Make Lightning Tank Empire Specific?

[Vectorian]

I think it would be cool if they made the Lightning Tank have different looks for each faction kind of like the buggies. I think it would be really awesome cause the current model definitely could belong to NC and they should make new models for TR and VS. That way each faction has a unique light tank as well. What do you guys think?

[Eyeklops]

The guy who plans the texture budget disagrees

[Sirisian]

Is this for real? Personally I hate ES stuff, so these kind of comments to make more things unbalanceable bothers me.

[Ruffdog]

No, different paint jobs on the one model are just fine for me for this vehicle.

[Zulthus]

Is this for real? Personally I hate ES stuff

Why are you playing Planetside in that case? Variety is spice.

[Vectorian]

Why are you playing Planetside in that case? Variety is spice.

I concur, If you don't like empire specific stuff then you might as well go play counter strike lol...

[Kran De Loy]

@OP: No. Just, no. If they have time to make custom models I'd rather it get spent on enter/exit animations.

As for people that do not like ES stuff, so what? It's their preference and that's fine. The point of Planetside isn't the ES equipment. It's about three factions fighting on a massive scale. The ES stuff is just a spice, like Zulthus said.

[Zulthus]

@OP: No. Just, no. If they have time to make custom models I'd rather it get spent on enter/exit animations.

As for people that do not like ES stuff, so what? It's their preference and that's fine. The point of Planetside isn't the ES equipment. It's about three factions fighting on a massive scale. The ES stuff is just a spice, like Zulthus said.

I agree. Enter/exit animations uber alles.

But you wouldn't care is Planetside was just dudes wearing the same armor and everyone was holding an AK-47? There's a reason Planetside was built around the stories of three different factions with totally different ideas and technology.

[Kran De Loy]

I agree. Enter/exit animations uber alles.

But you wouldn't care is Planetside was just dudes wearing the same armor and everyone was holding an AK-47? There's a reason Planetside was built around the stories of three different factions with totally different ideas and technology.

Yeah, and it's a spice.
It's like having a piece of fine Steak or a piece of fine Steak that's been marinated and prepared by a top class chef.

[Sirisian]

Why are you playing Planetside in that case? Variety is spice.
It's not really a big deal breaker for me. More of a personal preference for balance. I don't mind empire skins with the same collision mesh as a form of variety. Basically I'd prefer to have 3 NS fighters I can use rather than 1 ES one, 3 distinct ES tanks rather than 1 tank, 3 NS rocket launchers with unique playstyles versus being locked into one, etc. Different projectile and weapon skins that are all equal in the end with their customizations is fine also. So I'm not against an MMOFPS with identical factions. I digress it's really just a different preference I picked up after playing Planetside 1 and watching all the balance changes over time and having to switch factions to experience all the weapons and playstyles which got tiresome when I wanted to stick with one faction. (I get bored easily doing the same thing). :(

I concur, If you don't like empire specific stuff then you might as well go play counter strike lol...
Honestly if Planetside 1 released with 30+ unique weapons for all empires with different meshes for some of the per empire I'd be fine. CS:S might have been a bad example on your part. It's hard to compare the scale and persistence to that of Planetside, but I think I understand where you were going.

[Zulthus]

Yeah, and it's a spice.


You know that isn't true. The three unique empires are the very core and base of the entire game.

[The Kush]

The PS2 budget doesn't have this available, get over it.

[Zenben]

Nah. I get the feeling that if this were to happen, you'd just end up with smaller versions of the MBTs. I'd rather the tank lineup remain the way it is.

[Kran De Loy]

You know that isn't true. The three unique empires are the very core and base of the entire game.

And you know that isn't true. Seriously think about it.

If you had a game with three factions that were all nearly identical, but the fights were 200v200v200 over a 8x8 battle field or a game with three iconic factions each with multiple outstanding characteristics and a rich background story interlocking them near seamlessly with each other placed in a game where the fights are a 16v16v16 match made system (to be fair and keep it the traditional size of 16 per team). Which one would of these things would be a better game?

I, and I hope you do as well, recognize that it's a futile question. If you had to choose between the two no one would be happy and that it's a wonderful thing that we get to have both at the same time. I'll at least answer my own question though. The large scale battles more than the rich story line is what gave PS so much longevity in the cookie cutter world of games we players are forced to beg in these days. It was the stories that we made ourselves in those battles that trump any of the background faction histories.

[Xyntech]

I'd say scale > team work > 3 sides >> empire diversity >> everything else.

The scale, not just of the world but of the actual battles, is at the core of what makes Planetside what it is. Team work is almost inseparable from that scale and is the other important part, and the 3 faction system is about the only good solution to keeping those large scale organized fights relatively balanced.

Empire diversity is still up there as far as what makes it feel like Planetside, and it just wouldn't be the same if it were all common pool, but it is not at the absolute core of what makes the game for me.

Everything else, like having something like a MAX, or an Infiltrator, or anything like that, is pretty inconsequential to me. There is no real good reason not to have something like a MAX, so I'm just as happy that they include them to make it feel even more like the original game instead of dumping them for no reason, but if PS2 had a good reason to have no MAX units, it wouldn't destroy the core of the game for me.

There is a big difference in my mind between having nostalgia for the first game and wanting the opportunity to relive every happy little moment from it, versus keeping the core of the game alive to generate all sorts of new experiences. In most cases, the devs should be able to and seem willing to cater to the nostalgic elements as well, but any time changes have to be made to move the game forward, I'm generally okay with them as long as they don't endanger the core of what I think made Planetside so great.

[Neurotoxin]

I think we can already add empire-specific weapons to some of the common pool vehicles...

[CutterJohn]

Why are you playing Planetside in that case? Variety is spice.

And spice is best used sparingly, as witnessed by the cinnamon challenge.


Sorry, but you used the simile, not me. :D



Personally, and I know this isn't a commonly shared opinion, but I'd prefer fewer empire differences rather than more. I'd totally play on a no empire specific server.

[Immigrant]

I think it would be cool if they made the Lightning Tank have different looks for each faction kind of like the buggies. I think it would be really awesome cause the current model definitely could belong to NC and they should make new models for TR and VS. That way each faction has a unique light tank as well. What do you guys think?

TR and NC design both feel good for LT, however due to the specific designs VS common pool vehicles will always look somewhat out of place when they'll use them. It would be cool, however it would be even cooler if open beta was released sooner so different tank models are certainly not a priority in my book.

[Reginald]

There will most likely already be a "specificness" to the common pool vehicles. There is a good chance that the NS vehicles will have empire specific weaponry for their hard-points. I believe that ES weaponry was confirmed for the sunderer in one of the webcasts.

[Speculation] An interesting dynamic may consist of adding ES sidgrades and secondary equipment.

[Erendil]

There will most likely already be a "specificness" to the common pool vehicles. There is a good chance that the NS vehicles will have empire specific weaponry for their hard-points. I believe that ES weaponry was confirmed for the sunderer in one of the webcasts.

[Speculation] An interesting dynamic may consist of adding ES sidgrades and secondary equipment.

Yes, they have said that ES weaponry would be available for NS vehicles. With that in mind, I want a rail gun for my Lightning. :cool:

[Xyntech]

Yes, they have said that ES weaponry would be available for NS vehicles. With that in mind, I want a rail gun for my Lightning. :cool:

Makes you wonder if there ever will be any more exotic ES modifications for vehicles.

Extra speedy Lightning for the TR, extra armored Lightning for the NC... hovering Lightning for the VS :D

I can dream.

[basti]

It's not really a big deal breaker for me. More of a personal preference for balance. I don't mind empire skins with the same collision mesh as a form of variety. Basically I'd prefer to have 3 NS fighters I can use rather than 1 ES one, 3 distinct ES tanks rather than 1 tank, 3 NS rocket launchers with unique playstyles versus being locked into one, etc. Different projectile and weapon skins that are all equal in the end with their customizations is fine also. So I'm not against an MMOFPS with identical factions. I digress it's really just a different preference I picked up after playing Planetside 1 and watching all the balance changes over time and having to switch factions to experience all the weapons and playstyles which got tiresome when I wanted to stick with one faction. (I get bored easily doing the same thing). :(


Honestly if Planetside 1 released with 30+ unique weapons for all empires with different meshes for some of the per empire I'd be fine. CS:S might have been a bad example on your part. It's hard to compare the scale and persistence to that of Planetside, but I think I understand where you were going.

Once again, I have to ask if you are serious, or the best troll in the web

[TerminatorUK]

Nah, the lightning being NS / common pool is a very well recognised Planetside 1 feature and should remain the same in Planetside 2.

I really like empire specific vehicles but this shouldn't be one of them - I'd rather see some Empire Specific buggies make a reappearance.

[Xyntech]

Nah, the lightning being NS / common pool is a very well recognised Planetside 1 feature and should remain the same in Planetside 2.

I really like empire specific vehicles but this shouldn't be one of them - I'd rather see some Empire Specific buggies make a reappearance.

Well the Reaver and Mosquito being common pool was pretty distinctly Planetside in the first game, but they seem to have made the switch to them being empire specific pretty smoothly.

Still, I agree with you about the Lightning, and the ES fighters may not be the best example since there were already 2 of the 3 ES fighters, with the Mosquito and Reaver of the first game having far more in common than the Lightning has with any other vehicle.

I tend to prefer having as much empire specific content as possible, just as a personal preference, but for me, ES aircraft has always been at the top of my wish list. I am sad that buggies wont be in at launch, but if they had to only include 2 ES vehicles per faction at launch, I'm glad that they picked tanks and fighters. One land unit and one air unit.

Hopefully buggies do make it in soon after launch though. They are just too much fun. Hopefully they are empire specific as well, because every empire seemed to have a lot of fun with their own specific buggy.

The best part about PS2s modularity is that we will get to put empire specific weapons on our common pool vehicles, so everything can feel a bit more custom tailored to your side, ala PS1's ES deliverer variants and such. So much better now that Forgelight can just allow it to be customization of a base frame, not requiring a completely different vehicle that otherwise looks just like an old vehicle. Much as I was always happy to get new content in the first game, it was a bit of a let down when an old vehicle with new guns was touted as "new" in PS1. May PS2's 5 year plan put an end to that shit.

[Zekeen]

I think it would be cool if they made the Lightning Tank have different looks for each faction kind of like the buggies. I think it would be really awesome cause the current model definitely could belong to NC and they should make new models for TR and VS. That way each faction has a unique light tank as well. What do you guys think?

Rest assured and at ease, OP, for there WILL in fact be empire specific looks for each vehicle, be they big or only minor, who can say but the devs, BUT, we will in fact HAVE ES look variations.

While we all know paintjobs will obviously be there, there will be some model differences in the form of MODS. For all you yahoos who think it's "extra work" or something crazy like that, the devs have already added in a system to allow APPEARANCE MODS and many of these mods are EMPIRE SPECIFIC. There's also the likelihood that there will be ES combat mods. So there will be minor deviations for common pool vehicles I believe, the probability is quite high.

But there ARE, without any doubt, EMPIRE SPECIFIC APPEARANCE MODS. They have stated and confirmed this, and the 30 minute video is around here somewhere. In it, they have the lead vehicle designer CONFIRM the empire specific appearance mods. I don't know if there will be any big mods like industrial parts for NC or such, but they will have hood ornaments, many of which are ES, such as your empire's logo.

Hope this clears up the question a bit. Personally, I hope they add some sort of rollover beams on the model for NC, kinda like the upper part of the NC MAX suit will have.

[Methonius]

Rest assured and at ease, OP, for there WILL in fact be empire specific looks for each vehicle, be they big or only minor, who can say but the devs, BUT, we will in fact HAVE ES look variations.

While we all know paintjobs will obviously be there, there will be some model differences in the form of MODS. For all you yahoos who think it's "extra work" or something crazy like that, the devs have already added in a system to allow APPEARANCE MODS and many of these mods are EMPIRE SPECIFIC. There's also the likelihood that there will be ES combat mods. So there will be minor deviations for common pool vehicles I believe, the probability is quite high.

But there ARE, without any doubt, EMPIRE SPECIFIC APPEARANCE MODS. They have stated and confirmed this, and the 30 minute video is around here somewhere. In it, they have the lead vehicle designer CONFIRM the empire specific appearance mods. I don't know if there will be any big mods like industrial parts for NC or such, but they will have hood ornaments, many of which are ES, such as your empire's logo.

Hope this clears up the question a bit. Personally, I hope they add some sort of rollover beams on the model for NC, kinda like the upper part of the NC MAX suit will have.

That will be really awesome if they add ES APPEARANCE MODS to vehicles that you can get ill definitely get into that.

[Kipper]

I think its enough to have paint jobs and equipment modifications myself.

Nanite Systems is basically a defence contractor like you see in the real world today - both the US and UK and many other countries all use Apache Gunships for instance, but each country has them fitted out differently from radar, weapons and other modular components to meet their own operational needs (the UK version is equipped to fly in shitty weather!). Its the same with other tanks, aircraft and weapons systems.

Similarly, each major country has its own stuff which it doesn't give to anyone else - being the worlds foremost maritime nation :D the UK's "empire specific" kit is in its Navy, with the new Astute nuclear sub and its Type 45 destroyer. They don't even release the full spec of those, so not only can you not have it - you can't even fully know what it can do!

I'm led to believe the defence on the destroyer can shoot down a tennis-ball sized object at upto Mach 1 or something ridiculously overpowered, that's why other nations have been calling for it to be nerfed but we're having none of that!

[Lokster]

While I appreciate the differences and uniqueness of each empire, I do not believe we need three different lightnings.

I believe there are far more important things to worry about... I am 100% okay with simply having three different skins for the lightning.

[Shlomoshun]

Different skins,as well as different empire specific mods would be pretty cool, but If it's gonna have a specific top-tier skill (AA from the sounds of it) there shouldn't be any mods to affect that particular weapon loadout. The top AA weapon should be available to all factions equally.

In PS1, having to use the VS AA weapon was weak when compared to the other factions and that always felt like an unfair advantage...

[BlazingSun]

In PS1, having to use the VS AA weapon was weak when compared to the other factions and that always felt like an unfair advantage...

VS AA was weak? You have just lost all credibility my friend.

[BloodySoul]

i like having a vehicle that is the same for all. Keeps a level of balance for me in the game. I think mos lower levels stuff should be the same and only higher stuff is different.

[Shogun]

skins are in. already shown in screenshots ;)

and i am sure the modular additions will indeed have some empire specific looks.

like the vs armor addition will look like the scaly magrider armor parts. on every vehicle they use it on. turning every common pool vehicle into some distinctive empire specific look. and the weapons will be customizable to es weapons as well.

there really is no need for special es models underneath all this es addon stuff.

[Xyntech]

Different skins,as well as different empire specific mods would be pretty cool, but If it's gonna have a specific top-tier skill (AA from the sounds of it) there shouldn't be any mods to affect that particular weapon loadout. The top AA weapon should be available to all factions equally.

Well presumably any ES weapons will be additional options, while the uber AA gun will be one of the default Nanite Systems common pool weapons available to everyone. Shouldn't be a big deal.

In PS1, having to use the VS AA weapon was weak when compared to the other factions and that always felt like an unfair advantage...

What AA weapon are you talking about? If you mean the Lancer, that was our AV weapon. There were no infantry portable weapons for any empire that were specifically AA weapons. While the Striker was arguably the best AV weapon for scaring off aircraft, the Lancer actually had the best odds of killing an aircraft, in skilled hands.

As for AA MAXes, while the Starfire couldn't surprise kill a stationary Reaver the way a locked down Burster could, it was undeniably a great AA MAX.

Between the Pheonix and the Sparrow, I'd say that the NC were inarguably the weakest AA empire.

The Skyguard made most of that moot, but I just gotta be honest. NC had a lot of strong shit and VS had some weak shit, but AA was not one of our weaknesses.

[Gonefshn]

They already said you can replace the main turret for the skygaurd turret for anti air.

Add in one empire specific turret as an option for each empire on the lightning and the problem is solved.

NC: Railgun
TR: something thats spins
VS: something that goes pew

problem solved.

[aleksandrgrc]

spins like a boss /\