Trion Worlds teased a new warfront for RIFT in their latest livestream. After being certain that there would be some kind of content teaser in last Friday’s livestream, I went back and watched the video for a 4th time. Lo and behold:
New Warfront: Hive Kaaz’Gfuu Assault
When Gingers was showing off the new visible Elo Rating, the default Warfronts tab had the option “Hive Kaaz’Gfuu Assault”. Although it wasn’t mentioned by the livestreamers, it seems this is a new warfront that Trion are currently developing.
Note: The livestreamers were using the dev client, not the PTS. The PTS does not have this warfront selection up.
Unfortunately Gingers didn’t click on the actual warfront’s button that would have revealed its map and objectives so we don’t know what kind of warfront Hive Kaaz’Gfuu Assault will be.
Which Map?
Right now the map is also unknown. Sure it says Hive Kaaz’Gfuu which is located at the top of The Dendrome zone, but will it be using the outside of the hive, or inside?
Is it Inside?
Below you can see a map created a year ago as a guide to the Dendrome Weekly boss, Kaaz’Ra. This was made using a bunch of mini-maps put together since the main map only shows the surface of Hive Kaaz’Gfuu, not underground.
Inside Hive Kaaz’Gfuu. Map for Kaaz’Ra.
Most warfronts are relatively symmetrical so that one team isn’t unfairly advantaged due to terrain. Can you see a possible location for a warfront within Hive Kaaz’Gfuu?
The only symmetrical region would be Kaaz’Ra’s platform, which is a large disc.
Kaaz’Ra’s Platform
If the warfront is supposed to be inside Hive Kaaz’Gfuu, I reckon it’ll be based around Kaaz’Ra’s platform. Right now there’s only a pillar in the middle, but chances are that the warfront will have other objects for line of sight similar to how Library of the Runemasters has four pillars in the middle.
Just like with Library, Blighted Antechamber and Ghar Station Eyn warfronts, there will probably be floating platforms as base spawns.
Or Outside?
The other possibility is that the warfront is located outside, on the surface of Hive Kaaz’Gfuu.
Outside Hive Kaaz’Gfuu
The above image shows the outside. It is somewhat symmetrical and there’s entry points from the left, right and bottom of the map. Who knows, maybe the warfront will even have a third team that starts from the south.
Outside Hive Kaaz’Gfuu. Ramps and platforms.
There could be a primary objective at the center as a convergence point for the teams. The variety of ‘levels’ of terrain and winding ramps at the center could lead to a lot of ranged sniping, knockbacks, charges and pulls. There’s also plenty of cover (pillars and walls) already in place.
Capture-the-flag or some kind of Sourcestone carrying will probably be the warfront objective if it is on the outside, and perhaps team deathmatch or Fang objective if the warfront ends up on the inside.
Whatever the map or objectives are, at least we now know there’s a new warfront: Hive Kaaz’Gfuu Assault coming to RIFT some time in the future.
RiftGrate 
god I hope outside
Wait… There was a shortcut teleport in the hive?
Yep, you just mount up and jump off the ledge at the point indicated on the map. That’ll instantly port you (albeit dead) to Kaaz’Ra’s platform. You’ll need to either soul walk or get res’d afterwards. When max level was 60 and players were running Kaaz’Ra weekly, you’d see a huge amount of dead bodies pile up in one spot at Kaaz’Ra. Was kind of amusing to see players hover up and die at the spot.
I dont understand
If they remove pvp stats, pvp gear, and favor is almost useless, and sometimes the matchmaking fail, then why another warfront?
Well, PvP is still PvP regardless of pvp-specific stats or gear. That said, they should really look into adding more stuff for favor, or at least buffing PvP consumes to current standards. Plus a new warfront adds variety – as long as it’s an enjoyable warfront.
Given that its name includes the word ‘assault’, it seems entirely plausible that it would be based on the assault game mode. Basically one team attacks while the other defends, then the teams switch sides and the new attacking team tries to beat the old attacking team’s time.
This could be extra cool due to merc mechanics – they could make the defending team look like Architects 😛
That’s a good point Kiera! That does seem interesting; although I wonder how they’ll manage to not make the warfront last too long (otherwise it becomes like old Port Scion in terms of popularity) whilst still giving each team enough time to actually do something when they are the offensive team.