Any word on Air?

[Serpent]

Just quickly wondering about it. Are there going to be any changes? If so, do we have an idea as to what they will be?

I'm soon turning into a mainly Aircraft guy when I play and I remember 3 or 4 patches ago where aircraft were what they should be- dangerous, but could be taken down with bursters.

I won't go on, chances are most of you people know how often I rant about this, but I'm trying to be productive here so I won't keep bothering all of you about it :lol:

Basically, will Aircraft (especially the Scythe, which is the bottom of all aircraft atm) get a buff or a tweak to mechanics to make them better?

Thanks very much.

[Hamma]

When I talked to the devs they were pretty happy about air overall I doubt we will see sweeping changes. We will however see tweaks to AA as Higby has mentioned.

[Serpent]

Ok, thanks Hamma :)

[Heavygain]

Air is still incredibly potent, AA is the problem.

[Serpent]

Well yes I agree- it just seems that they are intertwined. A new Light PPA on my Scythe makes things extremely easy to kill others with that + rockets, but I NEVER get a chance to use both on one target, because every time I try I just get practically one shotted by AA guns, whether it be a burster MAX or skyguard. It's an issue, I don't see how anyone can be happy with it atm.

[Heavygain]

Have you certed out composite armor? For me the problem arises as soon as there is even 1 g2a launcher + flak.

[Serpent]

Yes. I have 2 levels (which I believe is half way) Problem with air is its too based off of an enemy seeing you: instantly killed by reavers today, their Anti Air gun is ridiculous, but that's besides the point. I love flying, but I hate being instantly killed just because I was not constantly moving at above half throttle for more than 1 second. It's annoying, and the VTOL mechanic is silly except for galaxies and liberators XD

[GLaDOS]

Yes. I have 2 levels (which I believe is half way) Problem with air is its too based off of an enemy seeing you: instantly killed by reavers today, their Anti Air gun is ridiculous, but that's besides the point. I love flying, but I hate being instantly killed just because I was not constantly moving at above half throttle for more than 1 second. It's annoying, and the VTOL mechanic is silly except for galaxies and liberators XD

You gotta learn to jam afterburners and do some flips, go straight up or fly real low, the second flak hits you. That way you usually won't die. However, you'll still be unable to do anything in the area, as AA is a bit too strong. It's not exactly an instant kill at the moment though.

[Bear]

Higby said in his Amerish preview the AA needs to be toned down. It was interesting to listen to him though because he helps you to realize how many things in this game are inter-related.

For example, he talked about the "too many Sunderers" issue. He pointed out that the strength of AA means the Liberators and Reavers can't get to Sunderer's. If you tone down the AA then the Liberators can do what they do and there won't be as many Sundy's.

[Storn]

I agree that the Lightning and Burster MAX is tough on aircraft. In most cases by the time I get my grounder locked on and fire the aircraft is either dead or damn near.

What I would like to see changed is the missile speed for Heavy assault. Aircraft can out run my missile (no way an aircraft can out run a missile even with afterburners), fire flares (that trick my missile or make it where I can’t target) and/or out maneuver my missile (agree with this as I have seen some amazing moves to avoid a missile). Launcher missiles should not be so easily avoided.

Question: If a aircraft casn be certed to gain more armor and resistance why can't I cert my grounder for more missle speed and/or warhead damage increases?

[HydroBIG BANG]

AA is getting a bit of a nerf next patch

[Tamas]

It's not AA power that is the problem, it's same as MBT/sunderers/lightnings - just too much of it...

Can't see an easy fix for this.

[Storn]

It's not AA power that is the problem, it's same as MBT/sunderers/lightnings - just too much of it...

Can't see an easy fix for this.

Agreed! Like you said what can you do? I did notice last night that the cheapest weapon in the MAX certs is the Anti-air at 46 points. Maybe bring the cost down on the other weapons and give people something a little more obtainable to purchase.

[Serpent]

No the Skyguard is really too powerful atm :P

Bursters are also WAAAY too inexpensive for their power.

[psijaka]

As someone who delights in blasting aircraft out of the sky with both the Skyguard and dual Bursters, I have to say that I agree that AA is too strong, especially at range. Liberators and Galaxies are far too vulnerable in particular (fighters have speed on their side, and are small targets).

We'll have to see how the nerf pans out, but I would favour a Skyguard/Burster projectile velocity reduction, to make it more difficult to track targets, especially at range. I shoudn't be able to take out a Liberator on the skyline. But if a Scythe pilot is just hovering in front of me, then they deserve to die.

I would also suggest increasing the armour on Galaxies and Liberators, at the moment they are just big, soft, slow moving bullet magnets.

Just increasing the cost is not a good solution; will do nothing in the long run.

Edit - this short compilation shows just how deadly dual Bursters are, even at long range (Ok so the first kill is a gift). Flying a Liberator must be a miserable business.

Planetside 2 Beta - MAX burster kills short compilation.wmv - YouTube

[Serpent]

They need nerf. Period.

[AThreatToYou]

Reavers, Mossies, and Scythes should have to bug out the instant they know they are getting shot at or risk death. They are hit-and-run vehicles, just like they were in PS1. I believe they should stay this way.

Liberators and Galaxies are a bit different. I've seen many Liberators hovering out of lock-on range for Grounders, but still happily plodding away with a cannon. I couple times I shoot at them dumbfire and they fire back after dodging it. They've never killed me, but it's a good point I should make that they could have.

As for liberators versus flak cannons, I think something needed to be done. I think something has been done this patch but I can't say if it was enough. I'm not experienced enough with my Skyguard to know how fast it cuts them down, but a good bead on them will do devastating damage before it could ever hope to escape or move into position to find me and fire back.
Galaxies? Don't see enough of them to judge.

[Serpent]

They dont do enough damage per attack (even with rockets) to afford hit and run attacks. They CANT do the damage required for even an assist if they do hit and run tactics.