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| June 2005 House of Commons Log |
Brannoc - Welcome to another great Stratics house of commons chat with the developers of Planetside! Tonight we'll be focusing on the role players have in support and the rewards for doing so so try to focus your questions around this please.
Brannoc - Please send those questions to [QT]Phineus OR [QT]Brekkee - to do so type /msg [QT]Brekkee My question here. Please only send questions to our QT's as those sent to myself or the developers will not make it into the lineup.
Brannoc - (Scratch that [QT]Phineus bit, Only send questinos to [QT]Brekkee please!)
Brannoc - The full logs will be posted on http://ps.stratics.com after the chat. We'll begin with a quick intro from our guests...now would be a good time to send in those questions!
SamhaynePS - Hello everyone, Samhayne here, PlanetSide Producer and Lead Designer
Zatozia - Greetings Everyone, I'm Zatozia the Community Relations Manager
Brannoc - *Schlauke* When can we expect the support merits to go live?
SamhaynePS - We were just making some final changes to those merits today in anticipation of them going live this week
SamhaynePS - We have been looking at the data of live server activities, now that the servers are tracking support activities
SamhaynePS - And we made some adjustments to the #'s needed for each rank of several of the merits
SamhaynePS - I believe that Zat has those changes and will post them (if she hasn't already) shortly
SamhaynePS - Also, keep in mind that any of those support activities (like rezzing people, healing, etc.) will count toward these merits when they are live
SamhaynePS - So, all your actions to this point are not in vain :)
Zatozia - I'm actually posting them as we speak. I'm trying to get them to fit into one post to avoid confusion!
SamhaynePS - So, as for timing on this next update, we should have it up for a Public Playtest tomorrow
SamhaynePS - and if all goes well with that, go live the following (Wednesday) morning.
Brannoc - *JamQ* Heres a question for Samhayne and Zatozia, do you plan on adding more abilitys to those who obtain higher levelled merit, like you did with the Vulture and the Bomber Ace merits? :)
SamhaynePS - I mentioned in last month's chat some things we have in mind that you obtain with merits.
SamhaynePS - The first one I would touch on would be some variants to the assault buggies
SamhaynePS - I agree with players when they say the buggies need a better role and some love
SamhaynePS - Our intent is to add things that players can obtain at the 2nd rank merit (the Vulture will be corrected to need Bomber Ace II with the coming update as well)
SamhaynePS - Ideally, we'd love to do that across the board for all certifications. But one step at a time :)
SamhaynePS - The intent is to add stuff, much like the Vulture, that fill a specific role or have balance drawbacks, so that what you get with that rank II merit
SamhaynePS - is not "better" than what it replaces, but is suitably "different" to make it something you would have fun with and a notable achievement for obtaining that merit
Brannoc - *Moab* Q: SamHayne, What is the current status regarding getting more (ie Merits) stats to the stats sites, and is there any word on a better way to accomplish that (XML?)?
SamhaynePS - Hi Moab! (and J if he's out there). We definately want to support our statistics sites and, while we don't have any specific news on Merits for My PlanetSide or
SamhaynePS - an XML feed of existing data, it is still something on our list.
Brannoc - *ShadowThunder* I play a full-time support role on TR Emerald. One thing I always thought would be interesting are EMP. EMP mines would make a very useful edition for slowing down armored advancements. Is there any chance that something like this would be seriously considered?
SamhaynePS - Much like the buggy variants I mentioned above to answer JamQ's question, more stuff you could make with the ACE are things we have ideas on
SamhaynePS - Like Anti Personnel mines, or anti vehicle (perhaps "acid or plasma" you know, eat out the treds and all that) mines
SamhaynePS - that we could do without a ton of additional programming time (which always makes it faster to get out). The biggest issue with such are balance concerns.
SamhaynePS - Just like the Vulture, buggy variants, Heavy Scout Rifle, or any new things we add
SamhaynePS - We are always worried about how that will affect the balance of the game and, if we did give an EMP mine to Engineers, it would only be after we consider well the balance ramifications of doing so (and how to balance that new ability into things)
Brannoc - *Cyborgmatt* so far in the latest build you have been tracking support activities, when the support merits go live are these stats going to be reset or...?
SamhaynePS - This is worth repeating... yes, all support activities are being tracked and recorded by the server and when the merits go out to match them, bam! you will get the merits that your existing activities will qualify you for
SamhaynePS - Say this last weekend you were reviving your troops left and right in tower drops and gen holds doing spec ops
SamhaynePS - All those revivies will count toward the Resuscitation (ack spelling!) Medic award once they are up on the server
Brannoc - *Noyjitat* The support xp system seems a bit bugged, are their any tweaks planned for it?
SamhaynePS - Well I don't know that it's buggy, but I can see how someone might get that impression from how it can behave at times
SamhaynePS - We are tweaking the exp % per heal or repair up a little for this next release this week
SamhaynePS - That should help some in the amount of exp coming in for those activities
SamhaynePS - Some people might be seeing a lot of assists and not as much as they would expect in the way of support experience from those
SamhaynePS - That is because the exp you get back is a % of what the killer got for making the kill. If you, say, have an AMS near a tower where people are zerging in and dying
SamhaynePS - Then you won't get much (if anything) for the kills they are making, given that a lot of the people haven't been alive for very long.
SamhaynePS - That won't really change. We just need to spread the word more that that is how the system can work in such situations.
Zatozia - Also, always remember as with any bugs you find, report them using /bug. We used those reports to help track down and tweak actual bugs.
SamhaynePS - Yes, we appriciate the /bug reports we receive.
SamhaynePS - As you can see by the report that Zatozia posts we listen and read /bug reports and use them to help us better narrow down on fixes we can make
Brannoc - Remember to send thoe questions to [QT]Brekkee by using /msg [QT]Brekkee My question here
Brannoc - *Schlauke* Anything else in the next update besides the support merits? (Not that the merrits alone would not be reason enough for an update!)
SamhaynePS - Yes, we have some minor bug fixes included, but more importantly we will have a larger suite of Training missions available
SamhaynePS - So our new players, or friends you veterans may invite, will have a much better way to become acquainted with PlanetSide right from the start
SamhaynePS - We are really looking forward to having this available as well as expanding it, as we believe that the new player experinece has been needing this for a while now :)
Brannoc - *Atsushi* Any news on fixing the shotgun bug?
SamhaynePS - That wrascally bug. We know it is happening and have had some luck in tracking down the cause, but, unfortunately, we don't have a concrete fix for it yet :( We will keep you posted on any developments on such issues.
Brannoc - *BigFreak* (Not support relevant, but whatever) I've noticed recently the population of the servers (at least Werner) seems to be dwindling, compared to say, last year....are there any plans for recruitment drives, or anything to generate interest in PS?
SamhaynePS - Well, populations to tend to fluxuate a bit.
SamhaynePS - We do have a specific marketing promotion that is in the work, inviting past veterans back as well as giving out special buddy keys for players to use for their friends
SamhaynePS - To get the game to try out on a special promotional period.
SamhaynePS - We have also previously discussed the possibility of opening up limited access to the game (say with a restriction on what certs and equipment you could use) for Free play of PlanetSide
SamhaynePS - Call it a fodder program if you like - but there is certainly a lot of fun you can have in the game and we feel that getting that going will help address some of the $$ issues with FPS players not used to a subscription
SamhaynePS - and help address population issues as well.
Brannoc - *Tatonarf* When is the "Return to Planetside" event gonna happen?
SamhaynePS - We have 2 events in "work" at the moment
SamhaynePS - The first is an evolution to the Empire Competition event, where we lock zones and focus the fighting of a defender and numerically superior agressor Empires on particular zones
SamhaynePS - We want to run this one very soon, perhaps this week and definately have it available this weekend (probably Saturday in good times for each server in their local time zones)
SamhaynePS - The next one that I think you are talking about Tatonarf, is the Return to Oshur.
SamhaynePS - That one will likely be shortly after version 3.8 (our next version) is out. Probably early August.
Brannoc - *JamQ* Any news on the boomer bug, is it in the process of being fixed or... ? :)
Zatozia - The problems experienced with the boomers are currently being worked on. Parts of the problem has been corrected for 3.8
Zatozia - One part is still be worked on
Zatozia - Once I get a varification of that part being fixed,I'll post which version its due to be pushed live with.
Brannoc - *Citairen* Are there any plans for a population limit being imposed for BFRs, or atleast the FV? I don't know if you guys have seen Markov lately, but having 6 FV sitting in trees overlooking a base camping really kills the fun for everyone except those 6 people punching their "IWIN!" button and bouncing around if someone trys to attack them.
SamhaynePS - While I can understand your frustration with being camped, might I suggest recalling to a different base (bind or Squad Home Base is there... use it!) and pulling vehicles or aircraft
SamhaynePS - If you are besieged, you are besieged. If those were reavers camping your doors it isn't that much of a difference.
SamhaynePS - As for Flight Variants, I think a lot of people just have a psycological issue with them. They are really relatively fragile. Take a MA rifle, load it with AP rounds and fire and I'll bet you quickly get the FV pilot's attention
SamhaynePS - I've driven off FV's with a mossy being persistant at hitting them (where they are ineffective at hitting back because of their load out)
SamhaynePS - I guess it's the frustration in that they can be hard to actually take out because of their mobility... but really, just shoot the freakin thing, they really are pretty fragile and easily driven off.
SamhaynePS - *waits for the flames on that* but that's how I see it and what my play experience leads me to conclude.
Brannoc - Remember to send those questions to [QT]Brekkee by using /msg [QT]Brekkee
Brannoc - And remember they're answered first come first serve, so ask now!
Brannoc - *Schlauke* Speaking about merit based "upgrades" for certifications, what about deployable equipment terminals (Like in Tribes 2) for the combat engineering cert?
SamhaynePS - We already have a deployable equipment terminal, it's called an AMS :)
Brannoc - *alt* Sam, In “another” mmofps I’ve played on and off for some time. Generals (cr5’s) in our case are given the ability to assign objectives on the map for players to accept and have yet another means of advancing rather than simply assaulting front lines. Would this perhaps one day be a possibility in PS?
SamhaynePS - In a post on our In Concept forums we started some discussion talking about proposed commander changes
SamhaynePS - well first, to a better way for squads to define, and advertise for those looking for squads, what they are doing, including squad orders, etc.
SamhaynePS - While I don't know we are paying tribute to that "other" mmofps in which you speak, such stuff is more toward the top of our "next big thing list" than not.
Brannoc - *Cyborgmatt* does sam/zatozia have any more challenges planned for the planetside proving grounds section on the offical forums anytime soon?
Zatozia - Yes. The next contest in the Proving Ground is coming up on Thursday. I have designated Thursday as the official contest day.
SamhaynePS - Thursday is the day, and so it shall be Thursday! :)
Zatozia - I hope to have a new contest each week. However, this will depend on what else is going on that week and how long the prior week's contest last.
Zatozia - Also..
Zatozia - I am trying to work out days for in-game contest which will relate to the ones posted on the Proving Ground.
Zatozia - I'll post more information about those once I get the details worked out.
Brannoc - *PlanetsideFan* Can we expect BR 1 charactors starting with 7 certifications (remove the 3 points at BR 6,12 and 18) before the upcoming promotional events this year?
SamhaynePS - Those changes, where the certification reward is removed from 6,12 and 18 and given to a BR1 (so they start with more as the 6,12 and 18 folks get the reward of a new implant)
SamhaynePS - will be included in version 3.8 (actually the work for that is already done, just waiting for all the other goodies to get done for 3.8 and tested and all that)
Brannoc - *Hayoo* In a previous chat you mentioned that command revisions were a big item coming up on the list. Is outfit love (alliances, better controls) going to be a part of this or something you plan to work on later?
SamhaynePS - Well the first part to our command restructure, is as I mentioned
SamhaynePS - to give squads better tools to define their goals, both short and longer term, and their composition
SamhaynePS - so that players looking for a squad can more easiliy find a squad they want to join, and commanders above them would be able to quickly see what that squad is up to and send orders down that would be appropriate for them
SamhaynePS - The 2nd stage to that would be the stuff that the commander would access to do that and the organization changes needed to better promote such activity.
Brannoc - *GreyFlcn* Earlier you mentioned 1 of the Capitols from each Empires set of Home Continents would be removed, and the Home Continent Lock Benefits would be changed. Is this still in the pike? And would it include any changes to make Capitols more in favor of the Home Empire?
SamhaynePS - Yes, we have talked more about adjusting capitols more.
SamhaynePS - Ideas have included allowing empires to move their home or rotate them (including changing wg links) or moving their capitol around (trimming them down to one cont with a capitol and taking capitols off the other home cont).
SamhaynePS - But, well still some pondering on game ramificaitons and systems to support it, so something probably for 3.9
Brannoc - *Cyborgmatt* are there any plans on releasing more community exclusive merits eg the custom service merit that was released in the last build?
Zatozia - While most of the contests on the forums are concentrated on forum-based rewards, there is always the possibility of receiving merit rewards in-game. I'm also looking into other types of rewards as well.
Brannoc - Ok folks, trivia time! To answer the trivia question type /msg Brannoc My Answer Here! Ready for it? First one to answer will win...that's right, only ONE winner tonight.
Brannoc - At the time the wormhole to Auraxis was first discovered, how long had the Terran Republic been in existence?
Brannoc - wow you guys aren't even Close yet
Brannoc - the answer is NOT 1000 ;)
SamhaynePS - Also, the winner of this trivia question will receive a special Stratics in game merit award!
Brannoc - talk about incentive
Brannoc - 4.3 x 10^15 is a creative answer...but no
Brannoc - 1112 is also wrong I'm afraid
Brannoc - Ahha we have a winner!
Brannoc - Schlauke was the first one to answer correctly with 1,082 years
Brannoc - http://planetside.station.sony.com/vanu/genesis.jsp
SamhaynePS - nice work Schlauke!
SamhaynePS - While they get all the details from Schlauke for his merit, I'll say thanks for everyone for coming out for the chat and all the great questions.
Brannoc - Indeed, the full logs will be available soon on http://ps.stratics.com - please join us again next month!
SamhaynePS - I look forward to seeing you in game, on Stratics.com and our official message forums. Have a great month till our next chat and be sure to join us this week for our playtest of our next live version.
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