1. It seemed there was a limit to the number of frames you'd normally have at once (but could buy more, probably up till an upper limit also though). I'm guessing this is for frames you can instantly/easily swap between when one gets damaged or at the garage with a single UI interaction (like frame stations in Firefall).
However I'm uncertain how this works for changing existing frames. If I have bought one light frame with one set of weapons, abilities, paint, armor, cat ears, etc.... and then I go and using that same frame/slot build a new frame will I lose the old one? I ask since frames cost resources to build initially (and to an extent to be repaired), so will all my investment have been lost? Will I get a full refund? Or will it just save those parts/modules in a larger inventory so I can swap that frame/slot back to the older design when I feel like it without additional (major) expense?
Depending on the answer this could seriously limit the willingness of players to mess around with and customize their frames.
While the write up on the omniframe implied the use of modules to be swapped out, it never clearly said just how this would work so I am curious.
2. "
Glide: By leaping from a height and deploying their wings, Omniframes can glide over great distances. While they can’t self-launch, an Omniframe can glide from any higher land to lower ground."
Can't self launch, does that mean you need a deployable glider pad or such, or simply that they can't use their jets while gliding to fly, like in FF. Might want to reward and clarify.
3. For damage types, what would a cutting laser fall under? Energy is the first one that comes to mind, but being light it's not something most shields that I see should block in games or media or such (being transparent and all...). Not as key for frames in this document, just something that comes to mind to ask about. Possibility of lasers being short fire duration vs overheat weapons making them overall less damaging than continuous projectile weapons, but also able to ignore shields largely does interest me. Probably give them relatively quick falloffs on range/damage for design purposes though.
4. Critical hits, are these just a random chance occurrence? Or are they referencing getting shot in the head/weak spot or something? Also for what part is affected is it just roll a dice and see how screwed you are, or more like Warthunder/WoT where it's based on where you got hit by the given attack? In general not a fan of completely random types of mechanics like this, but do understand the idea of throwing in some variation or unexpected aspects to combat. Still, something to approach very carefully as it could easily frustrate people if not done right.
5. Power allocation. Is that % for each given frame part just a universal % buff, or is it the % of power directed when it's being split? That is to say if I have all my abilities and stuff fully charged and use my jets, even though they are on a 40% split would they receive 100% of the power output to their charge rate being the only thing currently needing power, or would they still just receive a charge based on that flat 40% and ignore the part that nothing else is currently drawing it? This part left me rather confused and drawing a blank for how it worked.
6. My biggest issue is with the idea that certain weapon types (and to an extent other things) will be locked from certain frames. Both from a gameplay standpoint, and a design standpoint.
If you can only make ten good guns a month on your budget, get the most bang for your buck. Make it a completely modular system so they can be used on any frame with anything else. You'll get a lot more mileage out of what all your players can mess around with and do for any given piece of work. On the gameplay side I like the idea of making a heavy frame that's a healer. Naturally it'll be slower than a lighter frame, but what's wrong with letting a player decide they want a slow and tanky medic for certain fights? Deciding that a medic "must" be fast and agile and die easily if hit is a pointless constraint as far as I am concerned that just feels like limiting yourself to the status quo. A sniper rifle on a heavy frame, might not be the most practical in 90% of cases but still can be an option for someone to mess around with.
Afterburner/mobility abilities made for a light frame on a heavy frame? Why not, factor in frame weight so it won't push you as far. And maybe specialize with a core processing module that boosts all abilities of a certain type. So you can have a mobility heavy frame with a melee build, it won't be as fast as the light one but can take a bigger beating, swap two abilities out for tanky abilities and the core processing module and now you can have a shield/tank melee unit with one re-positioning ability, that will now move it even less. Still, the player has the option.
Or on the opposite end why not let a fast agile light frame have a shield wall or something ability? Sure it won't last as long or take the same beating or such as a heavy frames, but now you can have a support that can quickly reach your allies at longer/more vertical distances and give them a bit of protection? Or have it as a sniper so you can quickly react/defend against a sudden incoming attack.
Or let a light frame carry a cannon, it will just weigh them down a lot. They can carry one big gun but will be slower for it, maybe they can carry less total ammo, or just had to skip an extra ability slot or glider upgrades to let their frame still move quickly, but now you can an AOE offensive mobile unit.... that will die if the enemy so much as sneezes in its direction. Still, it's an option.
Make a good underlying system of inherent costs for any given item and then a base range for any frame, and there should be no reason to outright gate or limit certain items from certain frames. Players get to play more with each new patch, and developers get more bang for their buck, win win.
7. "You can also customize the look of your omniframe
my purchasing skins, emotes and sound fx from the game’s online store."
Should be "by" purchasing skins...
8. Also for skim mode, was this rougly what you meant for flying with wings out and feet just above the ground? (skip to 0:22)
Or maybe something more like this, where they are in a more standing pose where the feet just kind of slide over the ground? (but with weapons restricted unlike here) (skip to 0:58)
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