Improvement: Maintaining the Highest ranks.

VioletZero · 2012-01-30, 11:27 AM

In an effort to contributing to each server having its own personality and preventing stagnation, I suggest that there be a point where battle ranks are something you compete for.

I'm going to use arbitrary numbers here, but here's how I think it should work.

Let's say that at battle rank 40, almost all features and weapons are available to you. But there are 50 battle ranks.

At level 41 and beyond, you are directly competing with other players for these ranks. There are a limited number of players that can be each rank and they are decided by battle performance.

The amount of players allowed at reach rank differs based on how many active players there are on the server. The higher population, the more at each rank there is. The higher the rank, the less people that are allowed in it.

But there can only be one rank 50 player per faction on each server.

While the other ranks are decided by player performance and contributions, the rank 50 is decided by vote on each election period. The players chosen for the vote are players who have the highest contributions as a Commander.

All players within the rank 41 to 50 range are given special privileges of varying usefulness.(From special skins to actual in game functions.) But the rank 50 player(The Supreme Commander) is easily the most privileged.

Rank 50 players are able to send out global announcements, call down special superweapons on high cooldown, use special command vehicles and are given spawn priority and can directly cancel other orders made by commanders. A rank 50 player is given a beacon of light that shines directly on them that is only visible to members their own faction.

If you haven't figured it out already, you CAN be demoted from these ranks. But you'd never be demoted beyond your playstyle of choice.

There will be regular wipes to give newer players a chance at these vaunted ranks.

Thoughts?

NewSith · 2012-01-30, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by VioletZero

Thoughts?

Can you summarise it, 'cause I'm not getting a clear picture...

Grognard · 2012-01-30, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by NewSith

Can you summarise it, 'cause I'm not getting a clear picture...

Agreed, after "beacon of light", the first thing that came to my mind was, Saint Michael has intervened for our side! Though I do understand the reason behind the beacon of light, Im just damatizing for laughs.

On a serious note, I think the OP is saying, and I stand a good chance of bastardizing this cause Im hazy too, that there needs to be a mechanism to create a hierarchy chain of faction command, to give some focus for what will become a gigantic mass of unfocused combatants.

My guess is that it is to produce leaders for the faction with a criteria based on success in combat, from a recent time frame, so that outfit leaders are not the defacto faction commanders.

I certainly agree with the need. Not behind the implementation, yet...

Edit: This... will cause a lot of resistance:
"Rank 50 players are able to send out global announcements, call down special superweapons on high cooldown, use special command vehicles and are given spawn priority and can directly cancel other orders made by commanders."

NewSith · 2012-01-30, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Grognard

Agreed, after "beacon of light", the first thing that came to my mind was, Saint Michael has intervened for our side! Though I do understand the reason behind the beacon of light, Im just damatizing for laughs.

On a serious note, I think the OP is saying, and I stand a good chance of bastarizing this cause Im hazy too, that there needs to be a mechanism to create a hierarchy chain of faction command, to give some focus for what will become a gigantic mass of unfocused combatants.

My guess is that it is to produce leaders for the faction with a criteria based on success in combat, from a recent time frame, so that outfit leaders are not the defacto faction commanders.

I certainly agree with the need. Not behind the implementation, yet...

Edit: This... will cause a lot of resistance:
"Rank 50 players are able to send out global announcements, call down special superweapons on high cooldown, use special command vehicles and are given spawn priority and can directly cancel other orders made by commanders."

I'm not certain. I mean if something like this is added I would like it to be added post-release.

Coreldan · 2012-01-30, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by NewSith

Can you summarise it, 'cause I'm not getting a clear picture...

I know you play(ed) APB, I guess the closest analogy would be that BR would act like threat levels in APB after 41.

And yes, I agree. I'm sorta even against the "squad leader" cert tree, cos this once again brings in a lot of people who think by taking these certs they are capable of leading anything even out of a wet paper bag. Natural leaders don't need any of this.

Disclaimer: that said, I dont mind these natural leaders having cool stuff on the cert tree, but I know it is gonna create these "im gonna spec squad leader!!11" kinda people too

Rbstr · 2012-01-30, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Coreldan

Disclaimer: that said, I dont mind these natural leaders having cool stuff on the cert tree, but I know it is gonna create these "im gonna spec squad leader!!11" kinda people too

Meh, so they are, and they suck and no one will follow them.

Rbstr · 2012-01-30, 01:08 PM

Leaders shouldn't be voted in and given special powers that others can't get.
They should just be leaders. They exist and people listen to them, or not. Otherwise it's synthetic, boring and, likely, ruthlessly unfair to people who aren't 23/7 gamers.
The EVE model is best here. There are some skills you just don't need unless you're a leader. Hell, you don't even need them, someone else can be designated as the booster.
Leaders make themselves known without having a game mechanic that creates them - they have game mechanics that facilitate.
I could be the leader of a giant thousand + man Alliance and start Immensea on fire tomorrow if I could wrangle folks to my cuase...no need for an ingame vote or any kind of game-mechanic based powers.

In PS:
Have outfits with some kind of hierarchy of intra-outfit powers (who can use X oufit resources ect. not simply "this dude gets EMP power") that are delegatable by the outfit leader(s).
Having resources instantly creates a drive to have real teamwork to maximize your ability to exploit the resources. Someone deceides to be the organizer of it. Bam. Leaders exist.
Then have leadership skills, that anyone can train, but really only help the active leader, in roles such as squad/platoon/outfit commander, and the folks under him.

Hmr85 · 2012-01-30, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by VioletZero

Thoughts?

No

Originally Posted by Rbstr

Leaders shouldn't be voted in and given special powers that others can't get.
They should just be leaders. They exist and people listen to them, or not. Otherwise it's synthetic, boring and, likely, ruthlessly unfair to people who aren't 23/7 gamers.
The EVE model is best here. There are some skills you just don't need unless you're a leader. Hell, you don't even need them, someone else can be designated as the booster.
Leaders make themselves known without having a game mechanic that creates them - they have game mechanics that facilitate.
I could be the leader of a giant thousand + man Alliance and start Immensea on fire tomorrow if I could wrangle folks to my cuase...no need for an ingame vote or any kind of game-mechanic based powers.

Yes, and this topic has been covered about 50 times. I will also add that if you limit players from ever attaining the highest level all your going to do is piss players off and drive them away from the game. Leaders will emerge on their own as the game progresses. There will be people out there who will stand out and gain the respect of many of their factions members through combat and sound strategy. This is not something that needs to be forced.

VioletZero · 2012-01-30, 04:32 PM

Sorry, I freely admit this isn't my best written thread because I wrote it in a rush. Since I am moving today.

^^;

Anyway, there wouldn't be anything that you get from this that would be vital to enjoying the game.

As far as Supreme Commander perks, this would either be novelty or just something to help them lead. Like the aforementioned announcements.

Or other things that would be good for the game, but wouldn't work if everyone could get it at once. And are really reserved for responsible individuals.

Commanders wouldn't be limited to people who are of high rank of course.

Originally Posted by Grognard

Agreed, after "beacon of light", the first thing that came to my mind was, Saint Michael has intervened for our side! Though I do understand the reason behind the beacon of light, Im just damatizing for laughs.

On a serious note, I think the OP is saying, and I stand a good chance of bastardizing this cause Im hazy too, that there needs to be a mechanism to create a hierarchy chain of faction command, to give some focus for what will become a gigantic mass of unfocused combatants.

My guess is that it is to produce leaders for the faction with a criteria based on success in combat, from a recent time frame, so that outfit leaders are not the defacto faction commanders.

I certainly agree with the need. Not behind the implementation, yet...

Edit: This... will cause a lot of resistance:
"Rank 50 players are able to send out global announcements, call down special superweapons on high cooldown, use special command vehicles and are given spawn priority and can directly cancel other orders made by commanders."

This is correct.

I'm not certain about the implementation either. But this is indeed to create a proper chain of command.

I've seen the effects of this first hand. It's well worth it to have worthy faction leaders. Or just some notable VIPs who can bring personality to a server or faction.

Another idea is to have the Supreme Commanders act as ambassadors by giving them access to private channels that only Supreme Commanders can access. That way they can negotiate treaties in case one faction is grossly overplayed and/or overpowered.

Rbstr · 2012-01-30, 04:51 PM

Or you could just let it happen organically with outfit-centric playing emphasized through communal recources, spawning concentration, outfit buffs and bonuses, ect.

All you have to do is provide a framework for anyone who wants to lead to do so. You don't need the game to say "Ok this guy here? He's leader" It happens on it's own.

I've seen the effects of this first hand. It's well worth it to have worthy faction leaders. Or just some notable VIPs who can bring personality to a server or faction.

EVE does EXACTLY this, entirely through player freely organizing themselves. To the point where egos of faction leaders end up causing multi-thousand player conflicts.

Give everyone the tools that allow them to lead people and it'll sort itself out.

VioletZero · 2012-01-30, 04:56 PM

It's never going to get up to that level.

EVE's Organization has everything to do with just how much sandbox the game is.

Planetside 2 will never get up to that point by itself.

If leaders are at least allowed to send announcements to everyone in a faction, then that will at least allow them to know who is in charge.

WaryWizard · 2012-01-31, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by VioletZero

But the rank 50 player(The Supreme Commander) is easily the most privileged.

We don't need a supreme commander. This isn't supcom. No matter how much the NC look like the UEF from supreme commander 2.

REAL leaders are leaders cause they're good. They can change the course of the entire battle without these "privilages". The leader cert tree should make their soldiers better, and improve efficiency in the leading process. So that when they lead. They lead REAL soldiers.

VioletZero · 2012-01-31, 08:26 PM

The Supreme Commander position would mostly be there to allow the best leaders to lead with greater ease and less restriction.

The primary goal would be to put orders in terms that even an anti-social newbie would understand and follow.

ThGlump · 2012-01-31, 08:37 PM

Leaders. Thats it. You are talking about BR50 being best leader? But how you can manage that. BR is get for figting etc. You could end up with only lvl 50 player who dont care about leading and dont want to lead. So you wasted only spot for suppreme commander and your empire is without that benefit.

If there have to be only one who has access to global announcements it shouldnt be decided by game, but by players. Highest leaders delegate one of them for that position. 1-2 monts after release you would know who is capable leading or not.

Giving leader powers to someone without interest in leading, but is excelent player, doesnt make him leader.

VioletZero · 2012-01-31, 08:45 PM

Well, I have a good system in mind for how to figure out candidates for people to vote on.

Which would be a rating based on how often their commanding results in more resources and territory taken, in its most basic explanation.

Of course, it is far, far complex than that. But after that, it is mostly the community who decides who the best leaders are by vote.