Systems/Gameplay: The Virtual Training Center of PlanetSide 2

[BillyBob]

Hi

The only thread I found with something along these lines this was mainly focused towards being a "try before you buy" option, but I think there are several other applications a possible VTC may serve as well. So, here's a rundown of my thoughts regarding how I imagine something like that could be implemented into PS2...



The Virtual Training Center



Background

For those of you unfamiliar with the VTC of the original PlanetSide game, it's basically a place within your Sanctuary safe-area which allows you to learn and try out the functions of the various weapons and vehicles in the game.

Being completely isolated and protected from any PvP combat, the VTC is also part of the tutorial you go through when first starting the game.



Combat Training (PvP & PvE)

● For the beginners

As all weapons and vehicles would be available here, it would allow for new players to familiarize themselves with the weapons and vehicles of PS2, much as it did in the original PlanetSide.

This could be either by some form of guided tutorial, or it could basically be directing them towards the VTC and having some simple tooltips pop up while using the weapons/vehicles.

● Try before your buy

One of the perhaps most obvious implementations of this area (which also has been mentioned before) is to get access to all weapons and vehicles in order to practice with them in a non-combat environment. In essence, it would allow you to try out any equipment (weapons, vehicles etc) before certifying into it.

● PvE Combat Practice

This has also been mentioned before, but as far as I can tell only with AI opponents, which probably would take a lot of work to implement (AI usually does) and I'm not sure it would be more beneficial than facing "live" opposition.

However, in the original PlanetSide you practiced by firing at stationary targets which were placed on a shooting range...so it should probably be possible to do something similar here. You might perhaps even allow for some simpler movement and/or action scheme depending on what you do (thanks to users Saifoda and Dagron for the suggestions).

This might not be too complicated to implement and could for example be done by having the targets move along certain predetermined paths, or perhaps have the option to choose from a preset selection of various movement and/or behavioral patterns for them.

Regardless, the general idea is that you would be able to use vehicles as well as weapons when practicing on these targets.

● PvP Combat Practice

In addition to the non-player targets (and regardless of what level of AI they'd end up having), I suggest the possibility to engage in practice combat against other players in what would essentially be non-lethal PvP duels for the purpose of trying out various weapons and vehicles against live opponents.

This could of course be either Player vs Player, Squad vs Squad or perhaps even Outfit vs Outfit, and would allow for practicing various tactics on different levels.

As with PvE, the idea is that both weapons and vehicles would be available to use against other players for combat practicing purposes.

Propaganda Production

The Virtual Training Center could be used for producing "propaganda" as well.

This would basically be the Machinima part of the VTC, with focus on the creative aspects of producing visuals/videos to promote either your Outfit, your faction or just the game in general.

It would be a virtual area which would allow you things like setting the time of day, spawning your choice of environments, vehicles and units...in combination with having extensive control over camera features such as placement, movement, angles etc. In short, everything that would be useful to the creation of Machinimas.

Needless to say, "real" combat footage could still be captured from the live action within the actual game (using Fraps etc), but I imagine this a useful when wanting more control over the situation and allowing for a more staged presentation if you will.



Final Thoughts

With PS2 being a game heavily focused on massive online PvP battles, it may seem counterproductive to even suggest an area which could be thought as effectively removing and isolating some players from the persistently ongoing action of the game world.

However, perhaps a Virtual Training Center could still serve a valid purpose and hopefully would be more of a benefit and help than it would be a possible distraction from the main game.

Here are some of the benefits that I guess (and hope) a VTC of this kind could maybe bring to the game:

• As in PS1, it could serve as a beginners/tutorial area for new players.
  
  
• It would allow for a "try before you buy" option (as mentioned before).
  
  
• It would allow for practice, both in terms of vehicle, weapon and PvP skills as well as overall tactics on a team level.
  
  
• It would cater to the creative parts of the community, by offering specific tools for Machinima creation.

Of course, any or all of the above features (including getting access to the VTC) could be gained by using certification points...making it not a default, but rather something you could cert into in case it's of interest to you. Perhaps the exception would be any beginners tutorial if that's implemented.

I also could see this as more or less a stand-alone feature of PS2, meaning it would have no connection with the combat area and would perhaps even be located on a completely separate server. This would be for various reasons, security being one.

Finally, I do realize the huge amount of work this would obviously require, which is I'm merely suggesting this as a possible feature which could maybe be implemented sometime in the future.



Anyway, some of this has no doubt been mentioned before, and you have my sincere apologies for whatever I may have repeated here.

Still, much of it I did not find when searching, so I hope that at least small bits and pieces are new and slightly interesting to some of you.

Thanks for your time!

/BB



EDITS:

- Added the suggestions on non-player targets by Saifoda and Dagron to the Combat Training feature.

- Merged the the two first features into one (Combat Training) for simplicity and clarity.

- Added more clear references to vehicles being available for use in the combat practice area as pointed out by Ratstomper.

[Saifoda]

As for the AI stuff, that won't be terribly complex -- if you recall from the original vr centers, there were randomly generated infantry, vehicles, and air vehicles that you could shoot at on the firing range and get a sense for how dps, reloading, etc... It doesn't need to be a full blown NPC personality thing.

[BillyBob]

Originally Posted by Saifoda

As for the AI stuff, that won't be terribly complex -- if you recall from the original vr centers, there were randomly generated infantry, vehicles, and air vehicles that you could shoot at on the firing range and get a sense for how dps, reloading, etc... It doesn't need to be a full blown NPC personality thing.

Yeah, but those are all strictly stationary, aren't they?

I wouldn't even consider that AI, as they are nothing more than environmental props...but that would no doubt be relatively easy to implement.

However, if you'd want any kind of movement or reactions in response to what you're doing, then that's a much more complex and completely different matter IMO.

/BB

[Saifoda]

Not really. You can just have the move or take cover or whatever as a reaction to your fires on them, or you can give them a simple movement scheme; it really doesn't need to be complicated to understand the effects of whatever weapon you're trying out -- if it's repetitive in AI, it doesn't take up hardly ANY server space (we're talking a couple kb at most, not including skins and what not which already part of the load).

[Dagron]

 
I support this idea. It would give people something else to do and a place to show off to their friends, which i've seen a bunch of requests for around here (all ideas so far have been generally rejected for being too RPGish).

Originally Posted by Saifoda

You can just have the move or take cover or whatever as a reaction to your fires on them, or you can give them a simple movement scheme;

That's basically a moving target firing range.
Good suggestion, i agree it would serve the purpose, be relatively easy to implement and wouldn't take up much space either. Just using the player models and giving them scripted actions would be enough, no need to even make target dummy models (since it's a VR room and all).
 

[BillyBob]

Thanks Saifoda and Dagron for contributing with your suggestions...all good points.

Added them to the OP with props to you both.

/BB

[akiadan]

At the very least I want to have a safe place where I can pull any weapon with any attachment that I can shoot. And at the very least have stationary paper targets. Also I want to be able to stab something in the "VR" I only got to do that once in PS1's VR

[BillyBob]

Originally Posted by akiadan

At the very least I want to have a safe place where I can pull any weapon with any attachment that I can shoot. And at the very least have stationary paper targets. Also I want to be able to stab something in the "VR" I only got to do that once in PS1's VR

This is essentially what the original Virtual Training Center was about, and also what I envision for a similar VR space in PS2; A place where you (among other things) can get yourself familiarized with the mechanics of the various equipment, just as you describe.

Regardless of how it is ultimately designed or implemented, I think there's a need for such a space in PS2 as well...and I imagine it would be helpful to, as well as appreciated by, many players.

/BB

[Ratstomper]

What about vehicle areas? The one in PS1 was fairly useless. I would like to see a similar, large setup for vehicles like in PS1, but add attackable targets and bases so people can get some practice with how vehicles act as well.

I'm all for virtual training.

[Gonefshn]

Virtual training areas are just a no brainer.

I don't see the need for PvP combat training or PvE training.

It's cool to try out the gear, the original PS1 VR range with stationary targets was fine because it showed the damage potential without making you frustrated with moving or aggressive targets.

Try before you buy also makes sense.

[BillyBob]

Originally Posted by Ratstomper

What about vehicle areas? The one in PS1 was fairly useless. I would like to see a similar, large setup for vehicles like in PS1, but add attackable targets and bases so people can get some practice with how vehicles act as well.

I'm all for virtual training.

My intention was always that vehicles were included in the practice scenarios. However, after reading your comment and looking closer at my description, I realized it would probably be a lot clearer on that specific point.

So I added some extra descriptions to stress the point that this combat practice area would be intended for vehicles as well...and include targets for them to shoot at.

Anyway, thanks for bringing that to my attention!

/BB

[dzuari]

I think its a great idea, I'd be interested in learning the best ways to counter various vehicles, such as fly a Reaver and how to counter/kill scythe, which seems to be ridiculous agile from the gameplay videos out currently. In the hands of skilled pilot those things will be deadly.

[Dropshockmedic]

That is my thought too.
At the E3 I saw alot of participants waste vehicles like hell.
You noticed fast that they couldnt really pilot them or using the acceleration and maneuverability right and ended up in cliffs and such.

My first thought: Oh nooo I dont want to watch myself as I helplessly waste my first earned ressources just because I cant use the vehicles right.

[Kezz]

Lots of value in this. Trying to get fireteam drills sorted out when everyone's dying every 10s cos you've not got it right yet really drags.

Though I think there will be lots of empty space to go run exercises in if you want teamwork practice.

Individual technical shooting ranges for foot and vehicles, with simple or not-so-simple popup targets, some of which are on runners or tracks or whatever would be plenty, I think. You could have highscores on 'em for people to brag about too.

[BillyBob]

One of the biggest concerns about having a dedicated "non combat" area like this, would probably be that it might "distract" players from the core game and its combat.

However, as far as I can tell this never happened in the original Planetside...and as a new player, I for one really appreciated the tutorial and the possibility it gave to learn all the equipment in a non-combat environment.

Also, I think that allowing for several players to join up in these areas to train for example, would only help Outfits and strengthen the social aspects of the game. For example when it comes to more experienced members of the Outfit sharing their combat "tips and tricks" to new recruits.

IMO, this would help get more out of the game, not only when it comes to personal skills, but also on a Squad, Platoon and Outfit level when it comes to practicing and forming new tactics.

Considering the fact that the Sanctuaries have supposedly been removed from PS2, I just think that the benefits of having access to some form of area like this would outweigh any cons and that it would add another dimension to the game.

/BB