Squads (at least the first version of them) are nearly ready for release in Zombie Moon. A squad is a formal group of no more than 20 (plus the squad owner). Squads have a power level which adds to each of the member’s stats.
The power level can be upgraded (or decreased – yes you might want to, more on that later) by the squad owner (or by the squad assistant). The greater the squad power, the greater the stat bonuses to the members.
However, each power level increase (while permanent) requires a number of Nano Packs to pay for the upgrade. Nano Packs (NP’s) are created by converting surplus inventory which occurs automatically when squad members donate an item for the squad’s use. A squad member can donate one item (and only one) every 23 hours.
The more powerful the item, the more Nano Packs are created by its donation – a Tech Level 1 item converts to 1 Nano Pack, a Tech Level 2 converts to 4 Nano Packs, a Tech Level 3 converts to 9 Nano Packs, a Tech Level 4 converts to 16 NP’s, etc. In other words the Nano Packs created = the Tech Level squared. (And yes, if you happen to donate a TL 20 item, it would be worth 400 NP’s).
To increase the Squad power level, the Squad Owner or Squad Assistant must commit some of the Squad’s NP’s. Each power level upgrade has a cost in NP’s equal to the new power level (going from Power 2 to Power 3 consumes 3 NPs, going from level 9 to 10 costs 10 NP’s, etc.). The greater the power level, the greater the potential bonus to each of the Squad members (and Squad Owner and Squad Assistant).
Each day at midnight (server time: EST), the power is turned ON for the squad for the next 24 hours and the POWER bonus applied to member stats – but this bonus applies only if that upkeep is paid. The upkeep cost is equal to the POWER level in Nano Packs (e.g. a Squad with a POWER of 10 requires 10 Nano Packs per day, a Squad with a POWER of 100 would use 100 Nano Packs per day). If your squad doesn’t have enough Nano Packs at midnight, the upkeep isn’t paid for the day and the POWER automatically turns off until enough Nano Packs are accumulated through donations to pay the upkeep at a later midnight (and now, note why a Squad Owner or Squad Assistant might want to decrease the power level if the group has been overly ambitious – this would be in order to afford a lower POWER level if members are not actively donating items).
Squad members cannot fight each other and may or may not be referrals or allies.
In the future, squad to squad battles with rankings which increase the POWER level by percentages will be added into the game. Pretty exciting isn’t it? See you on the Zombie Moon!