Gameplay: Darklight Trip Laser Defenses & More

Zekeen · 2012-04-20, 12:09 PM

I thought this was going to be short and simple, but somehow I ended up fleshing it out far more than original planned.

This idea is to further expand upon and enhance the tactical nature of the relation of stealth and area defenses. By dividing the needs of defense against active enemies and infiltration, more strategy can be created.

Right now we have boomers and/or mines, which, while good and simple, could be improved for a more enjoyable experience. By expanding and separating stealth and basic defenses, we create an element of gearing a base defenses in stages - pre and post assault.

Trip Lasers add a new element of fun for indoor defenses. Rather than a proximity or being stepped on, intruders can spot the laser and get a feel of urgency to stop and deal with it, rather than rush in and just take the casualties. Now, let's for lore and fun sake, say that stealth technology allows for an infiltrator to walk past these lasers without triggering them. Now we add in the concept of Darklight trip Lasers, which only react to a stealth suit. This changes the battlefield, making you require to choose between anti soldier or anti infiltrator defenses, thus - pre and post assault setups. This means if your assault team breaches into the enemy base core, you probably don't need to worry about the mines since they will probably be set up for infiltrators.

Darklight Trip Lasers - As stated, these only react to stealth suits. Due to the fact that the energy charge of the suit, which can quickly align to create an optical field, even uncloaked stealth suits will set off Darklight Lasers. (This prevents infiltrators from having an easy bypass of traps) Darklight Trip Lasers can be exposed by darklight flashlights and similar devices. An infiltrator that manages to spot and expose a darklight trap will need to wait for the right moment to disable it without being detected.

Darklight Alarm - A Darklight Trip Laser setup similar to a trip mine except that it is smaller and less visible on the wall. The laser is exposed the same way, giving it the potential danger of a mine, except that should an unwary infiltrator walk through the laser, the base in which the alarm is placed will enter a yellow alert, letting defenders know of an infiltrator presence with lights and alarm sounds. This effect lasts for a few minutes.

Personal Darklight Sensor - A small device that is placed on the ground or wall that uses a low frequency echo to detect light hampering nanite particles. It cannot alarm a base, but is used to add a blip (with a quiet beeping alarm) to the placer whenever an infiltrator nears the device. The area of detection is remarkably small, making it only useful for certain areas, such as hallways. It is not detectable by darklight due to it being proximity, but it lets out a small beeping or humming sound as it attempts to detect stealthers with it's echo.

Localized Defenses - Should things such as small automated turrets be added, they would receive a darklight variant. They will have a darklight mounted on the device, and it would have a decreased detection range. As before, it would not attack non stealth suit wearing enemies.

TERK - Tactical Explosive Remove Kit - This is a device used mainly by infiltrators to get past defenses. It allows the removable of dangerous devices, as well as hindrances such as alarms, turrets, or otherwise. A side effect of this kit is that it interrupts not just darklight systems, but also nanite cloaking systems, as they rely on the same particle function. This allows an infiltrator to remove the device safely without fail but causes the infiltrator to be somewhat visible or uncloaked entirely. It takes time, depending on the device, for the infiltrator to disable it, forcing him to decide on he best time to reveal to remove the hindrance.

Echo Jammer - A small handheld portable device used to jam the echo of personal sensors. It does not cause an infiltrator to decloak when used and allows passage past sensors without causes them to detect the infiltrator. Due to the small size, complexity, and powerful energy charger, it can only hold a short charge. When equipped in hand, it uses an enhancer to the sound of a sensor, making it easier to detect.

Darklight Camera - A placeable, remote controlled camera with automatic detection capabilities. The camera can function in a basic mode, allowing for the long range viewing of non stealthed enemies, or a short range darklight mode to expose infiltrators. The camera is remote controlled from a personal screen (which would not zoom in like a map screen, but be shown in the characters hands and cover 1/2-3/4 the screen, so they can see when an enemy is in front of them). The camera can be set into an automatic detection darklight mode to pick up on cloaked enemies, in which it will beep the owner when one is detected. It will not beep for non cloaked enemies and cannot detect an uncloaked infiltrator.

Should you guys enjoy this idea enough and it receives enough positive attention, I may draw out some concept art for the devices to better showcase what I'm talking about.

FPClark · 2012-04-21, 04:56 AM

I like a lot of these ideas (Fleshing out steather gameplay more is nice) but I think that they should require deep engie certing for the traps and deep cloaker certing for the countermeasures.

Zekeen · 2012-04-21, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by FPClark

I like a lot of these ideas (Fleshing out steather gameplay more is nice) but I think that they should require deep engie certing for the traps and deep cloaker certing for the countermeasures.

Well obviously so many would require quite a few engineer certs and sidegrades, I did list a lot. Not to mention anything a little odd should be something you can work for, it's what gives the game more length and depth, making you want to play on to unlock and then try them out.

Blackwolf · 2012-04-21, 07:10 PM

The ideas are sound, I like them.

Semetis · 2012-04-22, 12:10 AM

I really really like this and have a few comments of my own

Darklight Trip Lasers involving this type of trip laser, I think it would be more interesting if it could not detect a stealth suit that is not active forcing the defensive force to place these at visable choke points. and if they are foolish enought to missplace these the inflitrator can simple uncloak and waltz through

Darklight Alarm - This is awesome

Personal Darklight Sensor - now what would the basis be for how it would warn the individual using this> blip louder faster or what?

Localized Defenses - This for me falls under interesting but im not sure of the feasability, i guess used in conjunction with other defensive systems it would be interesting but I think it goes to far into anti stealther capabilities.

TERK - Tactical Explosive Remove Kit - consider the implimentation of the prior devises this is crucial and I feel that while using this the stealther should be maby like 25% more visable or something but not completely removed from stealth have it do something like fracture the frequency being used by the suit.

Echo Jammer - This gets my vote

Darklight Camera - I like this but maby have a toll of using it like to swap out of using the camera to get a weapon would take like 2 seconds longer or something, just an idea

Overall bro I really really like all of these and hope they get implemented into gameplay

Zekeen · 2012-04-22, 01:19 PM

Thanks for the Comments Semetis, and now to answer your questions!

The Personal Darklight Sensor would be something of a personal radar blip. When a stealther walks through it's echo, you would hear a slight beeping sound, indicating that one of your sensors has detected a cloaker, it would also display a dot on the map where the detection occurred, so you know where and which device found them. This would only alert you, which is why it's so much easier to hide.

The Localized Defenses was just a little bit on IF these were added. I don't even know if we will get sentry turrets at all. It's just to cover all bases.

The TERK - Tactical Explosive Remove Kit would be any sort of extra visibility, maybe partial cloakign would be best like you said though.

The way the Darklight Camera would work would be like the devices in BF3 but a little more different. You'd be holding it out in front of you, but wouldn't zoom in to full screen. So, let's say a tank rides over the hill in front of you, you're seeing it and running like hell! Also makes it a little bit harder to see on the camera instead of shoving your face into the screen to see every small detail. Adds more realism and function. I always found it funny in games when a guy is watching this monitor so much they can't see you stab them in the face.