WorldOfForms
2012-07-12, 07:54 PM
A huge terrain feature that makes landscapes different from PS1 are all these cliffs and plateaus we're seeing on Indar. Not sure about Amerish, but based on the concept art for Esamir, it looks like that continent will have them as well (but they'll be glaciers).
So, how will this change land battles? Here are some thoughts...
- They may provide safe havens for infantry from ground vehicle attack. However, what we don't know is if there are ramps that will allow vehicles to get on top of the cliffs, or if there are trails for infantry to scale on their own. If no trails, then you'll only get there via aircraft. Which means a Galaxy could be quite the sniper's nest overlooking a base.
- Cliffs give a huge advantage to aircraft. For one, it means that vehicles are restricted in where they can travel much more. In PS1 a vehicle could drive almost anywhere - most mountains were not cliffs. So Aircraft will be the only unit type that can move over any land easily and freely - much moreso than in PS1. Also, cliffs are so abundant from the screenshots this means that breaking locks and line of sight will be much easier, allowing air to easily disappear around a cliff and return to attack at a different angle.
- Infantry parked on top of cliffs may be screwed by aircraft if friendly lightnings can't get up there to help defend them. Is there any cover on top of those cliffs? I doubt it. If there's no cover, infantry AA and MAX AA might not help much with LOS-breaking cliff edges helping aircraft.
- Light assaults will have some fun being able to jump off cliffs and using jets to survive the landing.
Any other thoughts on how cliffs will affect gameplay?
So, how will this change land battles? Here are some thoughts...
- They may provide safe havens for infantry from ground vehicle attack. However, what we don't know is if there are ramps that will allow vehicles to get on top of the cliffs, or if there are trails for infantry to scale on their own. If no trails, then you'll only get there via aircraft. Which means a Galaxy could be quite the sniper's nest overlooking a base.
- Cliffs give a huge advantage to aircraft. For one, it means that vehicles are restricted in where they can travel much more. In PS1 a vehicle could drive almost anywhere - most mountains were not cliffs. So Aircraft will be the only unit type that can move over any land easily and freely - much moreso than in PS1. Also, cliffs are so abundant from the screenshots this means that breaking locks and line of sight will be much easier, allowing air to easily disappear around a cliff and return to attack at a different angle.
- Infantry parked on top of cliffs may be screwed by aircraft if friendly lightnings can't get up there to help defend them. Is there any cover on top of those cliffs? I doubt it. If there's no cover, infantry AA and MAX AA might not help much with LOS-breaking cliff edges helping aircraft.
- Light assaults will have some fun being able to jump off cliffs and using jets to survive the landing.
Any other thoughts on how cliffs will affect gameplay?