Why do we put up with the Cert Timer?

Baneblade · 2004-11-19, 10:32 PM

The Cert Timer is easily the single most annoying thing in PlanetSide, so why do we the paying customers put up with it?

Why do we need to spend a week on our characters just to try something new? Why do the devs get away with such obvious subscription pandering?

The 24 Hour Cert Timer serves no purpose, and any reason a dev can come up with to explain it, can also be applied to a 1 hour Timer...so why do we waste tons of time waiting?

Warborn · 2004-11-19, 11:31 PM

It ties into the RPG concept of having certs in the first place.

mechaman · 2004-11-20, 01:56 AM

It really is to long. I mean an hour could easily serve the same purpose and not make us waste a lot of time. but atleast the devs are trying to cut down on recert by putting in the forget a prerequisite thing.

hazzer2007 · 2004-11-20, 05:51 AM

its realy there to stop n00bs changing their weapons when the battle changes (i.e a inf battle becomes a vch battle, they would change their weapons to suit their needs). It is too long, they could make it 12 hours, but it a good idea to keep it.

Baneblade · 2004-11-20, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by Warborn

It ties into the RPG concept of having certs in the first place.

No, no it doesn't.

AbramsVS · 2004-11-20, 07:10 AM

Definatly its a good idea.
Like someone said already its here to prevent some newbs to change things everytime.
Would you like to see this:
You kill a lot of enemys in your CY in tanks, then they all respwan on Bio Lab, everyone getting reaver right this second and then like 10 reavers comin to get you.
Nice?

The only thing things that needs to be fixed(and will be fixed as i seen on official forums), its a cert tree.....for example if i want to drop BFR cert(but i have also BFR AA, and AI) i need to sell only BFR original so all 3 certs will go away, not 3 day selling process.

Lonehunter · 2004-11-20, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Sobekeus

No, no it doesn't.

So you think it takes less then a day to learn how to fly?

Warborn · 2004-11-20, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Sobekeus

No, no it doesn't.

Yeah, it does.

Based on the reply I've quoted here I anticipate this well be a well thought out and rewarding discussion.

Lartnev · 2004-11-20, 10:13 AM

Think yourself lucky. It used to be the case that you had to wait 24 hours to choose a new cert rather than choose a new cert then wait 24 hours

Baneblade · 2004-11-20, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Warborn

Yeah, it does.

Based on the reply I've quoted here I anticipate this well be a well thought out and rewarding discussion.

...

If the point of the timer was for RPG purposes, then 24 hours is a weird number. And since you can't unlearn things irl, it makes no sense to even allow certs to be changed, so for a minute, pretend this is a game we are talking about.

Warborn · 2004-11-20, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Sobekeus

...

If the point of the timer was for RPG purposes, then 24 hours is a weird number. And since you can't unlearn things irl, it makes no sense to even allow certs to be changed, so for a minute, pretend this is a game we are talking about.

I didn't say the timer exists to make the game realistic, I said it was part of the game's RPG aspects. They're totally separate things.

The fact that it's 24 hours is something I don't agree with, but there will always be a timer because along with limited cert points, it helps give characters ad hoc classes of a sort. You can't just wipe the slate clean and go from a guy who does a lot of flying and driving to a guy who does a lot of infantry work using MAX armor and HA and so forth. This characteristic of the game will only become more prominent when Samhayne gets around to adding in some way to specialize your character, so that you can be a grunt or a pilot and get benefits related to one or the other, but you can't do both.

So a one hour timer would likely be too short. People should be somewhat reluctant to want to totally respecialize themselves, as that's the whole reason for a timer in the first place. If it were a third as long I think it would be fine.

GraniteRok · 2004-11-20, 04:05 PM

I'd much rather see a shorter cert timer than the 4th empire switch timer. For the previous to be twice as long as the latter, that's rediculous.

I agree with Warborn, 6-8 hours would be optimum for certs. 4th empire though... should be considerably longer! or better yet 1 empire per server.

martyr · 2004-11-20, 04:55 PM

i like the cert timer the way it is, but i support a monthly cert wipe.

AbramsVS · 2004-11-20, 05:27 PM

yea, it would be cool, but this should be done via player will not via patch or somethin

Baneblade · 2004-11-20, 11:10 PM

I think 6 hours would be fine tbh, keeps everyone happy and lets you do what would take 4 days all in one.