CELESTA AUNGM
Kang Lo Directorate
Gallente Federation
96
   |
Posted - 2014.01.07 16:32:00 -
[1] - Quote
In the wake of Patch 1.7 and it's reworking of the vehicle operations, fittings, and animation/rendering, I think this is a prime opportunity to revisit the Bay Doors component of the dropship vehicle. As vehicles get further fleshed out in 1.8, etc. I think it is perfect time to give the driver some sort of dynamic control of the doors.
It's a component that has been on the devs' minds well through the Beta versions (as seen in the disabled X-button function on the PS3 controller, and in the currently-automatic activation of the doors during landing/takeoff),... but I believe two current issues make it appropriate to move the bay doors component higher up on your list of things to implement:
1- The (excellent) introduction of the Caldari Rail Rifle has given players much more confidence and reward, that they can fire impulsively up at an incoming enemy dropship and---thank heaven's---finally hit someone in the passenger bay occasionally! Although this may be an unfortunate new occurrence for a dropship operator like myself, it actually opens up an exciting new challenge and obstacle for a team that is trying to fly reinforcements into an area of contention.
Adding the ability to keep the armoured bay doors closed at the operator's discretion, can raise the sophistication of gameplay during a firefight.
2- The forum thread about "Allowing passengers to fire from a Dropship" has been going on for nearly 7 months now, with players still contributing avid post against, and avid posts for, the issue. Though I am avidly against allowing passengers to open fire, WHICHEVER way the issue turns out will likely require some thought about how bay doors permit/impede rounds entering or exiting.
Of course an operable door that's acting as a "barrier" against flying weapon slugs raises questions that I hope players can post about here, and help you to decide:
 Should the bay doors be a block ALL forms of fire or just Light Arms and Side Arms?
Does it make sense that bay doors as a barrier against weapons still allow passengers to pass in/out freely, or should players be trapped in a plummeting DS or shut out of a parked DS during a firefight?
Might the simple animation of "bay doors auto-shut when driver leaves her dropship" be a good way to address the issue of "locking" your vehicle from blue vandals? (Red dot vandals of course should still be allowed to hack your vehicle as usual)
 Is this a "Doors-open/closed" x-button feature that can be somehow imitated for HAV and LAV as well (even if there's no door animation on those vehicles),... because I personally don't like my Dropship to get a great added feature unless that feature can be shared with my fellow mercs' vehicles too.
Hopefully this post will generate some sparks toward Bay Door (re-)discussions.
As always, thanks for the game! |