Pliauga
Gallente
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Posted - 2009.09.16 12:30:00 -
[1]
Blunt and short version
Give fleet commanders (FC) an ability (or tools) to arrange their fleets in orderly formations.
Long version
The problem:
In trailers and promotional posters fleet fights and fleets in general are clearly shown flying in beautiful orderly formations. One only needs to remember the trailers of Trinity, Empyrean age, Apocrypha or this latest poster from a devblog.
The problem is that most fleets look like that only a few moments before warp, when they are aligned. And in most other cases they are just a one big mess.
The pic from the devblog annoyed me in particular because it not only shows an orderly fleet in the heat of battle, but also a fleet that is seemingly putting effort to broadside the enemy for maximum effect (which is awesome).
The solution(vision):
Create multi layer tools for the FC to set up their own formations.
For example: an FC sets up a simple 3D sketch in the tool designating in what order does he want the general groups of the fleet to appear on the battlefield (or warp in).
Dread group here, sniper group here, gun meet here, logistics area here etc..
When the FC presses the "Enter formation XXX" button each ship in the fleet sees a certain virtual beacon (which it can approach or maybe even warp to) designating where the FC wants each ship or groups of ships to be.
Each group within the fleet can have their own formations which can be set by their designated Wing/squad commanders.
It is important that these tools would appear only as suggestive guidelines for the common squad member. And that every pilot would have to actually do something to achieve these formations rather than just blindly enter fleet mode -> engage autopilot -> start shooting primaries.
And when formations are achieved in large fleets, apart from obvious benefits of organization and general order, maybe a few bonuses can be thrown in to encourage their usage. Like command ships being more effective. Or guns doing 2% more damage.
This of course should also provide the ability to warp in formation.
So much for now, any thoughts?
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