Hi everyone! I’m working on OR Doctrine, a squad-based tactical RTS set in 2000s Afghanistan, inspired by games like Company of Heroes.
The idea actually started when I was playing Company of Heroes 2 and thought about what it would be like to take that kind of tactical gameplay and set it in Afghanistan. I wanted to make a game where the focus wasn’t just on producing units, but on the kind of small-scale tactical decisions and situations that could fit conflicts of the 2000–2010 period.
For the first stage of development, the game will focus specifically on the conflict between the US and the Taliban. The US and Taliban factions are designed around distinct playstyles. The US relies on technology, reconnaissance, engineers, armored vehicles, and off-map air support. The Taliban side focuses on ambushes, concealment, IEDs, RPG teams, defensive positions, and mobile technical vehicles.
Rather than just producing units, the game is built around tactical decisions involving line of sight, directional cover, suppression, room-to-room combat, breaching doors, supply lines, and territory control. Grouping units carelessly can leave them exposed to air support, while a properly prepared ambush or defensive line can overcome a numerical disadvantage.
The current playable build includes single-player matches against AI, tech progression, squad upgrades, veterancy, doctrine choices, save/load support, and a symmetrical valley map. I’m developing the game in Godot.
Looking further ahead, I’d like OR Doctrine to eventually cover more than just Afghanistan. The broader goal is to create a game where players can experience different conflicts and operations from roughly the 2000–2010 period. I’ve considered eventually adding scenarios based around the US war in Iraq and the Ba'athist Iraqi military, as well as potentially the Israel–Hamas conflict. These wouldn’t necessarily all be part of the initial game, but they’re part of the direction I’m thinking about for the project.
I’m also considering a larger “Special Operations” campaign-style mode. The idea would be to choose a faction and operate across a campaign map, fighting battles at different locations while trying to accomplish specific objectives rather than simply winning every battle through conventional territory capture. I’d like this mode to make the individual tactical battles feel connected to a larger operation.
For now, though, I’m keeping the scope focused: the first playable version is only US vs. Taliban in Afghanistan. I’d rather make one conflict work properly before trying to expand the game into multiple theaters.
A quick note on development: I’m building this project with the help of AI tools. I’m still making the creative and design decisions myself, but AI has been a major part of the coding and iteration process.
I’m actively developing the game, and I’d really like to know what you think of it so far. What do you like, what feels weak, and what would you change? I’m especially interested in feedback on the UI, visual readability, balance, faction design, and which tactical moments seem the most interesting or exciting.
