The concept that I liked about Thumpers

Dec 4, 2020
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#21
Can only do so much before getting into copyright areas...
About the model, yes. But not about the mechanics. Else there wouldnt be so much battle royale clones out there.
Androids and robots have there place, but i think not in this exact spot.

I could imagine this thing demolishing enemy bases to get ressources out of them e.g.
 
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Pandagnome

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#22
I could imagine this thing demolishing enemy bases to get ressources out of them
I could also imagine the big thumpr mek housing our own mek so that we could control the thumpr overriding the A.I but the risk could be even greater now if we mess up then our main mek would feel this too because it would be fully connected as 1 unit and the rish of losing resource, mek and thumpr is a big risk but the reward could be so gooood hmm

Btw here is my weird take on the original thumpr its not a great and did it with paint.

thumprv2.jpg
 

Wyntyr

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#23
About the model, yes. But not about the mechanics. Else there wouldnt be so much battle royale clones out there.
Androids and robots have there place, but i think not in this exact spot.

I could imagine this thing demolishing enemy bases to get ressources out of them e.g.
Being that the model is a mobile device v/s a static one, then it makes a lot more sense that it moves around. It will also aid in base defense/Kaiju combat. This is a FF successor not FF.

However...with that said...what if the THMPR was a construction mech that is dropped in, it builds a mining platform, then becomes its Kaiju protector while the Reapers handle non-Kaiju like Knee-biters and Tsi-Hu. It can repair the platform as well. In this config the platform will not produce resources unless a vehicle is attached for said collection (i.e. the truck/transport shown off by Grummz). That vehicle will have to be driven to a base to unload and the Reapers to collect their share.

The above example could be a more involved option of the mining process when you have a large/skilled group of Reapers able to build/defend it. When solo or small/not so skilled group the option is that the THMPR walks around and mines for you. Basically the mobile version would be like using a FF personal thumper v/s a squad thumper. Whomever is calling in the THMPR chooses which option. Thoughts?
 
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Wyntyr

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#24
What if your pilot could ride on top of the thumper and control it directly? Something like this...



Lol, sorry. I had too.
Is the Reaper controlling the THMPR while riding on the shoulder...or...is the THMPR protecting the Reaper while waiting for the Frame of Shame to arrive?
 
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Pandagnome

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#25
However...with that said...what if the THMPR was a construction mech that is dropped in, it builds a mining platform, then becomes its Kaiju protector while the Reapers handle non-Kaiju like Knee-biters and Tsi-Hu. It can repair the platform as well. In this config the platform will not produce resources unless a vehicle is attached for said collection (i.e. the truck/transport shown off by Grummz). That vehicle will have to be driven to a base to unload and the Reapers to collect their share.
This sounds cool because so many things are happening with contruction, and getting our truck/transport to the location and defending against the knee biters. I got a feeling this game is going to have something for everyone to do!

Reaper controlling the THMPR while riding on the shoulder...or...is the THMPR protecting the Reaper
Hmm i'd guess the thumpr could protect for sure, but if the reaper did have control how much control would it have than just to summon hmm
 

Mahdi

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#26
I like the idea due to bringing in additional vehicles and the piloting skills. Would still be a blast escorting a truck convoy or the thumper. My only concern is this willl drastically slow down those who want to speed thump.

So, additional thoughts....looking at this being advanced stages of thumping. Keep this to clan/world thumping and superior load outs.

Say, Tier 4 terraforming and tech. Maybe 12-20 omniframes needed. Higher scanning tech could discover rich fields of resources. Maybe multiple thumpers work together to build the platform. This platform can sustain 30 minutes, perhaps an hour of thumping. Trucks have to be escorted to a refinery, splitting up the players. No turrets offered, I think light walls would be fair. It's all on the players.

I also think it would be balanced if it didn't take many resources to build, but two or three hard to craft components. I'm comparing the investment to push melding back in firefall. Instead of fueling the repulsors, we would be crafting core tech. Engine, air circulator, belts that load the trucks.

Eh, my take on Wyntyr's cool idea.
 

liandri

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#27
The Thumpers of Firefall were just so cool. It's hard to really compare them to anything. They're built mostly from scrap, launched from a literally dump across the map, grind all your resources taking tons of damage from enemies, and are still resilient enough to rocket boost away back home (unless they crash and accidentally take out a small country town along the way). You could also nail someone with one if they weren't paying attention.

The THMPR is just different. It's cool we'll get to see it fight Kaiju, a little redundant because it's stealing my kill but I appreciate the help. Picking up your own resources is still a bit iffy, but it does keep you on your feet and close to the action at all times. It has to be picked up by a dropship, but that's MY dropship. And that's class.

Having different THMPR encounters could be cool. I don't see how we're suppose to get all these resources back home on our back. And one pilot can't fill up a space truck, so maybe they'll be a lore-friendly way we mine resources, with giant mecha or drill grinder things, and those are points we defend and space truck back and forth from.

Speaking of the drill, maybe we'll see other skins and attachments in game to bring back more of a Firefall appeal. Rounded carbide drills. Blue chroma. Some tiki. Perhaps we could add a turret to it, or a little resource collection drone. Later on down the line.
 

Pandagnome

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#28
I don't see how we're suppose to get all these resources back home on our back.
Imagine that pilots actually carrying some % resources if they wanted extra!

It would most likely slow the pilot down and as an option if the thumpr was to go bye bye then the pilot could redirect a small portion of it to their specialized backpack.

Then you could drop off and place the backpack somewhere hidden from sight with a becon to indicate where you last kept that to an ally who could retrieve it.

However annoying tsihu if they find this will feed it to their kaiju because kaiju is a very hungry one!
 
Dec 4, 2020
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#32
The above example could be a more involved option of the mining process when you have a large/skilled group of Reapers able to build/defend it. When solo or small/not so skilled group the option is that the THMPR walks around and mines for you. Basically the mobile version would be like using a FF personal thumper v/s a squad thumper. Whomever is calling in the THMPR chooses which option. Thoughts?
I still like to have something static, in my imagination i would connect to it more and would curse on an optimus that sabotages me when it dies by its own Ai behaviour.
That said your example feels like a really nice additional step before you get your rewards like for higher tier minig operations, it could add a complete new aspect.
I think about as an escort convoy to the refinery or smthing, right?
When the time comes it might worth to try if those things are as fun as they sound! i pledge
 

PartTimeJedi

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#34
Those static one's are great too, doesn't waltz around and you know where it is although so do those darn tsihu :O

I did like how the engineers would place turrets and set the defenses up some even placed on the trees!
I played Engineer for a bit and loved the turrets. It could work if the Em8ER thmpr doesn't wander to far?... Maybe..
 
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Wyntyr

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#35
I played Engineer for a bit and loved the turrets. It could work if the Em8ER thmpr doesn't wander to far?... Maybe..
Folks use to get upset with Engi's and all the turrets...."easy mode" for thumping and some other situations...with the THMPR being mobile an Engi build with turrets would have to maneuver a bit paying attention to resource collection, THMPR defense, turret health, etc. Might actually make it a more exciting play style than FF's version.
 

Pandagnome

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#36
I played Engineer for a bit and loved the turrets. It could work if the Em8ER thmpr doesn't wander to far?... Maybe..
What if you could command turrets to move with you and they walk with their legs, but they cannot fire or perhaps firing rate is reduced.

So this is when they will be vulnerable until when turrets are set down again so they can continue defending.
 
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Sy

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#38
Folks use to get upset with Engi's and all the turrets...."easy mode" for thumping and some other situations...
Those folks never played an engineer; it's very hard.

Other people are good with head shots, and engineers are good with positioning and gauntlets. Turrets have to be defended because they're a better shot than an engineer, have faster target acquisition, or they notice enemies the engineer doesn't.

Otherwise, turrets are used as covering fire for an engineer that goes on the offence, and only work for a specific range and if they are relatively unnoticed and not under fire themselves.

Again, engineers were as hard to play as anything else. The problem was that anything that's a pushover for others is also a pushover for an engineer...'s turrets. The actual engineer can just hang out and act as a bored commander, and that's where the perception comes from.
 

Wyntyr

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#39
Those folks never played an engineer; it's very hard.

Other people are good with head shots, and engineers are good with positioning and gauntlets. Turrets have to be defended because they're a better shot than an engineer, have faster target acquisition, or they notice enemies the engineer doesn't.

Otherwise, turrets are used as covering fire for an engineer that goes on the offence, and only work for a specific range and if they are relatively unnoticed and not under fire themselves.

Again, engineers were as hard to play as anything else. The problem was that anything that's a pushover for others is also a pushover for an engineer...'s turrets. The actual engineer can just hang out and act as a bored commander, and that's where the perception comes from.
I guess so...I have a hard time with headshots so the Recon builds i made were more assault friendly. As for the Engineer...I loved it and it was easy for me to manage. If you're a player that can't sit still or monitor spread out items at times, then it could be a chore v/s getting in the action.
 
Nov 2, 2020
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#40
Firefall's Thumpers were really well thought-out:
  • The thumpers were called thumpers because they made a thumping sound.
  • They were clearly vertical mining rigs of some kind, which explained how they were able to get at minerals deep underground.
  • They had a readable and unique design that was somewhat believable.
Compare that to Em-8ER's THMPRs:
  • T.H.M.P.R is a clumsy acronym that exists only as a callback to Firefall. They don't thump.
  • They have a big cartoon drill glued to one arm, with which they stir topsoil until ore pops out.
  • They're generic-looking giant robots.