Faction Defection

[Khrusky]

Essentially, I'm considering changing factions from my PS1 one and I was wondering if anyone else was in the same boat. PS1 players remaining loyal ought not to post as I'm sure they are in the majority here. I'd also be interested in hearing from any new players that are as yet undecided and are vacillating on their eventual faction selection.


I played Vanu in the original PlanetSide, mainly because they had much more tactical flexibility than the other factions. Their MAXes could use jump-jets, their tanks and jeeps could travel over water, and they had a simplified system for swapping their weapons between anti-armour and anti-infantry modes. I also felt that they looked the most interesting as they were clearly a human military but with an alien twist.

However, in PlanetSide 2 the AV/AAr switching has been removed, and the jump-jets have been outsourced to the light assault class. The increased draw distance has also made the magrider's hovering over water less useful in bridge battles as I'm pretty sure you'll now be a much bigger target than when you could emerge out of the fog.
I'm also not a fan of some crucial art design decisions for the new Vanu, particularly the Magrider and the Scythe. I also don't think the MAX is as cool as the other factions', but I could live with that.

My essential dilemma is that the Vanu still have the best looking basic infantry in the game, and a tactical advantage in the amphibious nature of the Magrider, but their aircraft just looks not aerodynamic enough, the Magrider looks a bit too ineffective without the turret, and they've lost a lot of their key combat advantages. (I'm unintersted in the relative combat differences of bullet-drop, RoF, individual hit damage, etc. as I like the strategy of the game more than the immediate tactics, and I could get used to any particular style).

I'm thinking of going TR as I really would rather not look like the paramilitary wing of Ryanair, and the Mosquito and Prowler look a lot better this time around.

I would like to hear any analysis of the factions that other people have done, particularly where the relative merits seem to be close for the factions they are torn between.

[megamold]

my PS1 empire was TR, and i pretty much never wavered from it.
for PS2 my first (main) char will still be TR, but i'm liking the look of the NC so far, and would also like to get a better feeling of how they play.
so once it launches i will definatly be making an NC char to :)

oh and also one of the reasons i will be making a NC is because i want to fly a reaver from time to time ^^

[kasiraghi]

Yeah, same... I was TR, and while I still think I'd enjoy playing TR I'm not a bit older and prefer the accuracy/short-burst style of the NC infantry.

The one potential deal-breaker is the air-unit. It looks like I'll prefer the Mosquito over the Reaver, and if that's true I will just make sure I cert my TR weapons to be more like NC (i.e. more damage, burst, need to aim better).

[MacXXcaM]

I was playing NC in PS1 but I'm not even sure why... Guess it was out of reflex and I never changed it.

In PS2 I'm actually favoring NC because I really like their design. I'm going to try the other factions but I'm pretty much settled right now.

[Novacane]

I was TR for PS1 but since my Outfit has long since fallen out of contact, and the fact I can't stand not flying the Reaver, I'll probably fight the good fight for the freedom of the NC in PS2.

[diLLa]

I'm not a PS1 vet, although I've played it a bit but never stuck to one faction.

I don't really look at the lore or looks, but decide purely on gameplay.

NC suits me best as I'm not a spray and prayer and i don't really like energy based weapons either.

NC will be my first choice, and VS probably second and TR as last. So I will pick NC first, and if I like it I'll stick to it, otherwise I'll check out VS after and eventually maybe TR.

[Maarvy]

Originaly vanu ....

This time not sure , other people i play with want to go NC and I do like there look .

But I think in the end Vanu being the underdog faction will win out again , its not all about looks .

Target rich enviroment's > Style .

We'll see .

[kadrin]

Wow Khrusky, you and I are on the same page. It's actually weird reading my exact thoughts from someone else.

[maskedskull]

As a newbie I was struggling to start with until I started looking more closely at the factions. Initially I was considering going with the TR, mostly because of TB but after discovering that they generally had a higher RoF I decided against it as I tend to favour slower firing weapons these days but after watching the streams it heightened my desire to go more of a pilot role...and would have liked maneuverability, which the Vanu have for vehicles.

Ultimately I've decided to go NC...but that is subject to change

[Logri]

Well, I started out in PS1 Beta as TR, in live I played VS (still with some love for TR though) and now in PS2 I'll be playing TR again.

I might make a VS alt or something for old times sake, but that all depends how well everything will work out.

I'll never play NC though, their n00bhammers.. I mean Jackhammers have made me hate them with a fiery passion, bunch of skill-less weekend warriors!!! :D

[Xyntech]

So many traitors in here. All 3 empires ought to have a cease fire so we can line them all up and have them shot.

Damn respawn tubes. How are we supposed to deal with treason anymore? No wonder there is so much of it going on.

[LightningDriver]

I started the game as VS, played that faction for a few years, then switched to TR and have never looked back. I will take my secrets to the grave over why I switched factions.

[Spoof]

Started as a smurf in 2003, defected to barney around 2006.

I'll go with all three for variety, but focus as Vanu to begin with... and Elmo needs some loving this time around too.

[The Kush]

So many traitors in here. All 3 empires ought to have a cease fire so we can line them all up and have them shot.

Damn respawn tubes. How are we supposed to deal with treason anymore? No wonder there is so much of it going on.

I second this

[captainkapautz]

So many traitors in here. All 3 empires ought to have a cease fire so we can line them all up and have them shot.

Damn respawn tubes. How are we supposed to deal with treason anymore? No wonder there is so much of it going on.

How about spawntubes that have the floor replaced with a woodchipper?


Slightly OT: Was TR in PS1, switched to NC later, when most of my outfit left, will most likely stay TR this time, but dayum DAT GAUSS is making it a hard decision.

[Magpie]

I'm in the same boat!

In ps1 I was mainly NC but I was known for being a bunny hopper, meaning I swap empires a lot, I feel that the in planetside it was all about the iconic empire heavy weapons, NC jackhammer TR mini chaingun and VS leasher

Vanu had the best play style, max jet, fast swap of ammo type and hoving over water!
NC had the best looks :)
TR had the good weapons, handgun And mini gun

I'm really unsure what to go for vanu has lost its style :(

It's all about beta!!

[Khrusky]

So many traitors in here. All 3 empires ought to have a cease fire so we can line them all up and have them shot.

Damn respawn tubes. How are we supposed to deal with treason anymore? No wonder there is so much of it going on.

Well you are gaining defectors from the other sides too so I guess as long as your new recruit benefits are as enticing as that of the other factions' then you have nothing to worry about ;)

I also haven't quite defected yet, as with some of the other posters, so I could still be convinced to keep in line.

[Hmr85]

The only good traitor is a dead traitor. Why would I want you in my faction if your willing to flip and betray the faction you fought for all these years.

[p0intman]

i defected once

i went from TR to NC. I never looked back.

[Logri]

Why do people betray eh? Perhaps they saw, heard or experienced things that showed them the light or true nature of their previous faction! Some dirty NC secret or something!!

I for one have cast off the false gods and gave myself over to the true leaders of Auraxis.

[Synapse]

I havent heard a single person switching to vanu yet...

I mean wait...target rich environment! Keep going nubs! :rofl:

[Bags]

Woulda stayed TR, but their everything minus mossie and max looks terrible.

[Xyntech]

Well you are gaining defectors from the other sides too so I guess as long as your new recruit benefits are as enticing as that of the other factions' then you have nothing to worry about ;)

I also haven't quite defected yet, as with some of the other posters, so I could still be convinced to keep in line.

I'm all for keeping VS players, but if the style, hover tank, UFO/Cylon fighter and Pulsar aren't enough to keep you, there's nothing more I can say ;)

But I never had a problem with VS being underpopulated in PS1. I was actually kind of worried during some of the early poles when it seemed like the VS were going to be overpopulated. Save that for the NC. They always seem to need all the help they can get ;)

[GuyFawkes]

I played 3 different factions on 3 servers back when it was 1 empire per server.The general conclusion when playing was thus :

NC - my chances of being tk'd for no apparent reason rose by 100% . The cr5 chat more resembled barrens chat in wow . Mike33 would announce constantly his fixation and desire to global attacks on amerish on an hourly basis and his god-given right to spawn camp. Just a small example.

VS - overall more mature , but with an insane need to blow generators and avoid having to fight anyone if they could whenever and wherever it was available as an option. Some great strategists in cr5 I must admit , just a pity about the gen-o-cide fixation.

TR- always up for a fight , despite having to do more to accomplish the same as their counterparts. Always rolling deli's and sunderers. Just appeared people were having fun , not anally retentive . Maturity wise mid-way between NC and VS.

[Furret]

Started my days as a NC, dabbled in TR and VS but I enjoyed NC the most, because my friends were there. As I got older and more mature and started learning about how the game functions, I realized that most of the higher up NC were actually complete douchebags. I was usually able to ignore them by again, playing with my own separate friends, but it was still really obnoxious to read command chat and have it sound like it was populated by estrogen-ridden 13 year olds.

Now ps2 comes around, with the same general weapons and vehicles, but completely different mechanics. As it stands, I want to change from NC to VS. I always loved the pulsar in ps1 and I always thought the magrider cannon was stupidly overpowered against air (How could you ever miss with it?). My second reason is for the aircraft. The NC seem too clunky in the air and they will be generally at the mercy of more agile aircraft. The TR mosquito also seems just like what it is: a mosquito. The scythe seems like the perfect balance of agility and power to be able to dominate the skies.
The third reason is for the looks. There is no denying that the VS is the sexiest empire, and who can deny that lasers are fucking awesome? :)

[Xyntech]

Started my days as a NC, dabbled in TR and VS but I enjoyed NC the most, because my friends were there. As I got older and more mature and started learning about how the game functions, I realized that most of the higher up NC were actually complete douchebags. I was usually able to ignore them by again, playing with my own separate friends, but it was still really obnoxious to read command chat and have it sound like it was populated by estrogen-ridden 13 year olds.

Now ps2 comes around, with the same general weapons and vehicles, but completely different mechanics. As it stands, I want to change from NC to VS. I always loved the pulsar in ps1 and I always thought the magrider cannon was stupidly overpowered against air (How could you ever miss with it?). My second reason is for the aircraft. The NC seem too clunky in the air and they will be generally at the mercy of more agile aircraft. The TR mosquito also seems just like what it is: a mosquito. The scythe seems like the perfect balance of agility and power to be able to dominate the skies.
The third reason is for the looks. There is no denying that the VS is the sexiest empire, and who can deny that lasers are fucking awesome? :)

Anyone who would betray the New Conglomerate is a friend of mine! :D

But we've got our eyes on you. Miss a cult meeting or fail to drink your koolaid and there will be trouble!

You're like the first person to say their switching to VS though. You're a maverick among defectors.

[Snipefrag]

Do iiiit, if it ain't red it's dead.

Edit: or possibly red with zebra stripes.. If you catch my drift.

[Kilmoran]

I am a Strumgrenadier. I simply wait for my orders regardless of the color.

[Vicrry]

Was Vanu, and was thinking of trying NC because I always felt VS weapons lacked in the damage department.

However, with customizable weapons, I'll probably stay VS and see how much tweaking it takes to make a Pulsar into a Gauss.

[Bazilx]

At first glance I was convinced this thread was about faction defecation, a seemingly much more serious issue.

[Malorn]

When I first logged into PS1 in beta I did so as a VS.

Then a few days later I killed a TR, looted his cycler, and it was love at first sight. The incredibly OP striker added to that love, though the Prowler and MCG were a steaming pile of garbage at the time. I played most of the beta as TR and formed up my outfit from TR players.

At the end of beta, having not played NC I gave it a shot and absolutely loved the Vanguard and the Phoenix, and learned to tolerate the Guass (I still found the cycler the superior weapon)

I entered PS1 retail as NC and that was the vast majority of my serious gaming time.

I branched out and played some TR on Markov for shits and giggles and VS on Emerald for a change in pace.

Now for PS2 I am returning to TR, mostly because that's what the outfit I am in identifies most with. But a part of me always liked how I established the roots of everything I did in PS1 retail as TR. NC may have been where I did all my PS1 glory, but TR was my first love.

Remember that PS2 is a re-imagining of PS1, so I think its perfectly acceptable to re-think what empire you really like and re-imagine your own PlanetSide identity as well. It's been nearly a decade, personalities change, what you like changes.

But don't be switching post-launch. I think you can change your mind now, but once the game starts, you're all-in.

[Arokel]

I was going to criticize you for being so shallow as to let a faction's aesthetic and traits sway your decision to play them or not but then I remembered that those are the reasons I will be playing Vanu.

lol :)

edit: grammar

[infinite loop]

I seriously question the logic of anyone who doesn't plan on at least trying out all 3 factions. It's free to create a new character, so, why wouldn't you? I'll be running with my outfit on NC probably the majority of my playtime, but sometimes I like to do my own thing, and a TR and VS alt will fill that nicely.

[Eyeklops]

For PS1 it was VS>NC>TR.

VS: Loved the Magrider, and the big slow orb'd Lasher. VS Rexo looked the best to me as well. Female toons looked sweet.
NC: In extreme QCQ the Jackhammer was an "I win" button, but the real gem of NC infantry was the Gauss. It absolutely smoked the Pulsar at med/long range.
TR: I liked the look of the TR max, the multi-enemy killing abilty of the MCG, and the empire colors. Not much more than that.

For PS2 I am conflicted and will create toons for all three empires.

VS: I like most of the looks of the scythe (it's got too fat/ long of an ass), but am not sure about it until I fly it. Do not like the max, and do not like the female avatars. Haven't seen the Lasher, that may tip the scales for me, although the old slow Lasher orbs wouldn't be near as effective in the more wide open maps of PS2. I do NOT like the Magrider without a turret. My concern is that the shape of the tank in combination with no turret means it will constantly bump into shit when trying to aim. IT NEEDS A TURRET!!
NC: Max looks the best. Vanguard looks the best. Reaver looks ok. Infantry are blah.
TR: Max looks good. Prowler is lopsided and too squarish. Infantry look great. Female avatars look better than VS