GamesRadar has posted the very first screenshots of the Lightning Tank, as well as some background on the vehicle.
The Lightning’s available to all three factions, and comes outfitted with a Skyguard turret that’s effective at ground-to-air firing as it is against on-foot infantry. Even better, its shots burst into flak if they’re shot near aircraft, so even if you miss a couple shots against airborne enemies, you’re likely to do some serious damage. The Lightning is also a predator of the battlefield: the ATV-like quad is the only vehicle that can outrun it, and the only way to evade a Lightning is to turn back and retreat towards your base. Though it won’t beat a full-on battle tank in a head-on fight, it can easily strafe around it to take it down from behind.
Check out the full article here.
Update: We have received some additional information about the Nanite Systems Lightning Tank.
New information has been discovered regarding a new Nanite Systems vehicle, Lightning. This light weight 75mm tank is designed to take advantage of a war without death, and intel shows it is quick, requires few resources to obtain and only needs a one man crew. Here's the breakdown of the vehicle; study and be ready to use in battle.
- Capable of firing up to six rounds in under three seconds, allowing the driver to quickly adjust their aim after their first shot
- Designed to have a modular turret that can be completely swapped out for other turrets types
- Its "Skyguard" turret is the most effective ground-to-air weapon on the battlefield, as it's fitted with 40mm cannons with an elevation range of 80 degrees
- Fastest ground vehicle, besides the quad, making it difficult to out run it
Hit up the comments thread to discuss!
255 comments
2012-04-26 03:45 PM
Latest Comments
| 2012-04-29 08:20 PM | |||
| Baneblade |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] The Lightning isn't too long horizontally, it is too short vertically. |
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| 2012-04-29 08:41 PM | |||
| Athanasios |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]]
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| 2012-04-29 09:31 PM | |||
| Sirisian |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]]
If anyone is curious 72% are indifferent or fine with the current lightning shown. 28% explicitly mentioned they don't like the length. 36% want a change of any kind. (A few of them feel the lightning is too similar to the Vanguard). (138 polled). Code:
Good (didn't say anything about the length) (88) Evil Redrum Rbstr Saieno JPalmer The Janitor Canaris Doctor Digit Ailos Raymac Grognard SGTalon Hamma subchucK Lorgarn bigcracker ringring Miir emerald TheBiscuit Artimus headcrab13 QuakCow VioletZero SuperMorto Jennyboo capiqu Mod JHendy DOUBLEXBAUGH QuantumMechanic basti Shogun Sleepy Unforgiven kertvon Dullard Quovatis Sgt Shultz Mastachief Dreamcast (? said it looked huge) Noivad Bravix (length looked odd at first) Seagoon Badjuju Nobel Notser Oryon22 Hmr85 Blackwolf PredatorFour Toppopia Aurmanite Reginald Sardus Suiciderunner Sobekeus Sledgecrushr Tachyr That one noob SniperSteve (likes shorter also) atone Kran De Loy KTNApollo Levente DxC Robotix Marinealver TalonGriffin IDukeNukeml Xaine Krowser (? not sure) DDSHADE FIREk LostSoul Xyntech Ceska Shamrock Bine Mag-Mower Aaron Ruffdog RadioFIN Crazyduckling Raka Maru Saintlycow LancerNC Tamas Gandhi Not sure on the design (12) Sabrak Wargrim (turret complaint) Arkanakaz (vanguard) cryosin (vanguard) NewSith (MBT?) Vancha (vanguard) Virulence (longer barrel) DoomBlackDragon (wants slow and heavy armored) Twik Tarski (wants a change?) T MAN (Tracks are odd) dobs (AA problem) frigamache (ugly, wants ES ones) Too Long (38) Sirisian Jaxbrain MacTruckuLes Brusi Graywolves Sabrak Tatwi Talek Krell Furber Dragonien Vanir Hooah TerminatorUK Malorn Zulthus (? not sure if compliment) Pollo Jack Tapman BorisBlade NlightN Erendil xSquirtle (? not sure if compliment) Lonehunter FINALCUT Red Beard Waltibaba (? not sure if compliment) ratfusion Bags CutterJohn Jonny Figment Magpie Mechzz evansra MrBloodworth nathanebht biertrappist outsider (? different front same length?) Wakken |
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| 2012-04-29 09:31 PM | |||
| Raka Maru | I'm having suspicions (in an artillery thread) that the long design could support a very long barrel. | ||
| 2012-04-30 04:23 PM | |||
| ShinSpitfire |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] here is my suspicion 
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| 2012-04-30 04:48 PM | |||
| Graywolves |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] I like the lightning much better now that I've seen it in comparison to the other MBTs. But I think that bridge is stealing the show. |
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| 2012-05-01 06:28 PM | |||
| Erendil |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]]
The Nekomata tank fires conventional heavy HEAT shells and so its cannon would have a massive recoil and I can see where they might want to keep the turret fixed to better absorb the shock. The Mag OTOH fires low-mass, high-KE energy blasts of some sort, and as such would have little to no recoil. And given the wide base of the Mag, from a stability-standpoint I would think it'd have no issue fielding a rotating turret.
 28% is a is pretty high number of people who didn't like the length enough to actually mention it. Makes you wonder how many of those "no comments" didn't like it either but didn't think it worth mentioning or whatever.Given the tank comparison pics, I also wonder how many of the "length dislikes" would be okay w/ the design if the turret were moved forward by a foot or two on the chassis. I definitely wouldn't want it any taller though. 
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| 2012-05-01 07:00 PM | |||
| Ailos |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] Holy fuck I'm still shocked by how awesome that vanny looks compared to... pretty much anything else. Looks like a proper behemoth. Oh an the lightning's not bad, too. |
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| 2012-05-03 05:17 PM | |||
| BorisBlade |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] I laugh at the speed comments thinking this will be crazy fast. Keep in mind that "faster than everything but the ATV" just means faster than a slow ass bazillion ton lumbering tank or a heavily armored school bus. Its like sayin you can outrun two 400+ lb. fat people. My grandmother can do that and she's still slow. Plus they could just barely be faster, you have no idea. This flavor text for these vehicles is nice, but until we get real numbers you cant tell squat. The old lightning was only 6mph (10kph) faster than a magrider and people stupidly thought it was fast. 6mph is meaningless in a real fight. |
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| 2012-05-03 05:42 PM | |||
| Immigrant |
Re: The Lightning First Look! It looks good but I agree that it is a bit too long. It's would look better if shorter imo, also you'd be harder to hit.
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| 2012-05-03 06:17 PM | |||
| SKYeXile |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] yea, the original is still the best. this one? i dunno it looks like some 1970s futuristic car model that would never go into production rather than a tank. |
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| 2012-05-03 11:00 PM | |||
| Raka Maru |
I hope there's a mod (in the shop?) to take off the fenders and give us back the raw quad track system in all it's glory! Perhaps as a speed buff that trades off armour. They did say hundreds of customizations IIRC. Edit: re-read the interview, it said hundreds of unlockable certs. http://www.gamesradar.com/planetside-2-exclusive-interview-talks-lessons-learned-and-player-politics/ GR: How important will vehicles be in skirmishes? Do you expect some players to specialize in driving X tank or Y plane? MH: Vehicles are critical in PlanetSide 2, from combat vehicles to more logistic orientated vehicles, they’re all very important in terms of overall strategy. We definitely expect to see players specialize, and right now have hundreds of certifications to unlock for each vehicle role in the game. |
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| 2012-05-03 11:12 PM | |||
| Traak |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]] I'm wondering if the length is to limit the places it can go, such as forests, and expect full maneuverability? |
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| 2012-05-03 11:21 PM | |||
| Raka Maru |
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| 2012-05-04 12:45 AM | |||
| Baneblade |
Re: The Lightning First Look! [[Updated] Images]]
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