The Big FAQ

[basti]

With the creation of the new player forum, its time to give those new guys a FAQ to give them the very first rundown on what Planetside 2 is all about.

Dont confuse this with the stuff Bags put together and keeps up to date. I see Bags giant Information thread as a source of information for every PS1 Vet, and everyone who already knows the basics about PS2 but dont follow every single piece that comes along.

This here is different. this FAQ is ment to inform people about the very basics of Planetside 2. Things that are completly natural for us (like how squad spawning works, Galaxy drops, Outfits, Squads, Vehicles, whatever) and that we fully know about may be a mind blasting new thing for others, simply because no other game has said thing.

Im calling for your help here guys because its quite a lot of text to write. And not just that, i want to make sure this thing is fully correct, and even i dont know everything (heck, i missed that Don actually said he is doing the Music again. Look at me, im a noob)

So, lets get this rolling:


I plan to divide the FAQ in several Sub Sections. Right now, i got these, and if you can think of any other, post up.

Technical stuff

Continents

Outfits

Spawning

Weapons

Vehicles

Squads/Platoons

Empires (with 3 Sub Sections )




Filling in some examples now. Feel free to change/edit/do whatever to them, im just hacking this together right now to get you folks started. :P

It even helps if you just post a question! The hard part about creating a FAQ is not filling in the answers, its getting those questions together!


Technical stuff

Players per Map:
As of now, the devs plan to allow up to 2000 players on a continent, split between the three factions. That means that each faction can have up to 666 players on a continent at any given time.
There are no restrictions where those players may be on a continent. If they want, all 2000 could fight around a single base.

System Requirments:
Still unknown. It was said multiple times that they try to support Hardware up to 5 years old.


Continents:

Indar
Indar was the first continent created for Planetside 2. It is about 8x8 km (64 Square km) big and has a desert theme with large canyons, as well as some greener areas.

Amerish
Seems to be in the making right now. First concept arts popped up, but nothing else so far.



Outfits:

What is an Outfit
"Outfit" is Planetsides term for "Guild". It is a group of players tied together in a player run organization.

How big can outfits be?
No word yet if there is a cap of players. But it was said that the devs remember those large outfits with multiple divisions of Air, Ground and Infantary.


Spawning:

Where can I spawn?
Planetside operates on a 3 tier method of spawning with a player choice as to where and how they would like to be re-created.

Footage shown so far has had 3-4 fixed locations, 2-3 Vehicular options and a squad choice simultaneously provided as a respawn option (these numbers may be inaccurate and are subject to change).


Fixed position respawns.
All large land Bases/Facilities and certain other capturable structures across a continent map will have specialised chambers that provide respawn "tubes" from which you can step out from and live again, these chambers/rooms are protected by an energy shield around its doors that prevent most enemies from spawncamping, the shields can be temporarily countered by certain classes.
Many facilities will have several spawn rooms, while smaller structures will probably have only one spawn location.

Vehicle based respawns.
The Galaxy transport aircraft when will provide a "mobile" spawnpoint for players, respawning is possible in mid-air though the galaxy needs to be deployed on the ground to allow use of its equipment terminal by friendly forces.
Planetside 2 will allow a MAX suit to spawn within the aircraft or be equipped from the Galaxy equipment terminals as long as the pilot selects/earns the option from their certifications.

The Galaxy is a large slow air vehicle with numerous hitpoints and many weapon hardpoints making its selection as a spawn vehicle an interesting choice. (The original planetside used a large ground vehicle called an AMS that provided an invisibility "bubble" and spawnpoint when deployed but had no weapons, this bubble "flickered" when the AMS took damage)

Squad based respawns.
When you join a squad there will be the option to "squad spawn" next to a squadmember that is outside a facility/building.
This will be facilitated by placing your character in an armoured drop-pod (a coffin with retro-thrusters) which will then fall from the sky to land gently near to the selected squad leader and will probably have a re-use timer longer than other spawn options.

Squad spawning will not work indoors, will require your squad leader to be heavily specialized as one, will occur in a drop pod, and will be on a cooldown. It is not meant to be your primary respawn method.

There may be a fourth spawn method where a "drop-pod" similar to the squad spawn can be used to quickly access deeper parts of a continent from the Faction warpgate "Continental Foothold", but so far this is speculation carried from original planetsides mechanics.



Weapons:

What kind of Weapons can I use?
Plenty. Need more text here

Vehicles:

How can i get a vehicle?
Vehicles are purchased using the resources acquired over time from captured bases. Currently there are five "Nanite Systems" vehicles. These are available to all three factions. In addition, each faction has two vehicles that only it can use. All vehicles can be highly customized, both cosmetically and pragmatically. Players will be able to choose from a wide variety of weapons, and will be able to equip other items such as radar systems and anti-missile flares. These items will be available for purchase using the in game currency.

What vehicles can i drive/fly?

Nanite Systems Vehicles:

Flash: The Flash is a quad. It has the highest ground speed of any vehicle and it can be equipped with a variety of front mounted weapons, as well as a cloaking device that allows the infiltrator class to cloak with it.

Lightning: A fast and maneuverable light tank with a one-man crew, whose main cannon is useful in both Anti-air and Anti-ground scenarios. It has a relatively high rate of fire and its rounds will explode in proximity to air targets. The Lightning is the second fastest vehicle in PS2 after the Flash.

Sunderer: An APC capable of carrying twelve players. It also has a support role supplying medical and ammo supplies to troops in the field.

Liberator: A heavily armed attack gunship with a three man crew. The crew will consist of forward and tail gunners in addition to the pilot. The pilot will also have access to weapons, but they will not be as powerful as those controlled by the gunners.

Galaxy: The galaxy is a massive air transport that can carry twelve players. In addition, it can be deployed as a mobile spawn point and equipment depot. It may also be possible to equip the Galaxy to act as a heavy gunship.

Faction Specific Vehicles:

Vangaurd / Prowler / Magrider: Each faction will have a unique main battle tank. All three tanks will have a two man crew. Currently, the driver controls the tank's main gun while the passenger controls the tank's lighter armaments. The NC has the Vanguard. The TR has the Prowler. The VS has the Magrider.

Reaver / Mosquito / Scythe: Each faction will also have a unique light aircraft that can be equipped to fill a variety of roles. All three aircraft will have one man crews. The NC has the Reaver. The TR has the Mosquito. The VS has the Scythe.


Squads/Platoons

Empires (with 3 Sub Sections )

Classes



gotta run. Go guys, go! I edit later.

[Vancha]

Aren't we getting Esamir as well? I think it was at least mentioned if it wasn't confirmed.

[Vashyo]

I recall Tray said something about Esamir and Amerish being 2 other continents on release in some interview many months ago.

[Snipefrag]

Base capture mechanics and resource distribution can probably be sections, as well as the pricing structure (cash shop, free to play, what you can buy etc).

[Marsgrim]

Clear NC favouritism and bias.

Though as TR I think we should get Ceryshen again.

[basti]

Dudes, this thread is not about discussing what continents you want...

But yea, Esamir was named in the PC Gamer article a while back. But until i see concept art of it, theres no point assuming that it will be around 100%.


Snipe, good idea. Adding those later. :>

[Kaw]

I tried to throw together something for the vehicle section. Feel free to use or change any sections you want to use. I never played PS1, but I have been following PS2's development pretty closely and I tried to fact check everything before I put it in. Let me know what you think!


Vehicles are purchased using the resources acquired over time from captured bases. Currently there are five "Nanite Systems" vehicles. These are available to all three factions. In addition, each faction has two vehicles that only it can use. All vehicles can be highly customized, both cosmetically and pragmatically. Players will be able to choose from a wide variety of weapons, and will be able to equip other items such as radar systems and anti-missile flares. These items will be available for purchase using the in game currency.

Nanite Systems Vehicles:
Flash: The Flash is a quad. It has the highest ground speed of any vehicle and it can be equipped with a variety of front mounted weapons.

Lightning: A fast and maneuverable light tank with a one-man crew, whose main cannon is useful in both Anti-air and Anti-ground scenarios. It has a relatively high rate of fire and its rounds will explode in proximity to air targets. The Lightning is the second fastest vehicle in PS2 after the Flash.

Sunderer: An APC capable of carrying twelve players. It also has a support role supplying medical and ammo supplies to troops in the field.

Liberator: A heavily armed attack gunship with a three man crew. The crew will consist of forward and tail gunners in addition to the pilot. The pilot will also have access to weapons, but they will not be as powerful as those controlled by the gunners.

Galaxy: The galaxy is a massive air transport that can carry twelve players. In addition, it can be deployed as a mobile spawn point and equipment depot. It may also be possible to equip the Galaxy to act as a heavy gunship.

Faction Specific Vehicles:
Vangaurd / Prowler / Magrider: Each faction will have a unique main battle tank. All three tanks will have a two man crew. Currently, the driver controls the tank's main gun while the passenger controls the tank's lighter armaments. The NC has the Vanguard. The TR has the Prowler. The VS has the Magrider.

Reaver / Mosquito / Scythe: Each faction will also have a unique light aircraft that can be equipped to fill a variety of roles. All three aircraft will have one man crews. The NC has the Reaver. The TR has the Mosquito. The VS has the Scythe.

[Bags]

The quad isn't called the flash, Higby just named it that as a placeholder for a joke, iirc.

[NCLynx]

Didn't we have a huge thread with all of this in it already that Bags made?

[Immigrant]

Originally Posted by NCLynx

Didn't we have a huge thread with all of this in it already that Bags made?

Read OP before posting (that's basic culture), it will save us all the time and space. Basti's idea is good, I as a complete newcomer to PS approve, it would've saved me a lot of time.

[Kaw]

Originally Posted by Bags

The quad isn't called the flash, Higby just named it that as a placeholder for a joke, iirc.

You would probably know better than I would, but I think you may be referring to this tweet:
https://twitter.com/mhigby/status/177294296347713536
I thought that was a tongue-in-cheek response to people accusing Higby of naming the Flash after the Starcraft player. I don't think the name itself is a joke.

[NCLynx]

Originally Posted by Immigrant

Read OP before posting (that's basic culture), it will save us all the time and space. Basti's idea is good, I as a complete newcomer to PS approve, it would've saved me a lot of time.

That's what I get for skimming. Still seems like all the same stuff just with a more neat layout though.

[Bags]

Originally Posted by Kaw

You would probably know better than I would, but I think you may be referring to this tweet:
https://twitter.com/mhigby/status/177294296347713536
I thought that was a tongue-in-cheek response to people accusing Higby of naming the Flash after the Starcraft player. I don't think the name itself is a joke.

Huh. Who knows then. I remember him and Tray asking us a while back if we liked "Quad" or "ATV" better, though.

[NCLynx]

Originally Posted by Bags

Huh. Who knows then. I remember him and Tray asking us a while back if we liked "Quad" or "ATV" better, though.

It was mentioned in one of their livecasts as well, because they wouldn't stop calling it the quad instead of the flash. I don't fully remember them saying that it WASN'T the flash either though.

[Bags]

Anyway, back on topic, this is much needed. I was thinking of trying to make an updated version of my post, that was much more condensed, but if this is created and updated regularly I might just keep updating mine the way I have been.