Empire-specific aircraft?

[Vicentegrad]

Anyone else think there will be empire-specific aircraft for use sometime in the future?

If so, what type do you think it'll be? Anti-air? Ground support?

I'm leaning toward an anti-air fighter (although hopefully the game doesn't devolve into some crappy MMO-flight sim)

The TR aircraft would keep with the rapid fire school of thought and be equipped with four rapid fire cannons. It would have good speed with okay handling

just speculation, but ne have ideas for the other empire craft?

[Kyonye]

the game is based off of ground fighting and putting more aircrafts in the game, kind of destroys the point of ground combat. if anything, they would put in more vehicle, weapons, implants and stuff like that instead of aircrafts. yes it is possible but not as likely as we all think.

[MrVulcan]

I think that Empire-specific aircraft are the only major thing this game is missing, I mean there are Empire-specific everything else, why not aircraft? I would be happy with a fighter, or bomber, or anything, but I think that they are needed.

[Kyonye]

they are not needed. like i said, so many people want to fly when this is a mostly ground combat game. we don't need it. i'd rather them add new implants, weapons, and ground vehicles to the game. i mean, i want them as much as anyone else does but i don't see the point.

[mikkyT]

This game has empire specific vehicles, no doubt tehre will be empire specific planes too...

[Vicentegrad]

I dont want aircraft either. I believe we already have enough as it is, but it'd be a bit foolish to assume there won't be an empire-specific aircraft

having said that, how about some speculation to what the addition may be

[Big Bro]

I'm with some of you that I don't want to see a sky full of n00b pilots when the real war is being won inside a facility that is under attack. I do have to take exception that I DO want to see Empire specific aircraft, though.

Each empire seems to have its own weaknesses and strengths. This is evident in the weapons and vehicles we know about so far. I don't see where aircraft should be an exception. I'm with MrVulcan on that one.

Also, I think aircraft will play an important SUPPORT role. I see them patrolling the areas surrounding facilities and performing recon missions. I don't think it's fair to say more aircraft will "destroy the point of ground combat". Ground troops will need air support and maybe a little bit more stealth when performing their missions is all. I think it's a good thing.

[Kyonye]

they'll create common fighters probably. they'll be empire specific of course. TR's will put out as many bullets as possible, NC's wil be very powerful weapons, and VS's will be shooting lasers. my guess is TR will be anti-infantry, NC will be anti-vehicle, and VS i'm not to sure about.

[Squeeky]

I think empire specific aircraft is expansion, not patch material

[MrVulcan]

Squeeky, sorry, but I dont agree with you on that one, I mean if they made an expansion for every added weapon and vech, they would have expansions ever couple of weeks, or just not add stuff but once every 6 months. A vehicle or two for download will be patch sized material im sure. *could be wrong, but I do not see a MMO w/o extra stuff being added from time to time.

I think that MAJOR things, jsut sea would be an expansion, but not for 3 aircrafts

[OmnipotentKiwi]

Originally posted by MrVulcan
Squeeky, sorry, but I dont agree with you on that one, I mean if they made an expansion for every added weapon and vech, they would have expansions ever couple of weeks, or just not add stuff but once every 6 months. A vehicle or two for download will be patch sized material im sure. *could be wrong, but I do not see a MMO w/o extra stuff being added from time to time.

I think that MAJOR things, jsut sea would be an expansion, but not for 3 aircrafts

It could be patched, but if they added an aircraft I would expect them to save it for an expansion.

I use to be a big fan of adding empire specific aircraft till I realized about 1/3 of the players would be pilots....

Sorry, that is way too many in the air. At this point and time I would rather see the reaver taking out of the game, then see new air vehicles added in. As stated before, this is a LAND game, and air is SUPPORT. It shouldn't be 1/3 of the population being pilots. I think adding empire specific air craft just caters even more to taking all this to the air.

[Hamma]

Im sure we will see it in the future, either via patch or expansion

[quiet]

I'm hoping they give the new aircraft more realistic physics (at least non-boating ;) ).

[Hellsfire123]

Its funny how people complain about systems they havent even used yet :lol:

I dont see a problem with patching in new vechs or weapons, hell EQ had new weapons adding constantly. I do think that the reaver should be scrapped for empire specific fighters though. That keeps people happy without adding even more pilots.

[OmnipotentKiwi]

Originally posted by quiet
I'm hoping they give the new aircraft more realistic physics (at least non-boating ;) ).
Don't want this to turn into mini-flight sim BF1942.

[MrVulcan]

I do not think that a lot of the people that think that they want to fly will, there will be too much AA stuff for it to e very easy to be a pilot, and the flying though gives you an advantage over land based units in some respect, I think that it will be very hard to be a good pilot.

[Streamline]

I think it depends on what it takes to get the job done. IMO the aircraft currently available should be fine. Adding empire specific aircraft would screw with the balance of the game too much, If not thought out properly. I would be really disappionted if they released any new vehicles without letting the game blossom and flourish. PPL are gonna suck at flying at first. But when things heat up. Pilots, the really good ones, are gonna be a pain in the ass as it is. Anyone looking for an "advantage" that has nothing to do with cunning and skill using only what is givin you....is dogmeat. Besides all that, release new vehicles. Only creates new jobs. More thing for the retarded to "attempt". When i would much rather see ppl get good at whats already there. IMO battles wont pivot on empire specific vehicles. But rather the common pool. I am however not against bonuses being given to sides and vehicles that are way outnumbered. If the balance of the game is wacked somehow. :rolleyes:

[MrVulcan]

Originally posted by Stream|ine
I think it depends on what it takes to get the job done. IMO the aircraft currently available should be fine. Adding empire specific aircraft would screw with the balance of the game too much, If not thought out properly. I would be really disappionted if they released any new vehicles without letting the game blossom and flourish. PPL are gonna suck at flying at first. But when things heat up. Pilots, the really good ones, are gonna be a pain in the ass as it is. Anyone looking for an "advantage" that has nothing to do with cunning and skill The Clinton what is givin you is dogmeat. Besides all that, release new vehicles. Only creates new jobs. More thing for the retarded to "attempt". When i would much rather see ppl get good at whats already there. IMO battles wont pivot on empire specific vehicles. But rather the common pool. I am however not against bonuses being given to sides and vehicles that are way outnumbered. If the balance of the game is wacked somehow. :rolleyes:

Im sorry, I do not understand your reasoning behind that. I mean, according to that argument, they should not have any empire-specific anything, and that would not be fun, then what is the point of having empires?
IE: Just because the FC have the vangard, and no other faction can have that heavy tank does not mean that it shouldn�t exist in the game. The game is not meant to be every one has the same toys. The fact that there are empire specific things in every other aspect of the game should logically lead to the position of having empire-specific aircraft as well.
Just getting the cert for the heavy tank does not mean that you will be better with it, of course not, but at the same time, it gives you another option that adds depth to the game, and allows for many different tactics. With each side having the same air power, each side will develop the same set of strategy and tactics.
Also, balancing is nothing new, EVERYTHING has to be balanced, it would be no harder to balance a new tank set for the sides than it would to balance a new air set.
Also, who said the air set had to be a flying fortress, or some invulnerable thing?
Just because they add more options does not mean that they will add dumb ones. The aircraft could be nothing more than a 2 seat reaver with an extra gun that is empire specific, or a small total AA craft, the FC has an AA rocket, the vanu has an AA laser, and the TR one has an AA flak gun or something.

just my view on it anyway :D

[Frozen-Monkey]

they already have all the vehicals they will have.:p

[Arshune]

Er...I hate to point it out to you, but they said they'll be adding a lot of new equipment and vehicles over the course of the game's life. I suspect that by the second year of the game's lifespan, we'll have empire specific items in every category of everything (empire specific quad cycles, transports, air vehicles, etc.)

For aircraft they already have a scout, a anti-tank, and a transport. What's missing? Pure AA aircraft (and bombers, but apparently those are "spam weapons"). I think they should give the Vanu a craft that fires a laser that stays out while you hold the button down, so that all you have to do to hit enemy aircraft is put the crosshair over it. NC should get an AA craft that fires rockets that explode into smaller rockets (like a rocket shotgun). TR should have double chain guns and lock-on missiles.

[Streamline]

Reading back my own quote you posted even confuses me.

Also, balancing is nothing new, EVERYTHING has to be balanced, it would be no harder to balance a new tank set for the sides than it would to balance a new air set.

This is where i disagree. Balancing ground vehicles and handhelds is one thing. Aerial craft, thats quite another. Also my belief as to why they didn't. I'm not against empire specific vehicles and such. But noone can deny the fact that since there are empire specific vehicles. PPL are making choices based on that. Because it suits there "style" of play. A variable that is much harder to calculate in aerial vehicles when balancing rules are applied.

[OmnipotentKiwi]

Originally posted by Arshune
For aircraft they already have a scout, a anti-tank, and a transport. What's missing? Pure AA aircraft.
The Mosquito is the AA aircraft. Reaver is AV.

[Hito]

I think there should be speacialized aircrafts,but they should not be to overpowered. this would basicly make some wehicles worhtless because lets face it a tank would get chewed up by an aircraft that is better then whats in use now....

[DarkDragon00]

Terran Elite Airborne Regiment

I belive that dogfights should be a major thing, but that should be after a while. To balance out these new aircrafts they should add like anti-air cannons(turrents), weapons and vehicles. I would like to see after the sea expansion which would allow planes 2 do intercontinental(overseas) travel(plz) that they should creat a new heavy transport that will hold around 3 heavy tanks or planes... and higher amounts of light tanks and planes, but they shouldn't be allowed to carry infantry. I mean planes as a surprise tactic and to only release when the other transports are being attacked. Sort of like a convoy system, airborne carrier!

Dark - just some ideas!

[Destroyeron]

Originally posted by Kyonye
they are not needed. like i said, so many people want to fly when this is a mostly ground combat game. we don't need it. i'd rather them add new implants, weapons, and ground vehicles to the game. i mean, i want them as much as anyone else does but i don't see the point.

Its not mainly a ground combat game, there will be a lot of things on the ground but air will play a huge role.

[Arshune]

Originally posted by OmnipotentKiwi
The Mosquito is the AA aircraft. Reaver is AV. You can use it for AA, but it's designed to be a scout. Shooting something down with a machine gun is MUCH harder than shooting something down with a guided missile or a cluster bomb. Yeah the mosquito is the only pure AA in right now, but they could make a stronger AA craft to make more distinction between roles.

Also, it's armed with 1 light rotary chaingun, the basilisk (if the pictures don't deceive me) is armed with two. Would you say you're afraid of a basilisk based on available information? Probably not. Now put it up in the air and take away one of its guns. :D

[NARF]

I think that the empire that has the most light weaponry, should be given a heavy helicopter-like gunship (in the way it moves, not looks) but is different from the reaver. The empire with the most powerful weapons should be given a fast, light, less armored bomber (NC) and the empire with the most volume, should be given a tactical high altitude (not very high, just higher) bomber, that drops few bombs, NOT in rapid succession, but very accurate, this would would go to the TR, I'm thinking, and the first one would go to the VS, of course, it would be a laser thingy with cool flashly lights, unfortunately, it would be purple, yeech.

anyway, jus tmy opinion, comments? suggestions? flames?

[Headrattle]

I think there there should be a small troop transport, one that only transports 5 or 6. Something like the black hawk.
A smaller faster troop transport.
With no guns maybe?

I can't think of any aircraft that will be empire specific that won't create massive air to air battles. Which takes more players away from the real goals, taking bases.

Well I guess the real goal is to have a massive FPS game where people have fun, but that isn't the point!!!

[Streamline]

We'll have to wait to see what the physics are like. But if Skeeters are anything like the T2shrike. The best Skeeter pilots aren't gonna give a damn about any AA ordinance. Part of the reason i think there is so much of it around. Don't underestimate the "scout class" flyers. What they lack in armor and weaponry, they will no doubt make up for with unmatched speed and manuverability.

[OmnipotentKiwi]

Originally posted by Arshune
You can use it for AA, but it's designed to be a scout. Shooting something down with a machine gun is MUCH harder than shooting something down with a guided missile or a cluster bomb.

Also, it's armed with 1 light rotary chaingun, the basilisk (if the pictures don't deceive me) is armed with two. Would you say you're afraid of a basilisk based on available information?

SmokeJumperPS
Station Admin
Registered: Sep 2001 posted 02-17-2003 09:36 AM user search report post
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I fly a Reaver between trees all the time when I know I'm being hunted by missiles or Mosquitoes.

Yeah, I would say the Mosquitoes are more adept at killing Reavers then Reavers are at killing Mosquitoes. Air to Air combat is about getting behind the enemy in a dogfight, and a Mosquito is designed for that.

On the Basilisk comparison, yeah, any air vehicle should be afraid of chainguns, that is if the bullets can reach them, and hit them. The aircrafts in this game, even the Reaver, are very lightly armored. Don't expect to take too much damage in them.

[Hellsfire123]

Originally posted by NARF
I think that the empire that has the most light weaponry, should be given a heavy helicopter-like gunship (in the way it moves, not looks) but is different from the reaver. The empire with the most powerful weapons should be given a fast, light, less armored bomber (NC) and the empire with the most volume, should be given a tactical high altitude (not very high, just higher) bomber, that drops few bombs, NOT in rapid succession, but very accurate, this would would go to the TR, I'm thinking, and the first one would go to the VS, of course, it would be a laser thingy with cool flashly lights, unfortunately, it would be purple, yeech.

anyway, jus tmy opinion, comments? suggestions? flames?

Sorry, but ....no....just no.

There is no way to see which empire will have more people, it will be different ever server. Plus the tings you want to add are the opposites of the empire style. NC is supposed to be armored and heavy hitting, TR is supposed to be rapid fire, and i think the galaxy is already just a helicopter. However, keep brainstorming, you never know when you might think of something the devs might want to add.

Small troop transports would be nice. But instead of no guns, why not have it a modified reaver or skeeter that the troops strap to the outside of? That way its faster then a galaxy, lightly armored with no guns of its own, but its still defendable by the troops outside. Then again, i might not wanna be strapped to the outside of such a bullet magnet. It would be nice to be able to provide your own cover fire while the thing lands though.....which i dont think you can do from inside a galaxy.

[NeoTassadar]

How about quick little manuverable fighters for Vanu (something a step up in AA from Skeeter, with beam weapons of course), a slow, heavy weapons platform for NC (pretty much any air-to-surface weapon with splash damage, take a few people to pilot), and something kinda like a Reaver with its chaingun replaced with dual-mounted flak for TR?

[VanuSovereignty]

I say....we get to personalize the aircraft with like..kits. That'd be cool. I'd capture a Reaver..unnoticed..take off the guns..put it back where I found it, and put the guns on my Mosquito. >D Ofcourse, that'd mean my Mosquito would sink to the ground as soon as it lifted off. o.o; Ok, maybe that's not a good idea. XD Wait..! Then I can steal the engines from a Galaxy! Muaha! just something that would be funny to see..Mosqutio with Galaxy engines and Reaver guns.

[NeoTassadar]

Put a mine under the seat when you put the Reaver back. :D

[VanuSovereignty]

Lmao, yea. XD Others watching the explosion would be like..

"Bad case of diarrea..."