Sanctuary and VR training redesign

[Timantium]

Hopefully this rainy day thread can keep us going until they release some images or info. Been thinking about it a while and started to discuss it sort of in a thread a few weeks back. Anyway, here goes.

I want to redesign the sanctuaries to make them functional. When I quit PS in 2009, I got picked to take an exit survey and the questions were all about a possible sequel. Many of these questions asked things like "how would you feel about the addition of player vs. environment (PvE) content to a Planetside sequel?"

At the time, I could not think of any practical use for PvE content in the PS system. Now, I have a better idea where we can use this content - VR training and other areas of the sanctuary.

I'll get to the VR part in a minute (that's really where the most exciting ideas are), but for the sanctuary I think there could be some PvE content to teach new players how to do simple things in game like:

1. hack a door
2. drop from a galaxy
3. fly a plane
4. shoot a base turret
5. repair spawn tubes

Now, for the VR training. I think this aspect of the game could be expanded greatly. I want to restructure the whole purpose of VR - keep the individual weapons training area (shooting gallery) and the vehicle test areas, but ADD a much needed area for squad, platoon and outfit tactics.

This new area would be accessible for organized squads to practice gen holds, tower raids, base assault/tubes destruction, bridge battles, CC defense and the other things that outfits (ones that actually organize themselves) need to practice. The simulations could feature PvE opponents or squads of other players.

This way squads could practice against AI opponents OR outfits could even put squads up against other squads within their own outfit (or another friendly outfit) in short-term training excercises. Lets even make enemy tech and weapons available in the VR training so we can practice against the weapons we would actually be facing.

My outfit always trained on one of our locked home conts to accomplish these things, but having a VR option (especially if leaders were able to set variables like time of conflict, enemy pop/tech, skill level etc.) would help big time.

This change to the sanctuary could help make them more viable in the game, as many have suggested needs to happen, as well as allowing for developers to add some of the requested meta-game/extra content within PS without altering the mechanics of the actual live conflict.