Hayoo
2005.04.12, 0440
Currently, to activate the SHB feature for the whole squad, every member must have visited the base SOI and accepted the bind. While this solves the issue of squad leaders running around alone binding their whole squad and zapping them to his location, it leaves stragglers and new squad members behind to catch up.
My solution was to limit the required members to four players bound at the base (including the squad leader) which then allows all players to spawn there immediately. However, several players pointed out that a single group of four guys could potentially zap a whole platoon to one place without ever having four from each squad visit the SOI.
As for the basic idea, Sam was receptive to the possibilities. Unfortunately when the Squad Home Base system went live, all the discussion posts including mine were deleted when the thread was moved. I decided to sit on the concept for a bit.
Vornskar then started his own thread (http://psforums.station.sony.com/ps/board/message?board.id=psdiscussion&message.id=547179) on SHB advocating a return to the original idea of squad leaders being able to bind the whole squad alone, although he eventually worked in several key restrictions, acknowledging that the old system was too exploitable.
The restrictions included requiring a 10 min timer to pass after a Squad Home Base was created before players could spawn there via a Rematrix Order by the Leader. The second restriction required 30 minutes to pass before the SL could set up another SHB. This was all to prevent the SHB being used as transportation.
These restrictions, I agreed, would definately help keep the system from being exploited, but I feared that many players would now simply wait around for the base recall timer rather than actually fly out to the base more quickly. After deliberation, I felt that my 4-man requirement as a timer-reducer would be the perfect carrot option to get players moving to the bases again.
"The idea is as follows:
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised1.jpg
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised2.jpg
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised3.jpg
"As each arriving member enters the SOI, they recieve the standard "would you like to bind here?" message. Once at least 4 (including the Squad Leader) have bound at the base, the timer drops to 00:00 and all members will recieve an automatic "would you like to bind at Ixtab?" message. The SL can then issue rematrix orders or squad bind requests from the main terminal all he likes without an additional 10:00 timer (as earlier suggested).
"If 4 or more members have already bound at that base, including the SL, then initiating a SHB makes the auto-bind occur immediately, allowing the squad to regroup with core members.
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised4.jpg
"In a sense, it's like the LLU, allowing you to drop the timer to 00:00 by getting a minimum number of squad members to the base. My aim is to get at least some of the squad moving, rather than encourage them to wait around for a quick respawn.
"What all of this does is make individuals make a strategic choice: Do I go to the base, or wait out the timer? Will the tubes still be safe and guarded when the timer ends? Can my other squad members get there in time to speed up the timer for me? Should I go help drop the timer myself and guard the tubes? Can I get shot down on the way? Can I get some kills on the way? Can I cap a tower or grab a needed vehicle on the way (Galaxy, AT vehicle)? Etc.
"With such a carrot to "get moving" firmly in place for the less-strategic-minded, I'm even open to the 30 min Setup timer dropped to 20 min so that squads can move with the battle 3 times an hour."
My solution was to limit the required members to four players bound at the base (including the squad leader) which then allows all players to spawn there immediately. However, several players pointed out that a single group of four guys could potentially zap a whole platoon to one place without ever having four from each squad visit the SOI.
As for the basic idea, Sam was receptive to the possibilities. Unfortunately when the Squad Home Base system went live, all the discussion posts including mine were deleted when the thread was moved. I decided to sit on the concept for a bit.
Vornskar then started his own thread (http://psforums.station.sony.com/ps/board/message?board.id=psdiscussion&message.id=547179) on SHB advocating a return to the original idea of squad leaders being able to bind the whole squad alone, although he eventually worked in several key restrictions, acknowledging that the old system was too exploitable.
The restrictions included requiring a 10 min timer to pass after a Squad Home Base was created before players could spawn there via a Rematrix Order by the Leader. The second restriction required 30 minutes to pass before the SL could set up another SHB. This was all to prevent the SHB being used as transportation.
These restrictions, I agreed, would definately help keep the system from being exploited, but I feared that many players would now simply wait around for the base recall timer rather than actually fly out to the base more quickly. After deliberation, I felt that my 4-man requirement as a timer-reducer would be the perfect carrot option to get players moving to the bases again.
"The idea is as follows:
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised1.jpg
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised2.jpg
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised3.jpg
"As each arriving member enters the SOI, they recieve the standard "would you like to bind here?" message. Once at least 4 (including the Squad Leader) have bound at the base, the timer drops to 00:00 and all members will recieve an automatic "would you like to bind at Ixtab?" message. The SL can then issue rematrix orders or squad bind requests from the main terminal all he likes without an additional 10:00 timer (as earlier suggested).
"If 4 or more members have already bound at that base, including the SL, then initiating a SHB makes the auto-bind occur immediately, allowing the squad to regroup with core members.
http://www.planetside-idealab.com/images/shb_revised4.jpg
"In a sense, it's like the LLU, allowing you to drop the timer to 00:00 by getting a minimum number of squad members to the base. My aim is to get at least some of the squad moving, rather than encourage them to wait around for a quick respawn.
"What all of this does is make individuals make a strategic choice: Do I go to the base, or wait out the timer? Will the tubes still be safe and guarded when the timer ends? Can my other squad members get there in time to speed up the timer for me? Should I go help drop the timer myself and guard the tubes? Can I get shot down on the way? Can I get some kills on the way? Can I cap a tower or grab a needed vehicle on the way (Galaxy, AT vehicle)? Etc.
"With such a carrot to "get moving" firmly in place for the less-strategic-minded, I'm even open to the 30 min Setup timer dropped to 20 min so that squads can move with the battle 3 times an hour."