Wow that game brings back memories...Used to love moving into an area and then pop locking NC with mostly 1 guild.
The thing that destroyed PS wasn't the bfr. And it wasn't core combat. It was the lack of a greater goal. What did we achieve when we managed to sanc lock both the tr and nc (which happened only once in my time playing)? Nothing. If the devs introduced something great, say a new weapon, vehicle, or ability, that became available when your faction achieved something really impressive, it would have built in replay value. But instead, like so many games today, once you max out, it becomes a repetitive cycle. Also, I recall playing "black market dealer" with other vs to acquire certain nc and tr Vic's and weapons. If they made an economy system, then you've just built in a smuggler role.
That is also an issue in balance though. If you make the victor more powerful, he will continue to be the victor and continue to become more powerful. A good self perpetuating PvP system will reward the victor while making the loser stronger. Mario Kart is a good example of this, the player in first is rewarded by being closest to the finish line, but all the best items are given to the person in last place.
In racing games, the AI always cheats! And I'd also like to get my hands on the guy who invented the "Traffic algorithm". Calculates your speed, your line of driving, weather conditions, position of other racers along with your position, and place a damn slow moving vehicle right in your damn way!
Let me start out this post with a little disclaimer... This is going to sound like a rant, possibly even a flame, and let me tell you Kyraith, this is in no way directed at you, nor any members of XoO. I'm simply laying out my observations. That is a great point. With this in mind, perhaps a more personalized system would be better suited. A system where each individual player makes improvements to their character (in the same manner as games like WoW with the gem system). I start out with weapon A, which does B damage and attacks at C rate of fire. I can upgrade it with D, E, and F damage mods, and G, H, and I cyclic rate mods, so on and so on. Take the Pulsar for example. It had a relatively decent rate of fire, horrible "cone of fire" (which by the way is the dumbest idea I think a game has ever had... Weapons don't "cone" out. Stupid.), and sub-par damage. So that gives us three areas in which I could mod this weapon. I could choose to stick with this weapon, and have mods that grow with me as I progress in level or I could get a more costly weapon which will take more work to modify. What it really boils down to is the simple fact that an entry level player frankly will not stand a chance in a head on battle with a more experienced player. 1. The more experienced player is just that - more experienced. 2. The more experienced player has better equipment. 3. The more experienced player has a higher level. As gamers, I think we need to suck it up and realize that this is life. If I decided I wanted to start boxing, I wouldn't go up against manny pacquiao my first fight. I would get trampled. All I hear these days is "Boo Hooooo... The game isn't balanced." Of course it isn't balanced - Neither is life. If you don't give a player a reason to be that geared out level 100 face-palmer, what was the point in getting there in the first place? The solution is quite simple. Newer players must either A) develop a better strategy or B) improve their skill through the school of hard knocks. These two options are far more viable in a much more skill based game (FPS), than a progress based game (RPG). In closing my rant, I'll pose a question. What do you do when you're in an infiltrator suit, and there is an NC max standing directly in front of you?
EMP Grenade and RUN! I personally never asked for balance between the roles. Planetside was a rock paper scissors game and you won by having more/better of all of them then the other team. I was merely pointing out that empowering the victor ruins games in the long run. That is why Warhammer has had to work so hard to give benefits to the underdogs.
I'm actually looking forward to this now... lets hope it's good. I say more terrain advantages would be interesting. You kinda just had rolling hills in planetside, and some water and a few trees. Now that peoples machines can handle much more, hopefully it will be more varying.
Planetside doesn't need levels or upgrades or anything like that. The progression of the system into OPTIONS rather than "more power" was the greatest and best feature of the game hands down. Planetside didn't need an end game goal, and still honestly really doesn't. The end game goal is player decided, if you feel like you needed an external reason to log in to planetside other than to just have fun then it most likely wasn't for you. It is much like Eve Online, no one is going to tell you how to play or what to do, you need to find that in yourself. *shrug* I will follow Planetside Next as Planetside was one of my fav. games of all time but my faith in SOE to manage a great well developed system is iffy.
I intend to organize something. But I am not going to start organizing for a game that has only released 3 screen shots, none of which appear to be shot from within the game engine.
A lot of us just started playing again. Hop into the Planetside channel on teamspeak if you're interested in playing.
I just resubbed last night (once I found my years old acct info). Will look for you guys in TS when I can make it. Can't wait
I'll be playing soon as well. [smug sarcasm] With me on your team we are just going to roll face [/smug sarcasm]
The more the merrier!! Make sure you can see the Planetside forums. Events are being added and reforming our structure as more get in the game. I'm hoping we can field 2 full squads for this Sundays event. Come get in on it!
I've never played Planetside, but I'm excited for Planetside Next...or whatever the fuck it's going to be named. Hopefully it's not a pile of shit. If it's going to be released next month and there hasn't even been a beta test yet...that doesn't sound good to me.