BFRs Post Release Discussion: Game Dynamics

[Peacemaker]

Ok. I started off being a major anti BFR person. I am still going to hold my opinion that they are drasticly overpowered. But what I have seen resulting from BFRs is what I like. HUGE battles. HUGE fun battles outside of the base walls. Standoffs are much more common outside the base. Even better a smaller force can fight a larger force if a greater percentage of them field BFRs. The insanly large fights outside arnt for infantry engagements though. You see MAXs, BFRs, Reavers, a billion lightnings, MBTs, Skyguards. EVERYTHING out in the field slugging it out. This makes for great epic battles that are very enjoyable.

I see one major factor. Inside bases and near towers a BFR eliminates ANY chance of a sudden turn around. Once in the CY its basicly safe to just abandon the base. There is only two ways to save a base these days after teh CY has been over run.
1. Massive barrage of orbital strikes covering every inch of the CY. (I acctualy saw this the other day as a vanu trooper. The entire CY got dominated by about 10 OSs)
2. Outside purging force. This tactic has acctualy been the most viable way to save a base. Especialy in a low pop situation. If your empire has a low population and your base gets over run beg for support. If you can get a large contingent of armor and BFRs at the WG or a near by base and then break the siege its the most effective way to win the day. BFRs just make it that much more easyer. 2 libs bombing the CY and a buncha BFRs would definatly clear out the CY in a hurry. The second that AMS is gone troops from inside will pour out and give you a hand.

So. BFRs made for great battles out side and ruined the indoor battles. I accutaly think this is good for PS. Now the problem lays in how powerfull a BFR is.

My # 1 idea on this topic is that the BFR should have a shield directional system. Head on the BFR has the same exact shields. Near impossible to take down. Flanks are where the weakness should be the most. This is where the shield gen is (now a tad bit stronger) and there is no shields. NONE. The rear of the BFR is only armor. The sides get about half the shield as the front. More shield infront allows the BFR to do what it does today. Lead the assault and wtf most anything. But the flankable shields make it so one BFR isnt going to own a battlefield with no counter BFRs. One tank that flanks it is going to destroy it.... maybe. This also make the flying BFRs the choice in anti BFR ops. Fly over and turn around shoot him in the back.

This would limit abilities of BFR squads from just running through bases with impunity. Also BFRs should definatly NOT have shields OR weapons active in run mode. Power is shunted away from the shield and weapons to control the servos.

[NightWalker XI]

On just a general note I hate most BFR pilots, not because of the BFR itself but because they don't help at all, there may be difficulty defending CC from enemy while our hack is going through or something else, yet they all site in their precious BFR in the CY and don't help....damn them all...grrr...

[hazzer2007]

Also BFRs should definatly NOT have shields OR weapons active in run mode. Power is shunted away from the shield and weapons to control the servos.

I like the no weapons while running, and the idea that the sheild should decrease when running, but the sheild should stay UP when running. Its my only defence when i think the enermy has a advantage over me, I dont run when am about to die, i run when i think theres' no hope there

Sheilds should stay up when running!!!

[Kam]

I have noticed this in my encounters with BFRs. All people do now is have 15 or so BFRs stand around the base and in the CY and cover any and all points of access. It is entirely pointless to even stay in a base once the outside is taken. Last night I was playing and we lost the ouside to the vanu and they surrounded ther base and targeted every single door. The CR on hand said, "Alright guys, lets recall and drop somewhere else, there's no way to get the CY back." (everyone except me then recalls) A platoon of BFRs is unstoppable, especially VS BFRs. This is a problem. I then witnessed a VS BFR shoot down four NC galaxies, it actully jump from the top of one to the other through the air and dispatched them all in about two mins. They are awsome and all, but they NEED to be toned down.

[Ait'al]

Infs are a valuable resource when teh seiges happen. If you can hack one form an unwarry force, you can do some damage and split them up. And if your forces are paying attention you can break their confidnence and make them leave temporarily and weaken their hold on the base and make them easier to deal with. There are definite things you can do in that situation.

To figth in a Cy they ahve to spread out. And that almost always means leaving the cy in most bases types. Besides this whole issue goes back to the lack of defensive strategy. Or any strategy in fact. Loose comings together of people to do things in a pinch, no matter how affective, is not strategy or welll thought out game play.

Not that some small changes shouldnt, or couldnt, be made. Alot of very different paths could improve them in very different and interesting ways.

[Kam]

The problem is that groups of BFR's require large organized groups of foot soldiers or armor to destroy. In a chaotic battlefield this almost never happens, especially becasue no one listens to the CR5's anymore. I like the BFR's, but I think they are simply too powerful in numbers.