Give me defense

[gonnagetyou]

The one thing I want to see implemented most is better defensive structure to bases. I want to feel like I'm in a castle and the enemies going to have to use their brains to get in.

The bases in this game have no significant defensive elements. Assaulting forces have all the advantages and there simply isn't anything to balance that out. I can't remeber the last time I saw a major base assault fail.

Start by adding some form of protection to the gates. One idea is to put up a forcefield that only allows friendlies to pass through, similar to the warpgate fields. Give it a seperate generator located in the courtyard so it can be either equally defended or destroyed if not.

I realize this would make it extremely hard for someone going solo to get in, so my idea for a new cert would be a one use jump pack that costs 1 cert point and only allows someone in agile or standard armor to jump to the top of the wall. While jumping you can't shoot, because it takes both hands to control the jets.

Large base assaults would then feel more like a siege as enemy troops try to scale the walls and friendlies try to knock them back down. It'll probably never happen, but sounds fun.

The back door should only be accessible from the inside. Who in their right mind would make that thing available to everyone at anytime? This one has bugged me since Beta, but if I'm not mistaken they are going to make it perform this way in an upcoming patch, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

The turrets are another weak area that could be improved. I like their firepower, but it's just too easy to destroy them. Perhaps they could be given a shield just like vehicles will be getting and as long as you control an AMP station they will automatically recharge. I don't know if this would really help, but it would be easier to implement than a complete redesign of the turrets look and function.

Spitefires should be allowed in doors the same way clampturrets are in Tribes. It doesn't take much to take them out, but it would help the defense slightly and force assaulting forces to take more care when penetrating the interior of the base.

These ideas are some of the easier ones I can see being implemented. Defending forces are typically smaller than their opponents and it would be nice to see them be given some tools to accomplish their job.

[Happy lil Elf]

Yeah, beses in PS are designed rather poorly from a defensive perspective. I don't know that this is something that will change though, although I definately wish it would.

[UnoShot]

I agree with you fully, those ideas would make the game 10x more interesting. Another thing they need to add is a sort of system that will give defenders exp. Maybe something like, the second battle starts within a base's SOI, a timer starts (SOE's choice of time) and if the base is not hacked within that time, then the defenders are awarded exp. Amount of exp would depend on the number of attackers, just like a normall cap but in reverse. As of now, nobody wants to defend a base (except for a tech plant now and then) because it is almost always a losing battle, and there is no exp bonus if you succeed. Empires are just on a giant merry-go-round with eachother, taking bases from one another over and over. It would be great to not have to be on the front line 24/7 to even hope to get some decent exp. We need exp for tactical moves, like blowing or defending generators. Would make infiltraitors fit their name much better. Right now they are just weak half-invisable guys running around in the crossfire hoping they don't get shot.

[Drinky]

Leave the back door open (and its not completly open, it has the IFF) and a forcefield on the gates would be perfect. Or the force field on the gate drains nanites and has an on/off switch somewhere, thats how the gates in medieval castles were generally used, only closed during a attack. I think the 2 wide open main gates are a much bigger liability than the back door, more than 10 people or so trying to get in that back door at once and that hallway turns into a death trap.

Another thread brough up the idea of AV turrents. I'm thinking rocket turrents would be cool. Although the real issue, I think, is that infantry overuns a base too quick.

[STEALTHKILLER]

now i didnt read the whole post*2 long* i think he mines should have the lock out radius of a boomer IF u could place them INDOORS. they would have the NORMAL lockout raidus when placed OUTDOORS

[gonnagetyou]

Originally posted by STEALTHKILLER
now i didnt read the whole post*2 long* i think he mines should have the lock out radius of a boomer IF u could place them INDOORS. they would have the NORMAL lockout raidus when placed OUTDOORS

Too long? :huh: You're joking, right?

After trying to read and understand the rest of your post I think I understand why.:rolleyes:

[noxious]

Originally posted by UnoShot
... Another thing they need to add is a sort of system that will give defenders exp. Maybe something like, the second battle starts within a base's SOI, a timer starts (SOE's choice of time) and if the base is not hacked within that time, then the defenders are awarded exp. Amount of exp would depend on the number of attackers, just like a normall cap but in reverse. ...

I like this idea. I thought of base defence exp, but my idea was simply to award 50% extra exp for kills within a friendly SOI (number would have to be tweaked, that may be too high), the timer idea seems like a much more sound implementation. I like it :)))

[Searo]

I suggested a x2 multi to all kills, and then the kills went into a pool which was awarded when the defender stepped out of the SOI.
I two turrets per base should become Guardian Turrets.
The Guardian has the normal Phalanx system, and 4 rocket tubes packing Firebird rockets. With 4 tubes over the Reaver's 2, it would be able to effectively launch salvos to do more damage.

These missiles are unguided, same firepower as a Reaver, only autofires on Air Units and Heavy Vehicles, and can only fire 8 before the tubes need to reload, which takes a couple seconds.
They have a limited supply, which inches towards a max of 250, and when that limit is reached they stop increasing. 1 missile every thirty seconds would be good.

It takes 6-7 seconds to switch between Phalanx and Guardian modes, in which the turret takes 1.5 extra damage due to core components being exposed.

Also, turrets need a higher fire angle. Reavers can just stay out of range and blast your puny turret to smithereens.

[Phaden]

I love the better angle idea. I think the missle turrets might need a lock on missle. No one right now seems to repsect turrets. Im not saying pimp them out Hardcore, but just a guided anti air missle that has maybe a 10-20 sec reload rate? I dont want to debate exact specs, im just throwing out an idea.

[WritheNC]

I think if you are defending, you should get exp in squads like you did in late beta.

If you killed a max solo(provided the max was alive for a certain amount of time), you got 300 exp.

If you killed a max in a 10 person squad in beta, you got 300 exp.

Exp shouldn't be divided at all for every kill a squad makes while in the SOI of a base they control, and as long as the base isn't hacked and has a working generator.

As for the backdoor, it should only be able to be opened from the inside. That would make another reasonable objective for invaders aside from spawn tubes and gens. Even if you don't have advanced hacking, it only takes 5 seconds.

[noxious]

WritheNC's idea is pretty good.

I don't like the idea of boosting the turrets. I think the game is about player to player combat, not player versus automated turret combat. As it is now I don't mind the turrets too much, they only force enemy vehicles to be careful, but if automated turrets could effectively destroy vehicles, then I would be unhappy.

[Phaden]

Im suggesting the turrets would only get the buff when a player is inside. I dont know about you, but i actually enjoy manning a turret, quite a bit. An angle increase would be great and missles would even the battle against a reaver wuite a bit.

[Flammey]

This is kinda off subject, but one thing I'd like to see implimented is the ability for the player carrying the LLU to be able to pass it off to another player, without first dying. I say this sort of in ignorance, because I am pretty sure you can't pass the LLU now. My reasoning is, if your the only player in the SOI that can drive, and you want to be able to drive your LLU to the Latice base, you should be able to pass it off and then you can drive that person. You get the same exp for the LLU weither you carry it or not. The LLU is really all about teamwork. Of course, my idea might turn PS into a, kind of, futuristic Football game. Only the defenders and attackers have guns, not their own bodies to block with.

As for the defensive ideas, they show promise. I too want to see at least the turrets get some tweaking to make them better. They are too weak against soldiers, or they seem to be. As for backdoors, I don't know what to think. When I go solo, I'm usually in reinforced. Sometimes I go the BD, sometimes I use the catwalks, and sometimes I take the FD. It just depends on what weapons I am toting.

[Drinky]

This is kinda off subject, but one thing I'd like to see implimented is the ability for the player carrying the LLU to be able to pass it off to another player, without first dying.

I think I saw a key mapping for a "drop LLU" key in the options. I think its unmapped by default. I'm very unsure of this.

Someone may have put somthing in my crack.

[Indecisive]

This is kinda off subject, but one thing I'd like to see implimented is the ability for the player carrying the LLU to be able to pass it off to another player, without first dying. I say this sort of in ignorance, because I am pretty sure you can't pass the LLU now. My reasoning is, if your the only player in the SOI that can drive, and you want to be able to drive your LLU to the Latice base, you should be able to pass it off and then you can drive that person. You get the same exp for the LLU weither you carry it or not. The LLU is really all about teamwork. Of course, my idea might turn PS into a, kind of, futuristic Football game. Only the defenders and attackers have guns, not their own bodies to block with.


yup its in and defaults as not being maped. Its the last entry, but i forget which tab. maybe soilder?


btw mine is mapped as l

[Nimbus]

I like the gate idea. I say that the gates should prevent EVERYBODY from going through though. Standard force field. It should be operable from the inside via a switch (I'm thinking maybe you should have a CR requirement on it so you don't have idiots flipping the switch for S&Gs). This is basically so that if a team is defending a hack it still works. The force field should drain nanites as suggested but I think that it should use the same generator as the rest of the base.

I've always been for increasing turrets abilities when manned.

[TheRagingGerbil]

My ideal base...

1) Add 2 AA Turrets to each base. Flak that can reach the flight ceiling is a necessity. Auto mode would have a much slower refire rate then if they were manned.


2) Add a "Kill Box" turret just inside the main door of every base. Would only fire if it were manned.


3) Add IFF locks to every external door. The main base already has them, but they should be added to the wall staircase doors as well. There is nothing worse then a Pounder running into the base and straight up onto the wall only to rain death down on the defenders.


4) Add staircases (ladders would be the shiz) to allow access to roof areas of all the bases. Hot dropped maxes camping the roof are a real pain.


5) Elevate the bases, courtyards and everything, 10 - 15 meters above the ground. Create ramps leading down from all the base entrances.


6) Elevate the bunkers about 20 meters above the ground. Extend the entrance tunnels to inside the courtyard. By doing this with many of the bases current designs, plus my elevation wish, would create awesome choke points at all the base entrances.


7) Add blast-doors to the back door entrance. Mass damage required to open it, similar to the damage required to bring down the generator. The door will open for an enemy if they come at it from the inside and hack the IFF.


8) Add elevated platforms, same level as the top of the walls, for tanks and other vehicles to drive up on. This would give them an advantage to shoot from the safety of the base.

[Liquidtide]

I'll tell you something I would like to see to help defense.

1) if you are in the SOI of a base the a door get's hacked open a warning should pop up saying, "IFF disabled on <base> door" this would let you know that you are not alone.

2) going with the force field idea a little more practicle. Make a "front door" to the court yard but only about 6 feet high, but with gaps large enough for troops and maybe ATVs in. This would stop magmowing in my own CY. Let anyone open the door from the inside, but you have to disable it to open it if you don't own the base. This would then allow you to let your tanks in but you have to penetrate with troops first.

just my 50 cents.

~Tide

[Happy lil Elf]

I've thought about the blast door idea myself. Only disadvantage I can see is unless vehicles cannot shoot the doors directly they'll pose no real obsticle. All you'd need is a medium tank or, hell, even a Lightning/Sunderer and that blast door is gone.

[Phaden]

I love the force field ideas presented here, speciialy the using ntu and connected to generator. This would require squads to protect it ALOT more than normal. I love all the other idea like the 2 flak cannonc with reach to those damn libs thatalways kill all the people waiting at vehic terminal. Also the turret inside the wall is cool idea.

I think that defending should be givven a little more help and attacking, a little more strategy. Vanu would obviously be able to jump the walls, but i think thats cool. Im not sure how good a blast door would work for back door as like previously mentioned, a vanguard will drop it damn scarely quick. I know there was somewhat officla talk about making BD hackable only from inside. I think these are great ideas and hope that someine is watching.

[noxious]

Some well thought idea's here. I espically like the force fields, back door being hackable from inside only (which are basically features to be) and the elevated base idea. The last one is the only one that I have not heard before and think could work well.

[Phaden]

I just thought of something kinda cool, but im not sure it would work.

When a turret is being manned, i think it would be intresting if there was some kind of DL "flashlight/searchlight" that was toggle able. You would only be able to use it when in not zoom form. It would go farther than normal DL and people outdies the turret would see it too. Like i said, i dont know how you could implement it, just that i was thinkin off a night fighting battle with spotlights you had to avoid.

I know im prob just gonna get flamed by the stealthers saying that they have it hard enough as it is, and i will retort in advance: not everyon is a stealther as it is harder and takes more finnesse. If you dont like it then do something else.

[noxious]

I wouldn't mind making things harder for stealthers. Throughout beta I built stealthers almost exclusively. I don't like them anymore, in my opinion there are far too many. If there were less, it might make it fun again.