Traditional Thumping vs MEK-A

Gyrus

Emberite
Jul 29, 2016
11
8
3
#1
Is there any chance that we'll see traditional thumping for nostalgia's sake as a basic/solo method of resource collecting? Perhaps used when players don't yet have their own refinery or when exploring remote regions. Defending and escorting MEK-A sounds like more of a group undertaking suited to established players. Just thinking about this in terms of free-form casual gameplay.
 
Jul 26, 2016
73
132
33
Brisbane, Australia
#4
You raise a good point.

Since a traditional 'Tower Thumper' that Firefall has could be an IP stealing issue? I wouldn't mind a 'Stock Mek-a' that is small enough to be picked up via a Dropship again. But in case that's a headache, Maybe we can possess a mining tool and a separate inventory to mine 'low quality & quantity' resources ourselves until we have enough for a full on Mek-A. but, then that removes the idea of encounters unless the drill/tool makes a bit of noise.. but, then you've got to switch weapons which can be a fuss to juggle things just to shoot a single Arahna.. Maybe a small 'Drill unit' that can be deployed like an Engineer's Turret that makes a little noise while we keep an eye on it and the surroundings instead? Then we pick it up after it's done and take it back to the nearest Refinery and put it in the 'Donations Bin' /giggle

You get the big hauls & proper encounters with a real Mek-A after you've been digging dirt for a bit.
 
Jul 26, 2016
45
24
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#10
a 'why not both' situation to me it seems, ones that can self extract and need to be escorted, being take/give on risks and reward.

one can self extract but means it stays in the immediate combat zone longer, the other must be defended on the way back to objective point but leaves the immediate combat zone much faster.
good take/give situation. also known as interesting choices. also known as good Game Design.
 

Nakiato

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2016
95
261
53
#11
I don't think we need to take everything Firefall had. The mining idea lives on with the Mek-a.

Would be cool to have an in game quest though where they poke fun at Thumpers. Maybe have a old half torn apart one in a garage and have a NPC say something like "Don't mind that. Just fiddling around with outdated mining equipment. It's a hobby of mine, you know, like a classic car collector."
 
Jul 26, 2016
1,461
2,441
113
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#16
nope, rather like a huge setup drill that the player had to carry
But since they want players to team up rather than to stand alone in Ember.... there would have to be a cost.... like the player carrying the drill would have to empty his inventory so he has room for the drill and the minerals he's mining. If he's fighting, then he ain't drilling which gives a reduced quality of minerals. Stuff like that.

Which then means Kern doesn't have to get the animations done for an autonomous mech that thumps and fights by itself. Because the players would be doing it.
 

NitroMidgets

Tsi-Hu Hunter
Jul 27, 2016
590
474
63
Dupont, WA
#17
I don't care either way. Hell combine them together if it makes everyone happy. The Thumper is dropped from the back of the Mek and recovered in the same manner. It gets picked up and stored onto the back of the Mek.

"These things used to have too much operator error and get scattered all over the place."
 

DemonSlayer873

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2016
579
351
63
Varna, Bulgaria
#18
But since they want players to team up rather than to stand alone in Ember.... there would have to be a cost.... like the player carrying the drill would have to empty his inventory so he has room for the drill and the minerals he's mining. If he's fighting, then he ain't drilling which gives a reduced quality of minerals. Stuff like that.

Which then means Kern doesn't have to get the animations done for an autonomous mech that thumps and fights by itself. Because the players would be doing it.
At some point im sure im gonna start solo-ing mekas for fun and im sure that i wont be the only one doing so so if there will be some costs for tower drills i dont see a reason to even add them
 
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PlzBanMe

The furry mod
Staff member
Ember Moderator
Jul 27, 2016
129
239
43
#19
It wont be an issue warframe has "excavators" basically the same thing but you have to power them up. Mining towers are yet to be copyrighted by anyone :D
You can't copyright or patented gameplay. Just call it some different and it will be fine. If gameplay could be patented we won't have videos games at all.
 

Nakiato

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2016
95
261
53
#20
You can't copyright or patented gameplay. Just call it some different and it will be fine. If gameplay could be patented we won't have videos games at all.
Well, to be fair it can. Remember, Atari had a copyright on having mini games in loading screens.