New Patch

[Arthell]

I know there hasnt been much talk about the new patch yet since nobody has had much of a chance to play it, but im concerned about one of the main changes. Armor.

We all knew there were going to be a ton of MAXs, mainly AI MAXs, running around after the wipe, but when the patch notes said you would need AV weapons to kill things such as MAXs, Tanks, etc. they werent kidding.

I joined a squad and hooked up with another squad to start taking bases. NC werent present on the continent, TR had 2/3 of the bases while we had 1/3. By the end of an hour we only had two bases left.

The very first TR attack was composed of a group of infantry and AI MAX who hot-dropped over the base. The infantry died almost immediatly, but the MAX made it to the CC room, killing a number of infantry on the way up. We finally killed him after 2 infantry and 1 of our AI MAXs pounded on him for awhile.

A few minutes later infantry and MAXs started showing up again. Infantry were were taken down on both sides, but the MAXs would never die. They would only die if they met another MAX, and since they were all AI it would take atleast 3 clips to kill the other.

Fed up by not even being able to dent a MAX, I, including half of my squad, ditched our most costly cert and grabbed a MAX suit. Only then did we actually start to fight back. I ran straight into a group of TR to see how much punishment a VS MAX could take before it went down. I didnt die until 3 infantry, 1 AI MAX, a sunderer, and a wall turret were all shooting at me. The real kicker is that just before i charged in 2 infantry were attacking me. They both emptied a clip (i just stood there) and in the end i had taken 49 armor points of damage. I killed them in seconds.

Our 1st base fell and i spawned at our second base. There were already enemy MAXs fighting inside. I knew we could fight off the guys at our base, but i also knew we would be swarmed by TR MAXs in minutes, so our two squads just recalled to the sanctuary.


This is my first experience since the patch. Im going to see what its like more tomorrow, but my first reaction is that infatry fighting grunts are obsolete. I know PS is suppose to be about teamwork, but with this patch it just looks more like an EQ with guns. You cant kill armor X if you have gun Y, only gun Z can kill armor X. If you meet someone you dont have the weapon for, run or die.

Edit : Posting here rather than the beta boards as i want to get other players views on how they think the armor issue is.

[simba]

oh man that suxx!!!!!!!

[Knuckles]

From the build notes:

Best absorption (deflection)
============================
AMS
Magrider
Prowler
Vanguard
Sunderer

Medium absorption (deflection)
==============================
Deliverer
Galaxy
Lightning

Lightest absorption (deflection)
================================
ANT
Enforcer
Marauder
MAX
Reaver
Thresher

No absorption (deflection)
==========================
Basilisk
Harasser
Mosquito
Wraith

If You think MAX:s are tough - just wait til the tanks start rolling in.

[Led]

I love it how they made the gauss rifle into a really crappy cycler with less accuracy and a smaller magazine. NC were getting rode over on oshur tonight. Without a way to take out their chaingunners and cycler users at range, we stood no chance in close quarters. Unless we swarmed and gangbanged them, and stole their weapons.

I was considering trying out vanu, but hell, we ARE the vanu now!

[Hamma]

Its all psychological, i doubt they would gimp it that bad. Being TR and getting leveled in seconds by a gauss, I would argue otherwise

[Delirare]

its because things arent even yet. once people get a few levels you'll see people who have the AV cert. AV weapons easily tear maxes up

[Joker]

The first post is very negative, but IMO it sounds like a good thing that MAXes are more resistant to small arms fire. Surely this will greater encourage the use of anti-vehicle infantry weapons and AV MAXes within squads.

Now, instead of only needing a couple of AI MAXes and maybe a coupla guys with AV weapons for use against vehicles, squads and outfits will need to include elements that are proficient in destroying enemy MAXes. This furthers the whole idea of Rock/Paper/Scissors.

Example: If you attack (or defend) a base with infantry only, you can expect to get taken out by enemy AI MAXes and enemy vehicles without much trouble. In order to combat this, you will need to outfit more of your soldiers with AV weapons, you will want some Main Battle Tanks or maybe some Reavers, and you will need some guys in AV MAX suits. Of course, your opposition will need to counter this in turn, with their own anti-vehicle and anti-air elements.

Hopefully soon we will see sqauds composed of many different types of troops, using specialised firepower and vehicles in intelligent ways to take out the opposition. As Delirare suggested, once people have built up more certs, battlefield tactics should really start to take off.

[Agent]

Ya know, when I first got a chance to test Planet-Side I thought it would make sense if MAXs were more of a vehicle than a person. I was supprised how a few infantry could really hurt you as a MAX. I haven't played it yet but to me it seems to make more sense, since MAXs were really supposed to be vehicles.

This also relates to my question, what is better as an anti-MAX if you are in a MAX? Would you use AI MAX on another MAX or would you use AV MAX on another MAX?

[Camping Carl]

I pretty much guessed this would happen, and that the devs would swing things too far the other way. This is a bit more than I was expecting tho.

And arthell, was anybody using AV weapons against the max suits?

[Navaron]

Max's are about right now. Before, I would try and jump them, and land a couple of nades on them, but now I just crouch and slip past through the trees - or I grab a AV weapon offa dead guy. I like it.

[Seer]

I'm with Navaron. I like being afraid and vulnerable.

[Sindustry]

It's the only way to go!

[Hellsfire123]

Im just curious how u stayed connected long enough to see an enemy. Since the patch i cant stay connected for longer then 3-4 minutes.

[Diego]

I personally love the fact that MAX's are really hard to kill. This means you need a good Outfit or group to be in, to last long at all. I went solo for a while (When I was in BETA) and then decided to quit. MAX's are fine how they are, I agree with Navaron...

I worked hard to get over the whole 'Woah this game owns!' phase so I know what to do one I get the retail. I'm over that stage so I think I'm done playing for now.

I do have one question, when exactly is the whipe taking place? I thought it was Midnight between Wednesday & Thursday, was it? And to clearify some things, the whipe is just starting the character off at squre one, or deleting it as a whole and requiring you to remake a character???

[Fire_Monkey]

Well, sounds like they need to tone the MAX down a little bit. It's not really supposed to be a vehicle, but half vehicle/half infantry. kinda thing. If you look at the walls of a vangaurd, they are a lot thicker than the armor of a max. If it's slightly toned down, I believe that this will be ok, because as joker said, this will encourage more specialized units in a squad.