Continent pop limits lowered?

Calista · 2014-01-11, 01:04 PM

I had my suspicions they lowered the cont pop limits but last night some in FNO chat said they officially acknowledged Indar being lowered to 1200 and I think Esamir and Amerish to 1800? Can anyone verify that?

Emperor Newt · 2014-01-11, 01:31 PM

They lowered the caps quiet some time ago, didn't they?
Either way, this isn't going to have an effect on pretty much every server except Connery unless they go below 1000. 1200 players is still more then half of what pretty much all servers have during prime-time on a "good" day.

Calista · 2014-01-11, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Emperor Newt

They lowered the caps quiet some time ago, didn't they?
Either way, this isn't going to have an effect on pretty much every server except Connery unless they go below 1000. 1200 players is still more then half of what pretty much all servers have during prime-time on a "good" day.

I know I have heard they did but never saw anything "official" but yeah I agree this is not a bad move. Now if they can just get rid of some of the fluff facilities (at least as part of the lattice) we might be heading in the right direction. This game lacks a "crescendo" effect. It just seems there is constant running and gunning footzerging from facility to facility without any sort of buildup of suspense. It's bad enough playing it like this but watching it for some general entertainment really blows.

typhaon · 2014-01-11, 04:26 PM

Calista - I agree. As part of the Amerish revamp, I read they are adding more facilities... and I, also, think this is the wrong direction.

almalino · 2014-01-11, 04:51 PM

SOE defenetelly lowered it because on Miller there is now ALWAYS a queue to Indar and often to Esamir. Insane.

Boildown · 2014-01-11, 05:31 PM

I think they determined the primary driver of membership sales are continent queues.

Neutral Calypso · 2014-01-11, 06:06 PM

I suspect that this is some kind of tech test. Whether or not the servers run more smoothly if the caps are a little lower. That said, it is annoying on Connery. XP

capiqu · 2014-01-11, 09:38 PM

Probably just trying to get more people to play on Amerish and Esamir. Two continents I stay away from because the fights are usually not that great.

Rivenshield · 2014-01-11, 11:04 PM

I wish they'd just come out and tell us what the cont pops *ARE.* Why aren't they? Why so goddam cagey?

Mastachief · 2014-01-13, 05:22 AM

Pop cap was lowered for tech reasons. Indar now functions when it's pop locked, prior to this med packs failed but were consumed, vehicle/equip terms took ages to open, bailing happened 10 seconds after requested, healing and repair didn't work properly, light assaults had infinite jetpack, esfs had infinite afterburner.

I think it was done around the PU1.

Pop locks are not a problem right now and you don't need a membership to find a fight (on miller). This however may become a problem when the inter continent lattice comes in and there are restrictions on which continents are open to you so the fronts will be few. This is not a reason to not have intercontinental lattice it is a reason that the game needs 12 continents and other mechanics to get onto continents you shouldn't be on (like the cave links in ps1 and the ability to drain a base to neutral to then refill and hack it.)

What i think these lower pop caps are responsible for are more sustained periods of combat between bases both on the ground and in the air. It means that not every route(lane) is a clusterfuck and smaller fights can happen without being zerg stomped all the time. Still it's no substitute for base design, despite updates to outposts and bases vehicles can still spam control points / routes from spawns to control points which is ultimately frustrating for 90% of the player base.