SmedBlog (last year): NPC Enemies and Armies - Page 18

Dkamanus · 2012-08-16, 05:11 PM

I can see only two situations where NPCs would be plausable in a game like PS2.

- Indigenous Life Forms - Animal wildlife and stuff. This could be interesting, either by having them to shoot for the giggles, while going to battle, or actually having some charge some rank/formation randomly. Something big or small, passive or agressive, it would increasae immersion in the game.

- Vanu mini events - Something like a 20 min event that happens randomly in whatever hex there is in the Continent. If its not a node/facility/hex in dispute, it'll matter little, but the fun part would be if a Vanu invasion actually happened while players where fighting each other, and the Vanu would start shooting everyone.

Both cases, the idea would be of something being beneficial, or detrimental to the factions disputing the hex. No perma PvE area. That would be stupid. If you want a FPS with loads of PvE Content, go defiance.

SixShooter · 2012-08-16, 05:55 PM

Phantomdestiny · 2012-08-16, 06:29 PM

in my opinion it could be inspired from tyranids in w40k http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...fex_gaunts.jpg

so you could get some random drop of big invasion at bases (every 2 weeks or so ) or just a small amount hunting (fauna and flora ) around the jungles for example that could kill lone wolf soldiers

http://nature-plants.com/wp-content/...ka-300x225.jpg

sgtbjack · 2012-08-16, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Phantomdestiny

or just a small amount hunting (fauna and flora ) around the jungles for example that could kill lone wolf soldiers

http://nature-plants.com/wp-content/...ka-300x225.jpg

Only if its the massive sandworms from beetlejuice that just dig around looking for afk'ers lol

Of course than, I'm sure we would start setting up afk bait to see if we could kill said beetlejuice worm lol

1. very random invasions that create anarchy are ok
2. npc armies that are controlled by players? NO!
3. npc soldiers that just lolly gag around? NO!
4. Maybe the occasional space lizard roaming the wilds, that run from gun fire? Well sure, if its a slow night, not many people on the server, I might go out and try to shoot local wildlife.

Phantomdestiny · 2012-08-16, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by sgtbjack

Only if its the massive sandworms from beetlejuice that just dig around looking for afk'ers lol

Of course than, I'm sure we would start setting up afk bait to see if we could kill said beetlejuice worm lol

1. very random invasions that create anarchy are ok
2. npc armies that are controlled by players? NO!
3. npc soldiers that just lolly gag around? NO!
4. Maybe the occasional space lizard roaming the wilds, that run from gun fire? Well sure, if its a slow night, not many people on the server, I might go out and try to shoot local wildlife.

that's exactly what i ment ^_^

Helwyr · 2012-08-16, 08:33 PM

Like a few others have stated I wouldn't object to NPC wildlife to make planets feel a little more alive. If it was added it would have to be well done, like Saga of Ryzom did, and Sony's own SWG did reasonably well. However, there should never be any kind of reward for killing the NPCs as that would take PS2 down a perilous road to shitdom. There should never be any doubt even among the most delusional that PS2 is a 100% PvP game. Also such additions are not worth adding at the expense of gameplay performance and higher system requirements.

RoninOni · 2012-08-16, 09:23 PM

Why increase sys performance? Just render ugly textures on wildlife for min spec PCs

alexdxvi · 2012-08-16, 10:31 PM

To be honest the NPC armies sounds awful. I don't know why they thought of adding such a thing.

The alien invasion thing on the other hand does sound like a lot of fun. Playing Face of Mankind very often, large scale pvp fights are the main focus of that game, I can say it is a lot of fun to meet with some friends and fight against a NPC alien invasion from time to time.

SirWhiteshadow · 2012-08-16, 10:57 PM

I think if done correctly, the invasion events could be fun and challenging, but we wouldn't want to see them too often. Maybe like a week long event where there are alien attacks randomly at hot spots, but I don't think it would be appropriate too often.

As for commanding NPC armies...for some reason it makes me think of killstreak perks in Crap of Dooty. I see too many people focusing solely on whatever would be required to trigger such an event, and taking away from overall gameplay.

Events, however, could be pretty cool, under the right circumstances. I could see it being fun to force all 3 factions to fend off an NPC army in order to regain the opportunity to control precious resources, but only for a few days or so just to shake things up.

sgtbjack · 2012-08-17, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by SirWhiteshadow

I think if done correctly, the invasion events could be fun and challenging, but we wouldn't want to see them too often. Maybe like a week long event where there are alien attacks randomly at hot spots, but I don't think it would be appropriate too often.

As for commanding NPC armies...for some reason it makes me think of killstreak perks in Crap of Dooty. I see too many people focusing solely on whatever would be required to trigger such an event, and taking away from overall gameplay.

Events, however, could be pretty cool, under the right circumstances. I could see it being fun to force all 3 factions to fend off an NPC army in order to regain the opportunity to control precious resources, but only for a few days or so just to shake things up.

I would honestly want them to be so random that people that where not on wouldn't believe they happened lol

andehh · 2012-08-17, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by sgtbjack

I would honestly want them to be so random that people that where not on wouldn't believe they happened lol

Just like the bending, remember the voice that started it off....

It should only be 2-3 times a year and be something truly awe inspiring. Stuff that should make gaming news sites internet side.

It would be such publicity, and a real talking point!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Rat · 2012-08-17, 08:41 AM

Here is a thought...what if pushing a empire all the way back to their warpgate triggered a invasion in their(whoever got pushed back) most populated warpgate...I dont think it would happen often and it would give everyone a goal other than resource control.

altho punishing a loser may not be a good thing.

Redshift · 2012-08-17, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Smed

One is simple - Alien NPCsThey are superpowerful aliens that come in and attack everyone. But they would be nasty as hell.

Smed

Like BFR's and black ops? They fuck everyone off except the person controlling them. They killed the first game dead.

The rest of it sounds like playing a firefight game, except in a game not designed for or marketed to people who want firefights, it'll be done badly and even if somehow it's not, people won't like it.

Ghostwithbroken · 2012-08-17, 09:46 AM

I love the alien infestation idea, it will cause chaos from time to time.

On the other side, the only controlable NPCs that should be enabled are the supporting ones.

Some sort of UAV.

You can send it to the next nearby enemy base, and its visuals should be streamed at the command center, other security places in our base and at adjecant friendly vehicles.

Repair bots.

At some rank, a single engineer can control a group of repair bots from bird perspective, and support your armored forces.

Mobile healing/ammo tents

Same like repair bots, but for infantry support.

Mobile camo vehicles (that can be revealed by enemys UAV's)

Any unit that stays in some range around it will be cloaked until it shoots, so you can do a surprise attack with a pack of MAX units or MBTs, without being noticed so fast.

Mobile forcefields

I think that this kind of stuff could improve your Intelli, and supporting orientation in the game. And it would be a lot easier for commanders of squads to actually command.

VaderShake · 2012-08-17, 10:11 AM

Maybe they could use Alien invasions as an opportunity to introduce new vehicles/tech to the battlefield that is confenscated or developed from the alien tech for all or faction specific.

Over all I would be open to the 4th alien faction that randomly shows up maybe 3-4 times a year, as long as it is done well and relevant to the battle. Also a stray alien group popping up here or there ahead of random invasions would be cool as well, lets you know their coming and could impact map strategy as each team preps for the invasion.

Also if there were small random groups of aliens around you could defeat them earning "special" resources for special vehicles or weapons. But keep it random and logical.

Lets see what they do with this thing already...and get playing, come on beat for the rest of us!