Class-Switching Mentality

[Palerion]

I have noticed that many people seem to have a certain mentality that class balance doesn't really matter in Planetside 2 if classes can be simply switched on a whim; a mentality that you should switch to whatever fits the situation.

This is, in my eyes, a bit of a problem. Not because people switch classes too often; you can switch classes whenever you want, I don't care, but I took a look back at Battlefield 3 and its class system, and how each class seems to be integral to a squad. Global Agenda has a similar system, with each class being fleshed out, sturdy, and important for the success of the team. Planetside 2, on the other hand, has six classes, which is a bit odd. I would understand their way of thinking if all six classes were important, but they really are not.

Excuse the praise of Battlefield's system for a moment, but I find it necessary to point out where each class finds its spot in a squad, and where that is not the case for PS2. In Battlefield, support is valuable because it carries ammo (like PS2's engineer) and carries LMGs (like HA). This seems well thought out, as their LMGs carry lots of ammo. Furthermore, the LMGs are used like LMGs by the class, to hold down areas and take out large groups of enemies, not run and gun. The Assault class has the best anti-infantry and pro-infantry tools, having access to defibrillators, healing packs, and a tertiary shotgun or grenade launcher, so without a medic, you can't be revived and healed, and you lack his powerful anti-infantry capabilities. The engineer has the best anti-vehicle capabilities and pro-vehicle capabilities, but has less effective infantry weapons that focus more on ease-of-use and defense. The recon class can not only snipe, but has its own personal radio beacon to allow squad members to parachute in and a motion sensor, making it effective for infiltrating, exposing enemies, and, of course, sniping. Each class clearly has its own weapon which makes it stand out on the battlefield, and its own utilities which make it integral to a team.

Planetside 2's light assault and infiltrator fight for a role that is all too similar. Separate, they bring little to the team. If they were combined to be one class, they would be valuable infiltrators. The heavy assault really seems like it should be planetside's equivalent of battlefield's "support". The LMGs shouldn't be thrown around like assault rifles, and it shouldn't be the charging 1v1 run-and-gun beast. It should hold down the masses and absorb damage. Engineers, with their AV turrets, are very good at Anti-Vehicle. Their repair tools make them also very valuable as pro-vehicle and, yes, pro-max, and their ammo packs make them important as support in infantry combat, but still fairly balanced. The medic is also fairly balanced, but overshadowed as a run-and-gun style Anti-Infantry currently by the heavy assault.

Every class needs its place on the team. Light Assault and infiltrator currently do not, but combined, they could. Heavy Assault has a role which is perhaps too prominent, and not fitting to what style it's loadout seems to justify for it, which is not 1v1 run and gun. It is more holding down positions with endless clips and rockets, which is understandably important to the team. Engineers are pretty much perfect. Best anti-vehicle, best pro-vehicle. Medics need HA's 1v1 anti-infantry capabilities out of the way so they can be the best 1v1 anti-infantry and best pro-infantry, and moreso the basic grunt.

And no, I'm not asking for battlefield. But, it seems the developers made too much of an effort to diverge from the traditional class system in battlefield that worked so well. In the process, they have created a class system which seems ill composed and scatter-brained at best, undervaluing some classes and overvaluing others.