While System Shock 3 might be getting all the attention at the moment, Otherside Entertainments *other* title, Underworld Ascendant, is still being diligently worked on. Their latest blog has them discussing combat, and how it is now the team’s focus as they move into the new year.

According to the blog post, Otherside wants to strike a balance between twitch-based combat and what they refer to as “chopping wood”, which is another way of saying there won’t be any “standing there and hacking a guy until he dies”. Instead, they’ve decided to give the combat a slower, more tactical feel while allowing for twitch-based combat maneuvers deeper down the skill tree for players that desire that type of play. There’s also plans for much more detailed fights involving environmental elements:

One concept we’re diving into is “running combat”: battles that span across spaces, where terrain, elevation and obstacles paly into the tactics. Objects can become part of the fight; from picking up and throwing a wine bottle to causing a stalagmite to fall on your enemy. Sometimes disengaging and moving off is the best idea. What we’re trying to avoid is what we call “chopping wood” combat. Where you stand there, click the button and… whack, whack, whack, the enemy dies.

Though a combat demo for backers should be available early next year, anyone who donated at the pioneer tier or higher can now buy access to the previously released prototype build as a $5 add-on.