Planetside 2 Catch-All

Yay, Rebel Blob (Tann) joined Quantum Dawn.

It was a pretty fun night last night. Esamir was pretty easy to take over 100% since no one seems to care to much about it for the moment. Hope to see more of you guys soon. They have a teamspeak that is pretty much public. So if you want to join in and I'm not on, just tell them you know me and they will put you in a squad.

Rebel, I am just curious what your first Planetside experience was like. I think it was your first.

Planetside 2 is now on Steam
SOE launcher will probably still do the updates though

Another big update. They now seem to have preset packages for vehicles.

Notable Bug Fixes:

Restarting a Twitch stream after it failed due to a resolution change will no longer crash the client.
Using the Record function in the microphone test settings will no longer cause issues with in game voice chat.
The Invite to Platoon function should now properly allow invitations.
The Heyoka Tech Plant southwest landing pad will now resupply aircraft.
The Heavy Assault Overshield ability now functions as intended and takes more damage.
Players will now receive resources even though they are in a Phalanx turret.
Players will no longer spawn under the world after seeing a second loading screen.

Gameplay Changes:

MAX AV weaponry projectile speed has been increased.
Control point neutralization rewards have been decreased.
A number of outposts have been provided additional cover and tweaked with additional jump pads and walls to improve flow.
Continent locking will now provide a 10% cost reduction to a single resource when owned.
The Forward grip has been removed from a number of assault rifles, carbines, and light machine guns.
The extended magazine skill has been removed from some light machine guns.
Players will no regenerate health automatically without their empire owning a biolab.

Performance Upgrades are now setup in packages.

Flash

Combat Chassis - Improved traction, turning, brakes and reverse speed.
Runner Chassis - Improved speed and acceleration.
Power Chassis - Improved handling and hill climbing.

Sunderer

Combat Chassis - Improved traction, turning, brakes and reverse speed.
Runner Chassis - Improved speed and acceleration.

Lightning

Combat Chassis - Improved tank rotation, brakes and reverse speed.
Runner Chassis - Improved speed and acceleration.

Magrider

Combat Chassis - Improved strafe, brakes and reverse speed.
Runner Chassis - Improved speed and acceleration.

Vanguard

Combat Chassis - Improved tank rotation, brakes and reverse speed.
Runner Chassis - Improved speed and acceleration.

Prowler

Combat Chassis - Improved tank rotation, brakes and reverse speed.
Runner Chassis - Improved speed and acceleration.

Scythe

Dogfight Airframe - Improved turn, roll and agility.
Air to Ground Airframe - Improved hover, air brake and vertical thrust.
High Speed Airframe - Improved speed and afterburner.

Reaver

Dogfight Airframe - Improved turn, roll and agility.
Air to Ground Airframe - Improved hover, air brake and vertical thrust.
High Speed Airframe - Improved speed and afterburner.

Mosquito

Dogfight Airframe - Improved turn, roll and agility.
Air to Ground Airframe - Improved hover, air brake and vertical thrust.
High Speed Airframe - Improved speed and afterburner.

Liberator

Precision Bomber Airframe - Improved brakes, turn and roll.
High-G Airframe - Improved vertical thrust, pitch and agility.
High Speed Airframe - Improved speed and afterburner.

Galaxy

Precision Drops Airframe - Improved brakes, turn and roll.
High-G Airframe - Improved vertical thrust, pitch and agility.
High Speed Airframe - Improved speed and acceleration.

Those preset packages seem like a horrible idea to me, haven't played it yet though.
They kept talking about all the customization one would be allowed to do and they're just slowly getting rid of all of it.

RolandofGilead wrote:

Those preset packages seem like a horrible idea to me, haven't played it yet though.
They kept talking about all the customization one would be allowed to do and they're just slowly getting rid of all of it.

I agree. I think the problem was that they had all these different ways you could improve the performance of a vehicle, but only 1 slot to put them in. They probably decided they wanted players to be able to improve their vehicle more than just improving one of those stats. Of course, I don't know why they didn't just add additional performance slots instead of grouping the improvements.

As with most things, I'm willing to reserve judgement until I can see/try these vehicle changes for myself.

I can see it going any number of ways. I know that part of what has kept me from upgrading these bits and pieces of, say, my sunderer has been analysis paralysis (Do I upgrade top speed, or climbing, I fight on Indar and Amerish in fairly equal amounts. . . ) combined with only being able to cert/slot one option.

With each upgrade being a "kit" - this takes away a bit from that paralysis, and from customization - but doesn't really limit the over all options. I still can't have a "really fast, hill climbing" sunderer.

Personally, I'd like to see a hybrid option. Let me choose either the combat kit or the runner kit (making the two incompatible, which is reasonalble) for my "slot" - but let me spend my cert points INSIDE that kit, as I like. So I might work on hill climbing over the other options in the combat kit (because, really, who NEEDS brakes?), but when I take the "running" kit, I want speed, speed, speed (acceleration? Feh! That assumes I'll ever stop!).

TempestBlayze wrote:

SOE launcher will probably still do the updates though :(

Not a big deal, the launcher always did delta patches. And at least it doesn't run all the damn time (I'm looking at you Hirez). There actually isn't much point in using Steam. The game can already be copied between computers. Just run the launcher and it will rebuild everything.

Tkyl wrote:
RolandofGilead wrote:

Those preset packages seem like a horrible idea to me, haven't played it yet though.
They kept talking about all the customization one would be allowed to do and they're just slowly getting rid of all of it.

I agree. I think the problem was that they had all these different ways you could improve the performance of a vehicle, but only 1 slot to put them in. They probably decided they wanted players to be able to improve their vehicle more than just improving one of those stats. Of course, I don't know why they didn't just add additional performance slots instead of grouping the improvements.

Also it didn't help that some of the boosts were relatively useless on their own. Or at least just outright worse than some of the other choices. Roll rate? Pfft. Some of the boosts actually make the aircraft worse. Anyone here flied a Liberator much? The rudder on the lib is so strong that it's almost impossible to use it for fine aiming against distant targets. Boosting the rudder would just make it worse.

wolfstar76 wrote:

(because, really, who NEEDS brakes?)

Never made an emergency landing while on fire I take it? Safe landing speed in a scythe is about 50kph. If you use afterburners to jet out of danger it will take a very long time to slow down. Tkyls option of multiple performance slots would have been better because you could have TRUE customization and mix unconventional bonuses like max speed and braking power.

TempestBlayze wrote:

Yay, Rebel Blob (Tann) joined Quantum Dawn.

Yeah, just after you left they were inducting a couple of new guys, and they thought I was one of them. I applied after the fact, since they already went to the trouble of explaining things to me, and the group seems to run at about my speed.

Pretty much my first, it was fun. I've had the client for over a week, but I wanted to play with a group. Worked out pretty well, I'm still figuring out which classes I favor, but in a group I can hang back as a medic and pull my weight. I really enjoy the scale, had a good time with it.

The new dogfighting upgrade isn't that bad. It's hard to notice the difference but it is there, prolly more obvious with the three full ranks. Got into a turning fight with a mossie and just keep turning and turning trying to get a bead on him. And then he stalled out and hit the ground. Boom.

EDIT: Shotgun slug rounds are really starting to grow on me. They make the shottie something of a DMR. 12 shots, accurate out to long range as long as you space your shots out. The slug is pretty slow however so you need to lead your target quite a bit, even at short range. On the bright side the gun has very little horizontal recoil, so followup shots are very easy. The damage seems to be about the same as a full spread of shotgun pellets, only concentrated into one hit. If anyone within sight stops moving you can just line up a shot and BKOOM BKOOM, dead. Sometimes it takes three hits, makes sense for the damage dropoff to be bigger.

Also on a side note, engies can cert sticky grenades. Seem to be about the same as frags except they don't bounce. Highly useful when throwing down at something because you can aim directly and not overshoot. HOWEVER I learned the hard way that you can't throw them through spawn room forcefields.

I haven't tried sticking them to someone or a vehicle. Needs more testing.

Tamren wrote:
wolfstar76 wrote:

(because, really, who NEEDS brakes?)

Never made an emergency landing while on fire I take it? Safe landing speed in a scythe is about 50kph. If you use afterburners to jet out of danger it will take a very long time to slow down. Tkyls option of multiple performance slots would have been better because you could have TRUE customization and mix unconventional bonuses like max speed and braking power.

Well, my post was tongue-in-cheek to illustrate a point, not really to be taken seriously.

That said - I have thus far proven to be a wholly unremarkable pilot, save for the marks my charred remains have left on the surface of Auraxis.

So, no, the braking power of aircraft is not something I factored into my post/statement.

When it comes to aircraft in multplayer games I long since realized there is a certain breed of players of just love those damn things and will master them. They will outgun and outfly you effortless. So I stay on the ground. With anti air rockets...

The Lasher got an overhaul, it fires orbs now, but it's much more functional.

I haven't tried it but they basically made it like the original. Lots of energy orbs, they are supposed to explode when they hit stuff and "lash" the area with little lightning bolts but I haven't seen one used in combat yet.

Considering getting into this - I like the persistency aspect - any advice. No Planetside experience at all.

SpyNavy wrote:

Considering getting into this - I like the persistency aspect - any advice. No Planetside experience at all.

Played Battlefield? That's what it's like, just on a global scale. You can also check out the videos in the OP. They are a little dated and things have changed but you will still get the idea of how to play. Also, play with a squad. You can auto-join one or once you get the hang of the game join us over in The Quantum Dawn outfit on Thebe playing Vanu.

Try the beta. There is a thread with tons of keys. The game officially comes out on Tuesday though and we will all need to do a complete download and reinstall of the game on release day. May as well go through Steam.

TempestBlayze wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

Considering getting into this - I like the persistency aspect - any advice. No Planetside experience at all.

Played Battlefield? That's what it's like, just on a global scale. You can also check out the videos in the OP. They are a little dated and things have changed but you will still get the idea of how to play. Also, play with a squad. You can auto-join one or once you get the hang of the game join us over in The Quantum Dawn outfit on Thebe playing Vanu.

Try the beta. There is a thread with tons of keys. The game officially comes out on Tuesday though and we will all need to do a complete download and reinstall of the game on release day. May as well go through Steam.

I am in the beta - thanks to a kind Goodjer and have visited Quantum Dawn, but didnt put application in yet. Are servers up all the time or specific timeframes?

SpyNavy wrote:

Are servers up all the time or specific timeframes?

They open up every day at 9EST and go down in the wee hours of the morning.

If you guys apply to Quantum Dawn, just mention you know me and Tkyl and that you are from Gamers With Jobs. I let them know they will see people from this site applying and who has already applied.

I wonder if they have any kind of tutorial or video planned for this game on release. It's pretty daunting for a new player.

BNice wrote:

I wonder if they have any kind of tutorial or video planned for this game on release. It's pretty daunting for a new player.

This +1. No class explanations, no real understanding of UI or weapon systems or tools etc... Played about an hour and kind of liked it, but desperately needs some form of tutorial.

The Vanu Soverignty on US East (Lyisthia) put in a long night last night, and has managed to capture all three continents.

As a VS Player on East, and a member of one of the outfits that pulled it off - I'm a happy, happy man this morning.

IMAGE(http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/920120434214637837/27FEA7F530CFE86D0056092515210C8098B7FC69/)

TempestBlayze wrote:

If you guys apply to Quantum Dawn, just mention you know me and Tkyl and that you are from Gamers With Jobs. I let them know they will see people from this site applying and who has already applied.

Going to apply.

Edit: Applied

SpyNavy wrote:
BNice wrote:

I wonder if they have any kind of tutorial or video planned for this game on release. It's pretty daunting for a new player.

This +1. No class explanations, no real understanding of UI or weapon systems or tools etc... Played about an hour and kind of liked it, but desperately needs some form of tutorial.

They are working on it. If you look at the launcher on the bottom left, there is a "getting Started" section. There will be tutorial videos but everything us under maintenance. I assume it will be ready by launch next week.

Tutorial screens have started to appear for things like the world map and cert screen. They need more basic stuff and a firing range but I'm sure that's in the works.

RE: Lasher now fires orbs

Tamren wrote:

I haven't tried it but they basically made it like the original. Lots of energy orbs, they are supposed to explode when they hit stuff and "lash" the area with little lightning bolts but I haven't seen one used in combat yet.

I haven't seen any lightning lashes, but they definitely explode when they hit stuff, here's a hint, don't shoot at your feet!

wolfstar76 wrote:

The Vanu Soverignty on US East (Lyisthia) put in a long night last night, and has managed to capture all three continents.

As a VS Player on East, and a member of one of the outfits that pulled it off - I'm a happy, happy man this morning.

IMAGE(http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/920120434214637837/27FEA7F530CFE86D0056092515210C8098B7FC69/)

Hell yeah! Awesome, that's where I play, too bad I missed that.

Well, played a few hours with Tempest and his group, that was a ton of fun.

I hadn't played before today but I will definitely be putting some time into the game.

The only thing that sucks is that apparently the beta ends tomorrow so I won't be able to play until next Tuesday.

I have been pretty busy for the last month, so I skimmed the last several pages of this thread. Do we have an outfit/clan set-up? What race and what server are we on or plan on being on at launch?

Kamakazi010654 wrote:

Well, played a few hours with Tempest and his group, that was a ton of fun.

I hadn't played before today but I will definitely be putting some time into the game.

The only thing that sucks is that apparently the beta ends tomorrow so I won't be able to play until next Tuesday.

Wait the beta end tomorrow. Suppose I should have paid attention to that, stupid download just finished too. Anyway it still not ready in my opinion. Playable and fun, but needs a lot more spit and polish. Whole mechanics could use sprucing or an overall. The meta game is still fairly weak too. Ah well should be interesting at least.

I booted up the game for one last time today. The client didn't crash on exit, so it must be the release client? The map has changed a LOT. A lot of places that used to be clear now have bunkers and forcefields blocking them. The area around Tawrich is full of giant stone arches instead of being open and the geometry of the place is totally different. This is rather crazy because this is the kind of thing that should be, yknow, tested?

Whatever the update was also did a number on my framerate. It's not that my framerate is too low, but my CPU is constantly choking. The game is still really bad about offloading calculations to the GPU and letting it do it's job.

Did some last minute testing and discovered a couple of things.

- The MAX antivehicle weapons have been changed to be single shot (TR Maxes still fire two shots). Each one does half the damage of a Heavy Assault rocket per shot, and they reload a lot faster. This makes those weapons MUCH more viable given that you can carry two of them. A dual AV max would have the firepower of about 3 heavy assaults. Not sure how they fare against infantry.
- Frag grenades do exactly nothing to vehicles, not even fighters! So don't waste them, you will need C4. There used to be an anti-vehicle grenade cert but it was removed a while back. Maybe it will return sometime?
- Tank turret orientation has no effect on armour facing. If you shoot a lightning tank in the front of the turret, but from behind the tank, it counts as a rear armour shot. The only thing that matters is the angle the rocket hits the tank. (On real tanks the front of turret is usually the strongest part of the armour since they go hull down all the time with only the turret exposed.)
- Sunderers are really strong, much stronger than tanks. They also have better rear armour. A single rocket rear armour hit on a magrider will bring it down to half. A rocket to the back of a sundy will do about 10% extra damage. The bonus is small, but that said it still helps to hit it in the side and rear.

Tamren if you check the grenades section of the loadout screen you'll notice that they just give each class their special grenade now.

I've been playing a lot of Vanu on the East server with the NNG guys. Wolfstar I was playing with you tonight actually, StartaVanuColony is my name on that server. I started the Vanu character just to try it out and ended up playing a lot more Vanu lately. I prefer the Scythe to the Mossie, and the Magrider is too much fun. NNG is well organized and there are almost always enough members on for a squad. Since I play later at night I like that.

I got my accepted letter from Quantum Dawn so I'll be running with that Outfit. I still havent jumped on TS to coordinate, but since beta is getting ready to end I'll wait until it goes live most likely. I had fun woth it so I picked up Alpha Squad Package. Definitely need squad/outfit participation to really enjoy the game.