News: Higby Tweets Customized Magriders

[IceyCold]

Originally Posted by Talek Krell

The fact that something can be done well does not immediately eliminate the possibility of it being done poorly. The driver gun on the PS1 mag, for example, was far more miss than hit. I've thought of a question though. I only ever toyed with the demo for 2142, and I can't recall: Does the steering for that hovertank use the mouse as a joystick (have to return to "center" to stop turning) or does the tank just try to face where you point?

But one thing to remember with PS1 was the forward cannon for the Mag bloomed fairly quickly and was low damage, not to mention the mag had a more floaty feel to it which was fine when it didn't effect the main cannon; but now that the main cannon depends on a more accurate range of movement I doubt that floaty feeling will be making a return.

In 2142 the tank steers with the mouse, and attempts to steer towards where you point, there is no snapback at all. It honestly feels like a slower turning faster running infantry. Except when you shoot the main cannon you get knocked back a few feet.

[Captain1nsaneo]

Loving the mag. Great to see how the turret works. Kinda not happy about AA turrets but I don't know how aircraft act so it may all work out.

[Raymac]

Originally Posted by Captain1nsaneo

Loving the mag. Great to see how the turret works. Kinda not happy about AA turrets but I don't know how aircraft act so it may all work out.

I'm curious. What's your beef with AA turrets on tanks?

I'll be flying a Reaver mostly and I love being a tankbuster, so the extra AA will be my nemesis, but I think it's a cool addition.

[Zulthus]

Well, I don't see why any vehicle should be effective at two different roles at once either.

[IceyCold]

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Well, I don't see why any vehicle should be effective at two different roles at once either.

Agreed, but I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt here.

I am wondering though, we hadn't seen the Lightning and it is supposed to be quite different than the other ES tanks. So I'm wondering if the Lightning can be fitted to act like the new Skyguard?

Something like this even?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20068514@N00/3880470967/

Or for a more Planetside look maybe:

http://aquarianempire.webs.com/Dragoon%20AA%20Tank.jpg

Just some thoughts lol.

[Sifer2]

I know this game isn't attempting to be realistic. But honestly in real life putting your Tanks main gun on the front bumper would be laughed at. That's a rather big disadvantage. It means the Tank has to be facing where its going to fire. And that it has to be fully visible itself to fire on a target. Rather than partially hidden by Hills or other obstacles.

Maybe that's all being done to balance out the additional mobility it has. But I had assumed it was going to have less armor/damage to do that already. Someone mentioned BF 2142 and if I remember right yeah the hover tank didn't have a rotating turret either. But at least it was up high like normal.

[Galapogos]

Hopefully the AA upgrades on tanks serve more as a short to medium range defense for the tank rather than something like a full blown AA max or a skyguard. Really hope the "flying into edge of combat zone MISSILE LOCK MISSILE LOCK MISSILE LOCK" scenario does repeat itself so frequently in this game.

[Draep]

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Well, I don't see why any vehicle should be effective at two different roles at once either.

It will and it won't I think. Any tank without the AV variant caught alone by a tank with the variant is going to be creamed most likely. AA in almost any capacity is not as effective against air as you may think. Concentrated AA may take down a plane or two but air will always have the option to quickly duck behind a mountain, a tree line etc. Tanks should always merc the shit out of infantry if they can take a shot at them in the open.

[Hamma]

:stalkmode:

via Reddit from Higby:

There are a lot more customization for the Magrider that I couldn't show off including radar array, various armor upgrades (one has side armor, that's why it has those ridges on the edge), hover stabilzers, afterburners, hover pod configurations, etc. Some are purely cosmetic like the tints and hood ornament, but most have gameplay impact and tradeoffs. Just about all our vehicles are at least this robust (with the exception of the Quad)

[Gwartham]

Originally Posted by Sifer2

I know this game isn't attempting to be realistic. But honestly in real life putting your Tanks main gun on the front bumper would be laughed at. That's a rather big disadvantage. It means the Tank has to be facing where its going to fire. And that it has to be fully visible itself to fire on a target. Rather than partially hidden by Hills or other obstacles.

Course, we have tanks that hover and can strafe and turn on a dime to base the laughed at assumption too heh.

Me personally if I had to drive and manage the main gun this is the setup I would want to do that in

[Ailos]

Originally Posted by IceyCold

I'm assuming the people complaining about the fixed gun on the Mag never played BF2142?

The PAC tank had a fixed forward gun and could hover/strafe... And holy crap was it dangerous with a skilled driver. A common trick was to hover just far enough from behind a building to shoot, and then duck back behind the building; and since it never exposed anything except it's heavily armored frontside it was a devistatingly effective tactic.

The EU tank on the other hand could not do anything like this, and even though it was better suited for fighting against smaller vehicles and infantry it took a lot more work to keep your forward armor facing an enemy tank.

Honestly, the fixed gun will be a fairly noticeable advantage in the hands of a good driver. I have a feeling beta is going to see a lot of Magrider pilots racking up some serious tank kills.

Just what I was going to say.

Prowler and vanny drivers will rely on their gunners to get them good BEP (or its modern equivalent). But the vanu drivers will be able to take that into their own hands. And if the prowler will keep with requiring two gunners and the vanny will keep with one gunner, one weapon at a time, that puts them at a strategic disadvantage ('cos the mag will be able to fend off air/infantry while the driver keeps pounding the main target, something the prowler needs an extra man to do, and something that the vanny just can't do), which is why they have the extra armour over and above the mag.

Also, since the mag hovers like the fairy it is, it HAS to be light, so there's a limited amount of armor you can have on it and I suspect it's entirely around its main gun (making its behind a very sweet target).

[EASyEightyEight]

Originally Posted by Ailos

Just what I was going to say.

Prowler and vanny drivers will rely on their gunners to get them good BEP (or its modern equivalent). But the vanu drivers will be able to take that into their own hands. And if the prowler will keep with requiring two gunners and the vanny will keep with one gunner, one weapon at a time, that puts them at a strategic disadvantage ('cos the mag will be able to fend off air/infantry while the driver keeps pounding the main target, something the prowler needs an extra man to do, and something that the vanny just can't do), which is why they have the extra armour over and above the mag.

Also, since the mag hovers like the fairy it is, it HAS to be light, so there's a limited amount of armor you can have on it and I suspect it's entirely around its main gun (making its behind a very sweet target).

Drivers for all tanks are in control of the main gun. The Prowler will be 2 man max last I heard. I don't know if the Vanguard has a gunner slot, but I assume it will, though for being the most powerful and possibly most armored, that may be an inherent weakness for the driver to be in control of ALL weapon systems aboard the Vanguard. Sounds OP at first, but then... only one gun can be aimed and fired at any given time.

[Talek Krell]

Originally Posted by Ailos

And if the prowler will keep with requiring two gunners and the vanny will keep with one gunner, one weapon at a time, that puts them at a strategic disadvantage

Um, all the tanks have driver controlled main guns with one secondary gunner position.

[Talek Krell]

Originally Posted by IceyCold

I am wondering though, we hadn't seen the Lightning and it is supposed to be quite different than the other ES tanks. So I'm wondering if the Lightning can be fitted to act like the new Skyguard?

I'm betting that the Lightning can be customized to do a good job in any given role, making sort of a jack of all trades vehicle. AA if the skies need to be cleared, AI for supporting a front, AV to go tank hunting. Between the Lightning's agility and the locational damage model I can see it being much more of a threat in skilled hands this time around.

Edit: Hrm, I didn't even realize I was posting these in the same thread. That's what I get for opening so many tabs. >_>

[basti]

What? Just woke up to find out i missed THIS?


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