Mother Base Development Tree Overview
Developing your Mother Base is a cornerstone of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. By recruiting soldiers and capturing equipment, you expand your base's capabilities, which in turn unlocks new research and development options. The development tree is divided into several categories, each focusing on a different aspect of your base's infrastructure and your arsenal.
Key Development Categories
- R&D (Research & Development): This is where you'll unlock new weapons, equipment, and support items. Progressing in R&D requires specific types and numbers of recruited soldiers, as well as captured technology. For example, unlocking advanced assault rifles might require a certain number of soldiers in the Combat Unit and captured enemy weapon schematics.
- Intel: Enhancing your Intel unit can provide benefits like improved radar coverage, more detailed mission information, and even the ability to call in support strikes. This often requires soldiers with high technical aptitude.
- Medical: A strong Medical Unit is crucial for healing injured soldiers and increasing your maximum stamina. This unit benefits from soldiers with medical expertise.
- Mess Hall: Improving your Mess Hall boosts soldier morale and reduces the chance of desertion. This is generally influenced by the overall size and satisfaction of your Mother Base personnel.
- Support: The Support Unit allows for the deployment of various support assets during missions, such as ammo drops or artillery strikes. Developing this unit often requires soldiers with strong tactical backgrounds.
The development tree is interconnected; advancements in one area can sometimes unlock or accelerate progress in another. Regularly review your available research options and prioritize those that best suit your current mission objectives and playstyle. Capturing enemy vehicles and weapon systems through the Fulton Recovery System is often a prerequisite for researching advanced military technology.