I just reviewed Indian's posting about the patch - great work on so many items. TY.
The mine TK "Fix" opens up a huge can of exploits!!!! without solving the real problem. Was the problem reducing TK punish complaints or manuever deterent and usefulness? TK punish complaints are a symptom not a problem.
Current Example:
-Problem Statement: Too many TK punishments for mines cause people to stop using mines and complain alot.
-Discussion: People are stupid for not watching where they are going and/or people stupid for punishing people for laying mines in a bad place (i.e., in their way at the time).
-Solution: Allow server admins to decide whether TK enabled/disabled for mines.
I appreciate all the good work people do on BF2 to give me some recreation time at my lifetime hobby. But if they were attending a Quality Improvement class they would score a No/Go for the above example process. This is how it should have looked below.
1. Reported Symptoms: Excessive TK punishment for mines. Excessive TK reducing active friendly manuever or reduction in the use of mines as a deterent to enemy manuever.
2. Problem Statement: Mines kill unintended targets and are as hard to detect by friendlies as enemies. The current red icon in the HUD is often ineffective.
3. Discussion: Mines aren't detectable in a useful manner. Minefields aren't yet but can be a good part of the game if they are implemented in a balanced way and mimicking actual real military minefield methods.
4.
*Possible solution a) allow for mines to be non-TK but still kill enemy. (will be implemented with the patch).
Implementable: EASY.
Potential Exploitation: VERY HIGH - engineer/support teams will run from side to side of the entire map laying enemy-kill only minefields 3 rows wide. Supply points up the wazzoo. Increased kills. Trucks and Transport Helos will run with full squads of Engineers and Support and lay mines from Maryland to Mecca. Result - another activity ban/limit on tactics and a few more rules for the ROE.
Reality Cross-check: LOW. Mines are always a two-way manuever deterent even when they are known, mapped, marked and secured with lanes through them. Mines are the weapon that keeps on killing long after the war is over.
Outcome: the current mine patch adjustment will negatively effect the entire scope of BF2 playability far beyond the simple TK punishment fix intended.
*Possible Solution b) add a minefield marking tool on the rosette menu. Marked minefields will show up on the minimap for friendlies and will have small flags around the perimeter of the mines in the HUD (within 2 meters of each other). If the flag is present then no TK is punishable. Marking of any unmarked minefields (friend or foe) will also be possible and give the person marking it two team points per game only. "Physical" one-way lanes or pathways thru the minefield can be added as an additional feature by having one flag a different color on all four sides and if the friendly passes over it they can cross without destruction. If they cross carelessly they die and no punish.
Implementable: IDK you tell me...but I bet it is harder than a)
Potential Exploitation: LOW - Since the mines still kill all the time the massive continuous minefields will be less attractive for exploiters because of the required marking step to avoid TK punishment.... limiting points recieved from marking to a "per game" status will block exploitation. Support kits will still have potential exploitability but with fewer willing engineers that should reduce payoff. Possibility is the ammo pack has more mines in it to reduce the ammo points given.
Reality Cross-check: HIGH this is more like the "real world". Limiting factors SAB and eccessive management to avert unwanted casualties.
Outcome: a balanced enhancement to the game adding new possibilities and more tactics without being an exploit farm.
Recommended Solution: - Adopt b)
Review:......
I know it is seemingly uncharacteristic of me to post this in the Complaints file but because I have been promoting my solution to EA for several months I think it is OK do it. BF2 guys the pendulum swings to far back with your patch. Center it please. So many of the "fixes" were "on/off" type instead of "tweak to reality" type actions. Don't stop bunny hopping just make people get tired soon like sprinting and also effect accuracy.
The mine TK "Fix" opens up a huge can of exploits!!!! without solving the real problem. Was the problem reducing TK punish complaints or manuever deterent and usefulness? TK punish complaints are a symptom not a problem.
Current Example:
-Problem Statement: Too many TK punishments for mines cause people to stop using mines and complain alot.
-Discussion: People are stupid for not watching where they are going and/or people stupid for punishing people for laying mines in a bad place (i.e., in their way at the time).
-Solution: Allow server admins to decide whether TK enabled/disabled for mines.
I appreciate all the good work people do on BF2 to give me some recreation time at my lifetime hobby. But if they were attending a Quality Improvement class they would score a No/Go for the above example process. This is how it should have looked below.
1. Reported Symptoms: Excessive TK punishment for mines. Excessive TK reducing active friendly manuever or reduction in the use of mines as a deterent to enemy manuever.
2. Problem Statement: Mines kill unintended targets and are as hard to detect by friendlies as enemies. The current red icon in the HUD is often ineffective.
3. Discussion: Mines aren't detectable in a useful manner. Minefields aren't yet but can be a good part of the game if they are implemented in a balanced way and mimicking actual real military minefield methods.
4.
*Possible solution a) allow for mines to be non-TK but still kill enemy. (will be implemented with the patch).
Implementable: EASY.
Potential Exploitation: VERY HIGH - engineer/support teams will run from side to side of the entire map laying enemy-kill only minefields 3 rows wide. Supply points up the wazzoo. Increased kills. Trucks and Transport Helos will run with full squads of Engineers and Support and lay mines from Maryland to Mecca. Result - another activity ban/limit on tactics and a few more rules for the ROE.
Reality Cross-check: LOW. Mines are always a two-way manuever deterent even when they are known, mapped, marked and secured with lanes through them. Mines are the weapon that keeps on killing long after the war is over.
Outcome: the current mine patch adjustment will negatively effect the entire scope of BF2 playability far beyond the simple TK punishment fix intended.
*Possible Solution b) add a minefield marking tool on the rosette menu. Marked minefields will show up on the minimap for friendlies and will have small flags around the perimeter of the mines in the HUD (within 2 meters of each other). If the flag is present then no TK is punishable. Marking of any unmarked minefields (friend or foe) will also be possible and give the person marking it two team points per game only. "Physical" one-way lanes or pathways thru the minefield can be added as an additional feature by having one flag a different color on all four sides and if the friendly passes over it they can cross without destruction. If they cross carelessly they die and no punish.
Implementable: IDK you tell me...but I bet it is harder than a)
Potential Exploitation: LOW - Since the mines still kill all the time the massive continuous minefields will be less attractive for exploiters because of the required marking step to avoid TK punishment.... limiting points recieved from marking to a "per game" status will block exploitation. Support kits will still have potential exploitability but with fewer willing engineers that should reduce payoff. Possibility is the ammo pack has more mines in it to reduce the ammo points given.
Reality Cross-check: HIGH this is more like the "real world". Limiting factors SAB and eccessive management to avert unwanted casualties.
Outcome: a balanced enhancement to the game adding new possibilities and more tactics without being an exploit farm.
Recommended Solution: - Adopt b)
Review:......
I know it is seemingly uncharacteristic of me to post this in the Complaints file but because I have been promoting my solution to EA for several months I think it is OK do it. BF2 guys the pendulum swings to far back with your patch. Center it please. So many of the "fixes" were "on/off" type instead of "tweak to reality" type actions. Don't stop bunny hopping just make people get tired soon like sprinting and also effect accuracy.