Ideas to improve the Lightning

Brogan · 2013-02-05, 02:43 PM

Lightning improvement ideas

I have been thinking lately about the lightning, and after cruising some forums, I want to compile what I've gathered and point out where it is unintentionally flawed and end with some new ideas for weapons and stuff, and refer to some good ideas from other people.

So to start, the lightning has a very crucial flaw that annoys alot of people: getting stuck and flipping over more than it should. It also bounces a lot over any terrain that isn't paved. These could be fixed with the addition of a suspension system. It's tough to stage hit and run attacks if more of my precious time is devoted to accounting for this rough handling.

Speaking of the handling, the controls reversing when you go into reverse is a nightmare. I like the drifting (it feels like a chase if I'm in pursuit or running away) but the steering screws me up every time and I typically get killed in the lightning because of the controlls reversing.

Ex: I am rolling around the perimeter of a tech plant hugging the wall for cover when I round a corner and suddenly a wild MBT appears!
My first thought is to back the f up and hopefully bait him into following me, thus I would fire, and round the previous corner before that, flank him, and hit him from behind, presumably laughing like Woody Woodpecker.
But what happens in reality is that I back up, controlls flip, and I turn further out of cover, he shoots, and I die.

All of this ends in another thing being flipped: my desk.

Please offer your own opinions and experiences.

Now for additions: I will edit later to reference other threads.

So I had a few ideas for weapons. What if there was a gun that had low velocity, dreadful accuracy, but superb damage. Like a short barreled howitzer, but used for direct fire. This would be for up close armoured engagements, and its anti infantry capabilities are limited. Basically the shotgun of tank guns. You may laugh at it from afar, but it will straight up murder you without so much as a "howdy do" if you let it flank you. (You, seeing it come out from behind a building behind your MBT: "OH GOD HELP ME!"; the lightning with the gun: "GOD CAN'T HELP YOU NOW!")
It may have limited armour penetration (ie it does considerably less to frontal armour) thus encouraging flanking maneuvers.

Next idea: different shell types. I don't mean AP or HE, I mean things like colored smoke shells, designed to mark targets, or support infantry. They can kill infantry because of a blast of about 1 m. (Imagine the Lolz. Shooting a guy in the face and poof! Party smoke! Course you will have doomed yourself though...)
Other shells could be incindiaries (white phosphorous) and...anyone know of any other kinds of rounds? Basically you'd unlock them like a special grenade slot for infantry, and you'd have very limited ammo.

I'll keep adding as ideas come to me.

ShadetheDruid · 2013-02-05, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Brogan

So to start, the lightning has a very crucial flaw that annoys alot of people: getting stuck and flipping over more than it should. It also bounces a lot over any terrain that isn't paved. These could be fixed with the addition of a suspension system. It's tough to stage hit and run attacks if more of my precious time is devoted to accounting for this rough handling.

Yeah, this is something i've said before, all of the tanks (except the Magrider, obviously) suffer from the terrain because of the lack of turret stabilisation, but it hurts the Lightning most of all because it's supposed to be the mobile/flanky sort of tank. We can't really do that with the lack of stabilisation, because we have to stop to fire. Higby did tweet once that they may add turret stabilisation as an attachment at some point, though.

Getting stuck in ditches is a pain too. I think what they need to do is sort out the armour on the front and back so the tracks are uncovered a bit more, since the armour is what it beaches itself on. Ditches would still stop them advancing (at least V-shaped ones would, as opposed to U-shaped ones), but at least we'd be able to reverse out of them and not have to deconstruct.

I used to flip my Lightning a lot in beta, but i've gotten used to avoiding that now. I've even driven it off cliffs before and landed safely (i'm talking the giant cliffs, like in the canyon areas of Indar).

Speaking of the handling, the controls reversing when you go into reverse is a nightmare. I like the drifting (it feels like a chase if I'm in pursuit or running away) but the steering screws me up every time and I typically get killed in the lightning because of the controlls reversing.

Would be nice if they added an option so you could switch between the two kinds of reverse. I'm not sure what type I would prefer, but options are always good. I love the drifting too, though. Especially with combat chassis maxed out. Taking corners with a powerslide or doing doughnuts in the warpgate is always fun.

Secondary utility rounds for tanks would be an interesting concept too.

Brogan · 2013-02-05, 03:29 PM

It'd also be interesting to see some certs that improve things that you don't normally think about, like traverse speed, gun depression, and stuff. Maybe there could be a defense slot that concentrates armor in the turret, increasing the effectiveness of going "hull down."

Rossum · 2013-02-05, 03:38 PM

This is one of the major reasons why I play Vanu almost exclusively. The magrider has suspension (well, hovers) and doesn't do the stupid inverted reverse thing.

Binkley · 2013-02-05, 04:46 PM

I'm fine with the current reverse, but what I'd really like to try is tank steering, right-track forward/reverse with left-track forward/reverse, might be fun.

The current tanks have some turret stabilization, but more would be better. Look when driving fast over rough terrain, your gun bounces less than the chassis.

It would be nice if we could change ammo types without having to spawn a new tank. A max can switch guns without waiting out the timer and using resources, why can't a tank re-arm?

camycamera · 2013-02-05, 06:54 PM

there should be an option in the settings called "inverted reversing" for vehicles. me being so used to normal reversing in games such as battlefield, i keep on going the opposite direction that i intended, exposing me and getting my ass kicked.

Brogan · 2013-02-06, 05:35 AM

Does anyone have any thoughts about the gun I proposed?

HiroshiChugi · 2013-02-06, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Brogan

Does anyone have any thoughts about the gun I proposed?

There might be some problems with it, I'm not sure what quite yet, but I'd use it. But instead of a shotgun-type tank gun, have it strictly like the howitzer-type-gun that you said first. and have it mroe of an anti-infantry weapon maybe, but have the massive damage dealing to tanks at close range. I support your idea 10000000000000000000000% Try poting it in the Planetside 2 Discussion section of the Forums as well. That's what I do when I see a good idea here in the Idea Vault. I ost a link in the Planetside 2 Discussions section of the Forums.

Brogan · 2013-02-06, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by HiroshiChugi

There might be some problems with it, I'm not sure what quite yet, but I'd use it. But instead of a shotgun-type tank gun, have it strictly like the howitzer-type-gun that you said first. and have it mroe of an anti-infantry weapon maybe, but have the massive damage dealing to tanks at close range

That's actually not a bad idea. A short range mortar with AT capabilities under the right circumstances. Perhaps the the AT ability is special ammo like in my second proposal, and it'd give you, say 5, 10, or 20 shots of the "god can't help you now" ammo.

I also have been thinking it'd be interesting if chemical warfare were introduced, like some kind of mustard gas or equivalent of that to flush out infantry from (with one person using) say a small shack or the crest of ridge long enough for reinforcements. It'd be a suppression weapon, invaluable in attack or defense. The countermeasure would be a gas mask or something, with its own tradeoffs (reduced vision?)

HiroshiChugi · 2013-02-06, 11:47 AM

that sounds amazing.have you posted anything like this in the Planetside 2 Discussion section yet?

Brogan · 2013-02-07, 08:58 PM

Not yet. Brainstorming one last concept to propose. What if there was an option for a command vehicle. Basically, it would be a light vehicle (like a sunderer or a lightning) that would act like a mobile rally point. Basically would help give direction to tank zergs. By rally point, I mean something that establishes who is in command, or seniority. A banner would suffice. Would be optional and perhap only usable when platoon leader. Would look really cool if they made squadron markings, like a wing band, nose cone pattern, or tail block.
Stuff like this:

While primarily aesthetic, it would help to ID who is in a squadron and who is the leader (who would have something different like a blue tail and nose) at a glance for everyone. These could be patterns on the wings, like the invasion stripes of D-day or checkered tails, or some other marking pattern. Also I've been thinking it'd be really cool if you could have kill marks.
Keep in mind that tanks do the same thing.

SGOniell · 2013-02-08, 02:30 PM

No on the gun, its a light tank, not meant to house something massive like a Howitzer, and you'd just shift power to them, making them hard to deal with. Especially for those of us who tend to lose a volley, ram the target, and keep firing. It'd be much harder to deal with regardless of which armor you hit with that tactic. The MBT is for standup tank battles, the light tanks can do that, but should remain as skirmishers and support in my mind.

BIGGByran · 2013-02-17, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Brogan

Does anyone have any thoughts about the gun I proposed?

How about, making specialized guns like the Skyguard for air, make an ES Weapon for the lightning

Anti Inf Weapons:

NC - Has a double barrel shotgun type of turret. 2 barrels 2 shots a piece before reloading.
i)Slightly slow ROF (Scatt/Grinder ROF)
ii)Low ammo capacity (2 shots per barrel)
iii)Excel at Short, decent at mid (having a short range effective weapon make it where the tank has little time to react to rockets fired at it)

TR - Has something like the vulcan. High Rate of Fire, high ammo capacity, COF not as large as the shotgun.
i)Decent reload speeds
ii)high ammo capacity
iii)great at short and mid range

VS - Double Pew pew lasers
i)good reload speeds
ii) decent ammo capacity
iii)accurate up to long range

I guess I am saying, "Put the stock Anti Inf weapons of the max and put them on the lightning." Or something similar to it.

Or or!

Instead of ES weapon for the lightning add a strictly anti inf weapon to the lightning like a Heavy machine gun. Like a basilisk on the sundy but faster rate of fire and not as much damage.

Remove HE round, just leave Stock and Heat weapon. Let the MBT have the HE round.

Rothnang · 2013-02-18, 02:13 PM

If they just gave the lightning more than a few inches of ground clearance it would be a great vehicle. The thing just gets stuck way too easily because there are a thousand ways in which it can sit on uneven ground without any of its tracks touching the floor.

Chaff · 2013-02-21, 05:03 PM

.
I respect that OP loves his Lightning. However, none of us get to customize our favorite stuff to our personal liking. Dream on. I don't see these ideas happening.

I think he could change his strategy - and ask for more/better mobility. Raise ground clearance. Add some Baja 500 shocks/suspension. Shorten Lightning up a bit. Expose more tread. This is the ONE tank that should be able to climb & stick to odd hillsides (not the Mag or any other MBT). The Lightning should be the "sniper" of vehcles. Hit-and-RUN specialist. Reengineer it to get in & out of gnarlier terrain. That's my vote. That'd be enough for me to consider it as my primary vehicle to pull (& Cert-up).

I think if the devs did this, our OP would be happy with the added gameplay. Howitzer Snub-Nose ideas would generate too much crying. Leave Heavy guns to MBT & GAL (& Lib).
.