Question of the Week 1/26/09 Friendly Fire Part 2

[Campbell]

Original Link
(http://forums.play-earthrise.com/index.php?topic=3078.0)
Hi everybody!

Welcome to another week. Smiley This week we're going to talk a bit more about our thoughts behind friendly fire, which we started last week in this thread.

There have been a lot of comments written on our forums since our Question of the Week mentioned we will be implementing a form of friendly fire protection in Earthrise. We understand that it is a subject near and dear to the hearts of many, and can also see a lot of strategies where we believe it would open up an unfair advantage for a group of players who fear nothing from napalming the whole battlefield with certain Area of Effect attacks. Please be aware we are currently testing various scenarios that cover similar situations - we know there are many pros and cons to each side of the argument! At present, so far the prevention of confusion and unwanted side effects in a real dynamic combat where one wrong action could lead to a full party wipe greatly takes priority over certain types of potential AoE abuse. We look forwarding to sharing more details about these different AoE attacks that we are implementing at a future date, but it is something we are keeping very strongly in mind as we test things now.

As you all know Earthrise features close combat skills. Imagine what would happen if there is no friendly fire protection? All close combat skills in the party will be rendered useless in massive PvP battles or nobody will use the type of AOEs attacks we have planned. Taking away these options limits the usage of skills in the game, and we don't want that to happen. Adding the possibility to lose your gear or to waste money for insurance due to friendly fire makes the friendly fire by default an even less desired option.

We're also keeping factions in mind as we test. As we all know, you can attack people from your faction. What will happen if you use AOE or accidentally kill someone from your faction? How can we prevent accidental and possibly disastrous shifts in your faction standing? How many accidental criminals will be created from a free for all friendly fire system?

Keeping a balanced and fun game is something we are striving to achieve, and we look forward to having many of you test the various combat systems, including close up and area of effect attacks!

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic, and hope that we can keep our discussion civil and productive. We'll see you next Monday with another Question of the Week (which probably won't be about Friendly Fire, sorry!)

~ m.

[Draconis]

Well, I'm disappointed they didn't use the QotW for something more 'meaty'. There's really nothing in this one except that they think they're right.
As you all know Earthrise features close combat skills. Imagine what would happen if there is no friendly fire protection? All close combat skills in the party will be rendered useless in massive PvP battles or nobody will use the type of AOEs attacks we have planned.It's especially odd that they think FF spoils melee, since without FF, if melee guys attack my squad I'd just drop the napalm equivalent right on top of my own guys. So just what was the use of melee in even a 10 on 10 encounter?

[Valdin]

This new QOTW was meant to explain where they stadn I think. Reading this he is opening it up more for questions I think that he is explaining anything. I think they are looking for what people will say in the forums.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic, and hope that we can keep our discussion civil and productive. We'll see you next Monday with another Question of the Week (which probably won't be about Friendly Fire, sorry!)


This statement alone makes me think that they are looking for the player bases comments. I just dont see the system they are planning working out.

As you all know Earthrise features close combat skills. Imagine what would happen if there is no friendly fire protection? All close combat skills in the party will be rendered useless in massive PvP battles or nobody will use the type of AOEs attacks we have planned.

I agree with Draconis on this one. I think the way they have it set up they are making mele skills worthless no matter the size. unless they can 100 percent sneak up on someone an AOE is going to be dropped. This is going to make just about everyone skill in AOE.

[Cooke]

Maybe they just can't describe it correctly, but yeah, I think the whole FF thing becomes worthless without some sense of team responsibility for AoE'ers.

Let's jump in the discussion.

Thanks for posting as always Campbell.