Unique and continent-styled bases.

[Vancha]

Just some thoughts that came to me while reading and thinking through Senyu's war benefits thread...

1. What if every base was different? A different layout, a slightly different benefit...Do you think the lack of familiarity, a possible loss in quality and additional balance issues would be worth the increase in variation and playing experience?

2. Probably a more popular idea - continent-themed bases. Think of how architecture and warfare changes over the centuries...With all the bases in the original Planetside being nigh-identical, you'd almost think they were created in the same instant. I'm not saying we should be fighting at castles and WW2-style military bases in PS2, but it'd be interesting if the construction, aesthetics, systems and styles differed from continent to continent to reflect them being created/conquered at different times through Auraxis' history (or whatever other planet we're on in PS2). There could even be a continent with old rusty versions of Planetside's bases.

[Senyu]

I like the idea. And I would prefer the variation in the gameplay then complete equal balance for everything making it all the same. For more variation you could add Power Bases, in the sense their benifit is greater than other benifits, just an idea. Add some tactical and uneven gameplay to have 1 or couple Power Bases that greatly boost your Empire, (though not to much to have zero chance of fighting agaisnt)

[LordReaver]

I have been trying to figure out a way this would work. The best way I've found, is to have the bases be modular. That way they can start off with only a handful of base types, and then over time change them to be unique. I feel this would actually make bases more balanced rather than less. Does X base get steamrolled all the time? Add more cover in this area. Y base an impenetrable fortress? Remove some cover in that area. It would also be nice to anticipate what base changes the next update will bring. Aside from initial coding, that stuff would be easy things for the devs to do.

On a different note not worthy of its own thread... If they bring capital bases back. Who ever owns the capital base should own the cont.

[Senyu]

Dont remeber when Capitol Bases where in, or if they were before release, can you ellaborate on them?

The module idea seems good. Though in addition it gives an idea of a similar system that could be implemented in the players control. Those with a high command rank can choose various base upgrade/modifications onto bases they control. There will be a console or terminal showing the various options. Actually picking an option requires the player to be of high command rank. Once an option is chosen, all other high level CR players within the sphere of influence receive a pop window with a vote for the upgrade. If it passes with majority the process begins changing the base. This can be any length for gameplay reasons, 10 minutes to hour. If its a short duration all base defences could be down for that 10 minutes as tradeoff.

Hackers can also disrupt the change causing it to reset or stop. As an added bonus if the change duration is long, the high level hackers cause a system overload and shuts down the base for short duration. Now the changes can be minor or significantly different. And if there are sigifigantly different and provide strong bonuses then having hacker overload and such seems fair.

These changes can vary from changing the bases role or adding a secondary role such as, a technology plant with added support/defensive/offensive role to it will change the base as need during the fighting. Offensive obv would have stronger turrets, perhaps new offensive support such as an artillary option or support troops in a way. While defensive would be harder to take over and such.

[CutterJohn]

Not only would I enjoy every map/base being different, I would love it if there were a procedural terrain engine and base design engine that gave you a new map every night. :)

[DviddLeff]

I have a few ideas on the subject of continent base styles:

https://sites.google.com/site/planetsideupgradeproject/phase-2/terrain-overhaul

Amerish

The bases and towers on Amerish would be more or less the standard bases we have now, except a few of them would be dug into the rolling hills of the continent, as well as replacing the island base in the East with a base suspended over the sea, connected to the mainland via bridges. This base would have previously been an underwater research facility, and have various underwater passageways and rooms, allowing the troops underwater views as they work to defend the CC and respawn there.

Capital: The Amerish capital would be a very much larger version of the standard base; this would be the basic and raw capital design, from which all others are based.

Cyssor

A new base could be placed at the peak of Mount Cyssor, with only aircraft able to reach it (the flight ceiling could be raised). Also some separate bases could be dug into the sides of Mt Cyssor, making it into one vast base, perhaps connected via tunnels and mechanical lifts inside the actual mountain. Most other bases on this continent could be based on hover technology, floating above the landscape, akin to some of the bases in Tribes.

Capital: The capital Gunuku would be changed to be encompassing the entire island, with vast tunnel networks and trenches cut into its sides and bedrock. Between this and the Mount Cyssor defence network the centre of Cyssor would be an impressive stronghold that could take most of a day to fight through.

Towers: Towers on this continent would be a mix of existing base design, and hovering towers.

Foreseral

These bases would be unlike anything we have seen before, as this island was previously the base of the Ancient Vanu’s operations on Auxaris. The bases and towers of this island would be similar to the alpha screenshots we saw, depicting purple, organic structures. These base Artefacts would also have small human research outposts (light bases) near them, but no extensive human facilities on the continent at all. The troops would be able to spawn vehicles and equipment, as well as respawn in these bases only via human tech that has been built into the Ancient Vanu’s buildings. The weather on this continent would be prone to causing mists and fogs, making the whole continent seem eerie and other worldly.

Capital: The capital of this continent would be the Ancient Vanu’s main “Temple” a huge construct reaching far into the sky and far underground, spreading over a wide distance on the surface. This temple would have vast halls inside for the players to navigate and fight through. The sub capitals would be part of the actual Temple itself, gateways through which the Ancient Vanu passed to reach the Temple.

Towers: Towers on this continent would be small Ancient Vanu buildings, with human tech integrated in them.

Ishundar

The bases on Ishundar would have to be built to endure the continents harsh sandstorms (made much more regular and widespread, with possible damaging effects to light units such as cloakers and standard armours caught outside during the stronger storms), and would therefore be built further underground than regular bases, with ground vehicles exiting out of caves, akin to current tech plant vehicle pads, with air vehicles exiting out of canyon cliffs or caves as well. They could also be built into the continents many fractures, protecting them from the sandstorms, troops and vehicles being able to enter via paths cut down the sides of the canyons or mechanical lifts.

Capital: The Ishundar capital would be built far underground, only accessible via long tunnel networks for troops and vehicles would exit this base via shafts leading up to openings into caverns and canyons on the surface. This would be a very claustrophobic environment, with no fighting over 50m or so available, battles for this base would be brutal.

Towers: On this continent towers would be mostly underground; having phalanx turrets and repair terminals above ground, in a depression, covered with a concrete shield to keep the sandstorms off or small excavated holes in the sides of canyons, with protective walls covering the entrances with spawn tubes and equipment terminals would be underground.

Oshur

Oshur Prime would be brought back, perhaps as the first continent to be enhanced; it would receive large changes, making the impact crater it is meant to be more apparent, but it would still have the fossilised alien present. The bases would be designed in a similar style to Ishundar's, however would have more of a research facility feel to them.

Battle Islands

Despite the return of Oshur Prime, the battle islands would still be in game, as they represent unique game play challenges.

Nexus: This would be one giant base, with rings of defensive walls surrounding it. There would be capturable towers and gateways as you fight through the rings, so attackers and defenders have a strong place to spawn from. The streets through the walls would be very tight, big enough for one Medium Battle Tank or BFR to walk through. Side streets and passages would riddle the structure, allowing for intense short range combat, as well as ways to work your way behind the enemy and assault them from behind. Vehicles would be usable, but would be very vulnerable to ambush.

Ascension: The bases and towers on this island would be much like the standard bases we have now.

Desolation: These bases and towers would be much like Ishundars, dug underground and sunk into the landscape to avoid the islands fierce sandstorms.

Extinction: The bases on Extinction would be built into the sides of some of the volcanoes and hills, some with only bridges connecting the base courtyard to the surrounding landscape, as bridge battles seem to be the aim of this island. The towers on Extinction could be positioned at the end of some of the bridges, with firing slits facing the bridge so that defenders can fire down on enemies who are trying to cross it. Remember that bridges would be much improved as noted above.

Solsar

The arid landscape of Solsar would be very much like Ishundars, except on this continent there is a strong presence of Ancient Vanu buildings, akin to Foreseral, to tie in with all the strange rock formations on this continent. To complement these a large amount of human research buildings would be on this continent.

Searhus

The bases and towers around the exterior of the island would be again similar to Amerish, standard bases with standard towers. All the bases on Searhus would have been subjected to years of lava bombs from the volcano, damaging some bases, leaving large rocks over parts of them, coating others in a hard rock coating, especially in the crater.

Capital: The capital would be suspended 50m above the boiling magma (all of the crater would now be magma), only reachable from large bridges connecting directly from the four sub capitals and from the air. “Towers” would be built along the bridges, wrapping around the bridge above and below, providing the factions with a strong point to take and hold. The four sub capitals and the capital would have originally been research stations, built by the humans to discover the workings of the planet. Two of the sub capitals would be down in the base of caldera, slightly built into the walls with many pipes and tubes descending into the heart of the volcano. These would be reachable via the existing roads into the crater. The other two sub capitals would be built into the cone of the volcano (original purpose perhaps to take samples of the vapour for analysis), reachable via roads as usual.

Hossin

The humans on Hossin have to deal with the onslaught of the weather, storms lashing at the bases on this continent, often causing flooding, damaging the first bases the humans established here. Because of this some of the bases would be partially flooded, whole tunnel networks underwater (none of the vital base equipment would be underwater, however alternative routes to them could be via the flooded tunnels). Newer bases would have been built on this continent, on stilts above the water to avoid the flooding. All the new bases would have covered walkways, to keep the heavy rain (and rockets) off defenders. These tree top bases would be accessible via ramps, stairwells and mechanical lifts.

Capital: The capital would be built on the only bit of well drained and high ground on the continent, the central island where it resides now. This too would have covered walkways.

Towers: The towers on Hossin would be suspended above the ground on stilts, among the tree tops, with exposed stairs leading to the entrances.

Esamir

Bases on this cold and wintry continent would be snow covered, all walkways and level surfaces covered with snow, with large snow drifts up the sides of base walls, sometimes giving attackers access to them from the outside. Towers and bases here would be similar to Amerish as well, except blanketed in snow.

Capital: The capital would have a large snow shield built over it, at a height of about 30m. This would keep the base below snow free, as well as defending occupiers from orbital strikes. There would also be a stairwell leading up to the snow shield, for use by both attackers and defenders.

Ceryshen

Much like Ishundar, bases here would be built deep underground, except here to avoid the cold and snowstorms rather than heat and sandstorms. Here also snow would be built up in drifts around bases, and would cover exposed surfaces.

Capital: The capital of Ceryshen would be built much like Helms Deep in The Lord of the Rings, built into one of the giant cliffs, attackers having to breach a large defensive wall network to get to the main doors of the facility. Other features of this building could be a small backdoor that is difficult to defend at the top of the cliff, leading to tunnels inside the base that work their way down to the main facility itself. The air pads could be hangers dug into the side of the cliff away from the main entrance, with a large landing platform extending out from the cliff (an entry point for airborne attackers, think of Galaxy's landing in the hanger, disgorging troops as they do).

Towers: Towers on this cold continent could also be built a small way into the cliffs and glaciers, a bolt hole during the storms. Air towers could be built in the middle of the cliff faces, a landing pad jutting out making them only accessible from aircraft or via ladders.

[Senyu]

Oh god its you again. I keep forgetting tons of PS ideas are on your website. What haven't you covered?

[DviddLeff]

Grief system.

But that's about it!

[LordReaver]

Dont remeber when Capitol Bases where in, or if they were before release, can you ellaborate on them?

Capital bases are the bases with the domes. They used to be just normal bases. They had no domes, you could OS them, and hack them with only one link.