The Re4pers - Planetside 2 Outfit on Cobalt

The Re4pers => Planetside 2 News => Topic started by: Claygolem on 13/04/2020, 21:33

Title: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: Claygolem on 13/04/2020, 21:33
From the Test Server Patch Notes

I'll include some quick screenshots and testing from the test server after I post the patch notes.

Tactical Slot and Merit Assets
We have added a new loadout slot to all players. This slot now houses Merit Reward deployables, and in the future may house other limited, tactical equipment.

Tactical Slot deployables will now be able to be restocked from the loadout screen after purchasing an initial schematic from the Outfit Quartermaster on Sanctuary.

Tactical Slot Deployables
Flash XS-1 is now located in the Tactical Slot.
Caltrop has been added as a Merit Reward item. These deployables are for outdoor use only, and can be placed to help slow the movement of incoming vehicles. (Known Issue: Currently, allied vehicles cannot pass through these, but will be fixed in the following PTS update later tonight or tomorrow.)
Hardlight Canopy has been added as a Merit Reward item. Provides small, circular cover to protect infantry against airborne assaults.
Auxiliary Spitfire has been added as a Merit Reward item. Places a single-use Spitfire Turret that mimics the functionality of the Engineer version.
Cortium Bomb has been added as a Merit Reward item. Deploys a large explosive device that deals high damage over a wide area, particularly to construction objects. This bomb can be defused.

Outfit Resources
Outfits now require a minimum participation score (combined between members) of 3000 before receiving base capture resource rewards.
Outfits who capture the base now receive their first tick of resources over time immediately.

World Map
Multiple instances of the same zone will now associate a number with each one. For example: Sanctuary 1, and Sanctuary 2.
The targeting reticle when selecting Sanctuary on the World Map is less obstructive now.

Koltyr
The island of Koltyr has now become an instanced playspace that will become available under certain conditions.
During times of high server population, Koltyr will become available to accommodate the population overflow.
Likewise, during times of very low server population, Koltyr will become available to provide a more focused playspace.
Capturing 66% territory on Koltyr will trigger a 30-minute Meltdown alert, after which the continent will lock.
Unlike Meltdown events on full continents, Koltyr does not provide rewards on completion, but will increased experience gain by 25% for the duration of the event.
War Assets are not available for use on Koltyr.
(On Test Server, multiple instances of this zone will be spun up at very low population counts.)

Sanctuary
Various visual improvements and art cleanup.
Warpgate Terminals have been added to the lower levels of Sanctuary.
The Join Combat prompt no longer appears in Sanctuary.


Outfit Armory
Outfits now have access to the "Bastion" permission type, and all Bastion-related components now use this permission instead of Expedition permissions.
Overclocking assets can no longer be done by players who do not posses the correct permissions.


War Assets
We've made our first round of adjustments to War Assets to make them more accessible to Outfits, and adjusted pricing based on their relative desirability in-game:

Steel Rain
When Steel Rain is activated, a swirling maelstrom now appears above the location, visually indicating the drop zone.
Polystellarite cost from 5 to 0.
Synthium cost from 50 to 25.

(http://Orbital StrikeMaximum held count from 3 to 2.Polystellarite cost from 3 to 5.Citadel ShieldWeight from 75 to 50.Auraxium from 100 to 75.Polystellarite cost from 3 to 0.ANVIL (Light)Auraxium cost from 20 to 15.Synthium cost from 2 to 0.ANVIL (Medium)Auraxium cost from 50 to 25.Synthium cost from 10 to 3.ANVIL (Heavy)Auraxium cost from 100 to 75.Synthium cost from 25 to 10.ExpeditionsLength of each expedition has been cut in half.Expedition (Short) from 24 hours to 12 hours.Expedition (Medium) from 48 hours to 24 hours.Expedition (Long) from 72 hours to 36 hours.BastionCrafting AdjustmentsEach piece of the Bastion now crafts in 6 hours, opposed to 12 prior.Pieces of the Bastion must now be crafted in the following order.Hull ReconstitutionSupport SystemsRearm and RefuelResponse VehiclesDev Note: The intention of these changes are to create a buffer of time where resources won't feel "wasted" if they're not going directly toward funding a Bastion. This does slow the rate at which a Bastion can be pulled for those outfits who can easily harvest resources, and we can readjust again in the future if Bastions appear too infrequently on the battlefield.Mauler CannonsNow have a unique model.No longer deal damage or impulse through one-way collision (like spawn room shields.)Maximum Blast Damage from 1250 to 1000Blast damage resistance type from 9 (Tank Mine) to 23 (Air to Ground Warhead)Dev Note: These changes should create a better window of survivability for vehicles aware of an incoming barrage, and allows for certain defensive slots (like Flanker Armor) to help mitigate these attacks.Misc. Bastion ChangesBastions now generate Power Projection score while over VS territory.Bastion Uplink Terminal has been renamed "Command Terminal," and has new UI visuals.Seats 3 - 6 no longer show empty ammo pools in the HUD seating chart.Added a missing panel to the starboard side of the Bastion.Black MarketNew items have been added to the Black Market vendors. We will not be rotating the old items out of the store in this update.Infradine (Utility Slot)This single-use Infradine injector will, after a few seconds, allow the soldier to view heat signatures as if they were using an infrared scope. Lasts up to 20 seconds.NS-30 Tranquility (Common Pool Battle Rifle)Heavy modification has reclassified this NS-30 Vandal as a "non-lethal rifle," capable of firing concussive smart-slugs that slow enemy infantry on impact. While less powerful than the original, the Tranquility boasts higher projectile velocities, and remains suppressed at all times.Misc. Changes, Fixes, and AdditionsIncluded in this update are optimizations to server performance based on bottlenecks discovered during times of high population.Remedied some inconsistencies with construction resistances across a variety of structures.Construction objects beneath a Skyshield will now greatly reduce the damage taken from an Orbital Strike, but will not protect the Skyshield Module itself.Fixed an issue where players were using construction turrets in their debuffed state while entering them while an AI Module was active.Concussion Grenades' turning speed reduction now scales on distance from the blast, similar to the blurred screen visuals.Fixed and issue with MG-HBR1 Dragoon (TR Battle Rifle) not playing firing audio under certain conditions.MG-AR1 Arbalest (TR Assault Rifle) now has updated audio.Clicking the Outfit button as a player without an Outfit will now bring you to the Outfit Search page initially.Underbarrel Grenade launchers should no longer have large animation hitches during a reload.Repair Ribbons once again count toward directive progress.Wielded knives no longer flip in the hand while leaving a sprint. (Note: There still remains an issue where knives will flip in hand after a weapon swap.)Switching weapons while reloading pump action shotguns no longer causes you reload other weapons with the pump action's animations.BR15 cert refund no longer prompts players to "Leave Koltyr."Fixed an issue where Outfits couldn't set Outfit Decals.Desolation has received a beautification pass on the bases, capture points, and surrounding terrain.Revenant Implant can now be crafted, and has been added to the Implant Pack drop table.Removed the "Broadcast" tab from the Social menu.M96 Mjolnir (NC Top Gun) first person camera fixed for both the Vanguard and Harasser.[/i][b]MY OWN INPUT[/b]I've been on the test server a bit to see the new stuff, here's some info from me. This is the new A7 shopping screen with the two new items on it:https://i.imgur.com/Ejgmg2o.pngAs you can see, we've got two new items, the Tranquility and the Infradine.First of, the Tranquility. The Tranquility is basically a slightly altered version of the Vandal. It has slightly lower damage, but it has an added effect of causing a significant slow on the enemy infantry target when hit. Here is the difference between Tranquility and Warden.[img]https://i.imgur.com/uOE3HhP.png)

This is what the Tranquility looks like in game.

(https://i.imgur.com/zLbunNJ.png)

And this is the description of the Tranquility.

(https://i.imgur.com/nBAbOd5.png)

Here's from the testing I did, together with LeadedKarma

 - On the test server I could equip the Tranquility on all character classes, not just infiltrator. I don't know if this is intended, but if it is, that is a difference from the Vandal.

 - The Tranquility causes a slowdown effect that felt very close to 50% reduced movement speed, for 2 seconds.

 - The slow isn't affected by Battle Hardened, you still get the same slow.

 - When you're slowed, you have a very visible green tint effect on you that looks similar to when you're being healed by a medic.

Initially, it doesn't sound like an impressive weapon, but it might have some niche uses when you think about it. One immediate thing I thought about is when you're doing point holds, and enemies are peaking around a doorway or out from cover to fire some shots at you before going back behind cover. A single shot from the Tranquility can slow them down significantly, making it much harder for them to get behind cover. The other use might be if you have an opening (like a gap between two buildings) where enemies are constantly running between, but are doing so too fast for your guys to kill 'em. The Tranquility can slow those enemies down a tad, so you might kill some.

Generally, it's a niche weapon.

Next up, the Infradine. This one I don't see getting any use. You put it in your utility slot (you can have up to 4 of them at once). When you use it, you get Infravision for 20 seconds, similar to a night vision scope. This item sucks. It takes up a utility slot (never popular), for a weird 20 second buff that gives an effect similar to a night vision scope. I can't see what you'd want with this item. You already have night vision scopes. You already have the Infravision implant. The utility slot is way too useful on all classes to give up for something so niche. Oh, and it costs 3 A7 for each restock (which admittedly isn't a big deal once you've gotten all the A7 stuff).

Next up, the new Merit items. Now THESE seem interesting.

You basically have a new Tactical slot on your infantry loadout.

(https://i.imgur.com/1VFHFSF.png)

On this new slot, you can put any of the new Tactical items that can be unlocked in the Sanctuary. Just go to the Merit vendor to unlock them.

(https://i.imgur.com/QmPXsNH.png)

They include

- Caltrop

This is a small deployable barrier that can block enemy vehicles. In the latest patch, it was updated so it doesn't block friendly vehicles. When used it looks like this.

(https://i.imgur.com/z2LVVYi.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/q5c1naC.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/NfMNQvf.png)

You can carry and deploy up to 4 caltrops at once. Each one costs 15 merits to restock. An outfit rank of 1 is required to unlock them, so they're pretty much available to all.

They can only be deployed outside, but they can be deployed in no-deploy zones, as long as it's outside.

They're a great way to stop enemy vehicles (especially harassers) that are plowing down players around a friendly sunderer.

They're NOT a way to stop enemy sunderers from getting through gates however. Gate Shield Diffuser also makes a vehicle immune to caltrops, so you can't put them down along the inside of a friendly gate to stop GSD sunderers from passing through.

 - Hardlight Canopy

This is essentially a miniature Skyshield module that lets you put up a bit of protection from enemy air (and potentially enemies shooting down on you from buildings).

(https://i.imgur.com/7A9db0A.jpg)

The little generator is fairly vulnerable, but the shield itself is quite durable. I think this will be extremely valuable when on rooftops, to avoid getting farmed as easily by enemy air (although it is quite open underneath, so it's by no means foolproof protection).

I didn't have a chance to actually test it on the test server, as it requires both merits and outfit rank to get.. Great. Putting stuff on test server you can't test...

 - Auxiliary Spitfire

Essentially a spitfire in your tactical slow, similar to how Engineers can get Hardlight Barriers in their utility slot. Still needs to be tested if you can use it alongside a normal spitfire and if you can carry it on non-engineer classes.

 - Flash

The Flash that can be purchased with Merits now gets moved to the Tactical Slot. Might be decent for quickly getting a squad from one base to the next, since only half of the squad needs these equipped (Flash is a two-man vehicle).

 - Cortium Bomb

This is the real fun one, although I didn't get to test it either.

(https://i.imgur.com/Q87RvFz.png)

Basically it's a small time bomb with a 20 second fuse. It can only be placed outside. When the timer is down, the bomb explodes and does heavy damage to constructions. This might be a real nasty addition in Outfit Wars situations if you quickly want to take down enemy bases or modules.

Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: Wolkenwand on 13/04/2020, 21:55
Mega like !
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: LeadedKarma on 13/04/2020, 22:15
thank you very much clay!

i think infradine is meant to counter smoke..
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: TheTry on 14/04/2020, 02:02
That or to use it in tandem with smoke...
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: StrikingSpliff on 14/04/2020, 02:43
Sounds like the developers have been busy. These sound like some good improvements especially like the caltrop and hardlight canopy
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: Fallengud on 14/04/2020, 08:21
The caltrops also can take 1-2 shots before getting destroyed so tank players can have some extra cover behind them
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: SnowKrabby on 14/04/2020, 15:48
Sounds like the developers have been busy. These sound like some good improvements especially like the caltrop and hardlight canopy

not only that but they also did the extra work of making an entirely new equip slot instead of placing in an old one.
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: Claygolem on 14/04/2020, 18:19
I think the new slot is what I like most about this, most people have a really hard time taking in new things in their old slots. When I saw that Infradine was utility slot, I immediately gave up on it. I need that slot. Yes, I know it's for smoke.. but.. ehhh.. Med kits? I think taking damage is a lot more frequent than having smoke thrown. And if smoke is thrown that often, you want nightvision scope, not a consumable.
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: Ansic on 14/04/2020, 19:23
Caltrops Vs Magrider? Can they go over with some wiggling?
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: Fallengud on 14/04/2020, 19:46
I hope it will be buged and the caltrops destroy the magriders flying over them :D
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: SnowKrabby on 15/04/2020, 12:20
from what i saw is that a the space below a magrider is smaller than the height of the caltrops
Title: Re: Small breakdown of the next update
Post by: StrikingSpliff on 16/04/2020, 05:56
its back up and you will have 5000 a7 at the moment i suggest logging in and spending it.