Let's talk about how the resources work! (Please?)

[Tatwi]

So I was wondering if more details on how the resource system works can be shared with us now?

Personally, I was wondering if they will "shift" in a similar way to how resources shifted in Star Wars Galaxies?

One of the things that made the resource system interesting in SWG was the fact that you never really knew where or when a resource would spawn into the world in a decent concentration. Nor did you know how long it would stay there once you found a high concentration (0% to 100% efficiency) of a resource you were looking for. This put an emphasis on surveying often and then getting as many harvesters as possible onto the spot before it de-spawned (and before everyone else did the same!).

Translate the spirit of that concept to Planetside 2, and basically what you have is a situation where the resource provided by each control point on a map will change randomly over time (perhaps even with a similar percentage based efficiency system). This will help spice up the game world, such that we're not always fighting over the same locations that always spawn Auraxium or what not. Essentially, it fights stagnation and boredom without really being a "gamey" inconvenience. Also, shifting the resource provided by each control point around randomly over time will add an element of on going strategy, because people who wish to deny resources will have to keep up with when the shifts occur and scouting the new allocations.

Another thing I was wondering about was what the resources actually DO and how many types there are? We could speculate for eons about this, because the possibilities are endless, so with that in mind I'd love to hear more about the types of resources, what they are used for, and how they are accumulated and spent right from ye kind folks at SOE.

Beta is coming and you want to make sure we testers have enough time to get our heads around the features of the game, right? Ain't no time like the present to tell us all about it! :D

[SKYeXile]

There's 4 resources you gain from controlling land.
Auraxium, Polymers, Catalysts and Alloys. Station Cash is the other resource or currency.

Aurxium is the earned currency used to buy weapons and whatnot, the others are used on consumables from vehicles to grenades to presumably implants.

[Littleman]

I believe it's fixed and will stay that way, because they're trying to use resource nodes to stimulate certain battle types. If tanks use resource A, then that resource will have higher concentrations on open plains than in mountainous or foresty zones.

It's old-as-dirt info at this point, but I recall SOE mentioning resources will shift around on the map after a period of time. Additionally, I also believe each empire will use different resources in different quantities for their equipment? Like say the TR use primarily alloys for their Prowler while the VS consume mostly Polymer's for their Mag-Rider (these are just examples, not accurate in the least.)

However, as I said, the resource fluctuation info is old as dirt (last year's videos old.) This plan could have very well changed since then. No fluctuation would place a permanent strategic importance on areas, instead of a temporary strategic importance. It would suck for the TR to fight so hard to deny the VS their Polymers only for the zone to turn into a resource both the VS and TR don't really use in large quantities for their tanks 10 minutes later.

On the other hand, randomized resource spawning keeps strategies fresh. It wouldn't become the go-to plan for the TR to constantly hit the same polymer rich location time and time again until the servers shut down when they are encroaching on VS territories.

[DarkChiron]

Different resources coming from a base at random doesn't make much sense in a realistic viewpoint, but from a game play standpoint could make things interesting.

However, I believe every time we've seen the map the same resource nodes have been in the same places. Look around the forum because there's a thread about resources that shows the pictures we have of the map, and a fan made picture that shows the resource layout.

[Naz The Eternal]

Who knows they could decide to change it around on patch days

[Rivenshield]

It's old-as-dirt info at this point, but I recall SOE mentioning resources will shift around on the map after a period of time. Additionally, I also believe each empire will use different resources in different quantities for their equipment?

Lovely. From a strategic view, there's your replayability right there.

[Tatwi]

Lovely. From a strategic view, there's your replayability right there.

That's how I feel about it. As long as the game mechanic accomplishes its job of keeping things fresh, it doesn't need to "make sense". I mean, hello... floating tanks and instant cloning of adult beings folks! :)