Revisiting Planetside

[geldonyetich]

I resubbed to check out the BFRs (mechs) in Planetside today.  So far, I've just seen them in the sims.   However, I spent about 4 hours playing the game without the mechs to see what I thought of it.

I'm pleased to say that nearly everything I whined about back when I stopped playing 4 months ago has been addressed, with the exception of Combat Engineers who still don't have new toys to play with, and MAX are still relatively gimpy considering their limitations, but at least they have a purpose now because apparently they have a natural resistance to heavy assault weaponry.    

The two best changes that happened to Planetside would have to be that they fixxed latency and framerate issues.    The netcode has been tweaked so that the warping that was so evident before is not nearly as common.    The framerate has been improved through the introduction of a Level Of Detail adjustment system: Choose your ideal FPS and Planetside makes it happen.

Runners up would be that the planetary screen has been improved to show all continental and cavern activity at a glance, the core maps seem to have pleanty of fighting, armor piercing ammuntion seems to actually hurt vehicles now (which is probably why aircraft seem more scarce), and Lightnings finally have some pretty decent armor that doesn't get them blown up in just three shells from a medium tank.

Now the BFRs (Mechs) are about to be rolled onto the servers as I type this (they're down at the moment for the update).   The impressive thing about the BFRs in Planetside is that they didn't skimp in their implementation.    Damage is sectional, meaning you can try to "leg" a mech, or snipe it's head, ect.   Weapon loadouts can be swapped - in general mechs have two arms for weapons and possibly a gunner or two with additional weapons.    Each faction has three BFRs, which surprised me, because I was expecting one per faction.   BFRs can carry a variety of swappable weaponry, some can jump, they can also swap out weapons for one that siphons armor from enemy vehicles or siphons NTU from enemy silos.

Translation: Planetside may now be a viable massively multiplayer mech combat game in addition to its previous assets.

[Krakrok]

Um, resubbing right now.

Edit: Euro's have to pay 17.5% extra for the VAT tax. I thought VAT was only for goods and not services? They really get the shaft don't they.

Also interesting that they shuffled the certifications now too. The following is abbriviated Oct. 15th patch notes.

---

Kill Stats are now tracking vehicle occupants as individual kills in the stats UI.

Implemented the Vehicle Viewing Direction Indicator and Advanced Color Options.

Created a new certification tree for Armored Assault that includes acquisition for BattleFrame Robotics.
Armored Assault 1 - Access to the Lightning Tank - cost 2
Armored Assault 2 - Access to the empire specific Medium Battle Tank - cost 1 (requires that you have Armored Assault 1)
Flail - Access to the Flail - Cost 1 (requires that you have Armored Assault 2)

BattleFrame Robotics - Cost 2 (requires that you have Armored Assault 2)

Repeater refire rate improves and a little bit tighter on cone of fire bloom.

Flak weapons (Skyguard and Bursters) no loger detonate on contact with the ground causing radius splash damage. Skyguard has more ammo.

Capturing Core Combat Cavern zones will now grant Battle or Command experience.

Increased Buggy and Tank maximum speeds.
Prowler - 57
Vanguard - 60
Magrider -65
Marauder - 80
Enforcer - 80
Thresher - 85
Harasser - 85

Removed the Tech Plant requirement for the Router and Sunderer.
Increased the Sunderer's armor by 10%.

Decreased the Flail's rate of fire. Decreased Flail armor.

Slightly increased the refire rate of the TR Pounder and Dual Cycler MAX armor when locked down

The Lightning and Skyguard's much more accurate.

Increased the Lightning's armor.

Telefragging will only occur against enemy soldiers.

Repair Silos and BFR Buildings are now present in Sanctuary and Virtual Training.

[geldonyetich]

Arrived in game.   Currently, in order to promote the new equipment, there's no restrictions on getting your BFR - don't need the cert, yet.   (Which is probably just as well, because apparently you need to get ten cavern base captures to qualify to take the BFR cert).  

Everybody and their dog immediately grabbed a BFR.   They've got an hour and a half timer to take another one out.  

I couldn't get a BFR, not because I lacked core combat but due to a bug.   Rumor has it that rebooting Planetside fixxes that bug, but looks like the patcher is a little bogged down at the moment...

[Shannow]

.g
.add 1 1
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.sc BZ
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.s 57

oh sorry wrong game.

How does PS do their level of detail? I heard, and correct me if I'm wrong, that like Joint Ops the grass is useless in that it dissapears for some players playing on lower level of detail or at longer range? Shit like that pisses me off.

Give us a good review on the mechs Geldon when you get a chance.

.ca bog

[geldonyetich]

Heh, good ol' Battletech MU* Macros.

I'm not sure how PS does the level of detail, but I am impressed at how well it works.  I waded through some humongous battles today, and I don't think the FPS fell below the designated 30 FPS at any time - a massive improvement from this same computer (previously wih 1 GB of ram) when I last played it.   Either the LoD works really well, or Planetside plays best on a full 1.5 GB of RAM.    

I was able to see remote enemies clearly, so I don't think it omits any targets.   Although there were times I was taking damage from explosions in stairwells and I didn't see the explosions - possibly the LoD was omitting them in interest of keeping the FPS high.

Currently, everybody can get a BFR, but that will soon change.   How it will work about a week from now is that you need to capture 10 bases in a Core map (they're actually considered moons now - each territory is a seperate planetoid), then get imprinted by the core beam.   This allows you to cert yourself with the Battleframe certification.   At first only one mech is available for you to use.     I've heard you can unlock the remaining BFRs by racking up an extremely good KTD ratio, get 100 kills while using a BFR, then 20 more in a row without dying.

Translation: BFRs are meant to be the Jedis of Planetside, highly powerful but rare enough that they're not easy to zerg.   There's a full hour and a half timer between our ability to call up a new BFR out of any hangar to further control their scarcity.

Got into a few good fights with BFRs.   They can be quite powerful, but it's mostly their shields.   A single Prowler wailing away on me with it's cannons was unable to bring my shields down.   When a second Prowler and a Reaver joined in, they then managed to take my BFR down.    I was armed with an anti-infantry Laser and an anti-air Cannon at the time, I didn't seem to inflict sufficient damage to kill any Prowlers, but prior to their focusing fire, I did manage to scare a few off that were not able to piece my shields.   Earlier, I was able to kill some Lightnings with my Anti-Infantry laser, no problem, so it's not an absolutely pointless weapon to use against tanks.   However, had I mounted a PPA that was built for tank slaying, and possibly an armor siphon that can restore my armor while I'm fighting, that battle could have gone quite differently.

The BFRs are not without weaknesses....

First, for the week period in which everybody gets to use BFRs, there's random nasty malfunctions which happen to them.   This is actually supposed to be part of a dynamic storyline the developers are conducting: The BFRs are only in their prototype phases.    Some malfunctions I've run into: Torso malfunction destroys 4 stored items (usually ammo crates)  within the BFR, Sensor Malfunction destroys some vital functionality (such as ability to track a certain kind of enemy), forward/backward movement greatly slowed, run mode disabled, weapon reload time made longer, weapon fire rate made slower, weapon outright destroyed, and finally: Mech suddenly has a catastrophic control system meltdown and blows up 10 seconds later.   These are all pains in the ass, of course, but you'll still be able to bring your BFR into combat - malfunctions only seem to happen about once every 5 or 10 minutes.   These malfunctions will go away after this "everybody gets to use a BFR" trial week ends, but then you'll have to earn your BFR in the way I've outlined above.

Second weakness, the BFRs shielding is the main thing that keeps it alive, and the little shield pack in the back can be destroyed fairly easily if somebody manages to flank to BFR.    Typical Planetside balance focus: they want people to use their BFRs in combined arms attacks, not just run off and fight with em' solo.     A Single Lightning is actually a considerable threat for a BFR, just scoot around in back of them and fire away with your chaingun until you knock out the shield generator, keep up the pressure until the BFR goes boom.

Several players are quick to say that BFRs suck, possibly due to the above mentioned weaknesses, but I think most of that sentiment is because the players have yet to adapt to using BFR properly.   Once players get the hang on them, I imagine BFrs will start to dominate gameplay, making normal vehicles be considered properly inferior to the bipedal overlords, and all will be right with the mech-lover's universe again.

[Merusk]

So I'm a little fuzzy on this cert thing.  After this week they'll strip everyone of their BFR certs, and you have to recert the normal way?  Or is it that the 'free' certing is a kind of reward for people who're currently subbed and have CC and they won't be stripped?

[Shannow]

'Translation: BFRs are meant to be the Jedis of Planetside'

Well theres a reason not to play.

Now maybe if they came out with a server that was all mech combat...mmmmmm

[Soukyan]

So I'm a little fuzzy on this cert thing.  After this week they'll strip everyone of their BFR certs, and you have to recert the normal way?  Or is it that the 'free' certing is a kind of reward for people who're currently subbed and have CC and they won't be stripped?

If I understood it correctly, everyone, including current subscribers, will be stripped of the cert and it will need to be earned in the prescribed manner.

[Zetleft]

You currently can get a bfr WITHOUT certing it at all.  All certs were reset for players since the Assault Certs are now in.  No point to certing bfr right now during this week bfr introduction.  I got in one without certing it at all, seems alot of people didn't know this as there was a fuckton of lightnings out in force, fun prowler fodder :)

After this week you will need the bfr cert and 10 Cave hacks to get the basic empire bfr like Geldon stated.  The malfunctions seemed to hit me fairly regularly and were very annoying, at least they wont stay in.  Randomly having your ammo blow up, legs go gimpy and just plain explode is not fun when you have a 45 minute timer.  

BFR's are not too damn uber as a nice squad of reavers and mossies took one down in like 30 seconds with some nice shooting.  They are definately meant to roam in packs or with armor support, you go out lone wolf you will get raped.  

I don't think my outfit will employ them much as its not our style but it should be a fun challenge.

[WonderBrick]

Damn.  I think I need to reactivate.

If someone has the time, can you give me a brief(or not so brief if you have time) summary as to what has changed since the first expansion pack?  I played beta, about 6 months after release, and then again briefly right before the first expansion(where my solo cloaker/engineer style was getting RAPED by good enemy teamwork).  Last major change I remember was that base-capture was changed to promote bottlenecks to promote larger fights, and to prevent leap-frog captures(I think neighboring base had to be under your faction control, rather then nuetral form).  I would just like to know the basics of what to expect, or do you think it will all be pretty self expanatory?

Many thanks

[Sky]

Some nice patch notes, plus free mechs for a week. Fixxored the sony patcher problems I was having, so I'm back in.

[Merusk]

So I'm a little fuzzy on this cert thing.  After this week they'll strip everyone of their BFR certs, and you have to recert the normal way?  Or is it that the 'free' certing is a kind of reward for people who're currently subbed and have CC and they won't be stripped?

If I understood it correctly, everyone, including current subscribers, will be stripped of the cert and it will need to be earned in the prescribed manner.

Hmm, yeah can't give people something for nothing I suppose.  Still, free mechs for a week, guess I'll reup and reinstall tonight and have a go-round at some NC with one.

[Shannow]

Damn.  I think I need to reactivate.
  Last major change I remember was that base-capture was changed to promote bottlenecks to promote larger fights, and to prevent leap-frog captures

Opel Blitz for teh win!


sorry wrong game again.

[Slayerik]

Ya its a mixed reaction of whine and love for BFRs now I think. A few of my outfit-mates loathe them. I find them a cool change of pace, and I racked up 6-7 BFR kills last night bombing with my friend in a liberator. Libs own them. There was also a ton of other armor out last night, which was a lot of fun instead of the usual foot zerg battles.

Flails (Core combat required artillery) seem to do nice damage on BFRs also, and I was able to hot-drop out of our Lib last night and I was able to get behind a BFR that was pre-occupied and I was able to destroy his shield generator with my lasher. Seeing this, he ran off and was pwned by a big group of mixed armor.

Orbital Strikes destroy them, I was on a nice kill streak in my BFR when someone laid the OS beat on me.

My outfit is currently deciding how to most effectively use/destroy BFRs. Our raid night is Thursday, and I got a feeling this one is going to be BFR mania. What server do you guys play on? If you play Vanu on Emerald we have a great outfit, the Ghosts of the Revolution that I'm a commander in. Say hello on our forums and join us if ya want, www.gotr.net (sorry bout the plug, but I think people may be interested in organized Teamspeak and large raids).

[Shannow]

I'll join, I'll take a new motherboard as a signing bonus 'k? :P

[Rodent]

So I figured I should download the game and try it out, what server/side are you all playing?

[Zetleft]

Emerald TR, I know alot of the others around here were on the same server back before the whole corp/f13 drama.

[Slayerik]

Emerald TR...ew.

[Rodent]

Emerald it is then. I could've sworn everyone here played Vanu though. Heh ah well.

[Slayerik]

Vanu for teh win! Join us!

[Rodent]

Ack... Vanu... TR...

Atleast everyone's on Emerald right?

[Zetleft]

It has been said TR is planetside on hard mode.  Hell you can make characters on TR and VS side on the same server, you just can't play them both within 12 hours of each other.   And yes Markov just sucks ass, don't go there.

[Slayerik]

It used to be said that Vanu was PS on Hard mode, but since then we have conquered the world and now usually have very good pops.

The reason TR = Hard mode is because of crap CR5s

[WonderBrick]

Vanu for the win!  Damn, things must have changed alot.  Vanu used to suck ass when I played(as Vanu).

[geldonyetich]

Yeah, for a long time Vanu had the short end of the stick, but their energy weapons recieved several buffs and now they're pretty decent.    I don't really think TR is the hardest to play - those cyclers and mini-chainguns have a big margin of error you can get away with.   Although I don't envy their Prowlers at all.. perhaps the BFRs will fix TR's heavy vehicle problem.   Come to think of it, their MAX kinda suck too.. okay, perhaps TR is somewhat gimped.

Anyway, I play Vanu on Markov.  I've a year old character there, simply named Geldon.   I'm not sure what makes Emerald better - but being a west coaster, Markov is a little advantagous to my ping.

[shiznitz]

I am on Emerald-TR occasionally as MrJoshua. I re-subbed last week.

The 10 hack thing to get a BFR is stupid. People will just swap hacks one night.

[chinslim]

I resubbed last month and let it run out.  It's fun for a few weeks, and then you get bored again.  I guess there's always something to complain about, despite all the improvements, and my complaint is it takes too long to recert.  Why even bother with 24 hours at all?

Oh yeah, if you had an old toon and discover it wiped when you resub, you can /appeal and the CSR's will restore your old toon within 5-10 minutes.

Despite the changes, Vanus(I'm on Emerald VS too) are still all about zerging over the top with mags, and then zerg dying en masse indoors until the generators are finally blown.

[Sky]

;)

[Krakrok]

Krakrok
Stoneburner
MoldyRottenFruit

Vanu on Markov.

[WonderBrick]

Does anyone had any urls to good Planetside info websites? I am looking for something along the lines of what Stratics/UOPG is to UO, so I can cram as much mass/advanced knowledge into my brain as possible, for every aspect of the game. This includes the finer points that change Publish to Publish.

Many thanks

Also, as a side note, I have really odd hours, and a solo playstyle, but I am looking for a good Emerald/Vanu(I think) crew to join. Teamspeak/Vent is a must.

[Slayerik]

http://ps.warriornation.net/index_files/page0019.html

http://psforums.station.sony.com/ps/board/message?board.id=psstrategy&message.id=4796&jump=true&no_redir=true



Lotsa good map and strategies...and they happen to be playing our movie on the front page! Pop over to gotr.net if and see if we are the type of players you're lookin for.