Weapons Hot

"Weapons Hot" is a term describing the main portion of the mission, where weapons can and will hurt players. Contrast this with the "Weapons Cold" stage, where weapons can fire but will not harm anyone.

The Weapons Hot stage typically begins while the players are being transported into the combat zone, a short time before they actually reach it. If the mission begins already inside the combat zone (e.g. when the first or only objective is to defend a position), the Weapons Hot stage begins at a seemingly arbitrary point in time (effectively whenever the Game Master feels it is time to start the game).

When the Weapons Hot stage begins, a small message appears in the top-right corner to indicate this, replacing the "Weapons Cold" message. Players should be ready to begin fighting immediately as soon as the Weapons Hot message appears, as actual engagement may start immediately.