Planetside 2..Free to play..and looking awesome so far!

[Red Storm]

Anyone buying the alpha squad pack?

I did. Considering you get $40 in Station Cash, which I would probably get at some point anyway, everything else is essentially free.

 

[CottonRabbit]

I hate how the main currency for progression, auraxium, is solely dependent on how well your empire is doing, which is dependent on your population. I got on today and NC had 0 auraxium and getting pushed from both sides. So basically, I was playing for nothing the entire hour I was on. Players who don't want to waste their time will probably just log off or change sides when they see that going on, making the situation even worse.

 

[Red Storm]

I hate how the main currency for progression, auraxium, is solely dependent on how well your empire is doing, which is dependent on your population. I got on today and NC had 0 auraxium and getting pushed from both sides. So basically, I was playing for nothing the entire hour I was on. Players who don't want to waste their time will probably just log off or change sides when they see that going on, making the situation even worse.

I agree that the system needs to change, but I can't help but laugh because it's almost always the NC that have the population advantage, gaining more aurax than the TR or VS.

 

[CottonRabbit]

I agree that the system needs to change, but I can't help but laugh because it's almost always the NC that have the population advantage, gaining more aurax than the TR or VS.

NC used to do well because they were up top. On East 2, it's almost always TR>NC>VS in population when I'm on.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Kick a finally got my key. Is there an AT team/guild. What faction?

 

[CottonRabbit]

They've removed offline cert gain. I'm quite shocked since offline progression was touted so much as a unique feature before. Seems like the devs are being pressured to monetize more things.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

They've removed offline cert gain. I'm quite shocked since offline progression was touted so much as a unique feature before. Seems like the devs are being pressured to monetize more things.

I don't doubt it, but players are also pressuring them to change things such as AFKing in the warpgate for auraxium. I know that's not the same as offline cert gain but it's somewhat related.

 

[Grimshad]

Planetside is back and running strong, but the community as a whole needs to demand vehicle enter/exit animations!

 

[PrincessFrosty]

They've removed offline cert gain. I'm quite shocked since offline progression was touted so much as a unique feature before. Seems like the devs are being pressured to monetize more things.

This flipping about of core game mechanics regarding the unlocks makes me EXTREMELY wary of spending money with them I have to say.

 

[SunnyD]

Planetside is back and running strong, but the community as a whole needs to demand vehicle enter/exit animations!

No, no they don't. Why? Because - enter/exit animations will simply serve to exacerbate the amount of friendly-fire roadkill accidents that already occur.

 

[crownjules]

Guess a new wave of beta invites went out as I got one in the email yesterday. Played for a couple hours last night. Vehicle controls are pretty wonky with a mouse (especially flyers). But it was overall pretty fun. Though I joined VS and of course that happens to be the side getting it's shit pushed in last night.

Any AT groups to join?

 

[SunnyD]

I'm at a loss with the current "balance" to the game. I know it's still early beta, but I miss the "difference" between the factions from the original planetside as far as damage balance. And I'm also running into issues where some of the lighter armed classes (medic, engineer, etc) weapons seem to do WAY more damage than heavy armor do. I had one instance the other night where I opened up first on a medic probably three times in a row only to get demolished, even popping my shield ability.

Still also having issues with dying to invisible players - and I'm not talking about infiltrators.

 

[Genx87]

I got an invite as well. Only played for about 15 mins. Quite honestly didnt know wtf i was doing and didnt have the energy to figure it out. I will try it again this weekend when there is more time.

I do want to add that it was enjoyable to watch the ongoing battle. Especially the air support ect. It was kind of neat.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Finally got myself a beta key. And played for a few hours

This game is the game Battlefield 3 wanted to become, and it surpasses it in every way. I still hate some design choices, such as 3D spotting, but otherwise Dice needs to learn how to make a good "battlefield" game.

Only played for a few hours, but the feeling of having 3 empires come together to capture a 3 way point is amazing. Dozens of tanks duking it out with air support, and all the empires zerg rushing the point, with tons of open ground fighting, medium range righting, and close range chaos.

Only thing is that I'm having a hard time trying to decipher "objectives" of the game. There was apart where the base was infiltrated, and the entire thing was under our control, but all the equipment belonged to someone else. No idea how to fix that. Stuff like that and other things need to still try and figure out. Also, driving controls are absolutely terrible.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Glad you guys are getting a chance to play the game. Right now there's discussion on how to better handle resource gains within the game along with weapon unlocks/buying through station cash. Also right now it's more VehicleSide than Planetside. Anytime I'm in a big battle all I see are tanks. Lots and lots of tanks. With very little Anti-tank firepower available to infantry. Sure, there's the Anti-Armor MAX, but for those who've played TR, you know what a joke the Pounder is.

 

[Red Storm]

Finally got myself a beta key. And played for a few hours

This game is the game Battlefield 3 wanted to become, and it surpasses it in every way. I still hate some design choices, such as 3D spotting, but otherwise Dice needs to learn how to make a good "battlefield" game.

Only played for a few hours, but the feeling of having 3 empires come together to capture a 3 way point is amazing. Dozens of tanks duking it out with air support, and all the empires zerg rushing the point, with tons of open ground fighting, medium range righting, and close range chaos.

Only thing is that I'm having a hard time trying to decipher "objectives" of the game. There was apart where the base was infiltrated, and the entire thing was under our control, but all the equipment belonged to someone else. No idea how to fix that. Stuff like that and other things need to still try and figure out. Also, driving controls are absolutely terrible.

Regarding base assaults:

When you initiate a base takeover, usually by capturing one of the control points (or the only one if it has just a single point) this starts a race to take over the facility. You will notice the bars on the bottom left, the first one to fill up completely takes over the base. You can increase the rate of progression by controlling the other points, or by controlling the adjacent territories (this is seen as a pie chart showing 'influence' in-game). Once the bar fills up and the base flips over to your side, the equipment and vehicle terminals should change over to your faction as well. Remember that Infiltrators can hack (aka convert) enemy terminals over to your faction's, so you could then use it to change classes or spawn a vehicle.

How do you guys like Esamir? I really love that there are way less places to take, it makes battles larger and more fun. The only problem is that the population advantage of the NC means that every time I log in Esamir is entirely in their possession. They have 60% or more on Esamir, and then you go to Indar and see they still have around 30% there (a little less than the VS or TR). That's crazy, more people need to switch to the TR and VS.

 

[crownjules]

I noticed NC population was much greater when I played. Does NC have an advantage in equipment/vehicles? Or is it just a numbers attracts more numbers thing? I mean, I like winning as much as the next guy but not if there's no challenge.

If there isn't one yet, why don't we make an AT outfit for VS or TR? Or are all you established guys already in one?

 

[SunnyD]

Glad you guys are getting a chance to play the game. Right now there's discussion on how to better handle resource gains within the game along with weapon unlocks/buying through station cash. Also right now it's more VehicleSide than Planetside. Anytime I'm in a big battle all I see are tanks. Lots and lots of tanks. With very little Anti-tank firepower available to infantry. Sure, there's the Anti-Armor MAX, but for those who've played TR, you know what a joke the Pounder is.

A lot of that could easily be fixed if they bring NTUs and ANTs back into the game. But then those have their own set of issues (where PS1 was all about taking down the gens and draining the base of NTUs then basically facerolling it).

Personally, I'd like to see some sort of advanced mechanism where an attacking faction can put a "bubble" around a facility and lock the 3rd faction from interfering with the attack for a given amount of time.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

I noticed NC population was much greater when I played. Does NC have an advantage in equipment/vehicles? Or is it just a numbers attracts more numbers thing? I mean, I like winning as much as the next guy but not if there's no challenge.

If there isn't one yet, why don't we make an AT outfit for VS or TR? Or are all you established guys already in one?

Right now the NC does have the infantry advantage, though VS with the magrider and magburner ability retains the vehicle advantage. It wasn't always the case, VS infantry was the top dog for a long time.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Its reasonably fun but definitely not a BF3 killer. Doesn't seem to offer many team objectives, seems like everyone is running around kind of randomly. If I'm wrong someone please explain what I'm missing.
Ps I have a spare beta key if anyone wants it. Post here though please.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Its reasonably fun but definitely not a BF3 killer. Doesn't seem to offer many team objectives, seems like everyone is running around kind of randomly. If I'm wrong someone please explain what I'm missing.
Ps I have a spare beta key if anyone wants it. Post here though please.

It's not trying to be a BF3 killer, BF3 appeals to the COD fan. PS2 appeals more to the more team based tactical capture points player.

 

[SunnyD]

It's not trying to be a BF3 killer, BF3 appeals to the COD fan. PS2 appeals more to the more team based tactical capture points player.

Indeed. BF3 is squad-based run and gun where your main focus is to kill other people, and occasionally (if the game mode permits) incidentally complete an objective in the process.

Planetside is more like: Take the "squad" from BF3, then flank it with a few dozen companion squads, use some strategy and to to take an objective. Oh, and incidentally there's probably going to be some enemies in the way, so kill them in the process.

Or in more realistic terms, something you can relate to, a typical battle in BF3 is more like a minor skirmish in the middle east somewhere that's going to take advantage of a fairly small team, a tactical insertion, and a quick surgical strike. A typical battle in PS2 on the other hand would be more like the taking of Normandy in WW2. But if you were to extrapolate what BF3 does out on a much larger army-wide scale, you'd have PS2.

 

[crownjules]

Last night the VS was getting shit done and it was really enjoyable. Nik, I was surprised to see you run past my tank at one point (and then promptly die )! It was fun having tons of tanks and air support as we took down a few NC bases on Indar. And at the end, I ran around on a Flash and capped a few minor outlying outposts on my own. But the controls are wacky or the lag is messing me up. Numerous times I'm trying to turn one way but the game is turning me in the opposite direction.

It would be nice if there was some sort of practice mode. Especially for the flyers. It really sucks as a newb to spend resources on a vehicle only to lose it a few minutes later because you're trying to get a handle on the control and feel of it and you crash into something.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Esamir, when I can get on, is nice because of the more open continent than Indar. The only place you could go tank v tank on Indar is northwest,which no one likes to fight near. Tank battles are neat and all, but when the Vanguards start to roll with their shields up and Magriders roll in with their tanks that don't obey typical tank rules, it makes Prowlers pretty much useless on the field of battle. The TR's Prowler Siege ability sucks and makes no sense what so ever. That needs to be addressed. If we're supposed to have the quickest firing rate of all three empires, then being stationary while doing so makes zero sense.

 

[SunnyD]

Esamir, when I can get on, is nice because of the more open continent than Indar. The only place you could go tank v tank on Indar is northwest,which no one likes to fight near. Tank battles are neat and all, but when the Vanguards start to roll with their shields up and Magriders roll in with their tanks that don't obey typical tank rules, it makes Prowlers pretty much useless on the field of battle. The TR's Prowler Siege ability sucks and makes no sense what so ever. That needs to be addressed. If we're supposed to have the quickest firing rate of all three empires, then being stationary while doing so makes zero sense.

That's always been the trade-off of the TR man. You sacrifice mobility for the ability to spam lead.