanses of ice when possible. There is rarely any cover on ice sheets, and walking across them will likely cause you to slip and fall. If you must traverse a large expanse of ice on foot, consider going prone and crawling.
Never sprint out of convenience unless you know the terrain ahead of you.
Stop, look, and listen regularly to maintain your situational awareness. If you hear an approach by air, go prone and roll onto your back. When you roll onto your back, you will be able to monitor the sky with minimal movement. Additionally, the unnatural straight lines and “blockiness” of any weapons on your back will be concealed.
Finally, when you’re driving a vehicle, do your best to leverage hills and other natural obstructions to conceal any powder trails that your vehicle might kick up.
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