Left Planetside a long time ago. Is it worth returning?

[Shadowsword8]

I stopped playing just after shields for vehicles were introduced, and just after Core Combat, because at my playing hours the European server (Werner, I think, don't remember) was fairly low populated, with usually almost every players concentrated on one or two continents, bringing a continental lock.

I didn't wanted to pay to wait in a queue, and crossing an empty continent isn't fun either.
In the "bad memories" category, I also remember that damn chamber spawning, the lasher abusers...

I tried a few others MMORGS, and liked most of them, but sometimes when I look at Planetside I still miss something.

So the big question I want to ask you is: How does it has changed?

I heard disturbing rumors saying that it was now just a huge Doom-like, just lots of CR5 using their OS as if it were just another frag making weapon.
Speaking of weapons, I also heard that one of the expansion weapons (maelstrom?) was wildly unbalanced against most enemies.

BFR: They're big, they're looks good, they're impressive, but balanced?
From what I read on some forums, they have AI,AV weapons on thier base version, a shield making them almost immune to AV weapons, more armor than a Prowler, can siphon armor and energy from their enemies, can be used by soloers...all that in one package! Even if the idea of a mech is thrilling, I don't want every other vehicles to become obsolete.
If I fancy mech fests, I'll play Mechwarrior...

I don't know if I should buy Aftershock and give to Planetside a second try, or just turn the page and be done with it.

Your opinion?

[Hamorad]

I think its gotten better

[GreyFlcn]

Why not find out for yourself:
How about a 7 day trial (http://cmt.ubisoft.fr/planetside_pcgamer/) and an installer (http://www.greyfalcon.net/psinstall.exe)?

Me I can't play because of school issues, but I sure as hell wish I could.

Heres a taste of the changes:
Beamer no longer sucks!

[ORANGE]

BFR's are gonna screw the game, if you haven't been on test yet I recomend you try putting a squad of your guys against even just one BFR it doesn't turn out too pretty and BFR v. BFR combat takes forever and I just can't wait to see how many of these there will turn out to be when the patch comes in game because you know everyone will want one right away and those that don't really will be like I just got OMFGPWNT by a BFR I'm gonna go cert in one and the cycle will perpetuate itself, there are some fairly obvious fixes to the problems that I hope the devs notice and fix, until then I'm gonna assume they are competent enough to see them on their own

EDIT: Yeah so I say wait until shortly after BFR's are released and not everyone and his brother has one

[Ducimus]

By all means try the 7day trail linked above, but after reading your post, i get the distinct impression you wouldnt be in PS for very long.

[Warborn]

BFR's are gonna screw the game, if you haven't been on test yet I recomend you try putting a squad of your guys against even just one BFR it doesn't turn out too pretty and BFR v. BFR combat takes forever and I just can't wait to see how many of these there will turn out to be when the patch comes in game because you know everyone will want one right away and those that don't really will be like I just got OMFGPWNT by a BFR I'm gonna go cert in one and the cycle will perpetuate itself, there are some fairly obvious fixes to the problems that I hope the devs notice and fix, until then I'm gonna assume they are competent enough to see them on their own

Incredibly, this was all one sentence.

Also, BFRs aren't done being balanced. They're much more killable after the latest patch, and having actual infantry support does help a fair amount. Furthermore, a squad of guys against one BFR is an incredibly vague statement. A squad of what guys? With what weapons? In what sort of terrain? In a base, a squad of guys will be able to take down a BFR. In the open, they won't. Same goes for fighting tanks. Infantry will always be at the mercy of heavy combat vehicles. But the good news is that even if your squad can't take down the BFR, they'll certainly be able to do enough system damage to it to hamper its effectiveness a significant amount. Honestly, I think fighting BFRs is a ton of fun for just that reason. Cat and mouse around a base, popping out to hopefully damage a component or drop their shields, is really cool. Much more exciting than fighting masses of reavers and tanks.

[ORANGE]

thats why I commented on the fact that I believe the devs are actually quite competent, and yes I know, one sentence screw punctuation, viva la revolucion de antidisestablishment committee on un-american activities

[Apocolypse55]

Try the trial, have some fun. If you still like it and feel that it's worth paying for, Well, there is your answer.

[Rbstr]

It's defintnely gotten better, and teh BFR unballencement will not be teh huge problem that it was, as not everyone nad there mom will have one liek on the test server.

[Kam]

All of you realize that you have to buy both expansions to get the BFR, right? BFR arent coming in a patch, it's a seperate expansion that requires CC. Looks like I'll have to buy both now...

[JetRaiden]

Yes.

[Eldanesh]

All of you realize that you have to buy both expansions to get the BFR, right? BFR arent coming in a patch, it's a seperate expansion that requires CC. Looks like I'll have to buy both now...


No, it isn't.

BFR's are a free upgrade to PS/CC, PS: Aftershock is a re-release of PS that bundles CC and PS into a cheaper package and will not require a massive download.

[Indecisive]

Indeed. Kam = wrong.

[Rbstr]

Indeed. Kam = wrong.
QFT

[Hayoo]

All of you realize that you have to buy both expansions to get the BFR, right? BFR arent coming in a patch, it's a seperate expansion that requires CC. Looks like I'll have to buy both now...

*/me sighs and shakes head* You got your information second-hand, didn't you. Mind if I re-write what you said?

"All of you realize that you don't have to buy a new expansion to get the BFR, right? BFR are coming in a patch that's part of the Core Combat expansion. Looks like you don't have to buy anything if you already have Planetside and CC..."

There, that's better, isn't it? Because that one is true. Read the Dev Tracker (http://psforums.station.sony.com/ps/board/message?board.id=psnews&message.id=1906#M1906)!! Aftershock is the name they're giving to the bundle that includes PS and CC. If you have both already you don't need to buy Aftershock. I repeat, if you already have Core Combat you don't need to buy **** to get BFRs.

[Shadowsword8]

Thanks for the Infos. I just downloaded the game, and I'm going to see...

[Kam]

Son of a bitch. You can't trust anyone these days. That's the last time I listen to someone in-game.

[TeraHertz]

I'd say it's worth another look yes. If you're NC, you will cry though. They got smacked into line. No more uber soldat NC :)

[Kam]

All I've ever known is the Nc getting raped... :(

[Electrofreak]

BFR's are gonna screw the game, if you haven't been on test yet I recomend you try putting a squad of your guys against even just one BFR it doesn't turn out too pretty and BFR v. BFR combat takes forever and I just can't wait to see how many of these there will turn out to be when the patch comes in game because you know everyone will want one right away and those that don't really will be like I just got OMFGPWNT by a BFR I'm gonna go cert in one and the cycle will perpetuate itself, there are some fairly obvious fixes to the problems that I hope the devs notice and fix, until then I'm gonna assume they are competent enough to see them on their own

EDIT: Yeah so I say wait until shortly after BFR's are released and not everyone and his brother has one
dude, you're a moron. I took out a Colossus 1 on 1 with a Deci. Its called getting under his shield and fucking him over with the AV rocket of death. Let me count the ways to kill a BFR.

1. Sniping out its shields with MA through the shield or a sniper rifle then using AV to pound it until it 'splodes.

2. Bypassing the whole shield problem by sneaking up on / hot dropping onto / jumping over a wall so that you are right behind the BFR, and using a Deci (like I did), to take out his shield gen and cause him severe pain.

3. Radiator. Its not hard. You shoot the BFR. He runs or he dies. If you can corner him and keep nailing him, hes dead.

4. Orbital Strike. Wait until the guy is busy sitting still shooting something, and then blow his ass to kingdom come with the beam from above.

5. Jammer the fucker until he cannot move. EMP blasts work best, but Jammers also slow these behemoths to a crawl. A good idea to hit him with EMP before attempting any of the above.

6. Mines and spitfires. Mines hurt BFRs. Spits shoot them through shields and cause them to spend their valuable time (while you're killing them with any of the above techniques) locating and destroying the spit pecking away at them.

7. 12mm weapons. Go right through shields. Yep, they take a while, but given time, and enough of them, you can mess the bastards up. Especially if you hit that shield gen enough. For the record, the Lightning, Harasser, Maurader and Mosquito (recommended) have 12mm guns.

8. Liberator bombing. BFRs are slow and unwieldy. And they suffer from a shower of bombs just like anything else. 1 Lib can cause a WHOLE lot of BFRs pain and suffering, especially if they are boxed in by a base courtyard. The size of their shield makes them easy to hit even from flight ceiling, and they can't really hide under catwalks. (Their shield is too big and most catwalks are too low.)

The techniques above, combined with the fact that BFR requires 10 Cavern base hacks of 1000 xp or more, 5 cert points total, and a 45 minute timer, and some hefty kill requirements to get Adv. BFR is why PlanetSide won't turn into MechSide like it did on the Test Server.

As to the original poster, PlanetSide has changed in a LOT of ways since you left. Its really impossible to explain it all, the best way is to give the trial a shot and see for yourself.

[Hezzy]

dude, you're a moron. I took out a Colossus 1 on 1 with a Deci. Its called getting under his shield and fucking him over with the AV rocket of death. Let me count the ways to kill a BFR. Doesn't work anymore

1. Sniping out its shields with MA through the shield or a sniper rifle then using AV to pound it until it 'splodes.You're assuming the BFR won't shoot back at you and WTFPWN you to high heaven

2. Bypassing the whole shield problem by sneaking up on / hot dropping onto / jumping over a wall so that you are right behind the BFR, and using a Deci (like I did), to take out his shield gen and cause him severe pain. Doesn't work

3. Radiator. Its not hard. You shoot the BFR. He runs or he dies. If you can corner him and keep nailing him, hes dead. You're assuming the BFR won't shoot back at you and WTFPWN you to high heaven

4. Orbital Strike. Wait until the guy is busy sitting still shooting something, and then blow his ass to kingdom come with the beam from above. Not everyone is CR5

5. Jammer the fucker until he cannot move. EMP blasts work best, but Jammers also slow these behemoths to a crawl. A good idea to hit him with EMP before attempting any of the above. Needs more than one person to work

6. Mines and spitfires. Mines hurt BFRs. Spits shoot them through shields and cause them to spend their valuable time (while you're killing them with any of the above techniques) locating and destroying the spit pecking away at them. Valid point

7. 12mm weapons. Go right through shields. Yep, they take a while, but given time, and enough of them, you can mess the bastards up. Especially if you hit that shield gen enough. For the record, the Lightning, Harasser, Maurader and Mosquito (recommended) have 12mm guns. You're assuming the BFR won't shoot back at you and WTFPWN you to high heaven

8. Liberator bombing. BFRs are slow and unwieldy. And they suffer from a shower of bombs just like anything else. 1 Lib can cause a WHOLE lot of BFRs pain and suffering, especially if they are boxed in by a base courtyard. The size of their shield makes them easy to hit even from flight ceiling, and they can't really hide under catwalks. (Their shield is too big and most catwalks are too low.) You're assuming the BFR won't shoot back at you and WTFPWN you to high heaven

The techniques above, combined with the fact that BFR requires 10 Cavern base hacks of 1000 xp or more, 5 cert points total, and a 45 minute timer, and some hefty kill requirements to get Adv. BFR is why PlanetSide won't turn into MechSide like it did on the Test Server.

As to the original poster, PlanetSide has changed in a LOT of ways since you left. Its really impossible to explain it all, the best way is to give the trial a shot and see for yourself.

Some valid points there. But there's no reason to go into a hissy fit and call him a moron.

[Eldanesh]

Some valid points there. But there's no reason to go into a hissy fit and call him a moron.

Still, I don't think its possible to predict how they will really affect gameflow, but the change should be interesting.

Running around in a bfr on test gave me an idea of how it can suck to be infantry swarmed:

I was running around in my AV/AV flight peregrine, it was in the searhus crater, and I jumped over the shielded wall of ngaru, and started blowing up magrider/ whatever else.
It started out as just one jammer, but as more and more different infantry kept hitting me from all around (inside a CY, mind you) there is no way you can kill them before they duck back and heal, and there is no way you can continue to function while being the biggest and easiest target to hit.
It takes 3 rounds of pere av/av fire to kill an infantry, thats 5 shots, and more than enough time for a jammer to mess your shield and turning or for another guy to start hitting you shield while you are turned.

Obviously, I was kinda stuck inside, so I jumped out, and started autorunning. I had taken a considerable amount of armor damage, and a couple mosquitos continued to chase me. There is really nowhere you can hide, and those 12mms can really add up, especially when the only means to shoot them down is to track them with a slow firing, slow turning gun.


But hey, one of the limiting factors of BFR's beyond getting them is their weapons. You can only pick 2, and by splitting between two types you hamper yourself for both by doubling your TTK.

BFR's are not ment to be solo'ed, but they can be if presented with a situation they cannot deal with, which a large portion of the time is going to be by infantry. Even 3-4 infantry can mess with a non AI BFR to the point of driving it away and/or killing it. To expect to be able to rambo it with your rexo/striker is silly.

[Salazar]

I always find myself coming back for a period of time, then leaving. PS just can't keep me interested. I played from April to July '03. And then from March to July this year. I tried doing the 7 day trial thinking maybe it would get me interested again... nope. PS is an entertaining game, but not one I can see playing for a couple of years.