WOW Patch

[Will]

Update Type News

Associate Producer's Letter - July 21, 2003
Several weeks ago, we announced our future plans for the game and started on PlanetSide's never-ending journey of continually added content and gameplay. The two new vehicles we added, the Liberator three-person bomber and the SkyGuard anti-aircraft buggy, have had a huge impact on battle conditions across Auraxis. Commanders are now able to rain destruction on their enemies through the Orbital Strike and EMP Blasts. Medics are now able to locate soldiers that need their help easier. I wanted to take a moment to shed some light on what's next for PlanetSide.

In a few weeks, we'll be shaking up the base capture process by bringing out of the SOI and back onto the terrain. In order to successfully capture a base, rather than waiting inside the base's SOI for the capture process to count down, players will need to capture a base's Lattice Logic Unit and deliver it to one of their nearest facilities. We'll describe this more fully in the coming days.

In the month of August, we will be finishing up the long-awaited Facility Link Benefits across the world. As described previously, these will include the following:

Bio Laboratory: Reduces all respawn penalties by 50%. Note that this only applies to linked facilities , not Towers or AMSs.
Technology Plant: Makes "advanced" vehicles available at any vehicle pad linked to a friendly Tech Plant.
Amp Station: Allows vehicles to recharge their shield capacitors in the courtyard of any linked facility. This shield strengthens the armor of the vehicle, but its strength dissipates as damage hits that shield. Vehicles recharge over time when in a linked courtyard. Vehicles' energy dissipates only when they're damaged. There is no way to recharge a shield capacitor "in the field."
Dropship Center: Allows access to Repair/Rearm Pads at linked facilities. Air vehicles can now land on the air vehicle pads, and ground vehicles can pull up to a wall station in the courtyards. Once at the Dropship Center, the vehicles can repair themselves over time; and they can access a terminal interface that's based in the Equipment Terminal allowing them to fill their trunk space without leaving the vehicle.
Interlink Facility: Greatly enhances the coverage area of a player's basic radar and makes Phalanx Wall Turrets much more effective.
In addition, we will be implementing the Base Ownership System. This will allow Outfits to stake their claim on a friendly base and claim certain benefits as long as it remains under their Empire's control. Outfits will be able to quickly recall to Outfit-owned bases, similar to recalling to Sanctuary. An Outfit-owned base will always be available as a respawn point to players on the same continent, regardless of their proximity to the base. Of course, controlling your own turf isn't half as cool if no one knows the base is yours. This will warn enemies of who they're about to attack upon entering an Outfit-owned SOI. The Outfit's logo will appear on the Empire hologram flag and be visible over the base SOI on the Continental Map.

To help those brave soldiers who choose to stay behind and defend their Empire's facility holdings, there will be an Enemy Density Warning. Soldiers in a friend SOI will be alerted when enemy forces begin to build up near the facility.

We continue our ongoing efforts to eliminate bugs and exploits. There have been a few stubborn issues that we hope to have addressed soon. We'll also implementing enhanced community features in the near future.

For Land. For Power. Forever. See you on Auraxis!

Danny "Blackbird" Han
Associate Producer

 

[Gabrial]

Could be interesting...

 

[Will]

A bit of terrain fighting, and having your own base.

I do like the sound of that.

 

[Manic Miner]

In a few weeks, we'll be shaking up the base capture process by bringing out of the SOI and back onto the terrain. In order to successfully capture a base, rather than waiting inside the base's SOI for the capture process to count down, players will need to capture a base's Lattice Logic Unit and deliver it to one of their nearest facilities. We'll describe this more fully in the coming days.

sounds like they are trying to introduce ctf style of play. tbh, i'm not interested in ctf, infact - i really dislike it and all of it's permutations. i've never enjoyed a ctf mod in any of the fps games i've played.

anyway, i spose i'll just wait and see what they do with it. hopefully the game won't be totally centered around that idea. as with all the concerns about how fierce orbital strikes would be, i spose i should just wait and see and probably be pleasantly surprised

 

[Will]

Shamelessly ripped from elsewhere

The LLU is a piece of equipment (a chip or whatever) that you have to carry from the base that you want to take over to a base that has a link, to establish the link and finalize the hack.

I really like this idea, because it will significantly switch the focus of the game from indoor fights towards outdoor fights and vehicles. Currently 90% of the fighting in PS takes place indoors or nearby bases. Currently most vehicles are useless, except for quick transportation. In future tanks will become really important, as transport and as escort for the LLU chip carrier. And terrain will become much more important, as the LLU carrier has to cross terrain and can be ambushed by the enemy. And aircrafts will become more important, as they are the best weapon to intercept and enemy LLU carrier.

Plus ... the introduction of the LLU removes the annoying and boring 15 minutes waiting time when everybody sits around the CC doing nothing, waiting for the hack to complete. Now some people will escort the LLU carrier, while others will already move on to the next base. No more waiting time.

 

[Sarum TheBlack]

Sounds good

More tactical play can only be a good thing. And owning bases would be pretty cool, and the re-arm stuff super useful (hate running back and forth trying to restock, only to get torched by a striker or something as soon as I leave the base)

 

[Rigon-Noir-]

So far most if not all of the additions to Planetside have been pretty good, the Liberator being the one to shift the balance of power i think, although the skygaurd is starting to get some use now (once hacked on fo those and got in the gun turret, holy shit the're devastating).

Good to see it's not standing still and the up coming additions sound great.

 

[Uncle Sick(tm)]

Ohhhh... sounds nice. Finally there will be a reason to defend bases.
Outfits should be allowed to upgrade facilities, tho. Like reinforced doors etc.
Bases are just way too easy to get in.

And LOL at all the whiners who left right after the first month - now the game really becomes interesting. Well done, SOE.

 

[Manic Miner]

Originally posted by Will.
Shamelessly ripped from elsewhere

The LLU is a piece of equipment (a chip or whatever) that you have to carry from the base that you want to take over to a base that has a link, to establish the link and finalize the hack.

I really like this idea, because it will significantly switch the focus of the game from indoor fights towards outdoor fights and vehicles. Currently 90% of the fighting in PS takes place indoors or nearby bases. Currently most vehicles are useless, except for quick transportation. In future tanks will become really important, as transport and as escort for the LLU chip carrier. And terrain will become much more important, as the LLU carrier has to cross terrain and can be ambushed by the enemy. And aircrafts will become more important, as they are the best weapon to intercept and enemy LLU carrier.

Plus ... the introduction of the LLU removes the annoying and boring 15 minutes waiting time when everybody sits around the CC doing nothing, waiting for the hack to complete. Now some people will escort the LLU carrier, while others will already move on to the next base. No more waiting time.

but who will carry the LLU?

will some large outfit bully the lesser outfits for their player to carry it?
will we see like we occasionally do twat's team killing to do the job?

one big thing that i hate about ctf, is that it's one man only job to carry the flag but a lot of people want to do it. in this case there will probably be 100+ people who want to carry the flag :/

 

[thefunkrocket]

My only worry about the LLU will mean it just moves the zerg from the bases to outside to SOI so you end up with a zerg that flows from one base to the other following the LLU.

All the ideas about ambushing people using the terrain sounds good but in the end it will just turn out that the team with the most ppl escorting/attacking the LLu will win, but as Manic said we shall have to wait and see and hopefully be pleasantly surprised

On the whole though I think it sounds like a good idea.

 

[[PS]Venom]

Before screaming about this LLU idea I'll wait and see what happens and what form it takes.

Personally I'm quite looking forward to seeing how it works.

I'd imagine it'll be like grabbing a relic in DAoC - run like heck back to your base with 100000000 people trying to stop you.

 

[Uncle Sick(tm)]

Libs will have a great time carpet bombing I imagine.

 

[Will]

They'll never manage to carpet-bomb my flying Basilisk.

 

[Milkshake]

Does that mean you have to protect the hack while the LLU is in Transport?

You hack to get the LLU....but can you save the base by re-hacking, or only by retrieving the LLU?

And do you have to carry the LLU back? Or just run over it?

So many questions.

 

[[PS]Nova]

Agree there.

It will be pretty darn easy for an infil to grab LLU hop on a wraith then bomb across country at 90kph, reaching the friendly base in 2 mins before the enemy has a chance to realise the hack's underway or get into position.

Also, will this eliminate waiting times completely.

I'd like to see something like this:

Get hack on base.

Get LLU.

Manage to get LLU across to friendly base despite ambushes/reavers/whatever.

Have to DEFEND friendly base for 15 mins and hold LLU there while enemies supposedly try to recap.

Only way to resecure is to retrieve the LLU AND return it to it's original base before the 15 mins is up.

Although I suppose you would still have the zerg steamrollering the base, getting the LLU back and defending.

I don't know. I'm sure SOE have thought this out, and it'll be all right - I just think there's so many ways they COULD go wrong with it, I'm just dreading what they eventually do.

Or how about this, just thought about it. Hack base, get LLU, now you have a time limit to get that LLU to the nearest base - like 5 mins or something. That would be better I think. Almost like refueling bases etc. Also make it so both bases must be fueled before the LLU reaches the destination base, or the cap fails.

Also I hope they make it so the LLU has to come from the CC to the CC, not just into the SOI or into base courtyard - much easier when 1 TR Max has made it into the friendly base and is guarding the CC so you can't put the LLU down

 

[Will]

And continued...

As promised, here is a general breakdown on the Lattice Logic Module as it is currently being planned. Certain variables in the design have not yet been nailed down, but I wanted to get you all a basic understanding and give you the opportunity to ask questions on it.

When an Empire hacks a base, the Lattice Logic Module will spawn in a random location somewhere in the base and players will be notified of its approximate location. A player will then need to locate and pick up the Module by running over it. There are certain restrictions, including the fact that MAX units may not pick it, and Infiltrators may pickup up, but cannot cloak while carrying it.

Next, the player must deliver the module to a friendly base that is one Lattice link away. If there is more than one linked friendly base, the delivery base will be chosen at random. The player carrying the Module will begin to glow, advertising that they are carrying the Module, and will be marked by a pulsating icon on the proximity map. That player is then unable to drive any vehicles or board any air vehicles. They may be a passenger or gunner in any land vehicle. Land vehicles carrying a player with the Module will have their speed restricted somewhat and be unable to board a Galaxy.

The module has a lifespan in which it must be delivered. If it is not delivered to its destination within that lifespan, it will decay and the hack on the enemy base will fail. The Module itself can be dropped, but not destroyed in the player’s inventory. Its properties will not allow it to be stored in vehicle trunks or in lockers and it will despawn if it is dropped in lava or deep water. If the carrier dies, the Module will remain active and drop near their corpse.

The defending Empire cannot retrieve a dropped Module that is still active. Instead, they must guard its location until the Module’s lifespan runs out. The effective defense pursuing a moving Module will want to identify and set up forces at any chokepoints that may exist or organize ambushes on the Module carrier. The effective offense will set up a convoy to escort the Module carrier to their destination and send out advance forces to deal with roadblocks set up by the defenders.

 

[Manic Miner]

sounds like bluddy CTC (Catch the Chicken).

I'm not totally clear if this means whether the base can be re--hacked while the whole CTC thing is going on?

Also do you think you'll have to make room in your backpack for the LLM

regards,

/EDIT actually, i remember i used to like CTC. maybe this will be cool after all

 

[Will]

Maybe it means HA won't own so much, since we can fight outdoors.

 

[Jupitus]

Well it's kind of another nerf for JH users - the only place the JH is worth it's cert is indoors and close up

 

[Will]

Nah, the Lasher and Jackhammer both can be equally dominant indoors. Personally, I prefer some outdoor fighting, so I'm happy.

 

[Manic Miner]

i expect more outdoor fighting will mean much more vehicles which will also be cool.

some of the best fights i've had have been at choke points such as bridges. it's great to roll up to one of those in a vehicle and start lobbing heavy artillary at the enemy across the water

 

[mid_Efour]

==waits for it on test server ===

 

[Uriron]

I can see combat engineers becoming more valuable and the surge implant for LLU runners and MAXes for their run speed and advanced medics to keep people from having to spawn at bases miles from the open air combat and...HA becoming less important and snipers being hot dropped in front of the LLU runner squad to slow them down while the defenders catch up and..oh the possibilities.

All in all it should be a nice change to the gameplay. Hell if it doesn't work out they can always change it welcome to the beauty of an online game with a dedicated support and development team, the game is never static and is changed according to what us, the players, want.

 

[Stonebits]

My only concern is what happens if you get some muppet carrying it.... Who hides or runs off in the wrong direction....

Also, whats to stop someone thinking, Hmmm I want to carry it and killing the person with it and nabbing it themselves.... (perhaps lots of GP's penalty?)

You can see I used to play TFC alot and have had these problems.....

 

[Will]

And more...

I just wanted to comment on a couple of things here.
First, as per my job, I have spent the time since posting this forwarding feedback to design on the community's opinions. Voices are definitely being heard.

There are a few issues that have been brought up that are the same issues we are taking very seriously. We definitely recognize potential grief scenarios and are putting thought into trying to minimize any kind of this behavior that is possible. That's a challenge, to say the least, but we'll work toward that goal.

As for experience, kills will be pooled that are in proximity to the Module as it is transported. In effect, a mobile SOI that tracks activity occurring in proximity to the Module. The SOI at the base will remain intact.

Obviously, this has become a heated debate, so we are watching the feedback closely. We don't want to implement anything that harms the gameflow and so we will be watching the system on the Public Test Server very seriously as we test it.

Victor Wachter
Community Relations Representative

 

[Uncle Sick(tm)]

I hope they patch soon.

Changes sound great... and I can't wait to defend an outfit claimed facility. RAR!

 

[Faeldawn]

Originally posted by Will.
There are certain restrictions, including the fact that MAX units may not pick it, and Infiltrators may pickup up, but cannot cloak while carrying it.

Next, the player must deliver the module to a friendly base that is one Lattice link away. If there is more than one linked friendly base, the delivery base will be chosen at random. The player carrying the Module will begin to glow, advertising that they are carrying the Module, and will be marked by a pulsating icon on the proximity map. That player is then unable to drive any vehicles or board any air vehicles. They may be a passenger or gunner in any land vehicle. Land vehicles carrying a player with the Module will have their speed restricted somewhat and be unable to board a Galaxy.

Wow, what a great idea.

I forsee convoy's of vehicles and air escorts for the guy carrying the LLU, fun, kinda like carrying the Olympic Flame

 

[[PS]Nova]

Or the LLU carrier jumps in Venom's Sunderer and gets driven off a cliff

I think that fairly soon it will default to LLU carrier jumping in a sunderer guarded by a couple of magriders with air cover.

 

[Sarum TheBlack]

Assuming some idiot doesn't pick it up and try to walk there

Great oportunity for some nice tactical play with this.. doesn't mean it will actually work like that. A large number of players are as tactically aware as a goldfish. And equally aware of how the game actually works. ("ffs! for the last time, stop shooting the consoles, it doesn't save NTU, only costs it!!" And.. "when a mosc picks up enemies, they aren't always on the surface.. don't just shoot at the ground, get inside the base an find them. " etc etc /rant)

Even so, looking forward to some very fun running battles with this

 

[Faeldawn]

Originally posted by [PS]Nova
Or the LLU carrier jumps in Venom's Sunderer and gets driven off a cliff

Funny as hell, this actually happened to my squad in Forseral, loaded em all up, set waypoints and the driver tried to take the direct route.....imagine 10 NC stuck upside-down in a wrecked Sunderer at the bottom of a cliff laffin their asses off as a TR mossie slowly eats away at the remains of the vehicle until it blows up