The effects of cliffs and plateaus

WorldOfForms · 2012-07-12, 07:54 PM

A huge terrain feature that makes landscapes different from PS1 are all these cliffs and plateaus we're seeing on Indar. Not sure about Amerish, but based on the concept art for Esamir, it looks like that continent will have them as well (but they'll be glaciers).

So, how will this change land battles? Here are some thoughts...

- They may provide safe havens for infantry from ground vehicle attack. However, what we don't know is if there are ramps that will allow vehicles to get on top of the cliffs, or if there are trails for infantry to scale on their own. If no trails, then you'll only get there via aircraft. Which means a Galaxy could be quite the sniper's nest overlooking a base.

- Cliffs give a huge advantage to aircraft. For one, it means that vehicles are restricted in where they can travel much more. In PS1 a vehicle could drive almost anywhere - most mountains were not cliffs. So Aircraft will be the only unit type that can move over any land easily and freely - much moreso than in PS1. Also, cliffs are so abundant from the screenshots this means that breaking locks and line of sight will be much easier, allowing air to easily disappear around a cliff and return to attack at a different angle.

- Infantry parked on top of cliffs may be screwed by aircraft if friendly lightnings can't get up there to help defend them. Is there any cover on top of those cliffs? I doubt it. If there's no cover, infantry AA and MAX AA might not help much with LOS-breaking cliff edges helping aircraft.

- Light assaults will have some fun being able to jump off cliffs and using jets to survive the landing.

Any other thoughts on how cliffs will affect gameplay?

That one noob · 2012-07-12, 09:34 PM

Cliffs shall serve as excellent places to play matador against any Magriders wishing to mow.

Hamma · 2012-07-12, 09:45 PM

There are ways to get up on most of the cliffs that I have seen, there are also small outposts scattered on cliff tops and ravines. It will be interesting to see how battle plays out with all of those variables.

ChookWantan · 2012-07-12, 09:54 PM

I love vertical gameplay. I want to drive a Flash off of a cliff and into a flying Galaxy.

Or on top of it like a flying platform! MUST TRY

capiqu · 2012-07-12, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by ChookWantan

I love vertical gameplay. I want to drive a Flash off of a cliff and into a flying Galaxy.

Or on top of it like a flying platform! MUST TRY

Good idea deploy some C4 on that Galaxy while u at it and boom.

Emperor · 2012-07-12, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by WorldOfForms

- Cliffs give a huge advantage to aircraft.

NapalmEnima · 2012-07-12, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Emperor

IMG cliff vs mosquito: cliff wins IMG

Well played.

Looks more like aircraft give a huge advantage to cliffs.

SztEltviz · 2012-07-13, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by That one noob

Cliffs shall serve as excellent places to play matador against any Magriders wishing to mow.

They levitating on magnetic force, not hovercrafts, so they should really just turn around and come back to kill you

Actually magriders are heavy scythes, totally should have altitude control in them.

GhettoPrince · 2012-07-13, 07:14 AM

Sounds like great light assault gameplay and classic gal drops, really, though it might be fun to see some grappling hooks or zip / rapel lines.

kaffis · 2012-07-13, 01:32 PM

I actually forsee cliffs and ravines forming nice classic chokepoints, just as surely as bridges do/did.

Still an excellent advantage for aerial combatants of all stripes.

SgtExo · 2012-07-13, 01:53 PM

I foresee cliffs being used as forward operating bases when assaulting bases and becoming redoubts if the assault fails. But I doubt that there are going to allot of plateaus that are completely closed of to ground vehicles.

ringring · 2012-07-13, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by kaffis

I actually forsee cliffs and ravines forming nice classic chokepoints, just as surely as bridges do/did.

Still an excellent advantage for aerial combatants of all stripes.

Not 100% certain but it looked like, from the map, that the boudaries between each of the three factions territoriesare cliffs / mountain passes which will surely be a choke point for vehicles.

If so, this is something to look at, I mean, does it make defence of a boundary too strong?

Elays · 2012-07-13, 01:58 PM

I'm really looking forward to laying some ambushes for an unsuspecting armor column, Indiana Jones style.

The Degenatron · 2012-07-13, 02:08 PM

If you watch the "Dual Commentary" video on youtube, you see places where the cliffs fall away and there are wide open expanses of desert during the fly over. Also rolling hills with rocky outcroppings.

Terrain will play a major role in what tactics are viable.

Get you popcorn ready.

Edit: Added video down here: