In this blog post we’ll go over some of the work we’ve done since our last progress update. We'll also go into our plans for the next few months.
The permission management system is, as the name would suggest, responsible for managing the permissions of all users of the new website. Without permission management anyone visiting TAW 3.0 would be able to do anything. So a random person visiting the website would, for example, be able to dishonourably discharge anyone up to and including the CiC. This would of course not be the ideal situation.
In July we laid the groundwork for the permission management system that would allow us to configure who has access to which functionality on the website. In August we completed the core functionality but it hasn’t been fully implemented yet. This means that only certain parts of the website currently have working permissions. Over the coming weeks and months we’ll be working on implementing the permission system for the other parts of the website.
Large portions of the front-end are functionally complete, however we are not entirely happy yet with the way it looks. As such we are currently in the process of improving the design of most pages to create a better looking and more user friendly experience.
TAW 3.0 will have a live chat system intended for quickly sending short messages. The back-end of this chat system is now complete. The front-end is also largely complete however we still need to hook some things up to the back-end.
Every large enough piece of software is going to have some bugs during its development. TAW 3.0 is no different. Almost every month we spend some time on fixing bugs to ensure that TAW 3.0 is stable once it is released. This last quarter was no exception. Among others we have fixed some bugs related to onboarding, editing units, forums and new user registration.
If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to reach out to FlyingDutchMan [CC SEC] or Samblues [CC SELC].
In September, TAW is at War, while Baldur's Gate is now open for quests. Please check out VG tier 4 and SHOP Sale.
Check Here For Previous TAW Newsletters
Join us in TAW at War and try to be the next Champion
Darkness is here. Revenant is reborn with a killer new look and deadly new abilities. Revenant is unlocked for players all season long; complete a set of challenges before the season ends to unlock him permanently. Battle on new stages for Mixtape on Broken Moon and prove your worth in a new Ranked Season. Put your skills to the test in a new Ranked season and terrorize your foes with the Resurrection.
TAW@War 2021
TAW@War 2022
Game of the Month: Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 3, developed by Larian Studios, is a highly anticipated role-playing game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Players delve into the realm of Faerûn, making crucial choices that shape the narrative and characters. Using the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition ruleset, it features turn-based combat, intricate dialogues, and a reactive world. With stunning visuals, the game blends classic RPG elements with modern advancements, offering an immersive experience filled with exploration, moral dilemmas, and strategic challenges. As a sequel to the iconic Baldur's Gate series, Baldur's Gate 3 aims to captivate both series fans and RPG enthusiasts with its rich storytelling and deep gameplay.
Welcome to Vanguard Tier 4 Games
Company of Heroes 3 is a World War II real-time strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sega. Set in various theaters of the war, players strategically command soldiers, vehicles, and artillery in intense battles, utilizing cover and terrain for tactical advantage. The game boasts improved graphics, physics, and gameplay mechanics, enhancing the realism of warfare.
StarCraft 2, developed by Blizzard Entertainment, is a sci-fi real-time strategy game. Set in the 26th century, players control one of three factions: the Terrans, Zerg, or Protoss, each with unique units and strategies. With stunning visuals, diverse gameplay, and a rich lore, StarCraft 2 is a celebrated title in esports, offering a deep and engaging experience for both casual and competitive players alike.
PUBG: Battlegrounds, developed by PUBG Corporation, is a renowned battle royale game. Participants skydive onto an expansive map, collect supplies and weaponry, and engage in a fierce fight until only one individual or team remains. With its adrenaline-pumping gameplay, strategic map dynamics, and shrinking play zone, PUBG offers an intense survival challenge that demands quick thinking and resourceful strategy.
Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is an expansion for the popular MMORPG. It introduces the Arcanist class, a mystical new class that can harness powerful runes, tomes of ancient knowledge and the energy of Apocrypha itself. With all this power the Arcanist class can unleash destructive, defense or restorative magic. New storyline, challenges and events are now open.
Let's play Rainbow Six mandatory ! - tawtv on Twitch
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege VOD now.
Let's play Waven again! Q&A - tawtv on Twitch
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Waven VOD now.
TAW SHOP NOW, so what are you waiting for?
Ready to start shopping? Head over to our SHOP (Arma and Spread) in the following links, and browse our fantastic selection. Follow us on Social Media to stay updated on the latest arrivals, sales, and special offers.
SALE: 15-20% off ANYTHING in the Spreahshirt SHOP!
Timeframe: Aug 17-21 (15%)
Aug 30th-Sept 4th (20% on 2+ items)
15% off anything in Spreadshirt shops!
Come on over to SHOP to get 15% off anything from Aug 17-21!
Also, 20% off on 2 or more items from Aug 30th-Sept 4th!
PROMO: 15-20% off ANYTHING in the Spreahshirt SHOP!
Timeframe: Aug 17-21 (15%) Aug 30th-Sept 4th (20% on 2+ items)
Also don’t forget to check out ARMA GG for Jerseys and other Elite gear!
Both NA and EU shops can be found right from the TAW home page. Remember, you can edit
what products each design sits on just by clicking the logo you want, pick a template product, then the pencil icon for customizing.
For TAW 3.0 the attendance & events system has been completely overhauled. In this blog post we’ll explain the new features that will be coming with the release of TAW 3.0. We’ll also briefly touch on our future plans for the attendance & events system. Everything outlined in this blog post except for the future expansions section has already been implemented in the back-end of TAW 3.0, the front-end is still a work in progress.
The TAW 3.0 website will come with the option to create private events. These private events can only be seen by the members invited to the event. Apart from the fact that they are hidden to those not invited these events will function like any other event.
On the old website each event is either mandatory or optional for all attendees. The new system will allow the creator of an event to set each invite for a unit or member to optional or mandatory. This means that it will be possible to create an event that is optional for some while mandatory for others.
On the old website each event can either be a one-off event or an event that repeats every week on specific days of the week. These weekly events and one-off events are of course still supported on the new website. But we’ve also added some extra options for repeating events. The new website will support monthly events and events that happen every x number of weeks.
These new options will make it much easier to create repeating events that don’t happen every week such as the monthly TFO meeting or a biweekly staff meeting.
On the old website if you wanted to edit an event in a series of repeating events you would edit every event in that series. The new system will allow you to choose whether you want to edit a single event or the entire series.
Sometimes an event has to be cancelled, for that eventuality we have added a new event cancellation system. When an event is cancelled it will still show up in the event calendar but it will be clearly visible that the event is cancelled. It will be impossible to take attendance for cancelled events.
On the old website there are three main pages where attendance can be seen. These are: the attendance of an individual event, an overview of the attendance of all members in a unit, and the attendance of a specific member. All of these will make a return on the new website with additional options for filtering, searching, and sorting this data to make it easier to find the information that you are looking for.
TAW 3.0 will also come with an additional attendance report. This report will come in the form of a graph that displays the historic attendance of all events in a series. A mock-up of this graph is shown in the image below.
Please note that this image is just a mock-up and the final graph may look different.
Besides the major features outlined above we have also made some minor quality of life improvements.
On the old website it is impossible to revoke an invite to an individual member without deleting the event or discharging the member. This is of course slightly inconvenient so in TAW 3.0 you will be able to revoke invites with ease.
Taking attendance for optional events on the old website would lead to everyone who did not attend getting an excusal on their attendance report. This would in turn lower their mandatory average. In TAW 3.0 you will instead be marked as “not attended”. Being marked as not attended will not affect your mandatory average in any way.
On top of the features that will be coming in TAW 3.0 we have a couple of ideas to further improve the attendance & events system. These ideas will not be coming in the initial release but may be added in the future.
The TAW 3.0 Event system was designed from the start to be capable of being integrated with the vast majority of calendar applications such as Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook and Apple Calendar. Eventually this will give all members the option to easily add their TAW events to their own personal calendar. Once an event is added to your personal calendar it will remain in sync with TAW so any changes to the event on the TAW website would also carry over to your personal calendar.
The screenshot below contains a proof of concept where we synced a TAW event with the Google Calendar.
By compiling the attendance data in new ways we will be able to offer greater insights in the historical attendance of units and events.
When an event is cancelled the invited members could get a notification. Depending on the settings of the member they would get a notification for all events, mandatory events or no events.
This would allow you to schedule an event and invite all members with a certain position in a unit or its sub-units. This will make creating staff meetings a lot easier.
In August, be prepared for TAW at War, check out BattleBit, and get nostalgic with past flash games
TAW@WAR is a yearly tournament where all members of TAW compete for the title of TAW Champions and the exclusive TAW-Wide tournament medal awarded by the CiC.
Held on Set 17th
Game of the Month: Battle Bit
In the world of video games, few titles have left an indelible mark on gamers like BattleBit. The original game, released over a decade ago, captivated players with its intense multiplayer battles, strategic gameplay, and immersive environments.
While BattleBit Remastered retains the core gameplay mechanics that made its predecessor a hit, it introduces several refinements and improvements. From responsive controls to a revamped progression system, every aspect of the gameplay has been fine-tuned to deliver a seamless and engaging experience. With enhanced graphics, refined mechanics, and expanded content, this remastered edition promises an unforgettable gaming experience. So gear up, choose your side, and prepare for epic battles that will keep you hooked for hours on end. Don't miss the opportunity to relive the magic of BattleBit Remastered!
TECH TIP from our Community
A Flash from the Past!!
I'm sure many of you remember surfing the web and watching flash video's and playing flash games often remakes of 80's 90's games like Super Mario bros and space invaders. Unfortunately, flash was abandoned on the web about 3 years ago and all that content pretty much disappeared.
A GitHub project was created to preserve Flash's place in internet history, with an archive of over 170 000 games and animations! the project is called flashpointarchive.org It has an on-demand app that downloads flash files as needed or if you are a pack rat and want the whole archive at 1.4 TB, you can download a torrent for it.
TAW_MaverickSabre in Operation Open Winds on Arma 3 - tawtv on Twitch
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Arma 3 VOD now.
Tracermono | Tearing up the battlefield, I hope - tawtv on Twitch
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Battlefield 2042 VOD now.
By buying from the taw.net shop, you are not only getting yourself some great items, but also helping the community. A portion of the proceeds from each sale goes back to TAW to fund its operations and events. You are also spreading the word about TAW and attracting more potential members and partners.
Sunday 30th of July, ER invites you to a Jackbox event! Jackbox is a set of online party games!
Start Time:
22:00 CEST [EU]
16:00 EDT [NA]
Just like last time, we'll be playing the event within the #lounge channel in the TAW-Wide Discord! The games will be hosted at jackbox.tv.
Jackbox is a set of online party games, currently consisting of 9 packs. Only the host needs to own the packs, the games will be hosted online!
For more information contact Cayne or Stormeair.
TAW 3.0 will be a complete replacement of the current TAW website and its related systems. It will provide a faster, more modern user interface built around robust back-end systems. We will be able to modify the website to suit our future needs for many years to come.
There are four core requirements that the new website must meet before release.
It must be able to do everything that the old website can do.
Performance must be better than the old website.
Discord must be supported to the same extent that TeamSpeak is.
It must be open to future expansions and modifications.
For the release of 3.0 the majority of features will remain functionally identical to the current system. Of course these features will still be built from the ground up by our team to ensure that they meet modern standards and tie in well with the rest of the website.
New features will only be included in the first release of 3.0 for one of two reasons: If a feature is very easy to quickly implement or if implementing the feature after release would cause issues or cost extra time.
The Attendance & Events and the Email/Messaging systems have been completely reworked with many new features and improvements. More details on these systems will follow in future blog posts.
Performance is a high priority for 3.0. We could have all of the fancy features that we could ever want but if it took 5 minutes to load a page no one would want to use them. As such we will optimise the website to ensure optimal performance.
Some time ago Discord was officially adopted as one of the primary voice chat providers of TAW. It is important to ensure that our members and units on Discord are able to enjoy the same features and support as their TeamSpeak counterparts.
Because the gaming world and TAW will continue to adapt we must ensure that the TAW website can keep up. This is why we have built the website from the ground up with future expansion/modification in mind. We will be able to add new features or modify existing ones with relative ease.
When I joined TAW more than 6 years ago I was told that we would have a new website soon. 6 Years later the new website has not yet been released. I am sure that everyone would like to know the release date of the new website. Unfortunately we can’t give a release date because it is impossible to estimate. Our team consists entirely of volunteers working on the website in our spare time. This means that the amount of work we can do varies a lot depending on real life circumstances.
While we can’t give a release date we can provide a high level historical overview of our progress from the start of this project on the 8th of May 2021 to today. This should give you an impression on the work we have done so far. Please note that this timeline is non exhaustive and some items may be missing.
The graph below shows the current status of all of the current and planned components of TAW 3.0. As you can see we have made a lot of progress over the last two years.
It is important to note that not all components require the same amount of work to complete. Even if a component is marked as complete there may still be some work that needs to be done if any issues are discovered during testing. There is also some work, such as testing and deployment, that needs to be done but doesn’t really fit into any of the components.
In the future we will be releasing more blog posts that will go into more detail on individual components and features.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions feel free to reach out to the either FlyingDutchMan [CC SEC] or Samblues [CC SELC]
In this issue, we call all TAW champions to war, check out the VG spin up Elite Dangerous, and download some Steam updates!
Game of the Month: Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous presents players with an expansive and realistic portrayal of the Milky Way galaxy, offering a 1:1 scale representation of our own stellar neighborhood. From the majestic beauty of distant star systems to the dark mysteries of uncharted territories, the game provides a truly immersive experience for space enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
In this vast universe, players have the freedom to choose their own path. Whether it's becoming a skilled pilot, a resourceful trader, or a cunning explorer, Elite Dangerous offers a range of professions to pursue. The game doesn't hold your hand; instead, it encourages players to forge their own destiny and make their mark on the galaxy.
New Steam interface update!
The new steam interface update is a major overhaul of the desktop client, the in-game overlay, and the web browser. It aims to unify the codebase across different platforms, improve the user experience, and add new features and functionality. Some of the main changes are:
Fall Guys event with ER by Bluebear
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Fall Guys VOD now.
TAW_MaverickSabre with Operation Far Reach on Arma 3 - tawtv on Twitch
Sunday 25th of June, ER invites you to a Fall Guys event! Fall Guys is a free-to-play party royale game!
Just like before, we'll be playing the event within the #lounge channel in the TAW-Wide Discord! To join you need to download Fall Guys on the Epic Games launcher.
Fall Guys is a party royale game where 60 players compete to complete epic obstacle courses as fast as possible! Similarly to Wipe-Out, the slowest contestants are eliminated after each round, until the best remain and compete for the crown!
In this issue, new TAW Maxims, Shatterline and a Canary Tip from our Community
"Hey buddies, the higher-ups are introducing a refreshed set of maxims to help us with recruiting, retention, member activity, and communication. To help create an impactful gaming experience.
What do you think?"
EagleHead [XX CO]
EagleButt [XX SO]
"Are you sure about that CO? What do you mean we got to recruit now?!? We need more gamers. Top-tier gamers! That's why we put our DI's in charge of getting more members for TAW. Its their job after all."
"I agree with the higher-ups. Our DI buddies do a great job but it shouldn't be just them recruiting for TAW. Everyone should be helping out! We have way more members than DI's. If everyone helps us grow we will have more gamer buddies = more fun for everyone!"
EagleSam [XX HDI]
Game of the Month: Shatterline
Shatterline is a free-to-play multiplayer FPS set in the near future, where a cosmic super-organism called the Crystalline threatens humanity. Players are the Immunes, who resist the alien plague, and fight against the Crystalline and its cult followers. The game offers roguelike co-op PVE modes and competitive PvP modes. The game features eight unique characters with abilities and perks, and 25 customizable weapons. Shatterline is a live service that encourages player feedback and participation2.
OpenAI's powerful language model, combined with the Canary Edge extension, can provide significant assistance to individuals by enhancing productivity and accessibility in various ways. Here's a quick tech tip on how to leverage these tools effectively:
Remember to use the combination of OpenAI and the Canary Edge extension responsibly and ethically. Be cautious with sensitive information and respect the privacy of others while leveraging these tools for your benefit.
TAW vs AOD: A Battle of Two Long-Standing Communities! - tawtv on Twitch
TAW_MaverickSabre in Operation Golden Storm on Arma 3 - tawtv on Twitch
Some amazing TAW merchandise on SHOP
Do you love TAW and want to show your support and pride? Do you want to look cool and stylish while gaming or hanging out with your friends? Do you want to get some awesome merchandise and accessories at affordable prices? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should check out the taw.net shop!
Sunday 28th of May, ER invites you to a Jackbox event! Jackbox is a set of online party games!
Just like before, we'll be playing the event within the #lounge channel in the TAW-Wide Discord! The games will be hosted at jackbox.tv.
In this issue, all hands in numbers, Caliber, the launch of a TECH TIP section, and a monthly event for our community
Fundraising
$ 1,870 (75% of our goal)
SHOP sales
$ 646.41 (from all 3 shops)
Much more on TAWTV subs and donations
Game of the Month: Caliber
Caliber is a free-to-play, team-based, tactical third-person shooter focused on special forces units from all over the world. Four classes, more than 60 operators with unique abilities and equipment, and various game modes: PvE, PvP and PvPvE.
There are four operators in every fireteam:
Is your windows getting slow or unstable? Before reinstalling your OS you may want to try the following to repair your installation.
Read this LINK to find out about these important troubleshooting commands that can really improve your performance
Just Juneau Things - tawtv on Twitch
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Apex Legends VOD now.
Time to run ranked mode! | JmagLive | Join us at www.taw.net - tawtv on Twitch
tawtv went live on Twitch. Catch up on their VALORANT VOD now.
SHOP is Open for Business
We have new wiki with sales revenu, please check it out to get more information about SHOP!
PROMO: 15% off ANYTHING in the Spread SHOP!
Timeframe: May 6th -11th.
Thank very much for the support.
In this issue, All hands meeting rocks; Guild Wars 2 is on RD scope; TAW Shop updates.
We had a wonderful annual All Hands Meeting last March 12th.
This is a short of the announcements:
University Announcement
Fundraising Objective:
Free CS:GO upgrade to CS:2 coming this summer!!
The game has been entirely remastered using the Source 2 engine, check out the video below to see the difference!
Check your steam account for an invite to test the Beta!
Another point to note is all VAC bans from CS:GO WILL CARRY OVER to the new game so cheaters won't get a second chance!
HooRah!
Game of the Month: Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 has made a steady comeback in the MMORPG space over the last six months. The game was originally released in 2005 and Guild Wars 2 came on the scene in 2012. This resurgence is due largely to finally releasing a Steam version last year in August.
While the Steam release expanded the player base it has caused confusion and frustration with existing and returning players. The biggest issue has been with existing characters created on legacy accounts.
If you have an existing Guild Wars 2 account and would like to play the game using those characters you cannot use the Steam version. In addition, any expansion you may have purchased previously will not be available to you through Steam without purchasing them again. Essentially, the Steam version forces existing players to start over from the beginning.
However, all is not lost. Legacy players can simply continue using the launcher that is downloadable from the Guild Wars 2 website. Once logged into the servers it doesn’t matter if you used the Steam client or the legacy client to launch the game; all players can interact seamlessly in-game.
Recent News from the Battlefield
Sunday 30th of April, ER invites you to Among Us event! Among Us is a co-op game of teamwork and deception!
22:00 CET [EU]; 16:00 EST [NA]
RetoMoto announced the end of Heroes & Generals will be on Thursday May 25, 2023 at 11:59 UTC (19:59 EDT).
On May 2nd 2023 ~10AM CEST (4 am EDT) all player accounts will have UNLIMITED gold until the servers shutdown.
Tracermono | WattsonHalfTrick | Wattson Main - tawtv on Twitch
Playing Arma 3 with Maverick - tawtv on Twitch
We have new material on TAW SHOP including Jerseys on ArmaGG, and also Spread SHOP with TAW logo, motto and much more custom merch.
If you like working with other divisions to support recruiting efforts RD has a place for you. RD assist teams in creating a recruiting strategy tailored to their audience. This work includes researching and preparing Market Reports, Recruiting Trackers, and fourm posts. If you enjoy talking with a variety of people and like working as a team – come join us!
If interested, please contact me here: DivadSesom [RD DC]