PlanetSide 2 COMM-LINK 003 Intro to Backstory

[basti]

http://www.planetside2.com/news/oct11BackstoryPt1.html

Going to read it now. ;)

[Crator]

So I guess the bi-weekly comms updates will be back-stories for a while now.

[basti]

Dont think so. At least i dont hope so.

Anyway, entire thing is unrewarding. Expected much more from that com uplink. Heck, it didnt even give us a screeny. :(

[Crator]

No, but they did state that they were releasing the new back-story on Wed., Thurs., and Friday. I'm guessing they will give us new screenies for that sense they stated the look-and-feel of the game ties in with the story.

[Tikuto]

http://www.emotty.com/images/emoticons/1068.png

*fap fap fap*

[SniperSteve]

Such a tease... I guess, like they said, the real stuff will be Wed-Fri, so I guess we shouldn't expect much from this post since it was just saying that is what is going to be happening for the week. It is interesting that they hired a comic book-type person to help them with the story.

We will see how it turns out! Should be interesting..

[Hamma]

So I guess the bi-weekly comms updates will be back-stories for a while now.

Yea I don't think so, I think they will drop tidbits now and again up until release with this week primarily focused on it.

[Firefly]

I am underwhelmed. I did not expect the entire thing to be revealed in one shot, because I recall their singing the Happy Days theme (Sunday Monday happy days, Tuesday Wednesday happy days, etc) about releasing info.

However, I did expect something more than what amounts to a preface in a book. I can sum up that entire page with this: "ohai, revision backstory, comicbook-guy is helping, here's an old concept-art pic we already showed you".

[Vash02]

Early days guys, early days.

Also, yay comics!

[NapalmEnima]

There was ONE little tidbit of interest that was quite relevant to the concept art they included:

"...why a continent is covered in charred ruins..."


It sounds like they have one entire continent dedicated to house-to-house/CQB/vehicles-confined-to-roads stuff. Good times.

If we get some comic book art, we just might get to see some vehicles/gear we haven't yet, albeit not "in game". Truth be told, it would probably be much easier for them to stage any shots they might want in game. Rather than having an artist spend a day or two on each "panel", you get a person or four and some bots and churn out Quite a Few.

[basti]

Hamma just updated the PSU news post with this:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sony-online-entertainment-taps-legendary-comic-book-writer-marv-wolfman-to-create-planetside2-backstory-2011-10-11


That is actually something. Seems like we get comics. Cool! :D

[NapalmEnima]

PS: The "media assets" link in the marketwatch article is just high-rez versions of stuff we've already seen. Fooey.


Ah... but the fact sheet has some Interesting Stuff in it:

... with air, ground, and seaborne combat...

So either Higby's been playing it Really Close To The Vest, or this fact sheet has at least one flaw.

Battle for territories and resources:... each battleground holds valuable resources and key positions, and the empire that can conquer (and manage to hold) these territories will be rewarded with fuel bonuses, ammo bonuses, tech bonuses, and more

Interesting. Higby has stated that the old base bonuses are out, but under consideration. He didn't say anything about Other Things providing similar bonuses.

Persistence: ...Working strategically as a team to capture key tactical positions such as power plants and ammo depots will have long lasting effects that can shift the tide of battle

So are power plants and ammo depots value only for their tactical position, or does this play into the whole ammo/fuel/etc bonuses?

Weapons: Players will be able to access more than 20 basic weapons, which can be customized to players' preference or purpose


An actual weapon count. I'm a bit cynical, so I'd expect 21 different weapons... many of which will be empire specific. 5 empire specific weapons breaks down to 15 empire weapons and 6 common pool weapons.

Vehicles: More than 15 vehicles with two unique vehicles per empire. Players will be able to customize each vehicle, unlocking new skills and features

"More than 15" == 16.

If this is accurate, then we already know about both empire vehicles planned for launch (tank & aircraft).

So at the time this was written, they planned on releasing 10 different common-pool vehicles.

We know of:
ATV
Sunderer
Galaxy
Liberator
(am I missing anything?)

Meaning we know of less than half of the common pool vehicles. Even if we through in a buggy, deliverer, and lightning, that still leaves 3 vehicles unaccounted for.

Speedboat+sub+troop carrier?

I don't know why you'd go with an aquatic troop transport given the option of a Galaxy, but if Gal's aren't an option for some reason... Hhmmm.

Submarine troop carrier + fast torpedo boat + coastal bombardment craft?

A submarine troop carrier would definitely have an appeal over the Galaxy in the right circumstances.

At any rate 3 (or more) common pool vehicles (with various upgrades/add-ons include empire-specific ones) leaves them with plenty of options to create Diverse Aquatic Combat.

Or to make ground/air combat that much more interesting.

[Hamma]

Yea had a look around there myself :lol:

[xSlideShow]

I think this sounds great. I don't read comics I have seen the Blade movies. And blade is a bad ass. So Planetside is about to get a bad ass story?

[MgFalcon]

Such a tease.. My hopes is that they will post the first chapter at midnight so when I wake up wicked early I can read it before class tomorrow haha!

[xSlideShow]

Such a tease.. My hopes is that they will post the first chapter at midnight so when I wake up wicked early I can read it before class tomorrow haha!

That would be cool.

[basti]

Napalm, you fogot the Lode and the ANT. :)

[Vash02]

http://www.soepress.com/release.asp?i=429
SOE just released the news pretty much the same as the other article hammar posted. but... in the left hand bar, is that two new concept art screenies? I dont believe I have seen them before.

edit: nah their old.

[WarChimp130]

I'd like to see them include some people and outfits from the community in building the lore of Planetside, I mean it is an MMO and the focus is the players. Contact a few players, ask them a few questions and come up with a bit of a back story for them. Have a contest for it or something. Write the players into the story.

[Xyntech]

http://www.soepress.com/release.asp?i=429
SOE just released the news pretty much the same as the other article hammar posted. but... in the left hand bar, is that two new concept art screenies? I dont believe I have seen them before.

You mean the TR medic and infiltrator concept art? It's been around for a bit.

DAT ASS

[Hamma]

:lol:

Yea we have seen all the media on that page.

[Crator]

I'd like to see them include some people and outfits from the community in building the lore of Planetside, I mean it is an MMO and the focus is the players. Contact a few players, ask them a few questions and come up with a bit of a back story for them. Have a contest for it or something. Write the players into the story.

Doesn't sound like they considered this or it would have been listed in the COMM-LINK. And they are paying big bucks for someone to write it for them.

[NapalmEnima]

Napalm, you fogot the Lode and the ANT. :)

I believe we've heard that the Lodestar is out, and the ANT in.


Even so, that's still 2 or more vehicles utterly unaccounted for.

[basti]

I believe we've heard that the Lodestar is out, and the ANT in.


Even so, that's still 2 or more vehicles utterly unaccounted for.

Where have you heard that the Lode is out? Cant remember seeing that anywhere.

[Raymac]

The more I think about it, the more excited I get for this back story. I'm not huge into comics, but Marv Wolfman has had his hand in nearly every major superhero throughout his long and impressive career. So tapping a professional writer for something like this is bound to turn out great.

Also, one of the cool things about Planetside is that as deep and fleshed out as the backstory may be, once Launch happens, WE will be writing the story going forward. The battles we fight, the tactics we use, the bonds we forge, and the enemies we crush will all be parts of the stories we tell in the future much like the collection of war stories we all have from the original Planetside.

[CrystalViolet]

Seems a bit odd that they are using a comic book writer who is primarily known for his work in the super hero genre. I realize that SOE probably has a good working relationship with him from DCUO, but I would have much rather seen someone with a strong science fiction pedigree be hired.

[NapalmEnima]

Where have you heard that the Lode is out? Cant remember seeing that anywhere.

No idea.

I just went through Bags' info thread, nothing. Call it "in limbo" along side the "lightning", as vehicles that have not been specifically mentioned.

-------

By way of comparison, at launch the original PS had:

Weapons:

3 empire-specific (es) pistols
3 es rifles
3 es HA
3 es AV
Amp
Suppressor
Punisher
Sweeper
Decimator
Bolt driver
Thumper
Rocklet

That's 20 weapons. No, I'm not counting grenades or knives... sheesh.

Since then we've picked up 3 weapons from the Core Contingency, the recon rifle, the dragon, and another pistol.

Vehicles:
ANT
AMS (RIP)
Harrasser (emp-spec buggies were post release, right?)
Basilisk ATV
Mosquito
Reaver
Galaxy
Lightening
Magrider, Prowler, Vanguard
Deliverer
Sunderer

13 vehicles at release. Now up to... 38 I believe is the number I saw somewhere (including BFRs, CC's vehicles, and various other odds and ends).

At any rate, boosting that number to 16+ with 2 empire-specific vehicles means... common pool replacements for the mossy & reaver slots.

Recreating the old favorites is great and all, but I really wouldn't mind seeing some totally new vehicles. A mono-cycle? Big Freakin Tank? Sea craft? Subterranean Drill Transport Thing?

[SKYeXile]

i hate it when they rewrite lore. i really do, seems like such a copout to me, work with what you got imo.


it would have been easy for them to say...you know what...the bending/shift happened alright...but the BFR's and shit like that take place in a galaxy far far away...meanwhile planetside 2 begins on the original auraxis after the bending.

[Lonehunter]

i hate it when they rewrite lore.

To be called a rewrite there has to been a sufficient amount of content to begin with, and there never was lol. The most lore Planetside had was probably in the game manual, and just a few paragraphs. It's a good set up for a sci-fi epic, admittedly not crucial to the game in my opinion. But I love some good lore.

[Hamma]

Agreed, the original was rather minimal. :lol:

We all have a pretty good idea about the basics of it but it was never really fleshed out fully.

[Talek Krell]

I think part of the idea was to let us fill in the gaps ourselves. It would be easier to identify with our chosen empire for example if we were allowed to decide on the little details of the story.

Or possibly they were just being cheap. :P

[SKYeXile]

also while they're at it make it so the majority of people are private - major and theres essentially not 50 thousand generals or "heros" whos sole responibilty it is to save the world from the evil TR....along with that hero...that hero...that one to...oh yea and those 5000 other heros over there....

Man...i am into lore more than i thought i was...dang.

[ScreamingRooste]

My guess is the first chapter on Wednesday will be about a high general from the TR reporting about how the TR's society and beliefs are more superior to those of the NC or VS.

Thursday will be about a former Division leader of the TR reporting about how and why he joined the NC and about how the NC's society and beliefs are more superior to those of the TR and VS.

Friday will be about a former weapon specialist scientist of the TR reporting about how and why he joined the VS and about how VS' society and beliefs are more superior to those of the TR and NC.

And while were talking about lore, I have a final project for my Science Fiction elective class at my College. The project is to create your own shorty story, and I have decided to base it on the NC and it's formation inside Planetside.

[Graywolves]

There wasn't much lore in Planetside but I think there's more than alot of people realize. You really had to go out of your way to read up on it and listen to the cinematics and read the monoliths.


I liked hearing him call Auraxis a "world." I hated the sundering/shattering/w.e it was that destroyed Oshur and turned Auraxis into a Galaxy.

[Talek Krell]

Friday will be about a former weapon specialist scientist of the TR reporting about how and why he joined the VS and about how VS' society and beliefs are more superior to those of the TR and NC.Will he comment on the redundancy of saying that something is "more superior"? :D

[Captain1nsaneo]

The Gunship is being left off of the lists and I'm pretty sure Higby mentioned that it was going to be in there. Think the mention was when he was talking about how there wouldn't be flails. Phantasm was also missing from your first count Enima.

These numbers give us the vehicle and weapon counts but don't give us things like CE, armor types, and equipment (jetpacks etc). So no need to panic about there not being new stuff, they're just laying the ground floor atm.

[Lunarchild]

Vehicles: More than 15 vehicles with two unique vehicles per empire. Players will be able to customize each vehicle, unlocking new skills and features


Interestingly enough, the fact sheet I got from them says more than 20 vehicles.

[Crator]

Ya, it's been said, by Higby I think, that there's some new vehicles/weapons that weren't in PS1.

[NapalmEnima]

Phantasm was also missing from your first count Enima.


My lists were for vehicles and weapons present at the release of the original Planetside. What was added after release? Lesseeheer:

Phantasm, Lodestar, Fury, Flail, Router, ES BFRs, ES troop transports, ES Buggies, Skyguard, Liberator, Galaxy Gunship... that's 17 post-release vehicles just off the top of my head. Leviathan (almost doesn't count as a new vehicle), wraith, wasp, switchblade...

What am I missing...

Gah. Anyway. Lots of stuff was added post-release. Hell, the lattice system was post-release as a result of player feedback, IIRC (or was that beta feedback?).


The weapon counts for PS2 also don't include the Mark I through Mark IV variants for whichever weapons end up having variants. Heck, vehicles may have variants as well, we don't know.

[Punker]

Starting this week and over the coming months we’ll be revealing this backstory episodically as we ramp up to beta and launch.

Maybe i'm reading too far into this... but, I read this as beta coming sooner than we expected?

Not to get everyone's hopes up ofc :groovy:

[Bags]

Maybe i'm reading too far into this... but, I read this as beta coming sooner than we expected?

Not to get everyone's hopes up ofc :groovy:

Smedley said they are hoping to have closed beta by the end of the year.

[Aractain]

Smedley said they are hoping to have closed beta by the end of the year.

I seriously think PS2 will have the same kind of release (and beta) schedual as GW2...

And dats fine cos when Im done shooting my gunz... I can shoot my other gunz (but with skimpy armour on!).

[Bags]

I'll be really annoyed if they release at the same time...

[Graywolves]

If GW2 and PS2 have anything happen anywhere close to the same quarter, I'm going to have alot of trouble figuring out how to spend my time.

[sylphaen]

Higby's text and the associated image totally reminded of that great comic:
http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=1

It's 120% the new Planetside concept.
:D

[Traak]

A take on the beginning. Let's see how close their version comes to mine. Or vice versa.

I was a miner working the mines for the Terran Republic. The deeper we went, the stranger it became. At 50,000 feet deep, we ceased needing lights in the mine. There was this kind of glow. The element was Auraxium. Tough stuff to process, but, man, it was awesome stuff for making pretty well anything you wanted to.

Our overlords wouldn't let off the pace, no matter how many "heat-related deaths" we had. They wanted their frickin' Auraxium, and we had to mine it. And they got it, but it wouldn't continue forever.

At 100,000 feet, we struck a nerve. Not with the TR, but with the planet. A miner found a vein in the rock that was glowing a different color than the Auraxium. He took a swing at it with his pick, and the... stuff started climbing up his pick. He tried to wrest it loose, but the stuff just kept coming, and enveloped him. He disappeared in a kind of green floating cloud or something. Gone. Vanished.

That was sad. Tragic. Put the whole mine on a grumble that day. Until he showed up in the showers the next day. Same guy. No injuries. Same outfit. But, there he was. When news spread, the Terrans (most of the miners had been born on Auraxis) dragged him out of the barracks and tossed him into a transport.

Evidently, they weren't too kind about their interrogation techniques, and he died. Or, as the scuttlebutt had it, disappeared again. This time, he was smart enough not to make himself known. He "respawned" at around three A.M. In the mine, near a drill that had hit the same substance.

We kept him secret, kept him hidden. We all took turns at the vein in the rock.

And, you know what? We all started feeling a lot less worried about dying. A few accidents happened, as happens in mines, and people just... vaporized, or whatever you call it. Then they came back.

Soon, we realized the Terrans couldn't possibly hold us down. What were they gonna do? Kill us?

We started turning our requests into demands. Then we started turning them into threats. As the news spread among the mines, the hunt for similar veins was on, and people started finding them, and continuing to hide them from the Terrans.

We called ourselves the New Conglomerate. Conglomerate is a type of rock containing disparate types of rock, and it just seemed fitting. We made our plans. We started fashioning weapons. Then, on C-day, we rose up. The Terrans seemed to be winning for the first day. Little did they know that those of us who died, well, we weren't gone for long.

We overwhelmed them with sheer numbers. The kill ratio of TR to NC started at 1:10, what with their heavy vehicular weapons. But, as we used kamikaze techniques to keep killing them, destroying their weapons, and overwhelming their defenses by sheer human-wave tactics, the kill ratio started to fall. When they finally woke up to the fact that they weren't winning, they surrendered. There was a new sheriff in town, and his uniform was blue and yellow, the colors of the first vein we struck, and an alloy of auraxium.

The TR did not stay docile for long, however. As luck would have it, they, too discovered the secret of the respawn. However, by that time, we were evenly matched. We had our own vehicles, our own weapons, and similar numbers. They couldn't turn one person into two, so the war was on.

[Hamma]

Fingers crossed that today's chapter has some new juicy details in it :brow:

[Mastachief]

What sort of time are they talking for these releases for those of us that don't live in the U.S

[Hamma]

No info around that really, yesterdays showed up at 9AM PDT which is about 1hr 10mins from now.

[Mastachief]

Thanks hamma

[SniperSteve]

I think I'm going to chill in my room for a few mins to see if it comes out at noon again.. ^_^

[basti]

POST IT ALREADY! MY F5 KEY IS GETTING BROKEN!

[NapalmEnima]

10am local time, still no Chapter 1.

>twitch<

[Mastachief]

lol

These time zones have made me setup windows 7 with 3 time zones on the clock

[basti]

lol

These time zones have made me setup windows 7 with 3 time zones on the clock

Local, SOE and PSU time? Just same as me then. :>

[SniperSteve]

Gah. I have to go to classes soon and take an exam.. Hope this news release comes out before then.. >.<

[MgFalcon]

Ugh... I'm still waiting, missed my first train home and nothing to do... Sooo anytime now would be nice.

[Hamma]

Looks like they really go crazy with the randomizer on these posts :lol:

[basti]

Im getting crazy here pressing F5


GULBERGLAHGNARGHUERGBLAG

[Crator]

http://www.pagereboot.com/

PAGE REBOOT allows you to continually refresh a website of your choice, which is great for watching the closing minutes of an eBay auction, making sure you don't miss the start of those ticket sales, and anything else you can think of.

[Traak]

Sounds like Iraq.