Giving players a sneak peek into Tabula Rasa's Deployment 12, this week's Feedback Friday outlines some of the changes being implemented. It's all here for your reading pleasure:

Yes, it's time for another Feedback Friday. The time where the Tabula Rasa Developers get to speak directly about upcoming content and address topics submitted though our Feedback Form and forum posts. Now enough with the babble, let's get to it!

What are you working on anyway?

We've finished the planning for the Deployment 13 build and while we don't want to spoil the surprise, we can say that for D13 we would like to finish a new map, complete some new v2 and v3 weapons, and make some very important and highly requested UI tweaks. There are plenty more changes planned for D13, but that's all we can say for now. ..Sorry we know that's a lame answer, but we promise to share more as we get closer to putting these things in the game. Stay tuned!

COCP Prototype Map

With Deployment 12 you will see the first iteration of the Clan Owned Control Point Prototype Map on the Public Test Server. We thought we'd clarify the information given a previous Feedback Friday about COCP's and answer some of the questions about how the COCP prototype differs from the intended COCP design.

So how exactly is the COCP Prototype going to function and what is its purpose? The COCP Prototype is just that, a prototype. It's a way to test the team factions, clan buffs, and other COCP specific features. Most importantly, we'd like your feedback on whether or not it is fun to play! Designer Chris "Ssendam" Strasz gives some more details on the COCP Prototype design in this PlanetTR Thread.

The main question we've seen is, "Are the COCP's going to be instanced or on persistent maps?" The answer to that question is still being investigated. While we originally intended the clan battles to be on persistent maps, we are still reviewing other alternatives. We have considered many options including instanced battles on a copy of the persistent map. Currently we are focusing on the main COCP functions and preparing the back end development such as team colors, factions, and leader boards. If you have any feedback, one way or the other, we'd love to hear it!

The Epic Gauntlet Test Map v1

This prototype is the first step towards creating epic group content for level 50 players. We took existing creatures and changed their health, armor and damage significantly to increase the challenge. Our basic goal was to create simple trash encounters using existing mechanics that require group coordination while remaining fast paced and fun.

Once Deployment 12 is on PTS, level 50 players should speak with Outpost Commander Rogers in Alia Das to obtain the mission "The Epic Gauntlet", which gives you access to the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet itself consists of 10 rooms, each with a different assortment of Bane creatures. Things ramp up in difficulty for 3 rooms, then reset with a different group of creatures. The last room is insane, with 19 of these epic creatures to deal with.

Internally, we've completed the Gauntlet many times with a 'traditional' squad make-up: Guardian Tank, Medic Healer, Spy Main Assist, with a Demo/Eng and 3 other classes. We went in using blues and purples, and most of us focused on modules that enhanced our role. Enemy damage types also played a role in our tactics and gear choices.

Now we want your feedback. Did you complete the Gauntlet? What was your squad composition? How many players did you need to get through it? Was it hard? Was it fun? Can you complete this with non-traditional squad compositions? Can you complete this without purples? Can you complete this with only greens? What were your most exciting experiences on this map? What were your worst experiences on this map? How do you feel the existing mechanics in Tabula Rasa work with this type of game play?

Please submit this feedback using the Feedback Form or by posting on the forums. Your feedback is important. The more information you can give us, the better we can make this new content. We want to create a difficult, fun, and polished experience for a 6-player team. And remember, this test is only the beginning: we hope to update this map again as we finish developing new mechanics and encounters.

You can look for Deployment 12 to show up on the test servers in the near future.