Planetside 2: map layouts (spoiler)

[Magpie]

http://i.imgur.com/sOPCz.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pgK58.jpg

Bio lab:

Overall plan
http://i.imgur.com/0QL9J.png
1st floor
http://i.imgur.com/ijCqA.png
2nd floor
http://i.imgur.com/IOh3B.png

[RedKnights]

Is that 3rd image some kind of volcano base :eek:

[Rabb]

Is that 3rd image some kind of volcano base :eek:

Most likely the inside of a bio lab dome.

[HeatLegend]

Doesnt the Swamp-Continent map look rather small compared to the first one? Maybe it just looks less open...

[EVILoHOMER]

The first map looks a bit weird to have them drastic square like changes at the bottom, looks like the bottom was erased of the top map and they added two smaller island onto it lol.

[Magpie]

Is that 3rd image some kind of volcano base :eek:

Looks like it might be the bio lab inside and outside :)

[DOUBLEXBAUGH]

The first map looks a bit weird to have them drastic square like changes at the bottom, looks like the bottom was erased of the top map and they added two smaller island onto it lol.

The first map is Indar, the cont we have been seeing.

The second map though, doesn't look anything like the silhouettes from the other day.

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac147/Heaven086/ps2continets.jpg

[Zenben]

Wondering how the devs would feel about this kinda stuff (and the music) being posted here. Kinda makes me sad it was leaked, but I feel like we've been pretty patient. I dunno, I'm torn.

[Xyntech]

Hmm. Well that second continent looks pretty genuine, even if still a work in progress.

Seems kind of odd that both continents be so square.

Wondering how the devs would feel about this kinda stuff (and the music) being posted here. Kinda makes me sad it was leaked, but I feel like we've been pretty patient. I dunno, I'm torn.

Yeah, leaks always kind of suck, but the stuff is out there so... I'm not sure if it's cool to post it here, but certainly it's worth discussing. With appropriate acknowledgement of alpha and the fact that this is leaked footage, not a press release.

[Anderz]

Hmm. Well that second continent looks pretty genuine, even if still a work in progress.

Why so square? Is it something about forgelight?

Something about balance, I'd imagine.

That said, you'd think they'd be triangular.

[indirect]

Hmm. Well that second continent looks pretty genuine, even if still a work in progress.

Seems kind of odd that both continents be so square.



Yeah, leaks always kind of suck, but the stuff is out there so... I'm not sure if it's cool to post it here, but certainly it's worth discussing. With appropriate acknowledgement of alpha and the fact that this is leaked footage, not a press release.

Looks more like a PORTION of a cont.

[Stew]

the thing i want to point out is i found the TR and NC warp gate much more closer and the VS at the very opposite far away from ours so it will be a way more easy for VS to get back in the figth and back stab tr and Nc while they constantly engage each others due to their proximity

[SKYeXile]

Keep it coming.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1nXpo9lvN4/T6_zU1nMROI/AAAAAAAAAPE/rrprDWKSk9A/s1600/minecraft360.jpg

[Xyntech]

Looks more like a PORTION of a cont.

Count the number of major base facilities. Nine, just like Indar. Three warpgates/footholds as well. Maybe it is only a portion, but that doesn't seem very likely. More likely it's just still rough around the edges due to being a WIP.

I don't mind the square continents for balance (square, triangular, circular, whatever), but we've seen Indar's hex grid and it isn't perfectly square.

It's possible that they are making square maps for simplicity of design, and that once they finalize a hex layout on each continent, they will tweak the edges of the unused landmass to be less jarringly square.

Or maybe the devs just like square continents. I don't, but it wont hurt my enjoyment of the game any, so I'm not overly worried or anything. It just seems fucking weird.

[SniperSteve]

So I guess beta has started... no other explanation for leaks.. o.O

[Xyntech]

the thing i want to point out is i found the TR and NC warp gate much more closer and the VS at the very opposite far away from ours so it will be a way more easy for VS to get back in the figth and back stab tr and Nc while they constantly engage each others due to their proximity

What are you talking about? The warpgates on Amerish are pretty similar distances from each other (especially considering that it's still a work in progress) and the Indar warpgates form just about a perfect equilateral triangle.

I'd be more concerned with how much easy to defend nearby territory the VS have, not the distance between footholds.

[Zenben]

So I guess beta has started... no other explanation for leaks.. o.O

The leaks were caused by someone figuring out you could manipulate the DCUO launchpad to download the PS2 E3 beta client, which people then datamined. That's how these leaks appeared. I would feel a little betrayed if a small beta had started and we weren't at least informed here.

Edit: Forgot to add that it has since been fixed, so I don't think there's any harm in explaining how it happened, especially if specifics are not included. If I'm wrong, please delete.

[Sledgecrushr]

That second continent, I dont know if thats really what that continent is going to look like. I dont think they would have all this awesome artistic creativity and then throw two maybe three square continents at us. I kinda think that second continent is either a concept or a fake.

[Mechzz]

That second continent, I dont know if thats really what that continent is going to look like. I dont think they would have all this awesome artistic creativity and then throw two maybe three square continents at us. I kinda think that second continent is either a concept or a fake.

Prbly concept. It's the E3 build that was leaked, so I can't see whole other continents having been included just for that.

[Pella]

Prbly concept. It's the E3 build that was leaked, so I can't see whole other continents having been included just for that.

Yes true. And if i recall Higby saying that the E3 map that was played was especially for E3 and beta? I could be wrong.

[diLLa]

Yes true. And if i recall Higby saying that the E3 map that was played was especially for E3 and beta? I could be wrong.

That was about the playable area of the map they made, which was the one base.

The client however contained this information I guess. They didn't remove everything from the client that wasn't needed for the E3.

[Mechzz]

That was about the playable area of the map they made, which was the one base.

The client however contained this information I guess. They didn't remove everything from the client that wasn't needed for the E3.

Agree, but the map we saw above is probably only a concept. It doesn't have the finished "feel" of the Indar map.

not that I'm always or ever right.....

[diLLa]

Agree, but the map we saw above is probably only a concept. It doesn't have the finished "feel" of the Indar map.

not that I'm always or ever right.....

I agree that it doesn't look finished, but it does however look like that it was pretty far in process, as the layout is mostly there, and most of the terrain is in place.

It doesn't look like something they would just scrap out.

[Hamma]

Yes true. And if i recall Higby saying that the E3 map that was played was especially for E3 and beta? I could be wrong.

E3 was Indar, just segmented off to a few Hexes.

[Malorn]

The second continent looks fairly legit to me. The layout looks like something they would put out, and it's very mountainous. The tweet pic of Amerish that T-Ray sent out looked very mountainous. And also its clearly green, so it isn't Esamir.

I think it's reasonable to conclude that is the working map of Amerish.

The outlines of continents we saw in the E3 map may simply be placeholder, or outlines of earlier maps they have since scrapped.

Though it looks neat, the Amerish map looks like it has even fewer tactical options, but it will be different than Indar. Amerish has the big mountain in the middle like Cyssor that will force combat to go around it, so Amerish won't end up a big 3-way clusterfuck in the middle of the map. Instead you'll have each empire pushing out from the sides with 2-way battles on each. It provides different combat experiences so I think that's good. It will feel very different from Indar and have different types of battles. Good for diversity.

Overall I approve of that map design. The tactical stuff will come when there's a lot more continents and they can hook them up differently. For now this looks good. Diverse battle in a different geography. If you don't like the cauldron of Indar, you can hit up Amerish. I'm hoping Esamir continues the pattern and offers some different gameplay too.

[Turdicus]

The second continent looks legit but from what I can tell it is isn't finished. The map of Indar has dozens of the smaller outposts littered around and it is possible to see them quite clearly. The second map doesn't have any of those features.

So I'm not going to base anything on of the new image since it isn't finished. Who knows if that will be the final shape or size of the continent, who knows.

[Higby]

They don't HAVE to be square, but it lets us pack on the most gameplay space into the maps.

[Raymac]

They don't HAVE to be square, but it lets us pack on the most gameplay space into the maps.

I like it much better than the "leaked" crazy outline shapes we've seen earlier.

[Xyntech]

Overall I approve of that map design. The tactical stuff will come when there's a lot more continents and they can hook them up differently. For now this looks good. Diverse battle in a different geography. If you don't like the cauldron of Indar, you can hit up Amerish. I'm hoping Esamir continues the pattern and offers some different gameplay too.

Hopefully continuing the trend by being different than Indar and Amerish, although I'm not sure what the counterpoint to heavy 3 ways and heavy 2 ways would be.

Maybe Esamir will be more like a mix of old Esamir and Ceryshen, with lots of tundra mixed with insane cliffs that funnel battle lines, not around a mountain, but into winding paths.

I have speculated that Indar will still probably have plenty of 2 way and 3 way battles, but somewhere like Esamir could be the ultimate 2 way/3 way split by having a central region which is easily accessible by all 3 empires, which is geographically isolated from several surrounding areas which are mostly only viable for 2 ways. This could be accomplished with sheer cliffs and by placing the footholds closer to the center than on most maps, making a clear distinction between the 3 way center and the 2 way surrounding hexes.

They don't HAVE to be square, but it lets us pack on the most gameplay space into the maps.

I was kind of figuring it was an optimization decision. It's not terrible, it just looks a little awkward at the moment, at least on Indar.

Is it possible to edit the terrain easily at a later point in time? I think that once the hex map is locked down, a few tweaks to the Indar landmass that isn't covered by the hex grid could really make it seem less square, while still maximizing the use of map space.

[Nobel]

They don't HAVE to be square, but it lets us pack on the most gameplay space into the maps.

Thats probably the biggest downside to the "foothold" idea, is that each empire really needs to have relatively the same space in between each other, that is difficult on a rectangular continent, so it limits you a bit.

[Neurotoxin]

I'm glad to see that Searhus is returning :)

[EVILoHOMER]

I just mean the Island at the top looked like someone erased the bottom half of the original Island design and stuck two squares at the bottom from other islands lol.

[neonlazer]

I'm glad to see that Searhus is returning :)

If that was Searhus..it must be mini-Searhus :lol:

[QuantumMechanic]

When I looked at the second continent I thought of Searhus as well. And during E3 somebody said in a video interview that there would be a volcano-themed environment. I forget who.

[RNFB]

I have to say I'm really disappointed with the square continents. Hopefully the devs will consider a "mini bending" when more continents are released, and footholds removed, to warp their shapes into something more interesting.

No rivers, lakes, or islands = BORING

[MrBloodworth]

I also dislike the EQ2 like Walls around the borders in most areas.

Open up the sea.

[DoctorBrain]

the thing i want to point out is i found the TR and NC warp gate much more closer and the VS

I noticed this as well. I hope the differences in distance between each warp gate doesn't unbalance the map.

[neonlazer]

I noticed this as well. I hope the differences in distance between each warp gate doesn't unbalance the map.

You mean as in TR and NC get SW quarter and SE quarter and VS get the top half it seems?

[DoctorBrain]

You mean as in TR and NC get SW quarter and SE quarter and VS get the top half it seems?

Yes, something like that. I don't think its so bad on the first map, but it's particularly noticeable on the second map. The top two gates have two major bases between them, but the distance from either top gate to the bottom gate is, at minimum, a three-base jump.

That being said, I'm not even sure if that second map is legitimate, as it seems significantly smaller than the first.
edit: Maybe it's just a concept, or a work-in-progress?

[fvdham]

The map looks like Searhus but also like Extinction.
Extinction makes me feel like a lab rat because of its maze layout but is map is not that bad.
Still for immersion it may be best to use a real world island for map design instead of a construct.

[basti]

They don't HAVE to be square, but it lets us pack on the most gameplay space into the maps.

you seem to think that there is "non gameplay space"

There isnt. Every piece of land is viable for combat, no matter how oddly it is shaped. Damn, ive had battles around mount Cyssor, and even killed a BFR at the very top of it. I flew Galaxys and was a passanger in galaxys that went around the coast of Ishundar, from Marduk to Baal, and had even air fights there. I could tell you several storys of how i ended up on those little islands south of Bomazi on cyssor, with a damaged magrider, trying to survive.


You should know better, this is not a usual 32 player game. 2000 people means that going out of bounds doesnt exist, and that everything is gameplay space. Combat will happen everywhere, not just around capture points. ;)

[Malorn]

They don't HAVE to be square, but it lets us pack on the most gameplay space into the maps.

As Basti says, having some water/islands and a circular or triangular shape is good too. We should be able to use that area as a flight route for flanking attacks with aircraft and gal drops.

You could put islands out there with outposts. Put some valuable resource in large abundance out on that island territory and you'll see some cool battles on it. And I'm sure outfits will use places like that for events, meetings, and other purposes. Like that island on the south side of Cyssor - seemingly completely useless but it had a lot of events there. If its a territory with an outpost and resources it'll see even more value.

So please consider adding some more islands to the baby-Searhus map (Amerish I presume). It'll make the gameplay richer and hopefully give us more tactical gameplay options at the continent level. Coastline isn't a bad thing either.

And...BOATS. Yes, you don't have boats right now, but I know you like the idea and at some point in the future you might have boats. It would be great if the existing continents had some coastline so even they can see some new gameplay as a result of boats. Of course you will have whole new maps designed with boats in mind (I look forward to PS2's Hossin with boats). But it is nice if most if not all of the continents could benefit from the added boat gameplay, even if its only on the outside of the continent.


Just thinking ahead about future proofing continents. Having coastline where air battles can take place, small islands for staging or what not is not a bad thing. When more features and vehicles come along that space might become even more useful.

[fvdham]

You could have boats on wheels and call them Deliverer :p

[MrBloodworth]

You could have boats on wheels and call them Deliverer :p

Deliverers require to many people working together. /snarky

[Synapse]

I'd also like to add my voice to others saying I miss non-square shapes, I miss islands, and I miss rivers/lakes.

As a magrider pilot, it looks like the mag's ability to go on water won't count for anything in PS2, since there are no rivers or lakes to stop other tanks.

[diLLa]

Although I like how the terrain is being used, I'm not a big fan of the lay-out of continents, as for now, it is kinda stale.

2 continents with a pretty similar layout, but just with different use of terrain.

The 2nd continent would be fun if it had some tunnels though, as the mountains could be used for that.

[Zulthus]

Not really excited about conts being squares, but we'll see how it goes.

[Saintlycow]

The second cont seems to have bigger warp gates...

[subchucK]

Need more long term thinking in here. We're looking at 2 maps; diversity will come with numbers, over time.

[TheBladeRoden]

Who first decided that coasts were not qualified to be gameplay space?

[Deckura]

Looks more like a PORTION of a cont.

If that is true, then why are all the warpgates present?

[Xeller]

I too, will miss the lakes and rivers. Yes, it technically takes away "gameplay space" but it does add a tactical obstacle.

Some of my best memories were on Cyssor (it was a giant archipelago for those who didn't play PS1). That mountain, and the bridge battles... even if the Vanu had a clear advantage :P . It was still a lot of fun.

I hope this is something the devs will really think about.

[Methonius]

They really need to add some rivers and lakes to at least a couple of the conts to spice it up a bit. I had the fondest memories of battles on Cyssor between its rivers and lakes was the most fun I ever had.

[Lythca Frost]

Agreed to much of the above,

This game should not just be about 'playable' space, but tactically relevant 'unplayable' space as well.

Another island cluster map would be fantastic, limiting ground vehicle gameplay to the island they spawned on. And if the devs think that this gives the VS too much of an advantage, they could always have a plausible reason that the ocean is impassible for hover tanks (e.g. large waves).

[kaffis]

Thats probably the biggest downside to the "foothold" idea, is that each empire really needs to have relatively the same space in between each other, that is difficult on a rectangular continent, so it limits you a bit.
It does no such thing -- you can use terrain to alter the effective flow of battle to make the shorter distances effectively longer, or the longer distances effectively shorter.

[Azren]

I'd also like to add my voice to others saying I miss non-square shapes, I miss islands, and I miss rivers/lakes.

As a magrider pilot, it looks like the mag's ability to go on water won't count for anything in PS2, since there are no rivers or lakes to stop other tanks.

This.

We want our rivers back SOE!

Besides, the most fun in PS1 were the bridge battles, why remove them?

[Karmic Revenge]

I've got to lend a vote for (in the future, there's plenty of time to add in content, this is an MMO after all) some continents where there's some bridges, water, etc. These are not "unplayable" zones. Air combat can take place over water areas. They also offer at least one faction's tank the chance to move on them (with zero cover as a sacrifice) and really should be considered in expansion content. :)

(That said, I'm totally fine with there not really being rivers and bridges in the release. It's not like every map had them in PS1 anyway.)

[DesertFox]

I really don't like that both of those cont's are squares. There's something wrong if there's a square shaped continent in the first place, not to mention if there's more than one.. It just seem very unnatural and weird. But in the end it doesn't really matter that much.

[Froglicker]

I'd also like to add my voice to others saying I miss non-square shapes, I miss islands, and I miss rivers/lakes.

As a magrider pilot, it looks like the mag's ability to go on water won't count for anything in PS2, since there are no rivers or lakes to stop other tanks.

I'd have to agree. lack of rivers/lakes/coastlines/oasis's not only seem to make the Magrider's hover capabilities moot, but also limit the overall tactical possibilities of having terrain obstacles. Bridge battles were some of my most memorable moments in PS1. I loved sniping/countersniping enemies on or across the bridge, or bombarding heavily entrenched defenders with heavy support fire as my empire pushed forward.

Granted, bridges still exist and there will be epic battles, but so far these are all positioned over canyons, which offer different tactical capabilities than water. It's like adding a new ice cream flavor while permanently removing one or more others to do so.