WAGE is under attack!  We’ve been hit by the Alien Swarm, which is now infecting our servers, so grab a rifle and your Starship Troopers DVD collection (don’t deny it) and help us obliterate these disgusting freaks from the outer reaches of space.[...]

In Jacob’s Rest, the official Alien Swarm campaign, a swarm of invasive aliens have taken over a planet colonised by humans in the year 2052.  Players take part as a squad of marines deployed to search for survivors and destroy the colony, preventing the spread of the Swarm.

There are four classes to choose from:

Grizzled veterans of countless battles, an Officer holds their squad together, directing their actions and bringing considerable tactical experience to combat situations. Officers are able to handle explosives, incinerating large groups of aliens in one foul swoop.

Did someone call an exterminator?  Special Weapons marines live for battle, and to them, battle is all about massive guns, carapace shattering ammunition and leaving a trail of alien innards and shell casings in their wake.

Medics tend to injured soldiers on the front lines, healing their wounds, preventing deaths and infestations, and providing stimulants to aid in battle.  Although their functional role is based on healing, Medics are able to make use of the standard infantry arsenal, and can defend themselves from incoming attacks from most creepy crawlies.

Coding wizards, hackers, those kids who take apart computers and rebuild them when they’re ten… these people often find themselves working in the line of Technical Specialists, aka Techs.  A Tech’s familiarity with electronics and computer systems aids the squad in infiltrating locked systems, repairing damaged components and providing scanners which track Swarm movements on the minimap, providing important response times.

The alien Swarm includes a variety of beasties:

Drones are the foot soldiers of the alien Swarm, bulking up their numbers and providing its basic method of assault.  While not the most durable creatures, Drones make up for their soft-shelled nature with strength, speed and overwhelming numbers.  Alone, a Drone is no match for a seasoned marine, but being swarmed by a mass of these fiends is a sure way to end up dead… torn apart limb-from-limb by their four massive claws.

One of the most dangerous extra-terrestrial horrors facing the squad is the Parasite.  These putrid yellow aliens infest marines, obscuring their vision and inflicting slow, painful damage over a period of time.  If a marine doesn’t receive the proper treatment and dies as a result of infection, the Parasite infection turns to an infestation and the entire squad can be infected by several new Parasites that spawn from the corpse.  The correct medical equipment or v45 Electric Charged Armour suits are the only ways to remove Parasites.

Gargantuan but comparatively weak monstrosities, Mortarbugs spew forth lines of explosive organic projectiles over long distances, sticking to floor walls, exploding after a few seconds.  These explosions deal significant damage to nearby squad members.  Mortarbugs act as support for other Swarm creatures, splitting up the squad and restricting marine movements, which is annoying.  Annoying enough to warrant a rain shower of ammunition.

Hulking, armoured limbs provide Shieldbugs with the ability to absorb vast amounts of damage, making them one of the most difficult alien aberrations to take down.  Frontal assault is ineffective, and a Shieldbug is capable of knocking marines a good distance, so be careful and aim for the off-white cluster on its rear.  Maybe buy it a drink first.  Stun, distract or freeze a Shieldbug with Electric, Fire or Ice damage, and get to its rear to execute this walking tank from an H.R Giger nightmare.

We currently have 3 servers running Alien Swarm, and will be adding new levels and maps soon, so keep posted.  Unless you’re suffering from a parasitic infestation, in which case you need some serious medical help.