4 replies to this topic

[Jaynestown]

Especially on the larger maps and especially in Assault Mode, it would help to liven things up by scattering the drop zones around a little. Currently all three lances drop at the base. Being clustered at the start encourages the "herd" mentality which results in a whole team charging up into the thunder dome or all taking one path in the canyon network. If each map instead had four or five possible drop locations and if each lance was randomly assigned to one of them, it would mix things up - especially if a couple of the drop zones were a little further forward. So, it would become a little harder to estimate at what time you should see enemies and at which locations.

[DaZur]

+300

Full, unmitigated agreement with all above...

• Three difference lance "drop-points" (I'd go one further and have several (9?) randomized drop locations to keep the drops and tactics fresh).
  
• Encourages lance-level tactics and individualized goals.
  
• De-emphasizes the herb/blob mentality... Instead of it being the de facto movement, if a blob is desired... they'd have to coordinate and rendezvous.
  
• Spread the battle - Remove some of the topology stagnation and instigate battles in / around different map locations.

There are a dozen things PGI could do to remove the "Groundhog Day" paradigm... This being the simplistic and easy to initiate IMHO...

Edited by DaZur, 30 September 2013 - 05:36 AM.

[Tom Sawyer]

Jane I mentioned this a while back. A broken drop that simulates your drop ship took heavy damage and the mechs where forced to bail. Be an awesome map choice option if we ever get ques or the right to design a given drop. Game maker picks the map, picks the game conditions like busted drop, ect ect.

[Training Instructor]

This idea has been brought up before and received a very positive reaction from most of the people who viewed the thread.

But, since the players actually want it, I'm sure we'll never see it implemented.

*Sorry, I've just become extremely pessimistic lately after checking out how the devs interact with paying community members over at Star Citizen*

[Gauvan]

I'm not sure how well this would work in PUGs, though in premades it could be fun. For PUGs, having a large blob doesn't provide the most varied game play but it seems to help with the lack of coordination as well as compensating for varied skill levels. There is also the issue of lance makeup--if a lance of mediums dropped next to a lance of assaults it would be a bit one-sided.

What I'd really like to see is to keep the same mass drop mechanic we have now, but have multiple possible paired drop locations. For example, add an East-West deployment on Canyon as an alternative to the current N-S pattern. It would allow a little variety and would be a re-use of the existing map assets. Some of the early maps (e.g., Forest Colony) are too linear for this to work, but for most of the maps I think it is viable.