Would you like to see major differences in each empire?

SKYeXile · 2011-10-21, 11:47 PM

I'm sure most of you here that have played Planetside have seen that SOE tried to make each empire unique and have their own strengths and weaknesses, but in the end they're very much the same in an attempt to balance the game.

I'm wondering would players rather each empire to be the same, all have similar HA, MA, tanks and vehicles, or would you rather the game have a more starcraft balance to it, where each empire is totally different from one another, not having direct equivalent of vehicles or weapons? let me explain.

I'm going to attempt my take on the original empire themes, TR: More is better, NC: more powerful is better and VS: Versatile, while making them have superior technology, not just flashy lights, but at a cost.

Terrain Republic.
I would like to still keep their theme as more is better, but none of this 3 man vehicle stuff, I would like to make their vehicles, especially the prowler be single man, it would be not require tech. and be much more formidable than the lightning. this would cost as much cert points as a normal MBT. The TR would then have a vast array of weapons, they would be very specialised at what they do, but very effective at it, the downside being that they could be easily caught in the wrong situation. They would possibly even have the Mosquito with no tech requirement, but gain AV attachments and a bomber with tech.

New Conglomerate
I would very much be keeping the New conglomerate as they are now. Strong indoors and when they have technology, but weak against air. Their hand AV would be stronger because of increased prowler presence. The NC would then have a skeeter like aircraft as tech one and then the reaver and bomber as tech 2.

Vanu Sovereignty
Their weapons would have alternate fire modes, not simply AV modes, but change the weapon entity(would take 2-5 seconds, and eat more ammo depending on the round fired) heavy pulsars and sniper rifles would be combined. heavy assault possibly with a thumper. The VS would have no standard tank just a magrider, but it would be more effective than what it is currently against aircraft and infantry, along with increased health. The VS cert's would generally cost more, but a lot of the time not require perquisites because of their increased cost and functionality. overall they would have less weapons and vehicles available to them, because their weapons serve multiple roles. They would have the Dyson as a aircraft(prettymuch a skeeter) but at tech 2 it would become mutlicrew. Gaining AV rockets for the pilot and the passenger would control bombs like a liberator.

While these things you may think are not balanced(they’re probably not) the question is would you like to see something like this where empire differences are taken to an extreme or have each empire as carbon copies of each other so there is no question of balance?(though there would still be questioning of balance)

Zulthus · 2011-10-22, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by SKYeXile

Terrain Republic.
I would like to still keep their theme as more is better, but none of this 3 man vehicle stuff, [I would like to make their vehicles, especially the prowler be single man}NO, it would be not require tech]HELL NO and be much more formidable than the lightning. this would cost as much cert points as a normal MBT. The TR would then have a vast array of weapons, they would be very specialised at what they do, but very effective at it, the downside being that they could be easily caught in the wrong situation. They would possibly even have the [Mosquito with no tech requirement, but gain AV attachments and a bomber with tech.] HELL NO

New Conglomerate
I would very much be keeping the New conglomerate as they are now. Strong indoors and when they have technology, but weak against air. Their hand AV would be stronger because of increased prowler presence. The NC would then have a skeeter like aircraft as tech one and then the reaver and bomber as tech 2. I agree, but still no guided missiles.

Vanu Sovereignty
Their weapons would have alternate fire modes, not simply AV modes, but change the weapon entity(would take 2-5 seconds, and eat more ammo depending on the round fired) heavy pulsars and sniper rifles would be combined along with heavy assault and possibly thumpers. 1000x HELL NOThe VS would have no standard tank just a magrider Hell no., but it would be more effective than what it is currently against aircraft and infantry, along with increased health. The VS cert's would generally cost more, but a lot of the time not require perquisites because of their increased cost and functionality. overall they would have less weapons and vehicles available to them, because their weapons serve multiple roles. They would have the Dyson as a aircraft(prettymuch a skeeter) but at tech 2 it would become mutlicrew. Gaining AV rockets for the pilot and the passenger would control bombs like a liberator.

While these things you may think are not balanced(they’re probably not) the question is would you like to see something like this where empire differences are taken to an extreme or have each empire as carbon copies of each other so there is no question of balance?(though there would still be questioning of balance)

Nope. I'm fine with empires just having different armor/guns/vehicles. Some of the changes you listed are crazy. Why should the TR be able to pull a one man MBT without tech? No standard tank for Vanu? Vanu using 6 weapons in 1? No thanks. Leave this stuff to the devs imo.

Bags · 2011-10-22, 12:10 AM

I like how it was in Planetside 1.

But please no more three man TR vehicles.

Talek Krell · 2011-10-22, 12:13 AM

I would like the empires to be distinct in various ways. I will leave the best way to do that to the devs.

Sirisian · 2011-10-22, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by SKYeXile

I'm wondering would players rather each empire to be the same, all have similar HA, MA, tanks and vehicles

I don't like empire specific stuff. I don't want a reason to switch empires or a reason to have 3 accounts when the game begins just to experience everything.

And for the biggest reason I don't like ES weapons and vehicles:

Originally Posted by SKYeXile

in the end they're very much the same in an attempt to balance the game.

SOE could easily just reskin everything with their own particles and animations with the same gameplay for each empire and it would be excellent in my opinion.

SKYeXile · 2011-10-22, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Nope. I'm fine with empires just having different armor/guns/vehicles. Some of the changes you listed are crazy. Why should the TR be able to pull a one man MBT without tech? No standard tank for Vanu? Vanu using 6 weapons in 1? No thanks. Leave this stuff to the devs imo.

Perhaps its a little crazy...Lightning isn't very effective anyway, and the other empires would obviously have increased infantry AV damage. probably the 100mm would be overkill for a tech 1 tank, but have the tech 1 come with a 75mm and 20mm the tech 2 with a 100mm and a 20mm.

The VS thing was a grammar error.

My balance posts are normally pretty unbiased and well agreed with, a rough concept as a basis for discussion. This was certainly not to be taken as "DO THIS!"

Also with the Skeeter, Reaver and Dyson being TR, NC and VS respectively...do you think they would be only available as a tech 1? or tech 1 and 2 gaining upgrades in tech 2? Because i think we will see a skeeter with missiles...

Leave it to the devs!

DviddLeff · 2011-10-22, 03:59 AM

Take Starcraft as a good example of how to have radically different play styles facing each other in a more or less balanced way.

CutterJohn · 2011-10-22, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by DviddLeff

Take Starcraft as a good example of how to have radically different play styles facing each other in a more or less balanced way.

Starcraft has no leveling, and you can play against or with anyone, and switch between empires after every match.

To experience a different factions playstyle in PS you must switch your empire, giving up playing with your friends, and spend a fair amount of time redoing the level grind nonsense.

I like MA style differences. Minor alterations to damage/rof/effective range. I do not like AV style differences, with major differences in capability.

I'd love an 'Everythings common pool' server in PS2.

Xyntech · 2011-10-22, 04:32 AM

I'd like as many ES vehicles and weapons as possible, but I don't want most of the differences to be too large. You could create an overall unique feeling empire by having a lot of subtle differences instead of a few large ones. That, along with ES sidegrades and the all important cosmetic differences.

Maybe most ES differences could be like slightly more extreme versions of sidegrades. This gun does more damage per shot than that gun, but has a lower right of fire, etc.

I actually wouldn't mind a couple of the differences from PS1 to be toned back slightly. Maybe the base Jack Hammer could be more on par with the MCG at short and medium ranges. Similar damage over time, it just fires in bursts of damage instead of a steady stream. VS could get a new HA that was more similar to the two, with the Lasher redesigned as an ES Special Assault weapon.

Traak · 2011-10-22, 04:49 AM

I want to see major differences in every single class, in all empires.

I liked the mental switch I would do:

"NC. Watch for Phoenix snipers, no problem with Fire and Forget, TR are not here."

Automatically falling into the best evasive or attack behavior for whatever max or vehicle I faced was part of the fun. Everyone in cookie-cutter vehicles that are only different in paint? El Nope-O.

I largely choose my empire of the moment or month, or months, based on a weapon system I like being best for my play style.

I don't want to be like an angry chicken faced with two mirrors that are tinted two different colors, and it is always angry and pecking at its own reflection, but, strangely the other-color chicken always meets its pecks precisely and counters them!

Variety, it's the spice of life.

FastAndFree · 2011-10-22, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by Traak

"NC. Watch for Phoenix snipers, no problem with Fire and Forget, TR are not here."

Isn't the sparrow the only fire-and-forget missile in the game?

Point in case, AA MAXes are alredy a major difference between the empires, and I don't think I would be sad if they were more similar in their weaponry in PS2.

Brusi · 2011-10-22, 05:36 AM

I still think the game could be awesome if emp spec weapons and vehicles just gave the impression of a difference...

However i strongly believe the starcraft method will add a level of replay value to PS2, as once you are truly sick and tired of playing your initial empire, you can try it how the other half live.

I would hate for the community aspect of the game to be disrupted due to this though, as it's definitely one of the most important parts!

Traak · 2011-10-22, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by FastAndFree

Isn't the sparrow the only fire-and-forget missile in the game?

I'm not a pilot, so the Sparrow didn't enter my mind.

But, what I should have said is "lock-on".

Bags · 2011-10-22, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by CutterJohn

Starcraft has no leveling, and you can play against or with anyone, and switch between empires after every match.

To experience a different factions playstyle in PS you must switch your empire, giving up playing with your friends, and spend a fair amount of time redoing the level grind nonsense.

I like MA style differences. Minor alterations to damage/rof/effective range. I do not like AV style differences, with major differences in capability.

I'd love an 'Everythings common pool' server in PS2.

The MA was very unbalanced.

Xyntech · 2011-10-22, 02:27 PM

I guess I'd like the empires to either have subtle differences or extreme differences. Star Craft level of differences would be awesome, but I'm not sure if they would be able to pull off that level of balance. I can't think of a balanced FPS that has had sides as radically different as Star Craft. It would certainly be a huge plus for Planetside 2 if they were successful.

I don't want the empires to be clones of each other either though. I think Planetside mostly got it right overall, but I think some differences should be toned down a little while the reliance on common pool is reduced.

It sounds like sidegrades, as well as a few additions such as ES fighters should move PS2 further in favor of a wider variety of ES options, so all that remains to be seen is how drastic the differences are.

Either way, I hope the differences are noticeable. I just tend to lean towards subtle differences because I know they will be easier to balance.