Check this out... new Lattice / NTU / ANT idea.

[Virtuoso]

Though the Nanites would not survive the transfer process well, and would only result in a 4 to 1 ratio, so you couldn't use drain with ANTS, wait for hack, and refill.
Could this work? and it help taking remote bases, faster, but more involved? and would prevent some of the basehopping as well.

Just a thought

-nextonex


http://boards.station.sony.com/ubb/betapls/Forum1/HTML/006120.html

I think that this is a great idea, and could potentially save the Lattice idea. I think that most of the anti-Lattice people would even agree on this.

-Virt

[Yogi]

That's interesting and something i hadn't thought of.

[Virtuoso]

Exactly, it solves the whole argument on the NTU depletion. And it wouldn't incourage phantom hacking... cause quite frankly I don't see how taking an ANT, loading up a Galaxy, flying over the front line, hot dropping over a base, draining a base, hacking the CC, filling up an ant, and recharging the base could be considered a phantom hack.

I REALLY like this idea. It shows A LOT of promise.

-Virt

[MercFox1]

It would sure save some Nanites.

[Yogi]

Originally posted by Virtuoso[ViP]
Exactly, it solves the whole argument on the NTU depletion. And it wouldn't incourage phantom hacking... cause quite frankly I don't see how taking an ANT, loading up a Galaxy, flying over the front line, hot dropping over a base, draining a base, hacking the CC, filling up an ant, and recharging the base could be considered a phantom hack.

I REALLY like this idea. It shows A LOT of promise.

-Virt

One problem right now is the ANT is way too weak armor wise to truly be successful at this. Now I'm not saying the ANT should survive for 10 minutes in a base with 100 people. However, it can be taken out very quickly by one person with a weapon with AP ammo. Not to mention some of the AV weapons.

[Virtuoso]

Yea, but that's an easy tweak. Check the Beta thread for more ideas/info. Seems like a lot of people think this is a good idea.

There was even an idea calling for 2 fully charged ANTs. 1 to "neutralize" the Nanites in the silo, and 1 to recharge the base.

-Virt

[Virtuoso]

Bump before dinner. This idea is too good to let it fall off the page. Come on people, comment! :)

-Virt

[Tieom]

I can't see the entirety of the post as I don't have access to the beta boards, but it would seem that the suggestion is that ANTs should be able to drain NTUs from silos.

How about: no fricken way.

If an advanced hacker has ANY vehicle cert they can just hack and grab one from the Vpad, drain to neutral, hack, and have a small supply of NTUs, which is enough to take control of the base. Needing a filled ANT from a remote location is better - you don't want it to be insanely easy to take behind-lines bases or it would be almost the same as it was pre-lattice (Which I understand you are a proponent of, Yogi).

Edit: Unless for some reason he's saying that for every 4 NTUs put into the ANT only one is removed from the silo. I think he's saying that for every 4 drained only one is put into the ANT, which is just as bad as for every 50 drained one is put into the ANT - it would still allow an advanced hacker to take down a base without a warpgate-filled ANT.

[Cyanide]

SJ has already commented on the idea saying that he thought it was cool and that he would talk about it with the Dev team.

[Angelos]

I'd still think it's a version of phantom hacking. The idea of phantom hacking is takine a base without battle. Um, would you pay to play the game if you never fired your weapon? You aren't going to get any respect, nor have fun, by taking bases without battle. And you will eventually stop playing.


ANT's should not be able to drain NTU's, and I believe the lattice system is fine the way it is. After all, Sony will NEVER be able to please everyone. No matter what they do to change gameplay, there are always haters. I say stick with it, release, and the rest of us won't care about who ISN'T playing, only about who is. And there will be PLENTY of gamers who will play it the way it is.

[Yogi]

Originally posted by Tieom

If an advanced hacker has ANY vehicle cert they can just hack and grab one from the Vpad, drain to neutral, hack, and have a small supply of NTUs, which is enough to take control of the base. Needing a filled ANT from a remote location is better - you don't want it to be insanely easy to take behind-lines bases or it would be almost the same as it was pre-lattice (Which I understand you are a proponent of, Yogi).


You assume that no one would come to the base or even be there to begin with. As soon as that cloaker spawns that ant, you see it big and red on your minimap. It'd be pretty hard to hide by one person to drain an entire facility.

[Ubernator]

Hehe, exactly Yogi. ^^^^

Maybe it would be a good idea to require a full ANT to drain an enemy silo. You could say that the "bad" nanites had to be purged and replaced with your empire's nanites. Lol, sounds kind of silly, but would probably requre a bit more teamwork. (a squad would be required to go fill up an ANT and then attack a base)

A very interesting idea to kick around, though. It may just be the compromise that will fix the lattice for some of the haters. Who knows. :)

[Cyanide]

I think some of you are assuming that one ant could completely drain a base in one trip. If this were implimented they will not do it that way. The ANT would be required to make several trips to drain the silo.

Here's something some of you should try. Instead of think about why something won't work. Think of a way that it could work.

[Tieom]

@Yogi - No one would be at the base BECAUSE IT IS BEHIND THE FRONT LINE. That's the POINT, making the base neutral so you can hack it even though it is BEHIND THE FRONT LINE.
If no one notices the NTUs visibly deplete while they watch, it's likely no-one will come by, either. Unless someone comes by with an ANT, and if you are on one of the less-travelled continents they likely won't, and almost certainly not with an escort.
UNLESS someone with high CR sweeps for all enemies and finds you.

@Cyandide Alright, I'll try.

Ways it could work:
ANTs destroy 'hostile' NTUs at poor ratios - This would mean that if the squad is ready and waiting (With an ANT) to take down a low-energy base they can do it faster. Taking down high-energy bases would be unfeasable if it takes four or five trips.

Hostile ANTs cause NTU silos to 'bleed' slowly. Could need adv. hacking/engi cert to cause this to happen. I like this one better, as long as it's not an arterial rupture but more of a slow, steady bleeding which takes an hour or two to drain a full silo. It will speed up the process, but using it by itself (Especially on a fully-stocked base) would be slow.

Hostile ANTs in the SOI or near the silo can disrupt auto-repairs, making them take more NTUs.

Edit: Deploying an ANT next to a hostile silo will drain about 25% of a full silo almost instantly, but will destroy the ANT. This can only be done once every (Time over 20 minutes). This would be useful if you're attacking a base and all their vehicle building is draining the silo - drive up an ANT and suddenly it's a neutral base. Of course, you need a filled one to be able to take the base.

Hrm... I dont really like the ANT present = faster siege thing, though. You can just get one from a hacked VPad, if you didn't bring one.

With all the ANT importance, I can imagine a sub-class of people who get ANTs at the sanctuary, fill em up, and go around broadcasting 'Filled ANT ready!'
Of course, if ANTs only take 10 seconds to fill it would be useless, but I assume they take longer than that.

[Angelos]

Originally posted by Tieom
@Yogi - No one would be at the base BECAUSE IT IS BEHIND THE FRONT LINE.

Thus removing the point to the lattice. Why don't you just stop beating around the bush and say you hate the lattice and want it removed.

This doesn't happen in war. You don't just fly past the front line and take your time securing an enemy base without any defense. The point of the lattice was to simulate a front line for a war. In order to break the front line, you must beat it. You can't just fly past, neutralize a base, then take it over.

1. If you like this idea, you are a coward. Not a strategist.
2. You would consider paying to play a multiplayer game only to avoid all the people on the other side?
3. FPS. First person shooter. Not first person go and hide and hope they never see me because I wanna cap this base for quick easy exp.


No. No. No.

NO

[Tieom]

Angelos: Yes! Exactly! Thank you for saying what I really wanted to for me. I like the idea of the lattice, and think that while there should be alternatives to assaulting the most heavily defended point these alternatives should still be challenging and take time. Otherwise the entire point of the lattice (to add security to behind-the-lines bases and to prevent 'musical bases') is negated.