PS Patches

[Rywill]

From dev posts on the official board:

#1: "Today, we will be patching the client with framerate optimizations for certain situations. This should resolve stuttering and framerate issues for many of you. We are committed to optimizing your play experience and will continue seeking out optimizations to help as many of you enjoy the game as possible. We will not need to bring the server down for this patch."

Fair warning: they later posted that the graphics patch caused a CTD error for Win98 and WinME users (go QA!). They are supposedly fixing that soon.

#2: "In the next major patch, we will be updating the Heavy Assault weapons and Medium Buggies for the Terran Republic and Vanu Sovereignty.
TR MiniChaingun: The TR MiniChaingun received a 50% increase in bursting duration before recoil kicks in.

VS Lasher: The VS Lasher received an increased rate of fire to make it more comparable with the other Heavy Assault Weaponry.

TR Marauder and VS Thresher: Both of these vehicles were given an increase in armor points. Now the NC Enforcer, TR Marauder, and VS Thresher are equal health-wise.

VS Thresher: The VS Thresher had both its damage increased (against soldiers and vehicles), and its lifespan extended (so the projectile can travel further). This is to make it more comparable to the NC Enforcer and TR Marauder (in terms of damage potential).

Timing on these updates has yet to be determined, but we expect them to go to Test Server and then Live next week."

A little disappointing IMO. First off, it looks like they're trying to make the empires more mirror-images of each other, which is lame (e.g., now all buggies have same health and apparently same or close to the same weaponry). Also, I hope it doesn't knock the balance out of whack--the TR have the best MAXes and the VS have the best tank, and the NC had the best buggy. Same with weapons--the TR have the best AV, the Vanu (now) have the best medium assault, and the NC had the best HA. It looks like now the TR and VS buggies and HA are getting brought up closer to the NC, but I hope that doesn't mean the NC are now either tied or second-best at everything...

It seems especially weird because the NC don't dominate, at least on Johari. We came in distant third yesterday.

[XPav]

It seems especially weird because the NC don't dominate, at least on Johari. We came in distant third yesterday.
Yeah we suck.

[TheWombat]

The whole problem with empire balance is that the design spec seems to call for an overall balance, with each empire having various advantages in a variety of areas, but no one empire having any more advantages in toto than any other.

Problem is, the game revolves around one subset of the possible set of combat situations. Most of the fighting is indoors or in close proximity to towers and bases; comparatively little is in the open countryside. Therefore, all the advantages that an empire might have for long-range outdoor combat are worth comparatively less than advantages an empire might have for short range and indoor combat. Ergo, the Vanu get screwed somewhat because their balance was in having superior long-range and outdoor equipment. When few of the battles are in that milieu, well, Jackhammers and Cyclers tend to rule.

I agree it's a bit disappointing to see the empires converging so much, but they really need to rethink their whole strategy--or better yet, redefine gameplay so that there is much more fighting outside....

[VegasRobb]

You can design a game to have all kinds of neat things for every situation but that doesn't mean the players will (or have to) use them.

Everquest was much the same way at first. The designers envisioned that parties would want to crawl through dungeons and not camp in one spot. Things ended up being quite the opposite. Everquest became Evercamp.

I was happy with the TR Marauder although I will admit that I never saw alot of the VS buggy. Maybe we will now.

[TheWombat]

I've played Vanu since mid beta, and I've been in a Thresher maybe twice, and seen maybe a half-dozen of them in operation. Why? They are teh suck, that's why. Damage themselves leaving the vehicle bay, damage themselves on blades of grass, pea-shooter gun, hard to control--absolutely no redeeming social value.

[XPav]

I agree it's a bit disappointing to see the empires converging so much, but they really need to rethink their whole strategy--or better yet, redefine gameplay so that there is much more fighting outside....
Agreed 100%. I dunno about you guys, but I'm getting bored of tower fights.

On a side note, saw an orbital strike yesterday that blew away an AMS in a courtyward. Also used a Phoenix to take out 2 ANTs camped around the power thingy.

[Jason McMaster]

I need to get my ass back in the game. Lot of shedule changing lately.

[Rob O'Boston]

I think orbital strikes are the ultimate tower cleaner. They seem to be just the right diameter to hose one down. I think I saw the one Rywill mentioned above 2 nights ago, and I had just rushed into the tower and saw 2 maxes on the stairs with engineers and infantry supporting them, and I figured, ok this is a half hour grind. Then, when running back from the ams, the OS was dropped and we all ran into the tower and wrapped it up. Sweet.

[Xemu]

Yeah, I've been absent lately too, and need to get back into it. I bet my Anti Air MAX will get some good use with the release of the bomber. :)

Between SWG, Gothic II, and making a serious attempt to get 100% on Vice City PC my gaming time is really getting tight...

[Xaroc]

I have been AWOL the past few nights as well.

I have gotten the NWN bug again with SoU and a bunch of the user made stuff. I am currently going through Shadowlands which is amazing in terms of it's polish and story and execution. I have also downloaded a bunch of the other user made modules but I fear this one may spoil me.

Anyway I will definitely be playing some PS this weekend. I feel the need to Phoenix and stealth kill a few TRs.

-- Xaroc

[XPav]

Yeah, I've been absent lately too, and need to get back into it. I bet my Anti Air MAX will get some good use with the release of the bomber. :)
Any smart bomber pilot will fly at max altitude which makes hitting them with Phoenixes and Skyguards impossible. I'm not sure about Sparrows.

[Rywill]

Sparrows can't hit them either from what I've read; the only way to take out a bomber at the flight ceiling is with another aircraft. I don't think bombers are at all accurate when they're that high, though.

[TheWombat]

So far there is no shortage of dumb pilots, luckily...

[XPav]

Sparrows can't hit them either from what I've read; the only way to take out a bomber at the flight ceiling is with another aircraft. I don't think bombers are at all accurate when they're that high, though.
Accurate enough to plaster a courtyard or tower.


So far there is no shortage of dumb pilots, luckily...
That include the pilot yesterday that crashed into a tree flying while slowly along the ground with me in it.

[Rob O'Boston]

How about a show of hands for the people planning on playing tonight? I have the option of going to Maine tonight, or tomorrow morning, and I would go tomorrow if we could get a healthy squad on tonight. I dropped heavy weapons and picked up special weapons after having my enforcer blown away in mid air by a decimator. I want some of that action.

[Xaroc]

How about a show of hands for the people planning on playing tonight? I have the option of going to Maine tonight, or tomorrow morning, and I would go tomorrow if we could get a healthy squad on tonight. I dropped heavy weapons and picked up special weapons after having my enforcer blown away in mid air by a decimator. I want some of that action.

I will definitely be on tonight.

-- Xaroc

[Rywill]

Not me. Back-to-back 13-hour workdays with 4 hours of sleep in between = going to bed. I'll be on tomorrow, though (not that it does Rob any good).

[XPav]

I'll be on.

[Dave Weinstein]

I'll be on.

--Dave

[Nathan Phoenix]

I'll jump on
reinforced/MA/HA/SA
going to get hacker cert if i can get BR11 tonight.