Gameplay: Bring back BFRs?!?!

[Whiteagle]

"What?!?!" You may be asking yourself, "Why would you ever want to bring back Battle Frame Robotics?"

...Well personally I love robots, but that's beside the point...

You see, the biggest problem with legged weapon platforms is correctly addressing what their battlefield niche would be.

The Original Planetside tried making them 'ZOMG UBER!' vehicles; great at everything and inherently better then anything; which was clearly a mistake...

...But that still leaves the question of what role 'Mechs' SHOULD fulfil.

In the real world, robotic legs would only be preferable to wheels or treads on an armored ground vehicle when it comes to uneven terrain.
This is because the legs articulation would allow greater mobility and stability, much like their organic counterparts, making it feasible for the craft to accompany Infantry.

Game-play wise, however, such mobility would greatly effect the games balance, not to mention completely invalidate the MAX powered-armor...

As such, there isn't any environment in the game right now that warrants 'true mecha'; Tanks are for open ground while MAXs support Infantry everywhere else...

...Of course, that's only with the current terrain!
With the inclusion of water on Amerish, the Developers have come one step closer to their promise of intercontinental seas.
While this does conjure thoughts of blue-water naval combat and hopes of Ships and Submarines, this would also provide another new theatre of combat; Amphibious.

Yes, my proposal is that BFRs be brought back as a combat vehicle that can cross water (As a submarine for the NC/TR, plain hovering for the VS) and assault beaches.

While I don't doubt a variety of watercraft will be introduced, especially those necessary for establishing a beachhead, the Amphibious or A-BFR would be an armored fighting vehicle that could not only escort ships to shore but also support the landing troops as well.

It could also be used as another form of asymmetrical balance.

Currently, I envision the Vanu's faction specific BFR as the... nearest to the originals.
It would be a humanoid battle-suit whose special ability allows it to skirt over land and water like a Magrider, but it would also be the lightest armed and armored.
Essentially, it'd sort of be a hover Lightning crossed with a MAX; the most mobile BFR on land while being able to escort Magriders over any terrain...

...Over being the key phrase there, as the other two A-BFRs transform into small submersibles.
While one of the Vanu's key traits are hover vehicles that easily cross the surface of water, I have a feeling that the other two factions would benefit from better craft dedicated to combat below it.

The TR and NC's A-BFRs would probably have some kind of secondary weapon with which they could engage surface targets, most likely surface-to-surface rocket pods that would fire in a large arc, always leaving open water travel susceptible to ambushes from below.

So, what do you guys think?

[Goku]

Locking this before it turns into a flamefest.