Improvement: Advanced Engineering Vehicle

Xyntech · 2011-10-18, 11:13 AM

Replace the ANT with a more multi-purpose utility vehicle, the Advanced Engineering Vehicle, or AEV. Much like the ANT, everyone can still pull it to recharge NTU's, but only high level engineers will gain access to some of it's more interesting features.

Accelerated repairing of vehicles:
With the right modification installed, the AEV will boost the effectiveness of every glue gun within a small radius of the vehicle. The AEV will have no repair features of it's own, meaning that vulnerable infantry will still have to climb out of vehicles to make repairs, but while within the influence of the AEV they will be able to repair damage at anywhere between twice and four times as fast (depending on play testing). This will still make them good places to repair near, as you will spend less time outside your vehicles where you are open to surprise attacks.

Heavy ACE package:
As an alternative option to the NTU collector, the AEV can be equipped with a much larger version of the ACE. This would be used to make much larger constructions that the engineer would ordinarily be unable to create. Some possibilities are below, although try not to worry to much about any of the suggestions, they are just examples.

- Radar/Sensor stations
- Heavy Anti Infantry machine gun turrets
- Anti Vehicle cannons
- Anti Aircraft batteries
- Artillery pieces
- Spawn tubes
- Infantry equipment terminals
- Easily placed larger mine field patches
- Small pill boxes
- Trenches or low stretches of wall

Any of these, or other possibilities, would be items that you couldn't build without the AEV. Moreover, you would need a new Heavy ACE for every single item you built. If you limited the AEV to carrying one Heavy ACE at a time, it would severely limit how quickly a forward position could be set up. Additionally, the engineer could have further limitations such as only being able to place on gun emplacement at a time, so if they placed an AA battery they wouldn't be able to build an AV cannon or an Artillery piece. Things like mines and trenches could each have their own individual limits on how many could be built.

One important factor would be that you wouldn't be able to reclaim the materials from a structure you built. If you want to build something else, you have to go get a new Heavy ACE. All you can do with existing structures are repair them, disintegrate them, or let them be destroyed.

Mobile rearming:
Another use for the Heavy ACE would be the ability to use the AEV as an ammo truck, to restock any vehicle that you interact with. The Heavy ACE would be consumed entirely no matter how little ammo was given, but it would fully replenish most or all vehicles ammo supply. It would be balanced because the AEV still has to travel back to a base each time it rearms someone. Combined with faster repair times while the AEV is near a glue gun target and you would have a huge new role for players that prefer support roles.

Mobile vehicle customization:
Yet another way to use up that Heavy ACE could be the ability to change which customizations someones vehicle had on it. The AEV would activate the vehicle customization option and then the driver of the vehicle would pick which configuration they wanted to change to. This would allow players to change what their vehicle was specialized for without taking it off of the front lines. Yet again, it would come at the expense of a Heavy ACE and a trip for the AEV back to the base. Double win if you can customize your own vehicle and be able to convert your own Heavy ACE back into an NTU collector again.

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I think that an engineering vehicle could really add some more depth and options to the supporting roles on the battlefield. Some 9deas seem like they would be too large for a lone engineer on foot to construct, but would still be cool to have as options.

All of these constructions could be easily destroyed and once they were blown up, they would be gone for good. The only way to replace them would be to get another Heavy ACE and build a new one.

Rearming vehicles and turrets would provide a bit of a supply line dynamic and provide some choice targets for the enemy to try and attack. Imagine ANT hunting parties, except all over the place, all the time.

If any of the options that I listed sound like they would be overpowered, ignore them, or comment on them as an aside. I'd mostly like to hear what you think about the core idea of a vehicle that expands on the role of an engineer. I don't intend this to replace an engineers ordinary roles and abilities, merely to expand on them.

Edit: One last idea for the AEV which I forgot to post

Minefield clearing:
If the AEV can place minefields much easier than someone on foot, you could counter balance this by giving an AEV an optional minefield clearing attachment. Perhaps it would replace the repair booster slot. Drive (slowly) into a minefield and detonate mines in front of you, just outside their blast radius.

Mines would still be effective, because the AEV wouldn't have the armor to survive a lot of weapons fire, especially considering that it has to drive slowly if it wants to avoid getting blown up by the mines it is clearing.

Geist · 2011-10-18, 11:29 AM

Excellent idea, especially the Heavy ACE. I feel like there will be something similar considering the reference in some of the story that referred to a holographic boulder type thing.

However, the repair and rearm thing, isn't that infringing on the territory of the Lodestar(and I assume the Galaxy since it is the new AMS). At least, if the Lodestar is in the game that is.

Xyntech · 2011-10-18, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Spectre

However, the repair and rearm thing, isn't that infringing on the territory of the Lodestar(and I assume the Galaxy since it is the new AMS). At least, if the Lodestar is in the game that is.

The depends on a few things. Is the Lodestar in the game? Does the Galaxy replace the Lodestar? If it does, does it replace it with every feature intact?

Even if it does, it could just be a case of two vehicles both being able to do some similar jobs. That, or those particular ideas could be scrapped, although an engineering vehicle that can in no way help repair something would be odd.

Edit: to avoid double posting:

I'm just kind of excited about some of the potential of the idea. We are used to seeing tank columns and other massive groups of vehicles being used in Planetside, but the closest we ever saw to that in a support role were multi-galaxy drops.

Imagine having 20 or 30 AEV's traveling behind a group of tanks who are pushing into enemy territory. Maybe a few of the AEV's are there to repair and rearm the tanks, but most of them are getting ready to set up massive amounts of deployables close to the front line.

Talek Krell · 2011-10-18, 02:07 PM

I would say that limiting it to a single heavy ACE which is consumed by all things is excessive. You'd spend more time driving between battle and base than actually engineering. That, and you know some jackass reaver would just swoop in and eat it to replace the 4 rockets he just used.

Making it an ANT variant is very clever though. Maybe that could be put to use. Make the engineering module be an attachment specific to engineers that doesn't sacrifice (or only sacrifices some of) the NTU carrying capacity. Then have support actions like construction and minelaying consume a certain amount of NTU. That both gives you a limited capacity and creates an interesting dynamic (do I want to lay a couple of MG nests, or blow it all on an artillery emplacement?).

DviddLeff · 2011-10-18, 04:02 PM

This is how I would like to see buildings made around the landscape, or if bigger called in from orbit.

http://comms.planetsidesyndicate.com...read.php?t=950

Yeah the ideas 7 years old, but its solid.

Raka Maru · 2011-10-18, 11:36 PM

I like the Engie truck idea, but why not just let the truck transform into a big structure? Then redeploy when you want to move?

Xyntech · 2011-10-19, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Talek Krell

I would say that limiting it to a single heavy ACE which is consumed by all things is excessive. You'd spend more time driving between battle and base than actually engineering. That, and you know some jackass reaver would just swoop in and eat it to replace the 4 rockets he just used.

Making it an ANT variant is very clever though. Maybe that could be put to use. Make the engineering module be an attachment specific to engineers that doesn't sacrifice (or only sacrifices some of) the NTU carrying capacity. Then have support actions like construction and minelaying consume a certain amount of NTU. That both gives you a limited capacity and creates an interesting dynamic (do I want to lay a couple of MG nests, or blow it all on an artillery emplacement?).

Alright, maybe one heavy ACE would be a little excessive. I was probably just going overboard trying not to make the idea overpowered

I like the idea of the heavy ACE and the mine laying consuming a certain amount of NTU's or NTU carrying capacity.

What if the entire trunk bed space were somewhat modular? Like maybe there are three slots in the bed of the ANT where you can equip modules, the default design being filled with three NTU collectors/distributors. If you want to carry as many heavy ACEs as possible, you can ditch all three NTU units and carry three heavy ACEs.

Still a lot of tweaking needed, but I think there would be a lot of room to play with to make the general concept work.

Originally Posted by DviddLeff

This is how I would like to see buildings made around the landscape, or if bigger called in from orbit.

http://comms.planetsidesyndicate.com...read.php?t=950

Yeah the ideas 7 years old, but its solid.

Those are some solid ideas. With the more robust forgelight engine, I don't see why a lot of that stuff couldn't be worked into the game.

Traak · 2011-10-19, 04:51 AM

How about CemeNTU trucks? Carries a mixer with cemeNTU that you can pour out to form various things. That way even construction workers can feel part of the game!

RedKnights · 2011-10-19, 11:44 AM

...Is this an idea for a planetside MCV (Mobile Construction Vehicle)?

Red Alert in my MMO?

I love the ideas, with tactical coordination this could be a really cool feature.

"Target fire that AEV before it finishes that bunker on our perimeter!"

Cool stuff! =D

Raka Maru · 2011-10-19, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by RedKnights

...Is this an idea for a planetside MCV (Mobile Construction Vehicle)?

Red Alert in my MMO?

I love the ideas, with tactical coordination this could be a really cool feature.

"Target fire that AEV before it finishes that bunker on our perimeter!"

Cool stuff! =D

Yes, this is what it reminds me of too.

Traak · 2011-10-20, 07:36 AM

Quick! Shoot those TR before they carve their initials in the wet cemeNTU!

ratfusion · 2012-01-27, 02:43 PM

I was going to start a thread suggesting an engineering vehicle for building emplacements and small buildings. I'd love to see player built fortifications including spawn points and real manned defenses. Glad I did a search first.

This thread is excellent. The linked thread http://comms.planetsidesyndicate.com...read.php?t=950 is stupendous.

Forsaken One · 2012-01-29, 07:41 AM

If this would come to pass I think it should be more like a "drivable engineering platform."

As such when it starts building something its "building parts" would come out and start useing a "nanobot spray" to slowly build the object.

The "drivable engineering platform" could have a certain amount a nano spray till it will have to go back to a place so it can restock its nano spray ammo.

I do not think that anything aside from pulling the truck should cost any resources however. that would be like making a tank pay resources everytime it wanted to fire its gun.

Coreldan · 2012-01-29, 11:27 AM

Cos it seems they are hesitant at making single purpose vehicles, I wonder if one should consider if this could also be somekind of "advanced/heavy medic vehicle" at the same time, depending on your cert (as in, deeply certed engi has the engi goodies, deeply certed medic the medic goodies).

I just cant think of that many suitable medic goodies.. Perhaps it could deploy some thingies that will heal people around it? Perhaps it can be deployed (press B to deploy and get immobile meanwhile kinda thing) so it's a healing station to be parked for example near a Galaxy (then again, health regens slowly..).

That said, most of my short PS career I've been doing CE/FDU, so I'd really love this kinda thing, but I somewhat feel that it's gonna need more to it before they would consider it.