Skirmish Islands?

[BadAsh]

I have an idea for Zerg free smaller skirmish style combat options within the game and I think it would be relatively easy to implement. I�d just add an Island next to each of the main continents and add a few bases to it. Each would have a name with �minor� following and maintain the same environmental atmosphere on each one it to keep it simple (e.g. Searhus Minor would be the Island Associated with Searhus and would have a volcanic environment; Ishundar Minor would have a green forest style environment, etc.). Here would be the rules/conditions:

1. Island size = 1/3rd of an average continent size
2. Pop lock of 1 platoon size (30 players) per empire
3. 3 *super bases on the island only
4. 1 tower per base and a few random air towers spread around the Island.
5. 1 always active geo warp
6. No warp gates so the only access is through drop pods or the 1 geo warp
7 Islands can not have a continental lock if everything is owned by 1 empire

*Super bases have a random base layout or design but have all of the benefits of all base types. So if you have one base you have Amp Station, Lattice Link, Drop Ship, Tech Plant, and Bio Laboratory benefits). My original thought for Islands was to have 1 of each of the 5 base types, but then this would just turn into a skirmish for control of the Tech Facility and not much else.

The goal of Island Design is to allow smaller battles to rage on and on without the inevitable Zerg horde showing up for one side and ending the good fight. Play testing would help determine the total Island population locks. I figured that 30 for each empire would sound about right for starters. And the number of islands is important as well. I�m not sure how many the Server Worlds could support. There would be no point in having 10 Islands if half of them were always empty.

If island fighting became popular it would take players away from the typical continental Zergs and make fighting on the Continents more fun as well.

Thoughts? Comments? Flames?

[Cryptica]

Well...yeah, but why not just another full-sized continent? It's not really a BAD idea, I just don't think it would do any good. The most action I've ever seen is one pop-locked continent. I don't think it's necessary right now, but maybe if we get LOTS more people playing.

[MuNsTeR]

:nod:

[BadAsh]

Well...yeah, but why not just another full-sized continent? It's not really a BAD idea, I just don't think it would do any good. The most action I've ever seen is one pop-locked continent. I don't think it's necessary right now, but maybe if we get LOTS more people playing.

The idea here is to have a Zerg free fight. Another continent would just be another place to Zerg so that would do no good. Unless you are suggesting 1 low pop lock continent, but then the land mass is rather large for the fewer players allowed. Hence my thought about adding a few islands. Smaller but concentrated battles are the goal here.

Some of the best fights I have ever been in were fights between 2-3 squads battling over a single base... but eventually one side Zergs and it's all over. Also there are MANY players who suffer the 2-8 FPS system performance during most continental Zerg battles. This would allow for smaller Zerg-free and lag-free battles.

Oh and I forgot one thing...

8. No link required to hack any of the bases. Otherwise with the absence of warp gates one empire would take all 3 bases and there would be no links to hack anything except the link from the Caverns. Since many players don't have CC, this would not be fair to only allow links from the caverns to attack an Island that all 3 bases are in enemy control.

[Cryptica]

Strikes me as very CTF from tribes or some such game

[EVILoHOMER]

personally i think thats aload of ****! this games made for big battles! if u want smaller battles come on at 4am

[Deadlock]

i think its a great idea... but with the population of ps there'd have to be many of those islands to fill the demand for smaller fights, but thats tech stuff that could be worked out later.

i miss having squad on squad battles. those are a hell of alot better than zergs bashing heads. they actually take thought and planning.

i know theres probably alot of people that disagree with me and like the large zergings, somedays even i prefer that, but in that the beauty of this idea is found. you could pick your preference.

[BadAsh]

but with the population of ps there'd have to be many of those islands to fill the demand for smaller fights, but thats tech stuff that could be worked out later.

Yeah, I hear people talinkg about loving smaller fights all the time, but I have no idea how many people would actually be wanting a smaller skirmish over a larger battle at any given time. This is something that would just have to be tracked and Islands added or removed as needed. I do know there is a pretty large demand for something like this in the game.

i know theres probably alot of people that disagree with me and like the large zergings, somedays even i prefer that, but in that the beauty of this idea is found. you could pick your preference.

Exactly, I don't see why those who prefer squad warefare and those who prefer massive horde warfare can't play the same game. You can pick to travel to an Island, Contenent, or Cavern to suit your style or mood.

Also, I'd also prefer if they just left the geo-warps open 24/7 and let everyone go in them. Leave the AT weps and vehicle use restrictions to those who purchased the CC expansion, but let every one else travel down, fight, and gather modules for surface bases. The caverns are pretty cool to fight in when there are actually enemies down there.

[321]

Maybe we could have a outfit battles on some of the small islands and the first team that loses all it's members loses and people won't be allowed to respawn.

[KIAsan]

Why do you pay for PS????? PS is designed as a MASSIVE multiplayer game. If you long for a game restricted to 60 people, then you need to get another game (or by CC and head to the caverns). :lol:

[321]

(or by CC and head to the caverns). :lol:

:lol:
But the caverns will soon be populated I mean I saw some hotspots the last time I logged in inside of the caverns and I haven't seen that in a while and it was in both open caverns.

[SkunkPunk]

nice idea, i want to have your children!

[BadAsh]

Why do you pay for PS????? PS is designed as a MASSIVE multiplayer game. If you long for a game restricted to 60 people, then you need to get another game (or by CC and head to the caverns). :lol:

I hear this argument all the time, but honestly when I hit 3 FPS during a huge Zerg I can't say that PS delivered on the massive battle thing. Also the way pop locks were managed one empire will have 60% of the continent's pop when the lock goes into effect... so... that's not to my liking either...

The game engine does pretty well with less than 100 players... hence my idea for 30 player limit per empire on Islands... that would be 90 not 60 (30x3=90).

Also most other FPS games offer deathmatch and CTF style play, and I'm worn on that. PS delivers game play variety that is just not seen in other games. SOE scored big points with me in many areas. Zerg management just happens to NOT be one of them. I'd like an alternative to lop sided lag fest style ZERGS.

[aiwest420]

I :love: non-zerg battles, i think this would own.
We've needed some special conts for platoon/squad vs platoon/squad action for a long time.

[Firefly]

I saw some hotspots the last time I logged in inside of the caverns and I haven't seen that in a while
That's because TR squads went down there and killed everyone, then sent them all /tells saying "Come back with some friends". Then we found some NC and VS commanders and asked them to bring some firepower downstairs.

Some outfits are working on plans to "schedule" a Cavern brawl for the Emer-reid server.

[EarlyDawn]

Yeah, just a continent or even cross-empire VR where two superbases go at it on a map Tribes 2 sized would be great.

[apachepilotpat]

this is a good idea. if you dont want small battles dont play on the islands. definatly no warp gates but maybe planes could fly there

[Incompetent]

What tactical benifit comes from holding these islands? I think the caverns proved all to well that unless there is a damn good reason to hold something, noone is going too bother. And if it's too important everyone is going to be bitching because they're constantly pop locked and/or the main continents would be underpopulated.

Even then it's probably laid out wrong, it would be better if there were only two bases, with NO benifits, without towers, and you have to jockey over several control bunkers around the center of the map which provide sensors, equipment/med terminals and static heavy weapons (mortars, recoilless rifles, flak guns ect.), but not spawns. Then bump the pop cap up to to maybe 40 or 50 each with a maximum of 80/100. Around the fringes of the island they could possibly put spawn points to aid in gaining a foothold, but they would be open and extremely hard to defend, generally really crappy places to spawn.

Restrict vehicles to only non-tech vehicles on all islands and have some which have other limitations (although all should allow the purchase of AMSs.) Place a building with spawn/rearm at the center (basically just a tower with a new layout.) and the empire that holds it projects benifits back the the linked continent. And make it so you have to teleport to the island, so no bringing in vehicles from outside.

Edit: The bases should be a new custom design which heavily favor defenders, and have the same 15 minute hack timer as normal if your empire controls another base on the island. HOWEVER, if your empire does not control a base AND the same empire controls the two already on the island, they switch after only 3 minutes.