Higgles on certs and progression

Roy Awesome · 2012-01-24, 07:59 PM

Higby just hit us with some knowledge over on /r/planetside

http://redd.it/ouma7

We've got a couple different cert unlocking designs in the works currently, one, which we've talked about the most is the time-based unlock that functions similar (but not identically) to EvE. We also have a cert point system which allows for cert point generation when offline as well as through in game accomplishments. Both of these systems integrate battlerank in different ways.

In terms of class-based, yes, we're class-based. We don't restrict your class or force you to only earn certs for the class currently being played. You can go get a bunch of cert points by killing guys in a mosquito and spend them on perks for infiltrator weapons, etc.

It sounds like more play time = more progression, but offline training is still in. They are also iterating through a bunch of progression models right now, so this is all WIP information.

Warborn · 2012-01-24, 08:10 PM

It will be nice to play the game and finally see how the cert system works.

Mastachief · 2012-01-24, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I don't frequent reddit that often.

SKYeXile · 2012-01-24, 08:30 PM

Umm yea sounds like we'll be generating afew cert points or something per kill or support or stuff then then while offline they possibly generate at 1 per minute or so.

something like upgrading a weapon could cost like 100-1000 cert points.

Apparently this can also be sped up by spending resources as mentioned in previous articles.

Im not sure how the BR fully integrates with it, but from what iv herd some of the things would require a higher up battlerank to train or it was something like you can only train so many things per BR or something like that.

Hamma · 2012-01-24, 08:34 PM

Cool stuff sounds a bit more involved than we were expecting.

Vash02 · 2012-01-24, 08:39 PM

Hmmm I think people had assumed that the time based system meant: "Train cycler: 5 hours". but now it seems more like you earn a cert points at a steady rate and then you can speed that rate up by killing people? something like it knocks 2 minutes off everytime you kill a guy?

all very confuzzling.

Lonehunter · 2012-01-24, 08:45 PM

While I don't think it would be good to spend 100% of your time as a cloaker and just keep lvling up MAX armor/weapons, I don't see a problem using common pool vehicles or weaponry to earn xp that you could spend in any class. But if all I do is knife people while cloaking, then that xp should just go towards cloaking

SKYeXile · 2012-01-24, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Lonehunter

While I don't think it would be good to spend 100% of your time as a cloaker and just keep lvling up MAX armor/weapons, I don't see a problem using common pool vehicles or weaponry to earn xp that you could spend in any class. But if all I do is knife people while cloaking, then that xp should just go towards cloaking

I think this system is looking better, it allows people to experiment more with other certs, also a bonus to veteran players who have spent all their time doing one thing can easily spend pooled points and tryout something new rather than having to grindout another tree.

ringring · 2012-01-25, 06:37 AM

But, if you spend your cert points on one perk, can you change your mind later and uncert then cert something else.

I expect you can, but perhaps it will be a micropayment.

Figment · 2012-01-25, 06:55 AM

From that description, sounds to me like there won't be a limitation beyond classes.

So basically you will get "BR40", with class restrictions only, eventually. Which means you can't get a definite advantage through cert points over another player. You might get one over another class, but when his rock dies to your paper, he is coming back with scissors after which you bring rock again.

So to deny people access to stuff, limiting their resources is the only way.

Hmr85 · 2012-01-25, 08:04 AM

Just a random thought. So I assume eventually if you play long enough you should have everything unlocked however long down the road. Sort of like BR40 now? or are we going to have to pick and choose are certs very very carefully.

Mod · 2012-01-25, 08:16 AM

I think at this stage, we cannot answer that question for definite.

Lot of possibilities...

Figment · 2012-01-25, 08:54 AM

Higby did say quite some time ago in some interview you could learn ALL skills eventually over a long period of time. He did not explicitly state if you could use them all, but I guess so.

Firefly · 2012-01-25, 09:10 AM

"Higgles"? What the fuck? Are you a 14yr old girl?

FriendlyFire · 2012-01-25, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Figment

Higby did say quite some time ago in some interview you could learn ALL skills eventually over a long period of time. He did not explicitly state if you could use them all, but I guess so.

Using all of them and using all of them, at the same time, are two different things. PS2 will have a class system so we should never see the problems PS1 has with BR40s.