Medic/Engineer: Necessity vs Fun

NoKitty · 2012-06-10, 05:54 PM

From what I can gather, (I realize we know so little right now) I don't see much of a reason to play the support classes (personally) other than necessity. I think the idea that a class/role exists out of pure necessity is a gimmick. Some of the engineer abilities look fun, but medic less so.

Every class ought to be fun in their own right. Necessity should take 2nd place to fun. It is a video game and every addition, improvement, and aspect of the game should be based around that concept.

Knightwyvern · 2012-06-10, 05:58 PM

I'll admit that I'm not really interested in the Medic, but I could say that for pretty much every FPS ever. However the Engineer holds a looot of interest for me, I think I'll be putting in a lot of time with one and am sure I'll have a blast doing it. The more of a "gadgeteer" or emplacemet/fortification specialist I can be, the better.

Vanu Techpriest · 2012-06-10, 05:58 PM

Some people enjoy playing the support role. Just look at Healers in your traditional MMO. They are the players that hold the group together and can make the difference between failure and success.

Engineers seem like they will be very powerful on defense since they can deploy anti-tank mines, repair max units/vehicles, and setup stationary turrets in choke points.

Medics being able to revive team members instead of them running all the way back from spawn points will be crucial.

Keep in mind that both of these classes still have main weapons and decent to good killing power.

TheInferno · 2012-06-10, 05:59 PM

I loved playing Assault in 2142. I would primarily use my rifle, frag grenades, and heal and revive people who needed it.

The medic and engineer, while not as effective as a Heavy Assault, will still be powerful combatants (and actually more powerful than Light Assault, considering I think Medic and Engie get rifles and carbines for options while Light Assault only gets carbines).

I can easily see two medics or engineers concentrating fire and taking down a Heavy Assault, or even a medic winning one on one with a bit of skill. So combat wise they aren't completely useless, which is a good thing. I hate the idea of medics being useless in combat.

Also, I like healing and reviving people. It's one of the few jobs in which you'll always get a "ty" from your team, and it's good to help the team.

Just my 2c

CutterJohn · 2012-06-10, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by NoKitty

From what I can gather, (I realize we know so little right now) I don't see much of a reason to play the support classes (personally) other than necessity. I think the idea that a class/role exists out of pure necessity is a gimmick. Some of the engineer abilities look fun, but medic less so.

Every class ought to be fun in their own right. Necessity should take 2nd place to fun. It is a video game and every addition, improvement, and aspect of the game should be based around that concept.

Engineer has access to some very powerful turrets and mines, which will get plenty of people flocking to them. Healing MAXs is a secondary.

Medic seems like it will have some buffing/poisoning abilities, which may prove interesting. Aside from that, it will be popular for the self sufficiency of on demand heals, and rezzes are very profitable.

rpxtoreador · 2012-06-10, 06:01 PM

I think it will always give a tactical advantage.
Planetside has always been (everything considered equal) a game of the closest spawn. Not having to spawn as often and keeping the momentum forward can be invaluable.
All that said, i still probably wont play medic .

Zebasiz · 2012-06-10, 06:03 PM

Some people just like playing support.
From Planetside 1 experience I know I enjoy being the engineer running around behind the front lines patching up our armor. running from cover to cover to avoid snipers and rockets as I try and keep a tank running. Bein that guy who can set up a forward staging area for our troops to spawn from.
And being a medic is even more hectic!
I can't just hide in the back by the cars, now I gotta be up front in the mix of things. Shooting enemy people in the face while healing friendly people who were shot int he face. Both classes have combat ability, they just have a larger focus on non-combat functions.

I can understand that there isn't a fair ammount of people who enjoy that kind of gameplay. But I know there are several who don't always want to be in the thick face shooting everything. Sometimes you just wanna hang back in support and let the gratitude form everyone roll in. Unless you're terrible. then you're dreadfully hated.

Memeotis · 2012-06-10, 06:05 PM

So are you requesting the class be changed or what? To me this seems like an entirely subjective post, and personally I find much more in satisfaction keeping a squad rolling than I do playing the slightly more static role of the engineer.

mirwalk · 2012-06-10, 06:24 PM

I enjoy playing a medic. As long as I am not gimped on weapons.
I saw under the cert thread that there seems to be virus gun. I'll be spreading the plague baby!

Malstrum · 2012-06-10, 06:26 PM

I think it comes down to the player his/herself, some people might find being supportive more fun than simply killing someone, as you're helping your faction more than just yourself.

TheInferno · 2012-06-10, 06:29 PM

The virus gun kind of worries me... I don't want to be a debuffer/buffer class. I heal people, revive people, and shoot people. I don't need anything else. I sure as heck don't need an evil heal gun style thing like the vampiric healgun from Firefall. That's just silly.

Immigrant · 2012-06-10, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by mirwalk

I enjoy playing a medic. As long as I am not gimped on weapons.

This. The class is called Combat Medic so I believe we'll get enough firepower.

Kriegson · 2012-06-10, 06:31 PM

I don't think the E3 gameplay is really good in regards to "describing" the effective roles of classes. Really it was just a small area with infinite resources for everyone to run in and pew-pew at eachother.

Immigrant · 2012-06-10, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by TheInferno

The virus gun kind of worries me... I don't want to be a debuffer/buffer class. I heal people, revive people, and shoot people. I don't need anything else. I sure as heck don't need an evil heal gun style thing like the vampiric healgun from Firefall. That's just silly.

I don't care for that kind of stuff either but that's cert so it isn't necessary, you can play healer only and those who'll play with viruses will have to give up something else probably due to trade-off rule devs promised.

Only thing that sounds stupid so far is Rebirth Grenade... I mean wtf... call it Phoenix grenade it sounds way cooler...

IMMentat · 2012-06-10, 06:36 PM

Its all down to what weapon choices they end up with IMO.
I usually enjoy a good deployables/support class (TF2 (engineer), tribes (technician), Global Agenda (robotics)), but if the weapon variety and versatility is not there it will get annoying fast. Not many support players live to serve, many live for the challenge of keeping the troops going while providing less passive assistance (grenades, fire-support, rearguard)