DUST Search - Legion and the Future of Logistics Vehicles

Maken Tosch wrote:

I remember actually training up to use the Limbus in Dust back in closed beta when Replication was still the latest build. One of the things I realized back then is that there needs to be a proper targeting system implemented if we are to ever see logistics vehicles be practical in Legion.

Back then, you had to constantly look at your target in order to maintain the lock even after already locking on it. Even if a target-and-forget feature was later implemented, there was still a problem with managing remote reps on more than one target. The problem is compounded even more with dropships.

The solution that I recommend to CCP for Legion in regards to this remote repping as well as other things is to move the targeting mechanic away from the driver towards the turret operator.

It's more practical for the role and easier on the pilot if at least one turret on a logistics vehicle is dedicated towards being a remote repair turret. That turret would be controlled by the operator instead of the pilot so that the pilot can focus more on actually flying rather than worrying about maintaining repairs on a target. This can also be beneficial to logistics dropship pilots in particular as they can fit 2 turrets and thus have more repping power compared to a logistics LAV which only has one turret.

We could take this one step further by allowing the logistics LAV passenger (not the turret operator) the ability to manage things like either vehicle module activation or help the driver plot a course or maybe scan the area for potential threats so that the driver can focus more on driving. This should only be applicable to the logistics LAV so that it will have a unique role as a tank buddy while the logistics dropship has its own role as a multi-vehicle repper.

What do you think?


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DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14211	Posted - 2014.05.08 15:40:00 - [1] - Quote First of all, thank you very much for making this subforum. I am mostly a vehicle expert (Dropships, specifically), and that is where my passion lies in DUST, and where I intend for it lie in Legion as well. I was probably one of the only 100% dedicated Prometheus pilots back when we still had them, as I absolutely loved the idea of a support dropships, even if they were horribly executed at the time. I want to know if there are any plans to bring back logistics vehicles, and if so, how you intend to flesh out their role. - Are you keeping the WP system, and if so, will we receive WP for MCRU spawns? - Will they have dedicated repair modules like the Logistics LAV used to, and if so, what kind of improvements would you like to make to that function, such as greater range for dropships or shield repairers? - Have you considered things like being able to fill other vehicles ammunition, modules that provide buffs to nearby infantry, targeted scanners, vehicle cloaking, remote shield / armor hardeners, etc etc. - If they do make their return, will they have their own slightly altered models, or will we still have bright yellow vehicles? - How do you intend to enhance the tactical elements of vehicle combat, specifically, how do you intend to reward strong teamwork, since right now vehicles are almost exclusively a solo thing (no logistics, punished for fitting small turrets, no real need for teamwork) These are just some things that pop into my head, any and all answers are greatly appreciated. Green Light Legion LONG LIVE LEGION!
DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14223	Posted - 2014.05.08 19:25:00 - [2] - Quote Where are my fellow logistics pilots at? ::crickets chirp::
DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14226	Posted - 2014.05.08 20:55:00 - [3] - Quote Godin Thekiller wrote: What's the point of them all having the same thing? one will be better than the other, and then there would be no point in oneor more. LDS should just stick with being good at ferrying and dropping people off (as well as picking them up). Except that CCP has shown that they want Dropships repairing vehicles in multiple trailers. Even if they just received a bonus to fitted remote reps, instead of a built in remote rep, it would be nice to get some logistics going on. If you want to ferry people around, you can do that in any kind of dropship. Instead of stifling creative teamwork, we should be encouraging it.
DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14227	Posted - 2014.05.08 21:00:00 - [4] - Quote Forlorn Destrier wrote: DUST Fiend wrote: Godin Thekiller wrote: What's the point of them all having the same thing? one will be better than the other, and then there would be no point in oneor more. LDS should just stick with being good at ferrying and dropping people off (as well as picking them up). Except that CCP has shown that they want Dropships repairing vehicles in multiple trailers. Even if they just received a bonus to fitted remote reps, instead of a built in remote rep, it would be nice to get some logistics going on. If you want to ferry people around, you can do that in any kind of dropship. Instead of stifling creative teamwork, we should be encouraging it. Agreed - nothing wrong with a logi ship - it should have limited passenger space though to account for the change, like the ADS has limited space Well logi ships had the built in MCRU before, but they didn't serve much of a purpose. It's not a very creative approach to logistics, and doesn't really lend much to gameplay. If anything, Logistics ships should receive fitting bonuses to various logistics modules, to let you kind of create your own ship that best fits your playstyle / the battle at hand. Obviously we would need logistics modules, but just telling them to be transpo's is kind of lame at best. If you want them to be transpo focused, then they need to be able to fit 4 small turrets, instead of 2. That way as people are spawning into the ship you always have gunners, and you can actually provide some descent cover fire while picking up and dropping people off, considering they will likely be much slower than ADS like in the past
DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14227	Posted - 2014.05.08 21:37:00 - [5] - Quote Maken Tosch wrote: I remember actually training up to use the Limbus in Dust back in closed beta when Replication was still the latest build. One of the things I realized back then is that there needs to be a proper targeting system implemented if we are to ever see logistics vehicles be practical in Legion. Back then, you had to constantly look at your target in order to maintain the lock even after already locking on it. Even if a target-and-forget feature was later implemented, there was still a problem with managing remote reps on more than one target. The problem is compounded even more with dropships. The solution that I recommend to CCP for Legion in regards to this remote repping as well as other things is to move the targeting mechanic away from the driver towards the turret operator. It's more practical for the role and easier on the pilot if at least one turret on a logistics vehicle is dedicated towards being a remote repair turret. That turret would be controlled by the operator instead of the pilot so that the pilot can focus more on actually flying rather than worrying about maintaining repairs on a target. This can also be beneficial to logistics dropship pilots in particular as they can fit 2 turrets and thus have more repping power compared to a logistics LAV which only has one turret. We could take this one step further by allowing the logistics LAV passenger (not the turret operator) the ability to manage things like either vehicle module activation or help the driver plot a course or maybe scan the area for potential threats so that the driver can focus more on driving. This should only be applicable to the logistics LAV so that it will have a unique role as a tank buddy while the logistics dropship has its own role as a multi-vehicle repper. What do you think? I definitely like the idea of logistics turrets, everything from remote reps to targeted scans. The only problem is that it would be kind of boring for the turret operator. At least as the pilot, you're doing all sorts of other stuff, so something that's a bit more boring like repairing an enemy vehicle is kind of fun. If you were a passenger in a turret, literally all you would be doing is aiming at a blue and holding down the trigger :/ It doesn't make for very engaging gameplay. So, in theory I think it could be cool, I think in practice it might just not be fun enough to really be worthwhile.
DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14293	Posted - 2014.05.10 17:55:00 - [6] - Quote Kristoff Atruin wrote: Yeah...AoE ammo resupply built into the vehicles with a short range, and larger range repair AoE as an active module. Targeted repairs as small turrets, with logi hulls receiving bonuses to repair amount and range for the repair modules. I don't really like the idea of AoE heals just because that sounds like it could be pretty easily abused. I'm much more a fan of AoE resistance buffs, or reduced heat build up on turrets, or faster tracking for turrets, etc etc. Then, we could give the targeted heals/ targeted hardeners, etc etc to logistics turrets, but make them still have "ammo" and "overheat" mechanics, to keep them from being spammed excessively. This would free up the pilot to act as transport and general logistics on his own, but require allies to bring about its full potential with healing and amplifying allied vehicles effectiveness.
DUST Fiend The Wings of Legion 14293	Posted - 2014.05.10 19:13:00 - [7] - Quote Kristoff Atruin wrote: A weak AoE heal would be hard to abuse if the range wasn't absurdly long. The way I'm envisioning it AoE heals would have to be much weaker than targeted ones as well. The intent there to be bringing people back to full at the end of a fight, not keeping them alive while they're fighting. Getting a repair tool lock on a guy who won't stand still is already a giant pain when you're on foot. In a vehicle it would be extremely frustrating to do as a driver. Unless it had a system similar to eve where you would select a name from a list to lock onto, keeping you from needing to aim. Problem with doing that though is I don't see it working well with a controller, and I'd like the UI to stay controller friendly. AoE infantry heals would be alright I'd think, I was thinking more along the lines of effortless spider tanking with AoE heals. If it was just a slow pulse heal or something, that would be a really useful module for Logi pilots of all types.