Are the explosions too big?

[Raymac]

I really loved how intense the battles were, and I love the effects so far. However, I wonder from a gameplay perspective, if the explosions might be too much. For example, when you fired a tank shell, your target is covered in smoke to the point you totally lose sight.

Now I love massive explosions as much as anyone. I'm probably one of the few people here that like the over the top popcorn style of Michael Bay. And the first time I saw the Prowler fire its shells in one of TotalBiscuits videos, I was taken aback by how epic it was. I just wonder if the smoke should be scaled down a little so we can still see what we are shooting at after that 1st round hits.

What do you guys think? Want the explosions bigger, smaller, or are they goldilocks just right?

[Sabot]

Meh.. as far as I'm concerned, if it aint moved outta tha smoke, it's still there! Keep firing!

[Landtank]

I really loved how intense the battles were, and I love the effects so far. However, I wonder from a gameplay perspective, if the explosions might be too much. For example, when you fired a tank shell, your target is covered in smoke to the point you totally lose sight.

Now I love massive explosions as much as anyone. I'm probably one of the few people here that like the over the top popcorn style of Michael Bay. And the first time I saw the Prowler fire its shells in one of TotalBiscuits videos, I was taken aback by how epic it was. I just wonder if the smoke should be scaled down a little so we can still see what we are shooting at after that 1st round hits.

What do you guys think? Want the explosions bigger, smaller, or are they goldilocks just right?

Hmm for gameplay purposes perhaps, but I think it should be kept the way it is, maybe they can add thermal imagine to the tank view as a cert, that would be SICK

[RedKnights]

I, for one, will never complain about amazing cinematic explosions.

[Dagron]

I like the fact that you can lose a target in the smoke... makes it a little more challenging, specially if the target isn't a total airhead and knows to move when he's being bombarded.

[Gandhi]

I, for one, will never complain about amazing cinematic explosions.
Then allow me! I like complaining about things :D

I think having every explosion be massive cheapens the effect, it's cool for the first 10 minutes or so, then it becomes normal and you stop noticing it altogether. Then it actually starts to get annoying, because it means you can't see anything after the first shot.

I'd rather have relatively small explosions for most weapons, with large explosions reserved for exploding tanks and galaxies or liberators. Maybe larger ones for the Lib's mortar cannon too. To me, explosions that are common on the battlefield tend to look better when they're small, too big and they start to feel unrealistic, like everyone has a few gallons of gasoline strapped to their backs.

[Stardouser]

The explosions are so big that for those of us whose eyes don't instantly move to the pointspam reports, it's hard to see if the enemy died(or bailed, for that matter).

On the other hand the big explosions could be used as masking fire for troop movements...

Another question arises- will the splash radius of effects to infantry, by tank shells, match the size of the explosion?

[GhettoPrince]

I think the explosion is just a stock animation , like how the Vanu MAX had the crab walk for awhile.

As good as it looks, It's still an alpha build

[Gonefshn]

I like it as is. To me it makes it feel more like a war game than a simple FPS. Challenges like smoke and dust make things interesting.

[Raymac]

Then allow me! I like complaining about things :D

I think having every explosion be massive cheapens the effect, it's cool for the first 10 minutes or so, then it becomes normal and you stop noticing it altogether. Then it actually starts to get annoying, because it means you can't see anything after the first shot.

I'd rather have relatively small explosions for most weapons, with large explosions reserved for exploding tanks and galaxies or liberators. Maybe larger ones for the Lib's mortar cannon too. To me, explosions that are common on the battlefield tend to look better when they're small, too big and they start to feel unrealistic, like everyone has a few gallons of gasoline strapped to their backs.

That's part of my concern too, the cumulative effect of hundreds of players. I mean 1 liberator with 3 shots would blanket an entire section of the courtyard in smoke. I'm thinking maybe the firey part of the explosion can be huge, but scale back the smoke.

Also, I know it might be a different thread entirely, but I think there is room to scale back the explosion camera shake a bit too. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it looked to be a little too much.

[GuyFawkes]

I dunno.
I could see some tactical benefits to this. You are in your mossie and see some friendly exposed on ground below you. Dropping a stream of rockets to the side of them would be like a smoke bomb , allowing them to retreat or gain cover unsuspected .
Someone gullable might see explosions and head over to investigate the commotion , only to find themselves lured into a trap.

edit: I think the night-time explosions should have some effect like a deer in headlights. Same goes with using flame thrower . Maybe have tinted goggles or something as a sidegrade in class options could be thought up.
Do i kit out goggles to stop the glare , but without explosions /lights it would be like walking around with welding mask at night sort of thing.

[Gandhi]

Also, I know it might be a different thread entirely, but I think there is room to scale back the explosion camera shake a bit too. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it looked to be a little too much.
The camera shake as it is now would actually give me a headache, it's way too much.

[Landtank]

I think the smoke is perfect, it really gives the thermal scope a good use. And if thermal imaging is added to vehicles it would be really awesome.

[captainkapautz]

Man, asking if the explosions are to big is knda like asking if the game has to much DAKKA.

;)

[Gonefshn]

Man, asking if the explosions are to big is knda like asking if the game has to much DAKKA.

;)

Ork boyz!!

[ringring]

Just a touch.

[Wayside]

I really loved how intense the battles were, and I love the effects so far. However, I wonder from a gameplay perspective, if the explosions might be too much. For example, when you fired a tank shell, your target is covered in smoke to the point you totally lose sight.

Now I love massive explosions as much as anyone. I'm probably one of the few people here that like the over the top popcorn style of Michael Bay. And the first time I saw the Prowler fire its shells in one of TotalBiscuits videos, I was taken aback by how epic it was. I just wonder if the smoke should be scaled down a little so we can still see what we are shooting at after that 1st round hits.

What do you guys think? Want the explosions bigger, smaller, or are they goldilocks just right?

The only time I consider an explosion "too big" or "too small" is when the visual effect seems grossly mismatched to the practical effect. A massive fireball at the end of every rocket launched from a Reaver is fine, provided either the resulting damage dealt or the area of the impact effect is equally attention grabbing.

Explosions done right should function as a visual queue that you can learn from. If everyone around you is flattened by the shockwave of an explosion, you vacate the area. if the metal support beam next to you coughs up what looks like a handfull of fireflys, you stick around.

A detonation fit for a tactical nuke that has all the destructive force of a cherry bomb is entertaining, once. After that it starts to detract from the gameplay experience.

[The Janitor]

The explosions for the current weapons are fine. I would, however, like some bigger guns/bombs/whatever to make even larger explosions. I like me some big booms.

[Xyntech]

I liked the explosion sizes, but some of them may have been too much. Not to be Mr beta, but I want to test it myself yadda yadda yadda.

I think a lot of the explosions could use a little tweaking here and there though, so I'm pretty open to change across the board on the explosion fronts. I definitely like how they are looking just in general right now, and if they never change, it wouldn't make me too upset.

I definitely want to see some of the bugs ironed out. It's been mentioned by others that dying feels a little lacking. I love the kill cam, but I also can't wait to see the actual moment of death be more smooth and visceral and engaging. I felt like for all of it's faults, the first Planetside got this very right.

That will be improved through better death animations (part animation part ragdoll I hope), improved optimization, etc.

For the pole, I put just right, because while some explosions seemed a tad much, in general I liked them. I'll say they are right, with still some room for improvement. I don't particularly want to see the vast majority of the explosions made bigger or smaller, just a few of them.

Liberator bomber gun explosions: Maybe a tiny bit smaller.

Aircraft death explosions, especially when they slam into the ground or a wall/rock: Definitely bigger. Preferably with multiple explosions in a trail of destruction, like when a real life aircraft crashes into the ground.

[Nasher]

They did actually say they want explosions to leave ambient smoke which actually covers the battlefield and eventually reduces visibility. I really like that idea :)

[IMMentat]

First off.
90% of the particles are Alpha placeholders.

I bet there will be nice volumetric explosions added later, same for smoother animations and better custom decals.

[DarkTower]

Explosions look amazing at the moment, definitely fit the amount of destruction the shots should be doing!! The smoke seems too much for individual shots at the moment, it looks like you should need 3 shots in the same area to produce the same amount of smoke that 1 shot does. However....

Meh.. as far as I'm concerned, if it aint moved outta tha smoke, it's still there! Keep firing!

[Xyntech]

First off.
90% of the particles are Alpha placeholders.

I bet there will be nice volumetric explosions added later, same for smoother animations and better custom decals.

I do hope that they make the final explosions have fireballs that match the damage radius of the splash damage. That would be such a helpful visual indicator.

If they wanted to still have larger explosions on things like the Liberators main gunner gun, they could do it with debri and smoke clouds that spread further than the actual blast radius.

[Shogun]

i voted for smaller, but only a little bit.

i just think thick smoke is a little overused.

[lMABl]

Explosions can NEVER be to big haha. I want to see this everytime I fire a grenade launcher!

http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx252/BizWiz_Bros/MISC/kaboom.jpg

[Missundaztood]

A little too big. Yes.

I think they should tone down the smoke from rockets etc. For Example the NC reaver rocket trails.

[RSphil]

i think they look about right. love the falling debris from the destroyed aircraft aswell. hate that stuff when i vanishes mid are. least if falls all the way to the ground

[polywomple]

MAYBE

I'd like to see more variation in the size of the explosion, depending on the weapon

[MacXXcaM]

The size of the explosions are fine so far.

But what I dislike is this bubble camera effect... When there's an explosion you see a short magnifying effects followed by the flames.

I don't want my view to be warped so much each time I see an explosion. This should be fixed.

[SixShooter]

I think they look great so far. The field should be covered in smoke when there are a ton of explosions.

[Espion]

As long as there are settings to tone them down or make the smoke to dissipate faster on your client the current ones will be fine.

Some people like playing with lower graphic settings.

[Dreamcast]

As long as there are settings to tone them down or make the smoke to dissipate faster on your client the current ones will be fine.

Some people like playing with lower graphic settings.

Thats unfair to other gamers...Hope is not possible.

[Hmr85]

Personally I thought the explosions looked great as they where in the E3 demo.

[Figment]

Micheal Bay approves of this message:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l-JSy-1vnpI/TZtHs2qWGxI/AAAAAAAAACI/DdWbRr6oZFc/s1600/explosion-michael-bay.jpg

[Espion]

Thats unfair to other gamers...Hope is not possible.

And likewise, it would be unfair to those with lower end computers not to be able to adjust these types of graphical settings. Smoke and particles are on the high end of the graphics scale, settings can't be locked there. If they really want the game to be playable on 5-6 year old computers then the graphics will have to be highly customizable, explosions/smoke/etc included.