Gameplay: Paint job changes to vehicles after capture/repair (vehicle bay)?

[Hyncharas]

I was just thinking about what happens when you've hacked a vehicle; i.e. the skin it adorned in PlanetSide didn't change once it was captured.

What if a moderately damaged vehicle/aircraft couldn't be repaired by infantry, and had to be taken to a facility. Then once the repairs had been completed, the bay would repaint it to match the colour scheme of whichever empire had captured it in addition to a logo if the driver belonged to an outfit, or the empire's logo if they didn't?

[Coreldan]

I'm pretty sure they've said hacking vehicles won't return. At least not for launch.

[SteinB]

Aye, they have specifically stated that cross-empire equipment use won't be happening. No vehicle jacking, no backpack looting.

[Traak]

Originally Posted by SteinB

Aye, they have specifically stated that cross-empire equipment use won't be happening. No vehicle jacking, no backpack looting.

I love this. Being able to listen and ascertain who is where will be nice.

[Xyntech]

Here's some fan fiction for why there is no cross empire tech use:

TR: Too well disciplined and well drilled to risk using unfamiliar experimental or alien technology.

NC: Consider using TR technology to be tantamount to drawing a swastika on their foreheads and think that VS technology will brainwash them.

VS: Think that using primitive TR or NC tech is beneath them. Still use common pool equipment because shup up, that's why! Vanu said it was cool. I talked with him on the phone. He told me to burn things.

[Hyncharas]

Yes well, nothing was ever learned about the enemy through simple reconaissance. My suggestion would be, at some time in the future post-launch, it could become a more useful part of the game mechanics.

For example, let's assume players could capture heavily damaged vehicles/aircraft from the enemy. Because of the damage they could hack and use them, but only for a couple of hours before they deconstructed automatically from a failsafe; however, during this players gained XP from the use of access to enemy tech. This could affect the empire's position with the others strategically as well by gaining vital intelligence, that could be used to affect what new weapon upgrades appear based on how much experience was earned by players globally. If research trees are going to be fundamental, it could even affect the release of new vehicles/aircraft or empire-specific emplacements in expansion packs, giving players of each empire an opportunity to contribute towards a limited advantage during a grace period until the studio ended the "skirmishes". Then the new incentives for each empire would be unlocked based on rank as normal.

...I can hear the muttering under the breaths of certain players in here The point is, an MMOFPS should be different from MMORPGs in that commitment from the three empires breeds positive unlocks that could turn the tide of the war in their favour for a short time, particularly if some battles are going to last for days or weeks.