Outfit Specialisations

[DviddLeff]

So guys, what do we think outfits will be able to specialise in to customise and improve their outfits?

Higby I believe has already said that:

1. Outfits can specialise in certain classes, unlocking both visual benefits and upgrades for all its members if they choose that class to play.
2. Outfits can increase a member limitation cap.
3. Outfits have some very cool stuff coming.

In my upgrade project I suggested a great number of improvements for outfits (it was one of the first large articles I wrote regarding PS game development). You can see it in its entirety here, but here are the bullet points:

First general changes for all outfits:

• Outfit credit system for purchasing things (resources fill this role in PS2)
• Applications to join (if there are no officers on players can still apply and get accepted later)
• Automatic promotions (for BR/CR, etc)
• Automatic demotions (griefing, TKs, etc)
• Rank permission customisation
• Outfit alliances
• Outfit leadership/officer chat
• Performance graphs (kills, XP, captures, etc)
• Outfit mergers
• Events log (see who has been kicking/promoting/recruiting)

Now here are the parts I suggest which can be unlocked via specialisation:

• Outfit bunkers/outposts/bases (purchased with resources)
• Naval (hover) Vehicles (purchased with resources)
• In game outfit adverts (using the TV screens)
• Outfit Divisions (would allow multiple specialisations in an outfit)
• Outfit rank decals (show off your rank in the outfit)
• Outfit leaders able to give out medals to their members
• Outfit armour customisation (sounds like it will be in PS2)

[Bags]

But if we have in-game outfit adverts where will the Fanta ads go?

[CutterJohn]

I wonder if outfit experience gain will be normalized for the number of players in the outfit. As one who prefers small outfits, I would not like it if big ones 'leveled' faster. I'm sure the big ones would not like small ones leveling faster either, of course.

[Baneblade]

Outfit Airships

[Volw]

Originally Posted by CutterJohn

I wonder if outfit experience gain will be normalized for the number of players in the outfit. As one who prefers small outfits, I would not like it if big ones 'leveled' faster. I'm sure the big ones would not like small ones leveling faster either, of course.

That's how PS1 worked AND Matt confirmed it will important to specialise outfits. Should discourage zerg outfits, unless split into several small ones.

[Heaven]

I think if a member of your outfit takes some territory, it should have the empire colours and your outfit logo on so people can see your outfit did the job, plus this would give your outfit more points and some extra XP, this making outfits work together in squads. I think the outfit should DEFIANTLY get a logo maker instead of having pre-made ones so we can put our own touch on the game.

[Volw]

Originally Posted by Heaven

I think if a member of your outfit takes some territory, it should have the empire colours and your outfit logo on so people can see your outfit did the job, plus this would give your outfit more points and some extra XP, this making outfits work together in squads. I think the outfit should DEFIANTLY get a logo maker instead of having pre-made ones so we can put our own touch on the game.

I can already see people griefing to get their outfit the capture.

[Malorn]

Originally Posted by Volw

I can already see people griefing to get their outfit the capture.

I remember seeing this in beta. People would shoot hackers so they could get the hack on the base.

Doesn't lead to a good culture.

[Vancha]

Do we know whether outfits will have to pick a single specialization, or be able to spread their skills around in the same way as players?

It could be interesting to allow outfits to "combine" their chat, though that'd serve a similar purpose to an outfit alliance channel, if outfit alliances exist.

The only other thing off the top of my head would be letting people "spray" their outfit logo (similar to CS). Quick response outfits could spray the entrances to let allies know the base is being taken care of...Support outfits could spray their logo next to their AMS/Lode etc. or you could even have cloaker outfits spray their logo in enemy territory and ambush anyone who walks on it so you end up with a pile of corpses lying on top.

[DviddLeff]

Originally Posted by Higby

We definitely recognize that the inclusion of role specific advantages as part of the outfit progression will lead players to wanting to create smaller specialized outfits / divisions. We do have a plans to address this and when we're ready to reveal more details on the outfits system (which seriously, seriously rules, by the way -- I think you guys are going to be really stoked with what we're doing here) you'll find out all about it.

That is what was said the other day.

Edit: regarding small outfits earning specialisations as quickly as larger ones. Its a tricky thing, and perhaps there should be no system which penalises larger outfits; what would happen if there was a small outfit that unlocked all the specialisations they wanted, and then massively recruited?

[Malorn]

Originally Posted by DviddLeff

That is what was said the other day.

Edit: regarding small outfits earning specialisations as quickly as larger ones. Its a tricky thing, and perhaps there should be no system which penalises larger outfits; what would happen if there was a small outfit that unlocked all the specialisations they wanted, and then massively recruited?

They already have the problem of large outfits needing to split themselves up, AND large outfits need to train to add more players to them. Seems like some discouragement so far for large outfits. When this was brought up they said they have a lot more to reveal about outfits so it seems like they have an answer for the problem but they just haven't told us.

I suspect that the solution to this has two parts:

1) Outfits earn resources (this was stated), and more players could mean more resources (obviously)
2) Resources can be used to circumvent the cert tree (this was also stated). They didnt' specifically state it was the same way for outfits, but it isn't a huge leap. I think what this means is that you can spend resources on cert advancement. It might be expensive to do so but it could happen.
3) There might be outfit certs that allow creation of separate divisions and specify which bonuses each division gets.

If that's the case, then large outfits will collect more resources, which can be used to grow their certs faster than smaller outfits. IF those large outfits want to add more people, some of those certs will have to be spent on the expansion of the outfit, while others would have to be spent getting specializations for the different wings of the outfit.

If you're a smaller outfit then you dont' need the overhead of the growth and multiple advancements, but you'll also likely have a slower resource gain since you have fewer people. Seems like it could all balance out if they get the numbers right. If your outfit is extremely efficient then perhaps it can grow faster than another one normally, but since there's still a time component probably not all that much more. Depends on the numbers really.

I think we just need more information about the outfit system before we can speculate too much. Pretty much grasping at straws at this point.

[Heaven]

It could easily be fixed though, they could make it so you cant shoot friendly's while they are hacking, obv. enemies can. Because at the end of the day it makes no sense to shoot your own team, yes fair enough they are wanting to capture it for outfit XP them selves but there just going to have to get there before you.

[kaffis]

Originally Posted by DviddLeff

Edit: regarding small outfits earning specialisations as quickly as larger ones. Its a tricky thing, and perhaps there should be no system which penalises larger outfits; what would happen if there was a small outfit that unlocked all the specialisations they wanted, and then massively recruited?

The idea is that the experience needed to gain whatever experience-based advancement there is would scale to the number of people in it, so this doesn't happen.

Small outfits don't level faster. They just require less experience because there are fewer people in it to earn the experience.

Thus, an outfit that starts small, advances a lot, and then goes on a recruiting spree has the same level (or whatever) as the outfit that immediately recruited a ton of people and then worked on its advances -- providing that the average amount of experience earned per player is similar between the two.

So advance and then recruit doesn't "get you ahead."

Now, I have a feeling that outfit advancement will be based on a time component, as well, so such a mechanic might not be necessary -- as time is not something that can be cumulatively gained. 5 players will offer their outfit as much time (that is 1x however long the outfit's been around) as 500 players (also 1x however long the outfit's been around).

Now, if, like players, there's an acceleration factor for time spent playing, that may have to scale -- say, the average amount of time played across all players for the last week, or whatever; rather than saying "so long as somebody's logged in, the outfit counts as getting the played time bonus," which would penalize small groups that all play at the same time vs. large groups with playtimes spread throughout the day to maintain a constant presence.

[CutterJohn]

Yeah, its tricky. It could be outfit certs will just be time based like the players, with bonuses for playing, and big outfits get some advantage, but not a huge one. 33 or 50% faster or something.

[EightEightEight]

Well bring on the Hate (You'll See)

So World of Warcraft has a great guild leveling system they have daily and weekly caps so that all guilds level at somewhat the same pace.

Granted larger outfits will hit the cap first because many more players contributing and all that but the caps allow smaller guilds to catch up through regular play

You also have to earn rep with the outfit to unlock different tiers of perks
You also have to work together as a guild to unlock the perks in the first place as well while dealing with the caps and not being able to the use the perks you help get because the personal requirement for them.

Pretty decent system will it work for PS2 who knows