Command Ranks

[Whalenator]

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Matt Higby: "It's almost like twitter! Where you have three people that you can follow basically, and based on their current number of followers they can put missions in that are higher level or lower level. So you can have like one dude on your server that's like the most badass guy on the NC, and you want to follow him because he's always creating badass missions. You might also want to follow your guild leader because the Guild Leader is going to kick you out of the fucking guild unless you follow him -- So you're going to follow him for now, right? So you're following that dude, and maybe you're following some other guy too. And[sic] these guys are able to get missions from all three of these guys, but their missions are based on the number of people who are actually following them. So the most effective leaders are getting uh...the most followers, and therefore getting the best bonuses for doing stuff. We thinks it's a really cool system that could work really well, it's speculated at that time whether or not that's how we'll actually implement it. But that's the design at it stands now."

Now, I for one do not ever want to see the competition for high Command Ranks turn into a popularity contest. The game already has been dumbed down enough to let converts from all sorts of simpler titles transition to Planetside: For example, the game moves at faster pace and has a significantly smaller vehicle pool. Now while those changes aren't inherently bad, they do present a conflict with the proposed Command Rank system.

Higby assumed in the interview that players would pick the commanders most fit for their role. As I stated earlier, the player base of Planetside 2 will be larger and wider. Not all of those moving from different games will appreciate Planetside's use of strategy in the large scale. Even less will actually care to participate. I'm unsure whether Higby intended for missions created to be viewable by squad, outfit, followers or faction, but in any case this "twitter-themed" style is a dangerous road.

Now I hope the previous statements do not express that I am vehemently opposed to the idea of a follower-run command system. In fact, I'm far from it. But it's a fine line we're treading on. I can only imagine and fear the imminent avalanche of a popularity contest this would turn into. But I love you anyways, higgles.

also where is my freelook