Drydock

Lore & Background

Drydock is a testament to the Diamond Sword Empire's industrial might, a sprawling complex of drydocks, hangars, and refineries carved into the desolate landscape of its namesake planet. The planet's thin atmosphere and harsh conditions make it an ideal location for heavy industry, with the Empire's engineers and laborers working tirelessly to construct and maintain the warships that project Imperial power across the stars. The facility is heavily defended, with automated turrets, energy shields, and garrisoned troops ensuring its security against any Tribe incursion. The location is not merely a shipyard; it is a symbol of the Empire's relentless expansion and technological superiority. The constant hum of machinery and the glow of welding torches are the soundtrack of Drydock, a place where raw materials are transformed into instruments of war. For the Tribes, Drydock represents a tempting but formidable target—a critical chokepoint that, if captured or destroyed, could cripple the Empire's naval capabilities. However, its defenses are formidable, and any assault on Drydock is a high-risk endeavor that requires precise coordination and overwhelming force. The lore of Drydock is steeped in the ongoing conflict, with numerous skirmishes and full-scale battles having been fought over its control. It is a place where the fate of entire star systems can be decided, a linchpin in the Empire's military strategy. The facility's existence underscores the high stakes of the war, where control of key industrial assets can shift the balance of power.

In Their Own Story

The air on Drydock tasted of ozone and scorched metal. Sergeant Valerius watched from the observation deck as the massive hull of the 'Hammer of Dawn' was maneuvered into its berth, a kilometer-long behemoth of durasteel and plasma cannons. Below, hundreds of workers swarmed like insects, welding, riveting, and calibrating. A klaxon blared, and Valerius saw a flicker on the horizon—a Tribe scout, fast and low, skimming the dunes. It was a probe, a test. He keyed his comm. 'All batteries, condition red. They're coming.' The Empire's forge was about to be tested.

Reader's Guide

Drydock is a large, open multiplayer map in Tribes: Vengeance, designed for combined-arms combat. The terrain is a mix of flat, dusty plains and towering industrial structures—drydocks, hangars, and refineries—that offer both cover and elevated firing positions. Players can ski across the open ground or use jetpacks to reach high ledges, while vehicles like the Shrike and Beowulf dominate the main pathways. The centerpiece is the active drydock crane, which can crush unwary players. Control of the central shipyard is key, as it provides sightlines over most of the map and access to the best vehicle spawns.

Did You Know?

• Drydock is one of the few maps in the Tribes series to feature a fully functional, animated drydock crane that can crush players.
• The planet Drydock shares its name with the map, a rare instance of location and map title aligning in the franchise.
• The map's design was inspired by real-world shipbuilding facilities, with developers emphasizing industrial scale and grit.
• In the single-player campaign of Tribes: Vengeance, Drydock is the site of a major Empire assault, serving as a key battleground.