Rivers and river combat

Stardouser · 2012-03-30, 12:39 AM

Now, I know, naval combat is something people want AND it's something within the realm of possibilities.

But what do you guys think of some continents having navegable rivers, and river gunboats that can patrol them? Part of the strategy of the map could include capturing the specific base and tech plant on the river necessary to spawn them, both to use it for yourself, or to take it away from the enemy.

This is actually separate from the naval combat idea, because these could be done independently of full size naval ships. There could be overlap I suppose, though, if there are naval ships for the oceans, I suppose they could go into rivers of the continents as well. Or vice versa, even if there are no full size naval ships, the river gunboats could (to the extent the rivers connect to the ocean) go out and circle around the shore.

Goku · 2012-03-30, 12:46 AM

I would think this would be a good addition, but I think it to make worthwhile there would need to be a benefit to at least fighter over.

Cyssor in PS1 would of been perfect for river battles due to how much of it was broken up by water. Shame SOE never put in actual harbor type facility even just for Cyssor back then. Would of made Cyssor side a lot more enjoyable.

Stardouser · 2012-03-30, 12:48 AM

Wow, you're right. I actually started this thread because I had looked up photos of Esamir and saw some water inside the continent...seeing photos of Cyssor, that would be THE continent for this.

Skitrel · 2012-03-30, 12:49 AM

Going on previous gaming history, what would be the purpose of them? What's the motivations for players to use them? What's their role in the overall strategy of the game?

As we've seen from numerous other fps games over the years, boats barely get used for anything other than getting from A to B.

Not to mention, even if they had a role to play in bridge battles in particular, that's a pretty small aspect of the big picture and they'd barely get used otherwise no?

I can see them getting used if they were VERY fast and there's some excellent rivers to use on the continent to travel deep into enemy territory fast, otherwise I'm just not sure, other than perhaps a map like Cyssor.

Zulthus · 2012-03-30, 12:53 AM

Absolutely no harm in adding them. Many players would enjoy using them and could provide tactical advantages over other players. It'd definitely mix up gameplay.

Stardouser · 2012-03-30, 12:56 AM

Well, I imagine they would principally be used for defending bridge crossings, though I suppose they could be used, if possible, to go out on the out shoreline of the continent and take a raider squad behind enemy lines.

The biggest question would be, how many of them can there be? I'm guessing they would have a pilot/driver, and 3 weapon platforms: one front and one rear cannon, each about as powerful as a regular tank's weapon, and a modest AA/anti-infantry gun that, by itself, could probably only stand up to lighter aircraft.

I'm assuming that people who would ride on it, by the way, would literally be standing on it, and not locked into a position like they are in say, a Galaxy.

Just out of curiosity, were there any PS1 vehicles that people could ride on by standing on?

EVILPIG · 2012-03-30, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by Stardouser

Now, I know, naval combat is something people want

I disagree.

Zulthus · 2012-03-30, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by Stardouser

Just out of curiosity, were there any PS1 vehicles that people could ride on by standing on?

The most the game allowed you to do was stand on top of an aircraft as it elevated straight up. Moving in any direction caused you to fall off.

Goku · 2012-03-30, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by Stardouser

Wow, you're right. I actually started this thread because I had looked up photos of Esamir and saw some water inside the continent...seeing photos of Cyssor, that would be THE continent for this.

Yeah Cyssor is a perfect candidate for such types of battles due to being able to navigate through much of the cont if you had the proper transport.

Originally Posted by Skitrel

Going on previous gaming history, what would be the purpose of them? What's the motivations for players to use them? What's their role in the overall strategy of the game?

As we've seen from numerous other fps games over the years, boats barely get used for anything other than getting from A to B.

Not to mention, even if they had a role to play in bridge battles in particular, that's a pretty small aspect of the big picture and they'd barely get used otherwise no?

I can see them getting used if they were VERY fast and there's some excellent rivers to use on the continent to travel deep into enemy territory fast, otherwise I'm just not sure, other than perhaps a map like Cyssor.

Well that is the problem as you said. If Cyssor ever makes a comeback in this game perhaps the devs could make the cont for more river based combat. This could be a frontier area, so there isn't any or as many bridges for transport compared to others. Causing people to use the river to cross and for transport due to the majority of ground vehicles being useless to get to the other areas. Only major problem I see with this is the VS having a advantage due to their Magrider. Although a anti-tank type of weapon on the gunboat could always just down those with no problem. That would at least change up the game play methods a bit for this map. Even Hossin would be a bad idea if there was actual huge swamps making it hard for any land vehicle to get around. Good for infantry battles and making use of the boats.

Mechzz · 2012-03-30, 01:25 AM

Well, there have already been boats in this game for years.

They're called .... Magriders.....

Vanu technology allows our vehicles to float on water. Some of the common pool vehicles were also given the ability to float I think, so there has been limited water-based combat for some time.

Here's a thought on naval combat to make it not just "A to B", which I agree is all it tends to be.

We're on a planet, Auraxis, right?

So if your faction dominates the "ocean" between Cyssor and Esamir for example, then no resources for other empires can cross the ocean. Resources are too bulky and dangerous to be used with warp technology, so they need to be transported by sea.

This would, of course, need to be implemented with one-man battleships so we could all drive and guns these behemoths of the seas on our own, right?

Furber · 2012-03-30, 01:47 AM

Cool idea, but I wonder if it's a bit too late. Maybe post launch? I'm all for this idea

Lonehunter · 2012-03-30, 02:43 AM

Rivers would be a great stepping stone towards real naval combat in oceans.

Canaris · 2012-03-30, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by Mechzz

Well, there have already been boats in this game for years.

They're called .... Magriders.....

Vanu technology allows our vehicles to float on water. Some of the common pool vehicles were also given the ability to float I think, so there has been limited water-based combat for some time.

Not to mention and all it's variants

A week or so ago we had a full platoon in Raiders and we ran the Magriders out of the Sea.

TR NAVY RAIDERS RULE THE WAVES!

noxious · 2012-03-30, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Absolutely no harm in adding them. Many players would enjoy using them and could provide tactical advantages over other players. It'd definitely mix up gameplay.

The harm would be in diverting resources from more meaningful additions. Realistically, boats in rivers just won't be used for anything but transport. They're not very useful in real combat. They're not very useful in video game combat. There are much more important things that can be added to the game.

Mechzz · 2012-03-30, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by Canaris

[/IMG]
A week or so ago we had a full platoon in Raiders and we ran the Magriders out of the Sea.

Wow! I would have paid to be even on the losing side in that one!
Once it becomes easier to find awesome incidents like this again, rather than playing for a month and getting maybe one or two, this game (PS2) will be where it belongs - at the top of the list and GOTY.