Roland's Prairie is a Breakthrough and Domination map featured in Centaura. It is the first map of the Aquilan Campaign.
Lore[]
Following the total capitulation of Cetus, the Antareans swiftly turned their attention to invading the neighboring country of Aquila. Aquila was protected by the "Ring of Fire", a chain of defensive forts and artillery batteries surrounding the heartlands of the country.
This nickname is given to a chain of defensive artillery batteries surrounding Aquila's borders. Built from 1898 to 1900, each battery was constructed with reinforced concrete and typically armed with three to four guns. The units were placed in a way that it formed a protective "ring" around the heartlands of Aquila.
Enemy units would not be able to go in between any two batteries, because the Aquilan guns had great range coverage. Any formation that moved between two batteries would be met with shelling from two sides. Confronting a single battery was no easy task as well. They were protected by two concrete-encased field guns and a network of infantry trenches that guarded the main battery.
However, during the Aquilan campaign of the Centauran War, the use of heavy armored vehicles and aircraft made it difficult for the batteries to defend themselves from a head-on attack. The batteries were especially vulnerable from the air, as anti-aircraft measures were not yet widespread during this era. Antarean railway guns with even greater range than the Aquilans' were also able to bombard batteries, though these were used for sieging defense points near important locations.
In the fall of 1912, the Antareans attempted an attack on Battery Liberius located in the Southwest Prairie. The result was two failed siege attempts and the loss of thousands of men and equipment. It is approaching winter. This is the third attempt.
Gameplay[]
This map is the first map in the game to feature multiple different gamemodes in one map, being Breakthrough and Domination. There are four sectors on this map, with the first three being played in the Breakthrough gamemode, and the last sector being played in the Domination gamemode. Antares must push all the way to the final sector to win, while Aquila wins if they hold out at any of the first three sectors for long enough, or if they defeat Antares in the final sector.
The first sector is located in the middle of the field, strewn with craters and destroyed vehicles that can be used for cover. There are two capture points, A and B, both located in a crater. Aquila can make use of several vantage points to pick off Antarean soldiers from afar. Antarean male tanks will appear and help the Antareans push. Aquilan Field Guns and Artillery will provide artillery support in return, with the explosions being able to take out a tank in one hit. Antares starts off with 300 points while Aquila must hold out for 7 minutes.
The second sector is located in the frontmost Aquilan trench, facing the first sector. There is one singular capture point A, located in the middle of the trench. There are three bunkers that can be used as cover. These bunkers can be destroyed by dynamite or by the tanks, which will fire upon these bunkers once within range. Antares starts off with 150 points while Aquila must hold out for 7 minutes.
The third sector is located in the second Aquilan trench further back, which is located up a hill. There are two capture points, A and B, which are the anti-tank Field Guns. This incline gives the Aquilans the high ground, allowing them to spot and take out enemies easier. The hill is also full of trees and craters that can be used as cover. The Field Guns can be disabled by blowing up dynamite on the roof of the pillbox, or by a tank. The ammunition inside the pillbox can also be detonated if dynamite is blown up inside the pillbox, resulting in a massive explosion that will kill anyone nearby. Antares starts off with 300 points, while Aquila must hold out for 7 minutes.
The fourth and final sector is located in the artillery battery behind the second trench. The gamemode shifts to Domination, and there are three capture points, A, B and C, each located at three guns. These three guns are connected by pathways strewn with artillery shells and ammunition that can be used as cover. There is also an ammunition reserve in the middle of the battery, which can be detonated by dynamite, resulting in a massive explosion that kills everyone nearby. Both teams start off with 600 points and must hold the capture points to lower the other team's score down to 0 to win.
Gallery[]
Spawns[]
Phase 1[]
Phase 2[]
Phase 3[]
Phase 4[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first map to feature speedloaders for Revolvers.
- In one of the Aquilan dugouts, a jar with Pickle Rick can be seen, which is a reference to the show Rick and Morty.
- The grass in Roland's Prairie matches with the color of the Aquilan Uniforms, allowing for a certain degree of camouflage.
- A fort was planned to be added to Roland's Prairie, although it did not make it to the final cut. It will be reused instead in the upcoming Vega map, Murus Plateau.