Improvement: Forward Operating Base Take Two

[Baneblade]

Not long ago I proposed that the Sunderer be deployable into a FOB to balance out the Galaxy spawn ability. I see the genius of that particular design decision now and do not believe the Party Bus should get a spawn point.

However, the FOB concept is worth pursuing, but make it a semi permanent facility that takes both the Party Bus and the Galaxy to deploy. The Party Bus gives it repair and rearm for vehicles and the Gal gives it spawn point capability.

The FOB would consist of temporary structures that serve various purposes; spawn building, repair station, armory building, command bunker, defense tower (armed with AV and AA), and a shield generator building.

The FOB can use two modes: Overt (defense shield and empire spawn) or Covert (cloak bubble and outfit/platoon spawn)

OFOBs have an SOI that inhibits enemy drop pods, repairs engineer deployables, and prohibits orbital strikes.

CFOBs have a smaller SOI that disables enemy radar and reveals enemy infiltrators. CFOBs have no defense tower.

Destroying an FOB is straightforward, destroy the command bunker from the outside or the inside.

The idea is to meld engineer deployables with a vehicle based temporary base. Engineer deployables last indefinitely, or until destroyed, while inside an OFOB SOI.

CFOBs are basically intended to be more for specialized use since they are also limited spawns.

[Saifoda]

Interesting idea. I like it. Not so sure about how the specific mechanics you listed would play it out in the actual game, and, surprise surprise, looks like we'll have to wait for beta

But overall I like the general idea. There've been some other threads discussing temporary bunkers and turrets and walls and whatnots placed by engi's (I'm sure you're aware of them).

[Baneblade]

This idea is intended to compliment the existing engineering deployables. The OP's FOB doesn't have walls, this is intended to be something an engineer would set up and set up the defenses for.

The shield would follow the same rules as the PS1 BFR shield... basically any softie can pass through it. Small arms fire (grunt AI weapons) can also penetrate it. So snipers will be the bane of an FOB, unless properly defended.

[Saifoda]

I just have one question: Why does my profile say "Xboxlive Leaderboard #216"?


EDIT: But in all seriousness, I like the idea I just *personally* have some issues with some of the things like the engi setting up mobile repair stations and what not all as part of it; to me honestly it seems like it will end up being a waste of time for that empire. I'm not worried about it being overplayed, I'm worried about it not fulfilling it's role. But again, this is just my opinion, and it's based entirely on tertiary heuristics, so it holds about as much water as a marble.

Second edit: To clarify, I believe it would end up being a waste of time because it would be destroyed relatively easily; alternatively to counter that you could make the structures non destructible but then you run into the issue of the continents being littered with them after a month (there are legit fixes to this as well); you could make the shield stronger, but now you've just given each empire the ability to camp outside of the bases really closely -- that we DO have an example of: the E3 demo where all three empires were spawning vics and air vics within a klick of each other (super messy uncoordinated grind that'd be fun for about 10 minutes before people want to vomit [imo]). Basically those are the issues I see at a cursory glance of this.

[Baneblade]

Any immobile position is far less likely to survive a protracted assault... the Castle Curse. However, acting as a spawn, and somewhat of a vehicle base, but without trying to be inconspicuous like the AMS of yore, the FOB can become something more dynamic and flexible.

If the defense shield is sufficient to defend against a reasonable force, then adding defenders only improves that. FOBs should not be invincible effectively or in actuality. But they should not simply be a CUD click away from oblivion either.

[Saifoda]

Somehow, for some reason, after reading your last response it makes a lot more sense to me and I can more "emotionally" (colloquially, internally, take your pick, etc...) understand what you're going for here.




Here's an interesting thought: We have all these great ideas in the idea vault, I think it might be prudent (if not at least fun for the players ) for PS2 devs to put in a "revolving" or "evolving" beta, where new concepts are constantly being play-tested by the players.