What is it going to take to push Planetside 2 over the top

[bjorntju1]

Gimme huge space battles and I am a happy man.

[Palerion]

Originally Posted by Rothnang

In all honesty, the main thing that would take Planetside 2 further would be a more meaningful progression system. When it comes right down to it, most people play for certs, but right now you just can't honestly say that you can unlock anything that makes you really stand out.

I think people want that feeling of being a specialist, and being genuinely better at what they do than your average joe. Skills are an important aspect to building a reputation, but the reality is, the worlds best lightning driver is probably also really good with every other tank. The range of skills that make you good at any aspect of the game typically work just as well for the other aspects. People need a way to be unique and sought after though. In a social setting the greatest satisfaction you can have is being indispensable, and that's not something Planetside 2 currently provides. People need to have a sense that it mattered that they specifically were there in every endeavor. Throwing ammo packs is useful, but it gives you no satisfaction if yours is just one among ten and you just plopped it down for the XP. What makes you unique doesn't have to be as important as supplying ammo, but you should get a sense that you have something to offer that other people do not.

Getting that into the game gets people to commit to it more, because they will feel more important (and actually are more important).

I like this. I, personally, have always thought a skill system of some sort (Global Agenda for instance) would be kind of cool. Just to allow players to spec a soldier to their liking.

Also would give a bit more flexibility and direction to classes. Giving each class multiple trees with names to define their role on the battlefield. Allows people to pre-determine what playstyle they want for what class. I think this would add more to the "importance" feeling and even to long-term satisfaction and character building in the game.

[brighthand]

Originally Posted by Rothnang

In all honesty, the main thing that would take Planetside 2 further would be a more meaningful progression system. When it comes right down to it, most people play for certs, but right now you just can't honestly say that you can unlock anything that makes you really stand out.

I think people want that feeling of being a specialist, and being genuinely better at what they do than your average joe. Skills are an important aspect to building a reputation, but the reality is, the worlds best lightning driver is probably also really good with every other tank. The range of skills that make you good at any aspect of the game typically work just as well for the other aspects. People need a way to be unique and sought after though. In a social setting the greatest satisfaction you can have is being indispensable, and that's not something Planetside 2 currently provides. People need to have a sense that it mattered that they specifically were there in every endeavor. Throwing ammo packs is useful, but it gives you no satisfaction if yours is just one among ten and you just plopped it down for the XP. What makes you unique doesn't have to be as important as supplying ammo, but you should get a sense that you have something to offer that other people do not.

Getting that into the game gets people to commit to it more, because they will feel more important (and actually are more important).

Devs need to see this! ^

also, I just want to second the introduction of strategic elements and battle progression across the maps. Area denial, resource securing, supply lines that can be cut off; all of these can create emergent gameplay and "darkest moments" that will lead to probably the most exciting gameplay the genre has seen in years.

I stopped playing PS2 November of last year because of the lack of these, and I'm not coming back until I see that SOE has implemented them in full force and great elaboration.

[Carbon Copied]

Just echoing the above really; the current cert system is great as it allows you to pull a jack-of-all-trades class depending on your situation at the time however if the game allowed you to further tier one of those classes that you "mained" then I reckon the feeling of indispensable comes with that. These "tier 2" style levels could be one vehicle and one class so giving that overall specialty trait.

[SGTalon]

Waterson Server had a queue to join every time i logged in this weekend.

I think that the key to making PS2 fun is organization. I always find that when i am in a good platoon that has good leadership, the game is immensely more fun that when i am running around solo, small squad, or poorly run platoon.

I really can't wait until true platoon tactics are the norm instead of unique. Zerging is ok for a while but it just gets old.

I am pretty happy with the balance of the game. It will be cool when more of the Roadmap stuff starts coming out.

[Mustakrakish]

Originally Posted by Sledgecrushr

Bring back the BFR.

No.

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

Please, God, no.

[Hamma]

See what happens when you ask for BFRs? People go insane. I bet he woke up in a cold sweat and came here.

[Sledgecrushr]

Originally Posted by Hamma

See what happens when you ask for BFRs? People go insane. I bet he woke up in a cold sweat and came here.

Lol yeah bfr is a bad idea. But a three man tank would be cool and something that just screams sci fi would be even better. Can we get a spider mech with 2 single shot lightning cannons and a dedicated driver? Something that can follow infantry up those little goat paths.

[Mustakrakish]

3-man tanks, yes. Maybe a "Heavy MBT" that can only be spawned when your faction controls 2+ Tech Plants?

A "spider tank" ought to have a much lower top speed but incredible maneuverability. Another downside is the much larger profile, so it can't take advantage of cover like tracked vehicles can. It should also be able to traverse gaps, rocks and other obstacles that ground-bound vehicles have trouble negotiating. Maybe add a Utility/Performance cert that puts spikes on the tips of the legs so it can get up steep inclines.

Oh man, just imagine a squad of these things climbing up a mountainside to assault the Ascent on Amerish.

[Sledgecrushr]

Originally Posted by Mustakrakish

3-man tanks, yes. Maybe a "Heavy MBT" that can only be spawned when your faction controls 2+ Tech Plants?

A "spider tank" ought to have a much lower top speed but incredible maneuverability. Another downside is the much larger profile, so it can't take advantage of cover like tracked vehicles can. It should also be able to traverse gaps, rocks and other obstacles that ground-bound vehicles have trouble negotiating. Maybe add a Utility/Performance cert that puts spikes on the tips of the legs so it can get up steep inclines.

Oh man, just imagine a squad of these things climbing up a mountainside to assault the Ascent on Amerish.

This would be epic. And the special ability would be the wolf spider ability. It can jump.

[Palerion]

Just give us a real reward for capturing a continent. And please, not "congratulations soldier! Here's 5 Certs!". Something big.

[Sledgecrushr]

Capturing a continent should be worth a lot if its contested and one hell of a fight. They should give upwards to 10k xp for a good contested continent lock.