Lancer is coming ... !

[PredatorFour]

T-ray tweeted tonight its on its <a href="https://twitter.com/PS_TRay/status/290314957856337923?uid=261960284&iid=am-82952056813580514544912281&nid=27+236">way</a>... wonder if the striker and phoenix are too ????

This is great news for vanu !

[LoliLoveFart]

Let the max sniping commence

[AThreatToYou]

I'd say to buff MAXes first, but we do need Lancer.

I've never been VS, but we still need lancer.

[Assist]

I'd say to buff MAXes first, but we do need Lancer.

I've never been VS, but we still need lancer.

You mean NERF NC MAX's.

[SixShooter]

I would be suprised if the Striker and Phoenix did not also make a comeback. We need more stuff like that to differentiate the empires. I fucking hated the Phoenix :p but still would be nice to see that stuff return for each empire.
:cheers:

[StumpyTheOzzie]

You mean NERF NC MAX's.

You just need to stand more than 5m away from them and they can't hurt you.

Even though I'm an NCer, I do miss the sneezing of the lancers. I hope they bring the exact sound back with no "remastering" or modification of any kind.

As for the pheonix, It'd be nice to actually have a long range weapon in the arsenal. Vanu have sniper tanks, TR have.... erm... somethings. NC would do well with a 1km range, shoulder fired drone missile. That';d be nice.

[Brusi]

Can't wait to see what else these guys have up their sleeves... it's responses via twitter like this that really give me faith that all the hard work that the dev team are doing is to build PS2 up to the epicness of Planetside, but more modern and more players :)

Bet you we will actually see buggies again too!

[SeraphC]

For us new guys ... what's a lancer?

Bet you we will actually see buggies again too!

They confirmed buggies will be added to the game. It's on the video of the last Friday night ops. It won't be with this months patch though.

[stargazer093]

For us new guys ... what's a lancer?

anti-material rifle, used to be VS only

[Figment]

SeraphC: Think shouldermounted Laser AV Sniper Rifle.

http://wiki.planetsidesyndicate.com/index.php?title=Lancer

http://wiki.planetsidesyndicate.com/images/1/19/Lancer.jpg

[LoliLoveFart]

Damnit figment beat me.

[StumpyTheOzzie]

A lancer is a thing that goes:

Wah-CHOOOOoooo Wah-CHOOOOooo Wah-CHOOOOoooo Wah-CHOOOOooo Wah-CHOOOOoooo Wah-CHOOOOooo, reload and it HURTS!

Direct fire AV weapon. Come on... EZmode or what?

[Sledgecrushr]

So the ha is getting another rocket launcher. Its nice but I want more.

[Beerbeer]

Anyone else find it funny that they seem to introduce more AV weapons than anything else?

Considering the types of weapons released, and in the order they were, maybe they never anticipated this.

If things were different, they could have went all over the place with different infantry assault weapons, and there probably would have been a demand, but now all they can sell are rocket pods, HE guns, lib guns and AV weapons to the people that chase after them. Speaks volumes.

[Figment]

Damnit figment beat me.

You're not the first to say that and you won't be the last. >:3

[GTGD]

It's going to be a replica of the spartan laser from Halo, calling that right now.

[Brusi]

I rekon the Lancer had a pretty cool mechanic for firing, considering you have to keep the the cross-hair over the enemy the whole time.

For the new guys, after pulling the trigger, it charged up for a moment, then fired directly at the cross-hair.

Personally i think the new one should have a slightly different mechanic.

I would like to see it operate as a charge-up weapon.

If you hold the trigger down, then (and not immediately) release it, it will fire a weaker shot. However, you can hold the trigger down for longer to charge it up to full power. The draw-back being that the weapon (and cross-hairs) begins to shake more the longer you charge it up.

So, to hold the trigger down long enough to fire a full power shot would make it extremely difficult to hit distant targets.

This mechanic provides the ability to fire lower powered shots like a sniper and manually and dynamically trade off damage for accuracy. This is directly in line with the concept of VS Energy weapons, where they have no projectile drop but the trade off is damage at range.

Of course there would always have to be at least a little bit of a charge up before any shot is fired, both for balance and nostalgic reasons ;)

[AThreatToYou]

I, too, hope they bring the old sound effect back.

wah-CHOOoo. It was so epic.

[igster]

I'm willing to bet a lot of money that they won't just give it to the Vanu. They'll give it to all 3 factions. Same as we have powerful shotguns now and strikers.
It'll be horrible for the Vanu - lots of mini portable magriders running around! We're kind of used to TR running around with strikers from PS1... But the TR Footzerg all lancer equipped will be a truly horrible thing.

[Spazmodian]

The test version of the Lancer deals 250 direct damage, 200 indirect damage, has a magazine of 6, a cycle rate of 1 second, reload time of 3.5 seconds, damage radius of 1 meter and a projectile velocity of 400(Skyguard/Phalanx AA are 375 for reference).

There is also a 'MRL (Test)' that is TR only and has the same 'HEAVY SPECIAL AV' that looks like it's a Striker. 200 direct damage, 200 indirect damage, magazine of 5, cycle rate of 1.5 seconds, reload of 5.5 seconds, damage radius of 2 meters, projectile speed 30, lock-on acceleration of 100(Speed for other infantry missiles is 40-50 and lock-on acceleration is 500) and a lock-on lifespan of 10 seconds(projectile lifespan is also 10 seconds).

Nothing about a Phoenix.

[Baneblade]

It annoys me that the Sweeper is better than the Jackhammer in PS2.

[Canaris]

so they're going to be making the ES-AV launchers again.
How's that going to work with the Stiker since we already have 3 different incarnations masquerading as it. Or are we just going to get an AV that can lock onto air, ground, max and dumbfire. Cos that's the only acceptable version of the Striker imo.

[MercDT]

For us new guys ... what's a lancer?



They confirmed buggies will be added to the game. It's on the video of the last Friday night ops. It won't be with this months patch though.

Do you remember the timing of the video where they talked/show this?

[Exigo]

Well I have a feeling the Lancer will be available to all factions.

This is just a hunch but considering the striker(or a similar version) is more or less in the game already my guess is that SoE will maximize their profit and sell it to all. Sad but possibly true.

Then they will make an updated version of the phoenix and do the same with that. Because SoE knows ppl will buy it with SC, sad but mostly accurate.

I hope the Lancer will be empire specific and that they have 2 more "new" ES AV weapons getting released on the same day.

Ex

[Figment]

Did someone just state Lancer Splash Damage of 1m?


That brings me back to the Eliminatorr forumdays. O.o

[PredatorFour]

Sniping libs outta the sky anyone??? Potential game changer here in that respect:)

[Thunderhawk]

Did someone just state Lancer Splash Damage of 1m?


That brings me back to the Eliminatorr forumdays. O.o

Do not mention his name or he might appear.......

[Figment]

Maybe we should start to go in denial early and say Lancer has no splash damage right now.

[gunshooter]

It won't be a lancer, it'll be a redesigned rocket launcher that functions nothing like the lancer did.

[RykerStruvian]

If the Lancer comes back, I hope the TR get their Stryker and we NC get our Phoenix back. Being able to snipe magrider spam from inside a building would be a blast.

[Figment]

It won't be a lancer, it'll be a redesigned rocket launcher that functions nothing like the lancer did.

If it has splash of 1m, it certainly isn't a high rof sniper AP weapon though.

At least, I wouldn't expect that.

[Qwan]

Ahhh its so nice to see PS2 starting to come together, i cant wait to see what the next 3 months will bring. :D

[Dodgy Commando]

Lancer was definitely iconic in PS1. I envied it a lot as NC. Never did like the Phoenix in comparison (although it had its merits I'm sure).

I hope it is ES and that the other launchers appear for their respective factions too. The game needs a bit more ES variety IMO.

[Punker]

Phoenix would be a big balance issue considering the softpoints on vehicles. I doubt they will implement it... I kinda hope they do but i won't get my hopes up.

[Papagiorgio]

The Lancer is basically a man-portable Saron HRB; as others have said it charges for a second then lets out a very fast straight projectile with no fall-off.

I too am optimistic about getting the Phoenix back for NC. I miss that launcher.

[Figment]

Phoenix would be a big balance issue considering the softpoints on vehicles. I doubt they will implement it... I kinda hope they do but i won't get my hopes up.

Depends on turn rate, velocity, missile life, damage and rate of fire.

[Methonius]

so they're going to be making the ES-AV launchers again.
How's that going to work with the Stiker since we already have 3 different incarnations masquerading as it. Or are we just going to get an AV that can lock onto air, ground, max and dumbfire. Cos that's the only acceptable version of the Striker imo.

The current launchers are only similar in that they lock on but they do not lock instantly and they have to reload after every shot the striker can continuously shoot so it would be a lot different in that aspect. You also had to keep your reticule on the target at all times or the lock broke.

[Methonius]

Phoenix would be a big balance issue considering the softpoints on vehicles. I doubt they will implement it... I kinda hope they do but i won't get my hopes up.

I think they could still balance it by just giving you only about 3-5 seconds of controlling it that way you had the time to line it up but wouldn't have enough time to fly the missile all the way past the target and flip it from behind that way you would still need to flank with it to hit the vehicle in the back. Unless they were really close but then the tank is dumb for getting that close in the first place.

[Sledgecrushr]

I think we are going to enjoy this new mechanic (if your vanu). The rest of i hope they get the other es launchers in game asap.

[moosepoop]

I think they could still balance it by just giving you only about 3-5 seconds of controlling it that way you had the time to line it up but wouldn't have enough time to fly the missile all the way past the target and flip it from behind that way you would still need to flank with it to hit the vehicle in the back. Unless they were really close but then the tank is dumb for getting that close in the first place.

just give a very slow missile turn rate so its impossible to do a steep turn.

[AThreatToYou]

The benefits of the ES weapons will be massive. If implemented as near-mirrors of PS1 weaponry, the Phoenix would be an excellent weapon to deal with door-camping tanks as it could strike the vulnerable top or rear armor of a tank from within a building. The Lancer would be deadly to Liberators and MAX units, with the Striker being the do-everything, anytime weapon.

I hope they all come back. I know the Phoenix had its "problems" in PS1, namely that it was almost totally unfun to be shot at with. It still served a serious role in stamping out MAX units and vehicles who incorrectly thought they were in cover.

The point of the Striker in PS2 could be a rapid lock-on time, a sizeable clip, and the ability to lock on to all armored units as well as dumb-fire.

[QuantumMechanic]

Hmm. I don't want to sound like a sourpuss, but I think people are going to be dissapointed by the new Lancer.

Chances are, it will resemble it's predecessor in name only. I will look 95% like the existing VS rocket launchers, have no new firing mechanic and it will have slightly different numerical stats.

I hope I'm wrong though.

[GLaDOS]

It should also probably be noted that the Phoenix has a chance to be significantly more useful in PS2, at least until all the windows in buildings are patched up. If it was fired from the right spot, and the missile had a decent turn radius, NC would probably be able to damage vehicles that can't even see them, fairly easily. Not that I mind that, of course, asymmetrical balance is great. I'm just a little worried about the shitstorm that the official forums are going to turn into once people realize that other factions have a possibility to do something that they can't, and that is actually somewhat useful.

If we get OP Lancer, Phoenix, and Striker threads all on one page at the same time, I'm taking a screenshot.

[Brusi]

The problem with the phoenix would be the fact that you would be able to one shot (head-shot) enemy infantry with the explosives model in PS2. it would take like 6 direct hits to even make a ReXo in the original Planetside decide to move using the original Phoenix!

[AThreatToYou]

it would take like 6 direct hits to even make a ReXo in the original Planetside decide to move using the original Phoenix!

more like 2-3

but i get your point

[Baneblade]

The thing about the Phoenix (which I loved on my TR/VS alts) is that you are a meat sack while you are using it. Enemy snipers will love the Phoenix.

[PredatorFour]

The thing about the Phoenix (which I loved on my TR/VS alts) is that you are a meat sack while you are using it. Enemy snipers will love the Phoenix.

Infils too! Slicin' and dicin'...

[Figment]

Pretty much, every time I saw a TR/VS Phoenix user, I made it a personal mission to kill them while in camera mode so they'd realise just how much of a handicap it is. :p

[Lee]

The problem with the phoenix would be the fact that you would be able to one shot (head-shot) enemy infantry with the explosives model in PS2. it would take like 6 direct hits to even make a ReXo in the original Planetside decide to move using the original Phoenix!

+1 on that. The TTK was way longer in PS1, phoenixing infantry was only usefull as a sniper deterrent, but you could hardly kill someone unless he was low on hp. It was really effective against maxes, but those big moving tuna cans deserved it...

In PS2 they will have to find a way to make ii just powerful enough against armor and maxes. Maybe not so powerful against turrets as they can't move a normal rocket launchers do the job already.

[Badjuju]

I cannot tell you how annoying getting phoenix sniped was! But that is part of what made faction rivalries great. You know we have decent balance and distinct factions when everyone despises the other two for their OP/Cheap/Obnoxious weaponry.

[Badjuju]

+1 on that. The TTK was way longer in PS1, phoenixing infantry was only usefull as a sniper deterrent, but you could hardly kill someone unless he was low on hp. It was really effective against maxes, but those big moving tuna cans deserved it...

In PS2 they will have to find a way to make ii just powerful enough against armor and maxes. Maybe not so powerful against turrets as they can't move a normal rocket launchers do the job already.

I would think they would have to drastically reduce the Phoenix's maneuverability, as well as limiting the damage all faction specific AV weapons do (particularly to infantry). Assuming they fallow the same model as PS1.

[Bobby Shaftoe]

Anyone else find it funny that they seem to introduce more AV weapons than anything else?

Because they gave Infantry shit for AV weapons, so with a limited ability to fight vehicles on foot, everyone then bundled in tanks, then airchav to spam the tanks, giving us the roundabout buff/nerf ride between Ground Vehicles/AA/Air, with Infantry just getting farmed by everything.

Decent Infantry AV (also useful against air) = less threat/farming by ground vehicles, less need for stupidly OP airpower rockets/zephyr to keep the tank hordes in check etc, bigger ground pounder footzerg fights between bases that can actually progress without getting nuked.

The game would have been far more fun using Infantry as a baseline with vehicles providing support/specific roles, instead of Infantry just being what everything else feeds on.

[Sleepy]

Because they gave Infantry shit for AV weapons

And boring. Hardly anything reflects PS2's BF3 designs more than the insufferable HA rocket launchers. PS1 had Empire Specific AV which:

1) Worked
2) Fun to use for all 3 factions
3) Added greatly to Faction differentiation

Operating these BF3 launchers are not fun in comparison to what was offered in PS1. The rockets are slow, take too long to reload, and you're out of ammo in 4 shots sans an Engy following you around. All 3 empires' operate exactly the same. Despite the rage which would follow, I hope that the Lancer, Striker and Phoenix are all introduced and are superior to the nonsense available now. The game needs better AT weapons which are at once fun to use and give each side a feel remarkable for their theme.

[StumpyTheOzzie]

then airchav to spam the tanks,

Oh man... I just lost my shit laughing.

Brusi had a good idea back on page 2. Like the WH40k plasma gun. I like it - they can do whalloping damage at close range but if they want to hit long distance targets they have to tickle them to death.

[Figment]

Infantry AV in this game is three to nine times as strong as in PS1.

Yet they are perceived as less powerful, why?

Because of six things:

1. Stronger tank firepower per player - 2 players in tanks is two players that can kill you very fast, if not instantly. Driver = gunner. HE cannons on all tanks.
2. Base designs. Could talk a year about that.
3. More threats with low ttk
4. No third person view, less situational awareness, yet threats coming from more directions (including often above)
5. Less control tools: no EMP grenades, no proper mines
6. Infantry AV weaponry are less reliable, less consistent and not everything deals at least some AV damage (even white ammo Scatmag used to deal damage to tanks). Not only are others more dependent on HA users, the HA more dependent on other units to get enough ammo on target, your fire is frequently interupted. On top of that, the accuracy has been reduced, especially against long range targets (TR feel this least since Striker was always flawed for that, but at least its dumbfire isn't have ballistic issues).

[Rat]

Would love to see a return of the EMP nade...nothing more fun than stopping a tank in its tracks.

[StumpyTheOzzie]

Proper minefields (3x75 yellow resources is pretty expensive) and emp grenades would be lovely.