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Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
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Posted - 2012.08.20 18:22:00 -
[1] - Quote
Apologies if this has been suggested elsewhere.
In addition to the Orbital Strikes from Eve players, it would be very cool if an Eve Players could send down drones, fighters, or figher-bombers on strafing (carpet bombing for the FBs) runs at the direction of Dust Bunnies.
Just imagine a flight of Hammerheads, Fireflies, or even Cyclops dropping down out of the clouds, tearing up a stretch of map, and flying off back into space. Just imagine the look on that smug Pod Pilot's face when half of his 2 million-isk-each fighter-bombers get shot down by swarm launchers... |
Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 18:27:00 -
[2] - Quote
It would have to be worth it. Drones aren't that big a risk, and make sense as a tactical fire support option, but Fighter-bombers would have to be able to take out installations or buildings in order to be worth the risk. |
Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 18:37:00 -
[3] - Quote
Quote:Wouldn't make sense for drones; coming in from orbit would be way outside of their operating range.
None of the orbital strike mechanics make sense Eve's range limitations. A destroyer has a max range of 10-15km. If it can do an orbital strike, then drones can too.
The solution to too many aircraft is usually more effective AA defenses. Also, for on-map fast-movers to be useful, the maps are going to need to be a lot bigger. I know that's coming. And when it does, they'll be plenty of room for the occasional carrier-based airstrike. |
Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 19:35:00 -
[4] - Quote
Physics have a place in any sim game, but I'm not talking about real-world physics, just cinematic physics. The physics engine of any game makes things feel and act "real", but rarely do they reflect any sort of real-life physics model.
So, I don't see why Dropships can fly from a physics perspective, but I don't care. They fly and they're cool. Ditto for the Eve ships. By the same logic, drones should be able to operate in atmosphere, because it would be cool. Heck, half of them have wings and look aerodynamic for no good reason. They'd look awesome in Dust.
Actually, (this just occured to me), it makes sense for the fast-movers in Dust to actually BE the fighters and fighter-bombers from Eve...not controlled by the carriers, but deployed and owned by Dust pilots, but still the same item. |
Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 21:07:00 -
[5] - Quote
Quote: Realistically, rounds (or lasers, for that matter) would keep going in a straight line until they hit something, so shooting a planet from orbit with a destroyer actually makes a great deal of sense. Controlling drones from that far, however, is another matter. Also, like someone said, they aren't exactly built for atmospheric flight.
We aren't talking about realism. We're talking about gameplay. However, since the US air force can control a drone at 4000km range, I don't think 150km is a problem, especially since you have line of site.
The point is:
Would it look cool? Hell yes.
Would it add meaningful gameplay? yes, since a strafe damage template is different from a bombardment and would give Dusties more flexibility in requesting support.
Would it require more risk for Pod Pilots? Yes, some, depending on the class of drone/fighter. Is that good? Yes.
Would it look "realistic" That is, does it fit within the IP to have drones floating around the battlefield? Yes
Is it already part of the vision to have airstrikes in addition to orbital bombardments?: Yes
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Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 21:36:00 -
[6] - Quote
I assume that when you set up a "fleet" or whatever with an Eve Pilot, you'll be able to "Warp to Battle", taking you to a point over the planet that has line of site on the battlefield. These wouldn't need to be generated dynamically, since the battlefield coordinates are static, the planet location is static, and the planets don't rotate, so no problems there. Then, as long as you are on grid to that point, within a certain range of the planet, you'll be able to initiate a strike at coordinates passed to you.
I still don't see why drones couldn't operate in atmo. They have shields and armour, so re-entry isn't a problem. They have a huge acceleration, so they certainly have the thrust to get back into space, and if they have that much thrust, they can maintain altitude. Is it aerodynamics? There isn't much in Dust that is aerodynamically shaped now, and the shape of the shields probably determines aerodynamics more than the drone.
Now, from a gameplay perspective, particularly from a balance perspective, I don't know if it would work, but I can't think of a good reason why the drones couldn't fly in atmo. Heck, I can't think of a reason why a cruiser couldn't fly in atmo! They'd be about the same size as an MCC... |
Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 22:16:00 -
[7] - Quote
I don't think it would be too bad.
The eve side isn't too bad: Once you've targeted a ground target, assign drones to attack it. The drones would have to go off-grid, maybe "warping" towards the planet. They can't do that now (except fighters), so that's new.
From the Dust side, the code to have a computer controlled air craft is already in place: The skycranes. You'd need different routing and of course new models, but the code is there. So, the drones would fly from one side of the map to the other, and when they neared the target, they'd open fire on it. After the one pass, they leave the battlefield, and return to the grid in Eve.
Not trivial, of course, since we're talking about real-time interactivity between two games and actually physically passing assets from one to the other and back, but not ridiculously outrageous either.
I agree that other core game mechanics come first, but this is a cool "future feature" |
Klivve Cussler
Ransoms Incorporated
49
|
Posted - 2012.08.20 22:36:00 -
[8] - Quote
True. Though I was thinking that since fighters and fighter-bombers in Eve are supposed to be piloted vehicles (not by clones but by crew) that it makes sense for the eventual Dust ground-based fighters and fighter-bombers to be variants of the existing Eve craft. |
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