Most played faction?

[Conq]

During our past few games my guild has had the unfortunate luck of rolling on the most populated faction. It's meant long queues for instanced pvp and long searches for world pvp. I don't want that in PS2 so here is my question..

Based on PS1's history and current PS2 hype. How would you order the factions based on popularity/population?

[Mastachief]

There really isn't a good answer for you.

POP's varied massively (during prime time the pops tended to be 33 vs 33 vs 33 % +/- 1-2%), but i cannot remember ever have to Q to login to a server. Conts had/have poplocks but at 399 people (right now, 510 in the past) per map and 12 maps there was never an issue finding a fight or starting one.

As the game died the pop went TR>NC>VS often tr had 50% population.

Are you new to planetside as a group?

[SKYeXile]

http://www.planetside-universe.com/ps/archive_poll.php

What empire will you choose in PlanetSide 2?
New Conglomerate
Votes: 967 33%
Vanu Sovereignty
Votes: 961 33%
Terran Republic
Votes: 960 33%
Total Votes: 2,888

dead even, the beauty of Planetside.


This isent some half baked "pvp" game warhammer or Aion, 2 faction homo romp, this is planetside 2, its based of planetside 1, they're taking what worked in PS2 and adding more stuff to make it work better, they're not greatly changing the formula like mythic did from doac -WAR.

They had incentive's in PS1 to make you want to play the underpopulated faction, like +% XP, they also CLEARLY displayed the faction balance, so there was no question who was underpoped and needed more help, this was displayed, per content, and the global pop, they also displayed the global pop at the login screen, where new players would see the weekly avg pops.

In Planetside 2? the exact specifics of population balance have not been seen, but i imagine there would be incentives and advantages like:
+/- % resource gain.
+ % XP
+ offline leveling speed
+ respawn rate

[basti]

In short: ITs a non issue, trust us. ;)

[Xaine]

In short: ITs a non issue, trust us. ;)

This, pretty much.

There will only be a certain amount of people allowed on each cont at a time. Granted, this will be around 500~ per faction, but it won't be an issue for a very long time hopefully.

Imbalanced populations were never really an issue in Planetside untill the game started to die off.

[FastAndFree]

Didn't they say one empire per server, though?
Then there can't really be incentives to go for the lower pop empire (except for character creation)

[SKYeXile]

Didn't they say one empire per server, though?
Then there can't really be incentives to go for the lower pop empire (except for character creation)

yes, but they can still gave an incentive or an advantage for been the lower pop.

[Crator]

I always liked playing on the lower pop empires b/c of incentives and, think about it, if you play on an empire that is way over-populated then you really aren't going to see that much action because there's no enough people on the other empires to fight.

Also, I've noticed that the empire populations change quickly (depending on time of day). One second you login, and there's a lot of people playing on the empire and the next the empire you're on drops pop and another one takes over...

[VioletZero]

I think the Vanu will be the most played with the updated graphics.

http://www.planetside-universe.com/ps/archive_poll.php

What empire will you choose in PlanetSide 2?
New Conglomerate
Votes: 967 33%
Vanu Sovereignty
Votes: 961 33%
Terran Republic
Votes: 960 33%
Total Votes: 2,888

dead even, the beauty of Planetside.


This isent some half baked "pvp" game warhammer or Aion, 2 faction homo romp, this is planetside 2, its based of planetside 1, they're taking what worked in PS2 and adding more stuff to make it work better, they're not greatly changing the formula like mythic did from doac -WAR.

They had incentive's in PS1 to make you want to play the underpopulated faction, like +% XP, they also CLEARLY displayed the faction balance, so there was no question who was underpoped and needed more help, this was displayed, per content, and the global pop, they also displayed the global pop at the login screen, where new players would see the weekly avg pops.

In Planetside 2? the exact specifics of population balance have not been seen, but i imagine there would be incentives and advantages like:
+/- % resource gain.
+ % XP
+ offline leveling speed
+ respawn rate

While I certainly don't question the good design choices, I do question whether or not this will carry over to live. Two things.

1. The internet and MMO gaming world has changed a lot since PS1. Hell, I didn't even have an internet connection at the time.

2. This reminds me of how back in SWTOR's pre-launch, we had several polls on what faction people wanted to play. It was actually pretty evenly split. But I always told people that the live crowd will be different from the pre-launch crowd and it will shift in favor of one faction. I was unfortunately right, because not only was there an imbalance, but Republic was outnumbered 3 to 1.

I'm not saying the imbalance will be -that- bad, just saying that what you say won't guarantee an evenly balanced faction population.

Also, I've noticed that pre-launch crowds like to pick underpopulated factions while live crowds want to pick the MOST populated faction to avoid getting spawn camped or anything like that.

[SKYeXile]

I think the factions in PS2 will still be rather even, 3 factions adds a natural balance to the equasion, while you might be the underpowered faction you wont always be taking the full force of the more dominantly populated faction, there becomes a point where the more dominate faction is forced to fight the 2 other factions on 2 different fronts, always.

Also none of the games like SWTOR, WAR, Rift or Aion had incentives to go the under populated faction or as i said clearly displayed on character creation which was underpopulated that makes a big difference in helping change population levels. Anyway, its obvious these days that kids always go the baddass or cool looking faction.

It was destro in war, defiance in rift and asmodian in Aion. always happens.


While the Vanu in PS2 certainly do look cool, they're purple, alot of people wont play them because of that, it questions their sexuality or something.

TR look pretty cool aswell, and they can really be looked at as the good or bad guys depending on your view. they could be viewed as similar to the British or Roman empire or as similar to imperials.

The NC while, probably are the worst looking faction, they will carry some heavy pop over from PS1, while they maybe seen as the "good faction" though one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist. they do verymuch fit the bill of America in their revolution or the rebels in star wars...they even look like it too, the American part could defiantly get some people playing them...also their weapons are OP.

[BlazingSun]

While the Vanu in PS2 certainly do look cool, they're purple, alot of people wont play them because of that, it questions their sexuality or something.

Funny you should say that, as every non Vanu questions theirs. :p On a more serious note: they do look a lot better this time around (I still wouldn't play them though). They might even be the empire with the 2nd highest population this time around.

TR look pretty cool aswell, and they can really be looked at as the good or bad guys depending on your view. they could be viewed as similar to the British or Roman empire or as similar to imperials.

They are the best looking empire at the moment in my opinion.

The NC while, probably are the worst looking faction, they will carry some heavy pop over from PS1, while they maybe seen as the "good faction" though one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist. they do verymuch fit the bill of America in their revolution or the rebels in star wars...they even look like it too, the American part could defiantly get some people playing them...also their weapons are OP.

For me it all depends on what the NC infantry armor will look like ... so far I'm not impressed (the MAX sucks for example), but we have seen almost nothing yet. The NC "Rexo" better be awesome!


I think the look will be the biggest deciding factor, when it comes to chosing an empire.

[VioletZero]

Well, I have experience with MMOs that have three factions. And you're absolutely right. When one faction dominates, the other two gang up on it.

And I anticipate that the factions are going to be very evenly balanced anyway because, well, all of them are cool. No really, I'd take any of them at this point.

[SKYeXile]

Funny you should say that, as every non Vanu questions theirs. On a more serious note: they do look a lot better this time around (I still wouldn't play them though). They might even be the empire with the 2nd highest population this time around.


I think the look will be the biggest deciding factor, when it comes to chosing an empire.

err yea, thats what i meant to say, they're afraid if they play the purple faction people will question their sexuality :P

Yea look and the factions lore comes into it, this been a pvp game though people are less concerned with a factions lore but, just like you say, how the look and possibly function will decide for alot of people.

[texico]

I'm hoping the population is something like Werner server 2006; TR zerg with 40% pop, NC with the smallest pop but the most organisation >scatmaxes<, VS somewhere in between.


I do miss the TR zerg. I hope that comes back. Great source of kills.


But it really really is up to you, and it's very difficult to call. I was surprised the TR seemed to have the zerg in Werner-06. Each empire had some of the most prolific players in the game, and some of the stupidest.

I don't think any us can call which empire's going to be the most popular and which is going to be the underdog at this moment.

[texico]

I really liked the NC's BR25 armor. I think that navy-blue/slightly black finish could have made a pretty good standard armour for the NC.

I'm not THAT disappointed though with the NC's armour.

[Tasorin]

Populations fluctuate throughout the normal cycle of a day. Expect a very even split on a NA server during NA prime time. No one really knows for sure what he population lockouts are going to be for PS2, but we do know it will be more then was in PS1.

Bottom line, play the faction you want to play, and play on a server cluster that provides the best average ping for your core players.

[Hmr85]

Play the faction your gonna enjoy. Don't worry about the pops as it has never really been a big issue.

As for the NC armor, I personally love the look of it so far. It fits the description of freedom fighters trying to salvage what they can to wage war. I'm sure the Rexo is gonna look awesome.

[Coreldan]

Play the faction your gonna enjoy. Don't worry about the pops as it has never really been a big issue.

As for the NC armor, I personally love the look of it so far. It fits the description of freedom fighters trying to salvage what they can to wage war. I'm sure the Rexo is gonna look awesome.

I never really was so much into the guerilla freedom fighters idea, but more for the "mercenaries for the CEOs of the old terran companies" kinda thing, which is why I sorta wanted a bit less worn out gear :D

[Hmr85]

I never really was so much into the guerilla freedom fighters idea, but more for the "mercenaries for the CEOs of the old terran companies" kinda thing, which is why I sorta wanted a bit less worn out gear :D

Yeah, I can see the whole mercenary thing to. The corporations where helping out according to the storyline. I think what would be nice is if you started out with new gear and it got beat all to hell the longer you stayed alive. Sort of like how the Vanguard looked after it just got shot all up.

[Lonehunter]

Overall populations have never been a problem in Planetside. Occasionally a population will be down 5-10% but that's usually it, and it will always fluctuate a bit. There was a day or two when one empire would be severely out matched, but then major incentives kick in, and it's over in a few hours

[Tehroth]

Hmm thats a nice change to hear. Hey Conq looks like we are going to have to do alot of reading on guns/armor game mechanics because unfortunately I never played PS1 due to be a console gamer in those days.

[Conq]

Hmm thats a nice change to hear. Hey Conq looks like we are going to have to do alot of reading on guns/armor game mechanics because unfortunately I never played PS1 due to be a console gamer in those days.

I tried to play it back in the day but I lived out in the "kountry" and 14k on dialup was the best connection I could get. :(