Request to Veterans - During the Planetside 1 Free 30 Days

[Zekeen]

As all of you are well aware I'm sure, we're getting a free 30 day pass to Planetside 1 to celebrate Planetside Day and more. We have come a long way from the original days of the Planetside release, for good and for bad, and that is why I am requesting this of my fellow veterans.

While you are all enjoying the great return to the original Planetside, keep your mind open as you play and take note of EVERYTHING that made the game great and terrible. Take a deeper look at why things like BFRs are just too much, and what could have been done to avoid it. Look at how MAXes will be improved from dorky looks (though, I thought the VS MAX is still rather cool), to the most incredible. Look at the guns, all those extras they haven't specified returning, and anything that just makes your heart skip while playing.

As a mass of the original players, together we can help ensure that Planetside 2 not only has everything that made the original great, but becomes better in every way!

I know we're all there to have fun, but take a moment and figure out why you're having fun, write it down, and let the devs know! Together, with the devs, we can make sure Planetside 2 is the greatest game that has ever been made!

So lower that gauss rifle, stop spinning that cycler, charge down that pulsar...... and just take a deep breath of Planetside, and let everyone know what you see and feel.

[Neurotoxin]

I was using a BFR last night actually. The plus and minus of BFRs I observed:

Some positives...

Modularity - pull one vehicle, arm it 30 different ways, combining AV AA and AI, and some utility features. Being able to re-fit it instantly at a base for changing situations is also a major plus.

Pilot Guns - aside from the magrider and liberators, and single-occupant vehicles, the driver really doesn't get to have guns. Even in those cases they aren't always very substantial. BFRs have exceptional firepower for the driver AND gunner (for 2-person versions).

Regenerating Shield - The AV shield gives the BFR most of it's durability. Infantry weapons can penetrate it, and the largest gun that penetrates is the mighty BFR-slaying basic wall turret, which means small arms fire can deal damage when tanks are still being stopped by the shield. It isn't an extremely sturdy shield, but it regenerates quickly, forcing opponents to actually focus fire if they want to take down a BFR.

Climbing - While it isn't like BFRs on their first day out, walking up a 70 degree incline like it is no big deal, BFRs are still pretty exceptional at scaling terrain.

Quick Run - This functionality from MAX units works well with the BFR. When not running, the BFR is slow and lacks maneuverability, but its fairly easy to aim and hit targets. While a BFR can shoot during quick-run, it probably helps more if the driver is watching the road, especially because the shaky camera makes aiming difficult.

Some negatives...

Hit Location Vulnerability - The ability for systems to be damaged and shut down it kind of a cool feature, but it happens too easily with small arms fire, and not significantly enough when heavy damage is sustained after the shield is brought down. It is the only vehicle where speed, radar tracking, air lock-on targeting, rate of fire, and ammunition supplies, can be damaged independently of destroying the vehicle.

Jammer / Virus Functionality - Instead of preventing firing, or shutting down other systems, jammers seem to just reduce a BFR's shields, and maybe hinder it slightly. A virus applied to a BFR simply keeps it from quick-running. It kinda seems like these things should do more to the BFR, or something different at least.

Big Target - BFRs are big, so tall that they have a hard time using cover of any kind. It does go along with them being sturdy vehicles, but it also means that AV weapons can find them first and find them from a major distance.

Limited AI Range - The lasers and shotgun really don't have good range. 50 meters I think? When infantry are the BFR's biggest threat, and the driver's best weapon for hitting infantry at a distance is the AV weapons. That is just plain stupid, I'm sorry, that is irreconcilably bad. I have to run past minefields, vehicles, and a wall of small arms AV, just to get close enough to start attacking? We need 200 meters at least for AI, 300 at lesat for AV, but if I'm being fired on from 300 by people I need to use the 200 meter weapon to kill, I'm vulnerable in or out of that 100 meter gap.

Starfire (VS) - I have particular issues with this weapon. It may be powerful, but that is all. Shots must be fired while tracking a target, and maintaining that tracking is necessary to have the missiles connect. That means just fly to 300 meters and the AA is useless against you. Where it creates a sort of 300-meter fly-at-your-own-risk radius, it can be countered by one or two mosquito pilots coming from different angles to draw off AA fire and use spacebar to get away from incoming shots. Where TR AA is instantly-exploding flak, and NC AA is ruthlessly heat-seeking and tracks the full range, Starfire AA has always been the least effective against air, and that is still the case to this day.

So...

That all being said, I like the modularity and versatility, but I want that for all vehicles. We get that in PS2, though I doubt we'll get to refit a vehicle after we pull it out.

[CuddlyChud]

I don't think BFR's are particularly powerful nowadays. They were only OP for a short while after their introduction, just everyone left saying BFR's destroyed the game and they got a rep. Also, I think their the template for vehicles in PS2, given the customization and hit-boxes.

[Cuross]

I just got off a bunch of sniping yesterday. I will say that I am going to surely miss the sniping mechanic in PS1.

You really had to be patient with the bolt driver and the heavy scout rifle. Knowing that you could miss most of your shots with most targets, you really start to look for the targets you knew you had a higher chance to hit. I'm not saying that this was a deterrent for sniping at all, but you learned to be confident with yourself. And when you got a good two shot kill, you really felt like you accomplish something.

The issue is that there is a strong learning curve for sniping with that mechanic. Not only did you have to lead your target for the bullet's travel time, but you also had to lead well enough that your crosshair reticule would be satisfactorily small.

I can understand getting rid of this, but I will say that I'm going to miss the amount of focus you need to get a great shot.

I'm also going to miss the punisher