Systems: Specilization Badges and Custom Outfit Badges

[Kythas]

My Definition of Badge

A Graphical Emblem that would be visible within the games UI. This Emblem could be custom made by assigning various Fields, Colors, Designs, and Emblems. Much like a mini coat of arms.

Example: The Parachutist Badge

It's PlanetSide equivalent might be created by an Outfit in order to signify which players have passed specific Hot Drop trainings and know how to properly load and drop from a galaxy and where the priority landing spots are within bases.

Benefit to Outfits:

Outfit Officers could create badges for their Outfit and assign them to players based on their CERTS, completion of in-Outfit training objectives, and as as recognition for their in-game deeds.

Example: Pathfinder Badge
Outfit X has created a Pathfinder Badge that will be assigned to Infiltrators with extended duration cloaking CERTS and who have proven themselves capable of working ahead of the main battle group, gathering intelligence on facility defenses, and identifying priority targets.

Players that have been assigned the Pathfinder Badge could then attach the Badge to a specific loadout that meets the Pathfinder requirements. When they have that loadout equipped, its associated Badge will be visible next to the players name on the Platoon window, and it can be toggled visible next to the Players location on the map.

Officer could then look at their map, toggle the Badges on, and quickly identify a Pathfinder near the current point of interest, easily re-routing them to that location.

Benefit to PUGs

There would be default Badges, created by SOE, that come with the game. When players join your squad, you would instantly know what key capabilities they have based on what Role Badge was attached to their name. Is he a sniper or a close combat assassin? A vehicle specialist or a fortification engineer?

$$$ for SOE (Who does deserve compensation for their hard work)

SOE would place "Badge Kits" in the store so that Outfits could purchase additional customization options for their custom designed Badges. This could simply allow more Badges if the Outfit found itself running out of ways to give recognition to its members, or it could provide the ability to make cooler/themed badges.

Example: The "Upside-Down Galaxy Emblem" for the "Clegger Badge", given to members who find unique and unconventional ways of utilizing Galaxies on the battlefield.

Thoughts?

[Ratstomper]

/signed

I love it. Especially the clegger badge.

The question is, is there a way to make it so you don't just have people handing out badges to outfitmates willy-nilly?

[Kythas]

Originally Posted by Ratstomper

The question is, is there a way to make it so you don't just have people handing out badges to outfitmates willy-nilly?

Well, first off, if the Outfit's Officers invent 100 reasons to hand out Badges to their members, should that be discouraged? I imagine there might be some self regulation: members who felt their officers were being ridiculous with the badges might just leave the outfit.

Also, Players could potentially have a "trophy case" on their profile and they could choose which Badges are displayed, and which gather dust in storage.

[Ratstomper]

Originally Posted by Kythas

Well, first off, if the Outfit's Officers invent 100 reasons to hand out Badges to their members, should that be discouraged?

Players could potentially have a "trophy case" on their profile and they could choose which Badges are displayed, and which gather dust in storage.

I meant the more lax outfits with some money to burn. "Dude, lets just give each other a bunch of badges!"

Would there be some kind of pre-requisite for badges before officers can award people badges? What if you needed certain merit combinations for badges? For instance, the Pathfinder Badge could only be awarded to players with sniping and scouting merits (Don't know what merits are actually in game yet) and who were nominated by outfit officers.

[Kythas]

Originally Posted by Ratstomper

I meant the more lax outfits with some money to burn. "Dude, lets just give each other a bunch of badges!"

Would there be some kind of pre-requisite for badges before officers can award people badges? What if you needed certain merit combinations for badges? For instance, the Pathfinder Badge could only be awarded to players with sniping and scouting merits (Don't know what merits are actually in game yet) and who were nominated by outfit officers.

My intention was for Outfit Badges to be regulated by the Outfit's officers, and for Standard Badges to be managed by SOE. So SOE might give players Badges for certain accomplishments, but Outfits should be able to assign their own Badges in addition.

Outfit Badges would be clearly identified as such, or even only visible to other Outfit members.

[Ratstomper]

Originally Posted by Kythas

My intention was for Outfit Badges to be regulated by the Outfit's officers, and for Standard Badges to be managed by SOE. So SOE might give players Badges for certain accomplishments, but Outfits should be able to assign their own Badges in addition.

Outfit Badges would be clearly identified as such, or even only visible to other Outfit members.

That's fine. It's probably not even that big of a deal. It would just mean that outfit badges wouldn't carry quite the same clout as game-designed badges, just because of the nature of being awarded them by other players.

It might muddle up your point about working as PUG tags.

[Sikee Atric]

You are going a bit 'APB templates' in terms of design and SOE are creating badges anyway for generalized usage. If SOE can add this, /signed, but I'd also appreciate if SOE actually add badges that fit this role and can be added by the Officers themselves.

[Dullard]

Originally Posted by Kythas

My Definition of Badge
Officer could then look at their map, toggle the Badges on, and quickly identify a Pathfinder near the current point of interest, easily re-routing them to that location.

Benefit to PUGs

There would be default Badges, created by SOE, that come with the game. When players join your squad, you would instantly know what key capabilities they have based on what Role Badge was attached to their name. Is he a sniper or a close combat assassin? A vehicle specialist or a fortification engineer?

In these two areas alone this type of a system would be worth it's weight in gold. Almost every time I play Planetside1 I need to have a conversation that starts something like "So what vehicles do you have? Do you have a MAX? Do you have AV?" etc...
An obvious multi-tierd system of visual cues would save a lot of time for utilizing or cert resources.

[PhoenixDog]

/signed. I think this is an awesome idea. Allows multi-tiered outfits to have members with specific medals representing different roles in the outfit. New recruits can identify Air members from Armour members simply by the medals they possess.

[Saifoda]

/signed.