Empire Specific Abilities for Non-MAX Infantry

[psimonk]

I always consider that the more differences the empires have the better. I always liked the MAX because they had different abilities in addition to weaponry. I would love to see all classes in PS2 have abilities that set the empires apart. This is essentially the last part of the system that doesn't have that distinction already, as even vehicles have empire specific sidegrades.

They could easily fit into the current strengths of the specific classes. For example, light assault:

TR - Boost - Instead of vertical flight, propels you forward at high speed
VS - Hover jets - Lets you hang in mid-air to ambush people
NC - Backfire - Acts like a flash bang, and damages people behind or underneath you

Anyway, that's just an example. Anything that influences a faction to approach a given situation differently than another is a good thing in my book. What do you think??

[Kran De Loy]

No.

Edit: Differences in empire weaponry is enough to differentiate infantry foot sloggers.

[GreatMazinkaise]

Originally Posted by Kran De Loy

No.

Edit: Differences in empire weaponry is enough to differentiate infantry foot sloggers.

Exactly this... the devs have been holding back on the things that truly differentiate empires, but I suspect we're gonna be seeing all of that really soon.

[CorvicM]

The Vs and TR abilities seem ok but how would "Backfire" be useful to the NC? for team killing?

[Shade Millith]

Originally Posted by psimonk

They could easily fit into the current strengths of the specific classes. For example, light assault:

TR - Boost - Instead of vertical flight, propels you forward at high speed
VS - Hover jets - Lets you hang in mid-air to ambush people
NC - Backfire - Acts like a flash bang, and damages people behind or underneath you

That 'boost' would be far too powerful. I play Tribes a good deal, and my main class is Pathfinder with a thrust pack.

I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I've boosted myself out of the way of anything from grenades, explosives, projectiles. How many times I've used it to dual at distance, gotten them to change to their longer range weapon and then boosted into their face.

Because I do it multiple times every match.

The hover jets and backfire would be very situational to use. Boost would be something you'd use in every single fight in a wide variety of situations.

Balancing is a difficult thing. We need to see the game first.

[Forsaken One]

Originally Posted by psimonk

NC - Backfire - Acts like a flash bang, and damages people behind or underneath you

So...

You want the NC to fart flashbangs.........?

[psimonk]

Like I said, those are just examples I threw out there, I wouldn't dwell on them too much.

[Dubious]

NC could get a self explode, as thats what they do anyway when they are near death

[Xaine]

Balance issues.

It was bad enough with the MAXs in Planetside 1.

We don't want anything like this really, although i sort of like the idea.

The Dev's have to balance all the different weapons, for a start. Lets not add something like this.

[Ohaunlaim]

Those ideas seem too unique and should be reserved for jump pack certs.

Empire specific stuff should follow suit with everything else...

NC - Lower acceleration when jump packs are used, but longer lasting.
VS - Greater maneuverability (strafing) while using their jump packs.
TR - Much faster acceleration, but shorter lasting.

Also the ability to spec out to nearly mimic the other empires' traits.


The Heavy Assault shield doohickey could follow similar lines...

NC - Higher damage reduction, but shorter lasting.
VS - Both lower damage reduction and shorter lasting, but super reduced cool down.
TR - Lower damage reduction, but longer lasting.

etc.