GuardianAnge1
Thursday, 3rd February 2005, 14:30
Back in mid January we posted up a proposed system wide lattice shake up we called the “Link-Pin (http://psforums.station.sony.com/ps/board/message?board.id=indevelopment&message.id=3994)” layout, to describe how each Empire’s home planet’s were connected to a common, or Link-Pin, planet. While this layout has some great possibilities, further discussion brought up some even better spin-offs. We are now working to get this new Lattice together and ready for testing to go live for mid February. Also, we are still planning to incorporate a live event to go along with this lattice shake up.
While I know that some will hear that “mid February” comment and perhaps think, “Dude, you’ve been talking about all this crazy lattice stuff for weeks now, just give it to us!” Trust me, we want to get this out and play it just as much as you all do – however, version 3.3 ran longer than we had planned and we have some other great features that will roll into version 3.4 along with all this Lattice stuff to make it an even better update. So, thanks for your patience
Alright, so here is the latest proposal: New Lattice Map (http://planetside.station.sony.com/images/in_dev/PlanetSideMap.JPG)
Layout Benefits:
Each sanctuary is connected to two different “home” planets. This helps to alleviate zero base situations where an Empire is pushed back to their sanc, as they can raid out to two different locations at the same time.
Each empire has direct connections from their home planets to 4 “neutral” planets (Ishundar, Cyssor, Searhus and the Battle Islands) that buffer 2 way fights. This leads toward more likely 2 way fights on the home planets and 3 way fighting on the neutral planets.
Cavern Connections:
At any one time there are 2 different Core Combat Caverns, each with 4 active geowarp links. As the caverns rotate they will always have connections to the 4 neutral planets. Their remaining 4 connections will be spread among the 6 home planets in a rotating fashion, so that there will always be one cave connection to at least one home planet of each empire, with the remaining link switching between Empires as the rotation goes around. This will of course, not be static links but ones that switch as the caverns switch. This layout should play up the use of the caverns as a stronghold through which to attack the important neutral planets or lay siege to enemy home planets.
Global Benefits:
With this lattice structure we plan to make use of the systems that were in play during the December Battle Island game play event. If you recall, that was where holding different Battle Islands would provide different benefits for all of your Empire system wide. We are still working on the specific implementation, but the idea is to have your Empire gain benefits by doing things such as: holding individual "neutral" planets, holding both home continents of an Enemy Empire, or holding both of your home planets while holding one home planet of each of your Enemy Empires.
We feel that such benefits will increase the strategic gameplay of PlanetSide by giving more reasons to take specific planets and deny your enemy access to such benefits or to hold and defend the benefits you have acquired.
Battle Islands – Unique Gameplay:
We are still planning on putting additional restrictions on the Battle Islands to give those that seek very infantry centric fights another location to engage in such outside of the Core Combat Caverns. We want to alter what gear and vehicles are allowed on the Battle Islands to make this a possibility. We plant to have all Battle Islands have the same restrictions.
Vehicle Restrictions: No Medium Battle Tanks, No Deliverer variants (normal Deliverer is ok), No BFRs (flight or gunner), No Flails, No Reavers
Vehicle Changes: Allow anyone to acquire and drive their Empire Specific Assault Buggies (Skyguard and Harasser would still have certification restrictions)
Weapons: No Heavy Assault
Discussion: Please join us on the Official PlanetSide Forums to discuss this lattice layout and the possibilities for future development.
Comments and Suggestions (http://www.planetside-universe.com/ps/track_psdevs.php?post=3178)
Questions (http://www.planetside-universe.com/ps/track_psdevs.php?post=3177)
While I know that some will hear that “mid February” comment and perhaps think, “Dude, you’ve been talking about all this crazy lattice stuff for weeks now, just give it to us!” Trust me, we want to get this out and play it just as much as you all do – however, version 3.3 ran longer than we had planned and we have some other great features that will roll into version 3.4 along with all this Lattice stuff to make it an even better update. So, thanks for your patience
Alright, so here is the latest proposal: New Lattice Map (http://planetside.station.sony.com/images/in_dev/PlanetSideMap.JPG)
Layout Benefits:
Each sanctuary is connected to two different “home” planets. This helps to alleviate zero base situations where an Empire is pushed back to their sanc, as they can raid out to two different locations at the same time.
Each empire has direct connections from their home planets to 4 “neutral” planets (Ishundar, Cyssor, Searhus and the Battle Islands) that buffer 2 way fights. This leads toward more likely 2 way fights on the home planets and 3 way fighting on the neutral planets.
Cavern Connections:
At any one time there are 2 different Core Combat Caverns, each with 4 active geowarp links. As the caverns rotate they will always have connections to the 4 neutral planets. Their remaining 4 connections will be spread among the 6 home planets in a rotating fashion, so that there will always be one cave connection to at least one home planet of each empire, with the remaining link switching between Empires as the rotation goes around. This will of course, not be static links but ones that switch as the caverns switch. This layout should play up the use of the caverns as a stronghold through which to attack the important neutral planets or lay siege to enemy home planets.
Global Benefits:
With this lattice structure we plan to make use of the systems that were in play during the December Battle Island game play event. If you recall, that was where holding different Battle Islands would provide different benefits for all of your Empire system wide. We are still working on the specific implementation, but the idea is to have your Empire gain benefits by doing things such as: holding individual "neutral" planets, holding both home continents of an Enemy Empire, or holding both of your home planets while holding one home planet of each of your Enemy Empires.
We feel that such benefits will increase the strategic gameplay of PlanetSide by giving more reasons to take specific planets and deny your enemy access to such benefits or to hold and defend the benefits you have acquired.
Battle Islands – Unique Gameplay:
We are still planning on putting additional restrictions on the Battle Islands to give those that seek very infantry centric fights another location to engage in such outside of the Core Combat Caverns. We want to alter what gear and vehicles are allowed on the Battle Islands to make this a possibility. We plant to have all Battle Islands have the same restrictions.
Vehicle Restrictions: No Medium Battle Tanks, No Deliverer variants (normal Deliverer is ok), No BFRs (flight or gunner), No Flails, No Reavers
Vehicle Changes: Allow anyone to acquire and drive their Empire Specific Assault Buggies (Skyguard and Harasser would still have certification restrictions)
Weapons: No Heavy Assault
Discussion: Please join us on the Official PlanetSide Forums to discuss this lattice layout and the possibilities for future development.
Comments and Suggestions (http://www.planetside-universe.com/ps/track_psdevs.php?post=3178)
Questions (http://www.planetside-universe.com/ps/track_psdevs.php?post=3177)