Encharrion
L.O.T.I.S.
Legacy Rising
104
   |
Posted - 2012.11.28 09:25:00 -
[1] - Quote
Low health tanks in a game where you have to pay for your tanks is a bad idea. A much better idea would be high health low damage tanks, these would support infantry in two ways. First, they would provide mobile cover and sit on objectives, something they can't do now because they die so quickly, right now tanks sit back and can't really support infantry much because it would be suicide. Second, the damage output would add to the infantry's damage output without being overwhelming on it's own. It would be such that one on one it would kill AV infantry, but take long enough to receive sizable amounts of damage, and the AV would be able to leave the engagement as long as it wasn't sitting in the open on the side of a hill. Tanks would also be slowed down a bit, so they would be more easily caught by AV. However the higher health would make the AV take longer and give infantry more time to support the tank by fending off AV, thereby nerfing solo tank play and improving team play with the tank.
There would be anti-infantry tanks, and anti-tank tanks. The type of tank would be determined by the main turret. An anti-infantry tank would be armed with a large missile turret to use its splash (lol) to hit infantry out to medium range. It's direct damage would be barely better than its splash however, making weak against other tanks, like the AT tank.
The AT tank would allow a non-infantry counter to tanks, using AV infantry should be difficult against anti-infantry tanks, but due to the low direct damage from missiles, an AI tank should have a bad day when trying to face off an AT tank. AT tanks would be equipped with a railgun, and due to the railgun's range, it would sit at long range and shoot enemy tanks from afar. To enforce low health, and to balance the comparatively high damage long range nature of the railgun, it would have more intense fitting costs, particularly powergrid, to make tanking more difficult. AV would also be extremely effective here due to low health if they can get into range. An anti-infantry tank would therefore not only be there to support the infantry to hold objectives and deny ground to the enemy, but require infantry support to protect it from other tanks.
If tank type is determined by weapon system however, then clearly there is another type of tank that uses a blaster turret. This tank would be a bit different, as it would be effective against both infantry and tanks, but only at close range, therefore I will term this tank the brawler tank. The brawler tank would be less effective against infantry than the missile tank at shorter ranges due to the lack of splash damage and shorter range. It would have dps equal to or slightly less than the railgun, but only at very close range, and therefore a rail tank at the appropriate range should cause big problems for a brawler. The way to deal with with the brawler would be the aforementioned AT-tank at range, long range swarms, and anti-material snipers if added. A smart brawler tank driver might even be able to ambush rail tanks at close range (which shouldn't be easy if the opposing tank driver is paying attention) and tear them apart because of their relatively low health (this could even be a role for black ops brawlers).
This rock, paper, scissors approach presented here would, in organized play, result in even, well rounded teams consisting of multiple parts, and prevent any particular piece from becoming too powerful because if one piece is fielded more of its counter will be fielded and the situation will balance itself out. CCP will know they have gotten it right when they can change one thing and have the pieces being used change but remain balanced.
Furthermore, when the RTS portion of the game is added, the rock paper scissors approach will add to the tactics and strategy of the game, the commander will have to decide where to commit which units to be optimally effective against the enemy.
EDIT: removed anti-material sniper references to cut down on wall of text. |
Encharrion
L.O.T.I.S.
Legacy Rising
104
|
Posted - 2012.11.28 14:33:00 -
[2] - Quote
I disagree, I believe there is still plenty of room for customization inside of rock paper scissors, but I do understand your concern. Also, sorry for the wall of text, I'll try and add a summary soon. |