using the ANT to collect resources

[moosepoop]

each base has a silo, and the ANT drives out to specific areas of the contested region, collects it and brings it back. this can make ANT runs much more dangerous and exiciting; the current method of resource collection is too passive and doesnt actively involve players.

[Coreldan]

It wouldn't be all that exciting though to force someone down to a mostly a solo resource collection job in a PVP game.

[Purple]

Originally Posted by Coreldan

It wouldn't be all that exciting though to force someone down to a mostly a solo resource collection job in a PVP game.

people would most likely give it an escort which sounds like allot of fun to do/attack.

[MasterMind]

I LOVE this idea!

[moosepoop]

Originally Posted by Coreldan

It wouldn't be all that exciting though to force someone down to a mostly a solo resource collection job in a PVP game.

you can give a HUGE XP bonus, and give a tiny gun to the ANT so it can at least kill some light infantry.

Originally Posted by Purple

people would most likely give it an escort which sounds like allot of fun to do/attack.

exactly. there would be a lot more raids/ambushes

[Eclipse]

i think this could be very cool, but i do have two problems with it.

Firstly, is this going to be the -only- way of collecting resources? If it is, what if people get lazy? What if one empire has a dedicated team of ANT drivers working like Starcraft drones in a never-ending stream of resource devouring? Things could get pretty lopsided pretty quickly depending on how each resource node is managed. It would need to be balanced somehow, to make sure no-one is ever starved of resources simply because no-one wants to drive the ANT back and forth all day.

Secondly, if it is -only- for collecting resources in -contested- areas, you'd have to think about balance for people who don't think in straight lines like the rest of it. Can the ANT be transported by Galaxy or some other method? What kind of terrain can it traverse? How fast does it go and how likely is it that someone will start a resource snatching run when no-one's around in off-peak hours? For that matter, will taking resources from another empire's node -reduce- the amount that they receive? Is that going to be another method of denying resources? For that matter, what if you collect the resource, and the ANT gets destroyed on the return journey?

Your idea is a very cool and potentially useful one, but there are some key questions that need to be answered in order to make sure it won't mess with the existing gameplay ideas too much.

[Vanir]

I can see this as a means for getting resources in an enemy controlled area. Hence it would require an escort. And if an enemy ANT is discovered, it can be a mission for a commander to give. (Destroy enemy ANT found collecting resources in this location.) Or even Deffend / Escort friedly ANT while it collects resources. It is deffenatly an idea to be looked into.

[SteinB]

I like the possibilties of ANTs being used to obtain resources from enemy/contested/neutral territories. It might need some sort of limitation like only being possible as a server created mission, say each empire has several possible 'raid' missions available at all times.

[Carbanu]

I think Moose was suggesting using ANT as a quicker way to get resources instead of JUST acquiring them slowly over time, not as an entirely new system.

I think we will always have a good amount of players willing to drive an ANT to a resource node and grab some resource goodies for the empire and themselves or their outfit for that matter.

Of course we will always have players willing and able to intercept and destroy those ANT drivers also.

It would be a fun little meta game.

[Vectorian]

This idea is really cool sounding to me. I think that they should definitely bring back the Buggies from the original PS and somehow make it so the Buggies can also store the Resources making them have a more pivotal role besides just transport. That way each empires forces would be more willing to do this more often. Also once one is destroyed maybe make a Barrel or some object that has the Resources stored stay there for a certain amount of time. This would make it so it can be protected or picked back up by someone else creating a capture the flag almost type of deal. Keep in mind the buggies would be the only things able to pick the object back up with their capabilities. This would enhance that game play element even further and create some defensive strategy even if the vehicle was destroyed or even missions to re-obtain the goods. But also since there would be a timer on the dropped resources there would be some speed involved to get it back in time. Which is why Buggies would be awesome for this role in the game. Also since the buggies would have this role in the game they would be used more often even though they are weaker than tanks they can still defend themselves effectively since there speed makes it harder to hit them.

[Bittermen]

What if it wasn't player controlled? I mean the escorts could be... Maybe have like AI ANT always doing runs with like 2 AI escorts.

[Vectorian]

I think AI makes the game lose immersion imo. Stick with all player controlled equipment and everything feels different all the time and it doesn't get as repetitive that way.

[MrBloodworth]

Originally Posted by Coreldan

It wouldn't be all that exciting though to force someone down to a mostly a solo resource collection job in a PVP game.

I'm surprised you think Convoy work would be solo.

[psychobilly]

Active resource collection is by far the most boring aspect of any MMO I have ever played.

Please keep resource collection PASSIVE based on PVP wins.

There are so many other games where you can go out and actively collect things... let it stay in those other games.

[basti]

There are two problems:

1. It would FORCE people to do it.
2. It needs to be repated forever, and always. While there are people that enjoy just driving around, you would end up relying on them. Without them, the entire ressource economy fails.

But the basic idea got me an idea. What about random chunks of ressources pooping up every now and then, that can be collected via ANT, and need to be transported to the nearest base/A sepecifc base/the home base.

Gotta think that one through, will take a few hours.