Lord Echo Prime
We Who Walk Alone
2
   |
Posted - 2012.12.30 01:16:00 -
[1] - Quote
As I have recently started playing DUST 514, one feature I have noticed missing, and I'm not sure if it would be appropriate, is the equivalence of a "Training Grounds/ Holodeck" for the purpose of tapering off the steep learning curve for those new to the FPS genre (much less EVE Online/ Dust 514) to those experienced and want to go corporation/ tournament level. What I am proposing would be something of the following:
1. A training ground/ Holodeck for the purpose of the merc to hone their weapon skills, ie being able to shoot at single/ multiple/ stationary/ moving targets. I have played many other COD, splinter cell, rainbow 6, etc. genre and being able to train in different situations, getting use to a particular weapon, vehicle, dropship WITHOUT the risk of losing it on-the-job in a real battle would be beneficial. I've seen 400,00 ISK tanks lost because it was blow up while the merc was learning how to use the controls trying to 4-point turn to get out of the way of the enemy.
2. The training maps could be scaled-down version of the current skimish/ ambush maps. Some maps would vary from open-range to mountainous, small buildings to large towers, etc., all for the purpose for shooting/ training in different environments/ situations. It would help those of the sniper profession with the range finding factors shooting at moving targets and being able to find / purchase the correct weapon for the job/ situation.
3. The testing of weapons, or "What the hell did I just get shot with?!" Often I have been killed with weapons that startled me in awe, with the hope that I'm quick enough to close my mouth and look at the upper right corner for the person and the weapon they just killed me with. But not always am I. While in battle, I've seen many weapons that bring the seriousness, and have wondered WTH kind of weapon was that. If I had a training holodeck, I could go through my own inventory to see if I own the weapon, or get shot by a training drone to see if the visual effects and sounds were the same.
4. Holodeck training drones. Putting drones together that you could program or change the settings on to increase/ vary the training session would be nice. Sort of like the settings that you have for the TV monitor or the game controller, you would have settings from new to expert, speed control, sensors output/ masking, size of drone (from tiny to dropship size), etc. There would also be the ability to train against multiple drones, each with different weapons/ speeds/ sizes, all for honing the skills.
5. Squad training, or "Cut!!!! Do it again." Inside the holodeck, squads that can network together would also be able to training together without risks. Need to get your 6-merc training on against multiple drones? Got mercs that want to join your crew and you want to test their mettle? Want to practice new squad commands/ plays and see its effectiveness? Corporation recruiting, meet at Holodeck 23 at 1900 EST? Now you have the combo deal environment to offer. Even new players will be able to train and get the hang of things if they are in a less pressuring environment where they CAN make mistakes without ridicule. It's all about practice, practice, practice!
6. Vehicle licenses, or "Hell, how do you fly this thing???" Not talking about setting up a mini-Gran Tursimo but just using some of the maps to let the mercs get use to driving their LAV/ HAV without risks or death, while constantly saving ISK for the battle. The mercs deaths would then be due to a lack of skills and NOT due to a lack of familiarity of the controls and its responsiveness. I've seen dropships come to the battlefield and run SMACK into the side of the biggest building they could find on the map, and I just shake my head, thinking 1. glad I wasn't on that thing, and 2. there has GOT to be a better way to get my vehicle skills on than THIS! I, myself can drive the hell out of any LAV, like I stole it, but those skills I accrued from playing Gran Turismo 1 thru 5, not Dust 514.
7. All training in the Holodeck would be of Passive Skill Points accrued, not Active. The time you spend off the battlefield is Passive, period. The purpose of the Holodeck would be for the testing, training, introduction of the DUST 514 world. This is where you could also integrate the weapons, dropsuits, vehicles conpendium into the Holodeck.
I guess this is all to say, let the players spend as much time getting familiar with the gameplay and the weapons WITHOUT being deterred or frustrated because they are constantly dying and losing money. I love the game but if it wasn't for the forums and my gaming background, I'd feel VERY, VERY small going up and playing against those that have been in DUST 514 since May- July beta 2012. I'm talking about squads and corporations that drop 4-5 tanks in one battle, killing me with weapons I have trouble correctly pronouncing, and mercs with KDR of 32-4 with War Points of 1670 to 2215. Seriously?! Don't get me wrong, those mercs are GOOOOOD! And one day, I will be of that skill level. But for those of us not there yet, give us something to level the playing field, for the newbies of FPS for the first time, to the experienced HALO 1-3/ COD/ MOH/ Ghost Recon that now have something to conquer. This is still beta, Chromosome build at the time of this writing. I see the starmap and leadership board has be disengaged, along with skill points accrued cut back. Cool! But use one of those doors in the Mercs Quarter as the entrance to a training Holodeck. I know when this game goes commercial, I want to be ready for the 9 to 14 year old that will try to pwn my merc/ squad single-handedly with a juice box in one hand and a 8:30pm bedtime in the other, asking their mother it they can stay up another half hour to own my a** 'cause it's a school night.
Yeahhhhh.... |
Lord Echo Prime
We Who Walk Alone
2
|
Posted - 2012.12.30 03:43:00 -
[2] - Quote
That's what I'm talking about, something of the Armored Core 2 - 3 setup, Metal Gear solid VR Training, etc. Heck, this is beta, GO FOR BROKE! Use the same maps, vehicles, weapons, etc., put it on a smaller scale, add network capability as though it is like the actual battlefield combat, EXCEPT you have drones and only accrue Passive Skill Points. Now, you can train until your heart's content, assessing various squad member's strengths and weakness, while saving your ISK and honor! All military/ special forces have some form of boot-camp-like training grounds, weeding out the able from the non-committal. Like I said, when DUST 514 commercial hits, we'll need ALL the help we can get from getting pwned by the 9 year old and 8 year old sharing one game controller, pwning mercs left and right like Bitcoins between the hours of Nickeloden and Toonami! CCP, pay attention, and "thank you for playing." |
Lord Echo Prime
We Who Walk Alone
2
|
Posted - 2012.12.30 06:04:00 -
[3] - Quote
@Octavian Vetiver: Very true, just a bit of sarcasm/ humor of absurdity. But on the real, the complexity of DUST 514, much less EVE is such that I've known many new players that are frustrated and won't bother to give the game a chance, for various reasons, while those of us that are hardcore DUST/ EVE have accepted/ expected such "difficulties." The notion of a training ground could be a bridge for those new to FPS, and for experienced squads training for tournaments. One day, in time, my skills will be with the best of those in DUST. A "holodeck" would simply expedite it. |