There are other reasons to take or hold a control point as well. A direct and very compelling incentive is, as I mentioned before, if a player needs to complete a mission that ends in a base that has been taken by the enemy. The player may have to step out of his usual routine and to re-take the base before being able to complete the mission. Similarly, if they need to use a vendor or hospital in the area and the base is not under AFS control, they will not be able to do so. Recapturing the base at that point is not only in their best interest, but also benefits all of the players in that area. We have also introduced collectable medals that players receive for successfully defending or taking back a control point. These medals can then be turned in for other rewards, as an added incentive.

Taking and keeping control points also lends itself well to several aspects of the high-level content in Tabula Rasa. For example, some control points will be very challenging to take and even more challenging to keep unless a large group of players is holding it-a clan perhaps. Of course, this provides a player with "bragging rights," but it is also a large incentive for other clans to try and take the control point for themselves. Eventually, I feel that that the control point system will evolve in such a way that the players who hold a control point will receive some sort of incentive or bonus for their efforts, making the stakes even higher for groups that want to hold ownership of a base.

My personal passion for the game really revolves around that main goal of simulating a war and making parts of the environment a little more unpredictable and dynamic then we've done previously. I remember the first time we got the control point system working the way we wanted it to. I logged in and started following my usual routine and completing my current mission. When I got to the base to meet with my contact, there was a huge mass of Bane outside, right between me and where I needed to be. Suddenly I had to rethink what I was going to do. I had to figure out how I was going to get into the base. The main entrance was heavily guarded, so I tried going around and sneaking in, and I kept getting shot when I got too close. It was great, because all of a sudden, I was taken out of my regular routine. I felt like there was really a war going on and I suddenly had a chance to do something very exciting when I wasn't initially expecting to. I could take back the control point and make a difference in the battle for control of the Tabula Rasa universe.

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