Layer, or Battle Layer, are one of the simultaneous accessible "sub-maps" within a map.
There are three types of layers in the game
Surface[]
The default level with continuous terrain and natural topographic structures that can obstruct paths or restrict building. Lava lakes can be found through the level as well.
It's accessible at the Pre-Build stage. Player's Matter Converter, two Hover Trucks and an Drill Truck spawns as default. In the campaigns this may vary.
The terrain topography is visible and contain a light, permanent fog-of-war that hides enemy players. Recon Poles built in the surface can clear underground's fog-of-war below it. Combot with Sonar Legs can clear underground's fog too.
Orbit[]
Upper level representing aerial conditions. Only asteroids allow building construction, however Hover Trucks can transit to one another. Air vehicles as well Combots with Jetpack or Jumpjets are permitted to move in the space beteween asteroids.
It's accessible at the Pre Build stage. Just one Hover Truck spawns as default. In the campaigns this may vary.
Players have full visibility of the layer including enemies.
Different from other layers, the Defense Grid is not shared with the other two.
Solar Panels built in this layer produce more 900% MetaJoules.
Restricts:[]
Underground[]
Bottom level with subterraneous conditions. Consists of a level of drillabe and undrillable rock. Rich lava lakes surrounded by buildable space can be found as well. Cannot be accessed during the Pre-Build stage.
Drillabe rock can be removed by using a Drill Truck.
The layer have a black fog-of-war as default that requires previous exploration in order to be cleared. Similar to the surface, it contains a light, permanent fog-of-war that hides enemy players. Recon Poles built in the underground can clear surface's fog-of-war above it.
Matter Converters cannot blast off in this level.
Restricts:[]
Layer Traffic[]
By default, no vehicles can access any layer.
Aircraft Hangar vehicles and Combots with Jetpack or Jumpjets can travel freely between the surface and orbit layer.
Driill Trucks can build Elevators so ground vehicles, Mobile Walls, and Crews can travel between the surface and the underground layer.
Outposts allow combots, ground vehicles, and even mobile walls to teleport between the surface and orbit layers, as well as between different asteroids in the orbit layer. An outpost can be set to "Launch" mode to accomplish this even without a second outpost to link with, but only if appropriate terrain is available directly above/below the outpost. Outposts cannot provide access to the underground layer, and cannot be built there.
Trivia[]
- If a player builds an Elevator in the Pre-Build stage and makes vehicles go through it, the units will not be selectable to player and the layer will continue to appear black until the end of it.
- Neuropa tanks cannot travel to other asteroids, even though they resemble Hover Trucks about the hovering mechanism.
- Each layer can be thought of as favouring a different style of play. The orbital layer, with its lack of fog of war, limited space for defensive building, and asteroids that can often be cleared completely by a single successful Bomber or Orbital Bomb strike, favours offence. The underground layer, with its limited manoeuvring space, hidden terrain, plentiful resources, and lack of access for Combots, favours defence. And of course the surface layer offers a balance.