THUMPING RETURNS! First iteration - Feedback

[seepyou#0476]

I've only tried it just now, completely new to the game, but every time I scanned and tried to place the THMPR I was told that there is another nearby. All 100 times I clicked in over 10 scanned sites I have placed zero THMPRs in this session
Maybe it hates me, but I'm going to bed now.

 

[Wyntyr]

I've only tried it just now, completely new to the game, but every time I scanned and tried to place the THMPR I was told that there is another nearby. All 100 times I clicked in over 10 scanned sites I have placed zero THMPRs in this session
Maybe it hates me, but I'm going to bed now.
View attachment 4823

Dev Team...if one thing needs to be patched asap it would be this, even if nothing else is patched. Playing the encounter is crucial for additional feedback.

 

[Pandagnome]

A game absent of health bars would definitely have a level of immersion I've never experienced before.

I like the idea a lot.

Does that include our own health bars could be ways like

- Could move slower because the legs of the mech is damage
- Armor visually looks more worn and signs of damage or effects.
- On demand scans to check pilot heart and brain wave scan because if the pilot was not optimal could that affect how the mek is controlled!
- On demand diagnostic on the efficiency of the mek and A.I recommendation
- Enemy movement pattern changing for self preservation or going on the offense
- Sound cue such as certain enemies could make if they are seriously injured than a minor injury
- change of colour on the plating of the enemy etc

What if there was no visible change on the outside and having to scan to get ideas of the inside to indicate damage, foreign objects etc

 

[MattHunX]

In the Vision Book there was mention of a resource collection drone that would work alongside the THMPR and to which we would have to run back and forth with the pieces of ore we'd pick up, by running over them. In a month-old gameplay video, I saw no signs of this drone, perhaps because of the lack of finished models in the whitebox or because they dropped the idea of a separate drone. Which would be welcome. Or the drone itself, with a rudimentary AI, could follow the THMPR around and pick up whatever resources it would dig up.

It would be too much multitasking, for us as the pilot, to keep tabs on 1. the digging THMPR and its "vitals" 2. the drone and its state, 3. deal with all the enemies 4. while running around to collect bits of ore. Realistically, the drone should do that, so we'd keep the drone, if we don't want to explain where a THMPR would store all that it digs up without one.

Of course, the thumpers in Firefall were different. They penetrated the ground, without consent, dug and sucked themselves full of stuff...by whatever mechanism, folded up, fired their boosters and launched themselves out of there, back to base. The MEKs can return to orbit like that, too. Or just the nearest ground facility, but it still wouldn't explain where they could fit all the resources they extracted on their bodies. So, I guess we do need a drone. But, its existence could spare us from some running around, when we'll already have three separate things to pay attention to, plus environmental dangers, like lava and stuff.

Escort the MEK and pay attention to its condition. Escort the drone, pay attention to its condition.
Protect both from waves of enemies and effing falling rocks that are shifted in, too, apparently, which is a cool-ass way to switch things up, but damn. The drone itself needs to have some serious protection, as well. But, then...it can't exactly defend itself or not nearly as well as the MEK can.

And if the drone would somehow be impervious to damage it wouldn't make sense. Just have no drone, then. But, then, where would our MEK put all the good stuff and how would it still be able to fight carrying all that? And won't it be simpler for the Tsi-Hu foot-soldiers, shifted beasts and Cat-3s to just go straight for the drone, then, if they want to ruin our day? Sure, our MEK wouldn't promptly plant a fist and a drill in their face and ass, but it wouldn't discourage them much. And how big would this drone be, anyway? To carry all the resources AND have enough armor.

Also, in the novel, there are no mentions of a collection drone, not with Kirii, nor anywhere else.

 

[Pandagnome]

I'd imagine the drone being part of the Thumpr like the transformer soundwave with the cassette. So as an example the drone could act like the cassette that unlinks off the thumpr when it collects resources and goes back when all done.

I guess there could be more than 1 type of drones with different function if one was more defensive it could put little barriers up or if another drone was more offensive it would fire back against tsihu.

Can the drones get damaged i'd think so much more than the thumpr thats why the drone goes back into the thumpr for self preservation.

Also if the drone is damaged it could be repaired by a certain % from the thumpr when it is linked. Too much damage then it is either the pilot who may need to manually repair it or launch it to the nearest repair point and then a cool down for that to return back. Perhaps that repair of the drone will use some resource or ingame credits.

It would be too much multitasking, for us as the pilot, to keep tabs on 1. the digging THMPR and its "vitals" 2. the drone and its state, 3. deal with all the enemies 4. while running around to collect bits of ore. Realistically, the drone should do that, so we'd keep the drone, if we don't want to explain where a THMPR would store all that it digs up without one.

Another thought what if it could store some of the resources in the actual drill like a hoover or by some attachment.

You know it could be interesting seeing the thumpr switch to a stationary mode just like the firefall thumpr but in this case i'd imagine it would have some collection system far more than than just a drone and a the drill it may have a container attached to its back.

The risk of this is that the back is more vulnerable to actually target the container the thumpr is also a target too. I remember how when in school we would put time capsules under the ground what if the same was for containers to find some left behind buried from long ago.


I think drones could be more useful for solo players for some extra assistance.

 

[MattHunX]

I'd imagine the drone being part of the Thumpr like the transformer soundwave with the cassette. So as an example the drone could act like the cassette that unlinks off the thumpr when it collects resources and goes back when all done.

I guess there could be more than 1 type of drones with different function if one was more defensive it could put little barriers up or if another drone was more offensive it would fire back against tsihu.

Can the drones get damaged i'd think so much more than the thumpr thats why the drone goes back into the thumpr for self preservation.

Also if the drone is damaged it could be repaired by a certain % from the thumpr when it is linked. Too much damage then it is either the pilot who may need to manually repair it or launch it to the nearest repair point and then a cool down for that to return back. Perhaps that repair of the drone will use some resource or ingame credits.



Another thought what if it could store some of the resources in the actual drill like a hoover or by some attachment.

You know it could be interesting seeing the thumpr switch to a stationary mode just like the firefall thumpr but in this case i'd imagine it would have some collection system far more than than just a drone and a the drill it may have a container attached to its back.

The risk of this is that the back is more vulnerable to actually target the container the thumpr is also a target too. I remember how when in school we would put time capsules under the ground what if the same was for containers to find some left behind buried from long ago.


I think drones could be more useful for solo players for some extra assistance.

Definitely the Soundwave-like detachment of a smaller unit that would act autonomously, until it returned to the THMPR. THAT would be best. I like that! It could perhaps attach itself to the back, where a hard-driver-type of casing would fold over it, also projecting some shields, protecting it from some damage, but yeah, it could be a weak-point and we'd have to prevent both the foot-soldier Tsi-Hu, the beasts, and especially the Kaijus from attacking the back.