So I had an idea today about f2p/ reserves in Planetside next. I think that if something like this is implemented it should be used to improve the gameplay experience for subscribers and if done right, it can kill several birds with 1 stone. Here's my idea:
Players would be able to download and play the game as a reserve for free, provided that they verify with a credit card, so that hackers can't just create unlimited accounts. However, the reserve experience would be quite different from a subscriber.
First and foremost, free players should not be able to choose their empire. They should only be allowed to play for the empire with the lowest pop. In any free to play system I think this is an absolute must. The last thing I want to see is one empire with 45 percent pop with a horde of free players that could be distributed to even up the sides. A reserves program is a great opportunity to fix one of the most aggravating things in planetside.
Secondly, I was thinking that reserves could be instant action only. Hear me out on this one. The idea would be to have an advanced instant action system to funnel reserves right into the fight. When a reserve dies, instead of choosing a respawn point, he is instantly transported to wherever the game decides he is needed. He spawns, already equipped with weapons and ready to fight. The weapon choice could be standard (I.e. medium assault and rexo) or preferably, it could even be contextual, I.e. if he spawns in a tower surrounded by planes, he might be in an AA max, if he spawns in the middle of an indoor defense, he might be in rexo with an MCG. The game deploys reserves to where they are needed on the battlefield, with the equipment they need.
NOW here's my favorite part of this idea... how many times have you sat in a CY screaming for a tail gunner for your lib? People are quick to pile into the bomber slot but without a tail gunner you're toast the first time a mossie sees you. But with the improved reserve system, this is no longer a problem. Simply use the "WE NEED A GUNNER" voice macro and a few seconds later, the next available reserve spawns directly into your gunner slot, ready to go. Same goes for passengers in your gal, you can put together raid drops ON DEMAND.
So basically, people who just want to jump on and shoot at some people can do so for free and it improves the game for the rest of us. The reserves miss out on the persistence and character development aspect of planetside, but they get an experience similar to what a traditional FPS offers, you spawn, you shoot, you die, you respawn. They get all of this for free and hopefully they will see how much fun the rest of us are having and subscribe.
Now I know some of you may argue that stripping out character progression will be a turn off, but most people here are recommending br6/10 for free, either of which could be achieved in 1 night, and at that point progression goes out the window anyway. I think that if there is a reserves program, it should be implemented in such a way to improve the game for subs, rather than just catering to the reserves by giving them unlimited freedom while we suffer with unbalanced pops and empty gunner slots.
Thoughts?
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2011-03-02, 07:43 PM
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