Rothnang
2013-04-07, 01:23 PM
Basically lately I've been thinking that one of the big weak points in this game for me is that the game feels exactly the same no matter what faction you play. Sure, the gear is different, so the fighting is a little bit different, but there is nothing about playing as part of a certain faction that informs what you are fighting for, or why you are fighting against the others.
I'd really like it if different factions at times had radically different objectives, and this could also nicely play into the new alerts system.
For example, there are special objectives that concern a conflict between two factions which pop up at random. There is always one faction that has a protect objective, and one faction that has a destroy objective. They would all work the same for the first iteration of faction specific objective, but have a different explanation, and through that give your faction some flavor and background.
The idea here is that an object comes down from orbit, something maybe twice as tall as a drop pod, sets down in a random place of the map, and if it stays alive for 30 minutes your faction wins, and if the faction that opposes that particular event destroys it they win. The third faction doesn't get rewarded either way.
Vanu Sovereignty:
An archaeological survey probe has been sent down to gather data on underground structures. It must be protected until its research is completed. The TR will try to stop this research by destroying the survey probe, to stop the VS from acquiring more technology.
A spy within the New Conglomorate has hidden information inside of a satellite which was then sabotaged to crash on the planet. The satellite must be defended until the information is retrieved. The NC will try to destroy the satellite to stop the security leak.
New Conglomorate:
A large deposit of valuable rare earths has been discovered and a mining probe has been dispatched to gather them up. The VS wants to destroy the probe, because it might damage buried artifacts and archeological finds.
A group of political dissidents has escaped from a TR controlled space station in an escape pod. In order to retrieve them and welcome them into the NC the hatches of the pod must cool down first after reentry. The TR have already dispatched troops to destroy the pod and kill the traitors.
Terran Republic:
A radio mast must be deployed to deliver an address to the citizens of the republic that will rouse their patriotic spirit and let them know where their true loyalties should lie. The NC is trying to destroy the mast and spoil the TRs message of hope and harmony.
A new ground based radar system can help to reveal enemy troop movements. The dish must be protected for some time to gather useful information. The VS are trying to blind the TR by attacking the equipment.
This is just one idea regarding this topic, I might post more lately. Basically the idea here is that these things tell a little story that speak to what your faction does and why and why they are at odds with the other factions. Ideally eventually you might see objectives that are completely different, not just in flavor but also in what they have you do, so that the factions start feeling really unique.
I'd really like it if different factions at times had radically different objectives, and this could also nicely play into the new alerts system.
For example, there are special objectives that concern a conflict between two factions which pop up at random. There is always one faction that has a protect objective, and one faction that has a destroy objective. They would all work the same for the first iteration of faction specific objective, but have a different explanation, and through that give your faction some flavor and background.
The idea here is that an object comes down from orbit, something maybe twice as tall as a drop pod, sets down in a random place of the map, and if it stays alive for 30 minutes your faction wins, and if the faction that opposes that particular event destroys it they win. The third faction doesn't get rewarded either way.
Vanu Sovereignty:
An archaeological survey probe has been sent down to gather data on underground structures. It must be protected until its research is completed. The TR will try to stop this research by destroying the survey probe, to stop the VS from acquiring more technology.
A spy within the New Conglomorate has hidden information inside of a satellite which was then sabotaged to crash on the planet. The satellite must be defended until the information is retrieved. The NC will try to destroy the satellite to stop the security leak.
New Conglomorate:
A large deposit of valuable rare earths has been discovered and a mining probe has been dispatched to gather them up. The VS wants to destroy the probe, because it might damage buried artifacts and archeological finds.
A group of political dissidents has escaped from a TR controlled space station in an escape pod. In order to retrieve them and welcome them into the NC the hatches of the pod must cool down first after reentry. The TR have already dispatched troops to destroy the pod and kill the traitors.
Terran Republic:
A radio mast must be deployed to deliver an address to the citizens of the republic that will rouse their patriotic spirit and let them know where their true loyalties should lie. The NC is trying to destroy the mast and spoil the TRs message of hope and harmony.
A new ground based radar system can help to reveal enemy troop movements. The dish must be protected for some time to gather useful information. The VS are trying to blind the TR by attacking the equipment.
This is just one idea regarding this topic, I might post more lately. Basically the idea here is that these things tell a little story that speak to what your faction does and why and why they are at odds with the other factions. Ideally eventually you might see objectives that are completely different, not just in flavor but also in what they have you do, so that the factions start feeling really unique.