Buffing Drifters

[Palerion]

Originally Posted by Varsam

Well think of faster flight speed this way - turn it into a faster method of traversing long distances, thereby exposing the LA to less risk than simply running across. Standard JJs allow LAs to maneuver themselves over obstacles to flank enemies from unexpected directions, so make drifters enable them to traverse open no-man's-lands in relative safety to flank that way. Make it so there is little to no drop in altitude during flight so that LAs don't get caught on small inclines, and then make the flight time 2.5x-3x normal sprint speed. I think being able to zip from cover to cover would be a nice tradeoff for being able to scale objects. Then simply restrict lateral movement while in flight so people can't just bum rush hard points with drifters.

Quite different than your original idea xD I can agree with it going 2.5x-3x normal sprint speed and having no altitude drop. That's kind of one of the two ideas I am presenting.

Either do what you say and make the drifters really fast so you can strafe people quick and move across open ground fast, or let them allow for accurate fire.

The only thing that would concern me about your idea is it would seem odd for people to go too fast. I would personally rather strafing mid-air at about sprint speed and accurate fire, as 2.5-3x sprint speed might cause some crying by non-LAs.

[Varsam]

Originally Posted by Palerion

Quite different than your original idea xD I can agree with it going 2.5x-3x normal sprint speed and having no altitude drop. That's kind of one of the two ideas I am presenting.

Either do what you say and make the drifters really fast so you can strafe people quick and move across open ground fast, or let them allow for accurate fire.

The only thing that would concern me about your idea is it would seem odd for people to go too fast. I would personally rather strafing mid-air at about sprint speed and accurate fire, as 2.5-3x sprint speed might cause some crying by non-LAs.

lol. This is planetside, people will cry regardless.

[SGOniell]

Originally Posted by Varsam

lol. This is planetside, people will cry regardless.

True. I would support a slight increase in speed, along with an accurate firing platform.

[Palerion]

Honestly I think one reason the accurate firing while flying absolutely must be implemented (aside from it being a no-brainer for a jetpack class in the first place) is because it was shown off so much in the trailer.

A good deal of people aspiring to be light assault troops probably want to be something like that guy. That awesome frontline soldier that flew through the air laying waste to his enemies as he blasted past them. I know I did.

So they should definitely add jumpjets that give us an accurate firing platform. It could be the drifters, or the drifters could be fast and long-lasting and the jumpjets with the accurate firing capability could be another jetpack entirely, with its own drawbacks, and perks (firing in mid-air, obviously).

Regardless, drifters do need a buff and an across the board redesign.

[Helwyr]

I had Drifters maxed in beta, and like most others are saying their very situational and rarely worth losing the regular Jump Jets to use.

Just brain storming here, but what if Drifter Jets no longer required fuel, and the extra levels simply reduced the involuntary loss of altitude over time? Would that potentially make them better without being OPed?

[Palerion]

I still wouldn't trade them for normal jumpjets.

It needs to be something as useful as normal jumpjets.

The very idea of simply drifting from a high point without vertical lift is not attractive or useful, especially in comparison to normal jumpjets.

On the other hand, jumpjets that allow you to move at a very fast pace and/or allow you to be accurate mid-flight bring something new to the table that opens up more possibilities and playstyle options.

Again, my personal opinion is that drifters, in their entirety, need to be scrapped.

Their function is nothing spectacular, nothing interesting, and nothing overly useful or game-changing.

They should be replaced with a new jumpjet type that caters to a more aggressive, ground-based playstyle. Hovering is a great mechanic if it can be used to gain a significant edge in direct combat, but right now it's just for the situational and rare event that you feel the urge to cross a kilometer-long canyon.