Self deconstructing vehicles?

Azren · 2012-02-02, 05:11 AM

Hey

Not too long ago, on the AGN community night recording, Higby commented that we will not be able to deconstruct vehicles, however they will do so on their own after being unattended.

I am wondering what this means in terms of gameplay; do you have to jump in the driver's seat every 10 minutes to keep your parked sunderer or galaxy from deconstructing, or will the game see any player interaction (for example: someone sitting in the gunner position, or just someone pulling up to repair, ect) and push the timer out?

Is it possible to have your vehicle auto deconstruct only because your don't use it for a given period of time, or only if the vehicle has lost ownership (the ower pulled a new vehicle).

Coreldan · 2012-02-02, 05:44 AM

I guess if this is a problem, it can and will be fixed during beta. It might be one of those things that they didnt think about. Yes, even if I parked my vehicle outside the base two hours ago, I want it to still be there when I'm done fighting over the base

Or then we need parking lots!

Designated areas where vehicles wont deconstruct if unattended! /sarcasm off.

Figment · 2012-02-02, 08:25 AM

I'd say ownership rules akin to those in PS.

I've already juggled enough units around at the same time to create CY turrets for random gunners (Thundy + Deli + Sundy + another Thundy). Similarly I've set up a lot of AMS/Router combos on my own. If I'd not have to juggle those units to keep them from destructing, there'd be no time pressure that can lead to mistakes, I'd not have to get out in the open all the time by exiting vehicles, etc.

If you didn't handle another vehicle in two hours, fine, if you did, the other vehicle should be deconstructed. Otherwise the spam of abandoned vehicles (both full and low health) would soon fill the CYs.

Warborn · 2012-02-02, 09:35 AM

Ten minutes would be way too short for an auto-deconstruct timer. It shouldn't be something anyone really worries about, ever. An hour or two is more reasonable.

Azren · 2012-02-02, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Warborn

Ten minutes would be way too short for an auto-deconstruct timer. It shouldn't be something anyone really worries about, ever. An hour or two is more reasonable.

10 minutes was only an example, the actual number does not matter much in this context.

Hamma · 2012-02-02, 10:25 AM

A good question! And sadly one we do not know the answer to

perhaps Higby will enlighten us.

Lonehunter · 2012-02-02, 12:33 PM

I would love to see self DESTRUCTING vehicles. Done via hacking of course, so as the driver gets in and starts to move BAM

But the timer for self decon is totally dependent on the beta in my opinion

Warborn · 2012-02-02, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Azren

10 minutes was only an example, the actual number does not matter much in this context.

Why even use a number then? Will you have to enter a vehicle within a certain period of time to prevent it from being deconstructed? Seems so. Is there any indication that it would be something absurd like ten minutes? Not so far. I guess it's a bit of trivia that might be interesting if it's something silly like a handful of minutes, but I can't see where the concern that you'll be inconvenienced by having to regularly return to your vehicle comes from.

TheRagingGerbil · 2012-02-02, 09:46 AM

I suspect it will work like PS1. As long as you don't take ownership of another vehicle, the one you just got out of will stay active.

MpS · 2012-02-02, 03:20 PM

Because PS2 is going to be free to play some form of vehicle deconstruction would be a good idea just so bases don't get ridiculously cluttered with vehicles from afk players. This is something we really need to see in the beta to be honest though, maybe the timer could be dependent on your empires population or the number of vehicles in the area with a set minimum and maximum value?

Hmr85 · 2012-02-02, 03:51 PM

A hour or two seems like a good enough time before you vehicle decons. I should be able to park my vanguard inside the base. Hop in a Liberator blow some stuff up. Hot drop on a tower and take it. With just enough time to return to said facility to hop in my vanguard and go wreck havoc.

bjorntju1 · 2012-02-02, 04:39 PM

They could make a radius deciding if the vehicle will be destroyed or not. If you are right next to the vehicle, it will stay there as long as you are online. But if you get to a certain radius, lets say 500 meters, the vehicle will deconstruct after a set time.

Azren · 2012-02-02, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by bjorntju1

They could make a radius deciding if the vehicle will be destroyed or not. If you are right next to the vehicle, it will stay there as long as you are online. But if you get to a certain radius, lets say 500 meters, the vehicle will deconstruct after a set time.

This question becomes more interesting if we are only looking at support oriented vehicles, like a deployed galaxy or parked sunderer. As these vehicles do not need to be driven, onces they reach a strategically important position, the drivers may choose to leave them behind and continue on foot or jump in as gunner for a different vehicle. The empire however will still benefit from the said vehicles, maybe even use them as main spawning point for an attack. Having the attack fail due to auto deconstructing would be bad game mechanics.

Warborn · 2012-02-02, 06:16 PM

It goes without saying that it would be a bad thing for in-use vehicles like galaxies being spawned from despawning in the middle of a fight would be a bad thing. It's really not something that they probably require a forum thread to bring to their attention.

bjorntju1 · 2012-02-03, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Azren

This question becomes more interesting if we are only looking at support oriented vehicles, like a deployed galaxy or parked sunderer. As these vehicles do not need to be driven, onces they reach a strategically important position, the drivers may choose to leave them behind and continue on foot or jump in as gunner for a different vehicle. The empire however will still benefit from the said vehicles, maybe even use them as main spawning point for an attack. Having the attack fail due to auto deconstructing would be bad game mechanics.

Well those can stay then of course. What they could do is that those vehicles deconstruct if their support abilities aren't used for s while. Around 30 minutes maybe?