this isn't really a new idea, just fleshed out more fully. how about if you had to have a license before you could use a vehicle on ranked servers? the intention here is to make sure new players familiarise themselves with vehicles before being allowed to use them in ranked play. unranked servers and single player have no need for this kind of enforcement.
the license would be acquired offline, by taking a predefined test that requires the player to perform certain maneuvers in each vehicle class. there would be a tutorial that teaches the new player about each class of vehicles, how to operate them, and familiarises them with the use of weapons and countermeasures on that vehicle. armor, helos, and jets would each have its own license. the tutorials/tests for the helo and jet will also include a section on basic gunning, but there will be no gunner license.
after the tutorial, there would be the test, and when the test is passed you get a badge in BFHQ which qualifies you to operate vehicles in combat. people can also skip the tutorial and go straight to the test, to allow veterans on new accounts fast access to the game. if you don't have a license, then you will not be allowed to DRIVE that class of vehicle. when you enter the vehicle, you are automatically placed in the gunner/passenger seat, and you will not be able to switch to the driver position.
this license should be intuitive and relatively straightforward to obtain. though ideally it shouldn't take long to get, that part is dependent on the player's skill. the idea isn't to block people from being able to use vehicles, but rather making sure that every player has a basic knowledge of the vehicles before heading off to combat.
i toyed with the idea of multiple classes of licenses, each corresponding to progressively harder tests that require target shooting, advanced maneuvers, and the like. higher ranked drivers would get priority in getting vehicles. but after considering all the angles, i decided that this would be too complex and takes focus away from accumulating real combat experience, which is still the best and only teacher in the end. another big issue is exactly how high ranked license holders would get priority over others, enforcement would have to be arbitrary and annoying. do they get to kick lower ranking drivers out of the vehicle, effectively 'car jacking' it? and how would that work on aircraft, which can't be car jacked? i couldn't come up with real solutions to these problems, so decided against license classes altogether. there would only be one class, just enough to ensure basic proficiency. the rest will have to be learned the old fasioned way.
EDIT:
several people have raised concerns that since the license test is administered locally, purely on the client, that people can hack it and get the license without going through the test. i would think that this isn't a problem, for two reasons. one, the test is not supposed to be frustrating and shouldn't take very long. it simply wouldn't be worth the time and effort to hack it. two, the test is designed for new players who have no idea what they're doing. chances are, if you're a l33t hax0r and can hack the game to give you a license, you're probably pretty good at videogames too and didn't need it in the first place.
the license would be acquired offline, by taking a predefined test that requires the player to perform certain maneuvers in each vehicle class. there would be a tutorial that teaches the new player about each class of vehicles, how to operate them, and familiarises them with the use of weapons and countermeasures on that vehicle. armor, helos, and jets would each have its own license. the tutorials/tests for the helo and jet will also include a section on basic gunning, but there will be no gunner license.
after the tutorial, there would be the test, and when the test is passed you get a badge in BFHQ which qualifies you to operate vehicles in combat. people can also skip the tutorial and go straight to the test, to allow veterans on new accounts fast access to the game. if you don't have a license, then you will not be allowed to DRIVE that class of vehicle. when you enter the vehicle, you are automatically placed in the gunner/passenger seat, and you will not be able to switch to the driver position.
this license should be intuitive and relatively straightforward to obtain. though ideally it shouldn't take long to get, that part is dependent on the player's skill. the idea isn't to block people from being able to use vehicles, but rather making sure that every player has a basic knowledge of the vehicles before heading off to combat.
i toyed with the idea of multiple classes of licenses, each corresponding to progressively harder tests that require target shooting, advanced maneuvers, and the like. higher ranked drivers would get priority in getting vehicles. but after considering all the angles, i decided that this would be too complex and takes focus away from accumulating real combat experience, which is still the best and only teacher in the end. another big issue is exactly how high ranked license holders would get priority over others, enforcement would have to be arbitrary and annoying. do they get to kick lower ranking drivers out of the vehicle, effectively 'car jacking' it? and how would that work on aircraft, which can't be car jacked? i couldn't come up with real solutions to these problems, so decided against license classes altogether. there would only be one class, just enough to ensure basic proficiency. the rest will have to be learned the old fasioned way.
EDIT:
several people have raised concerns that since the license test is administered locally, purely on the client, that people can hack it and get the license without going through the test. i would think that this isn't a problem, for two reasons. one, the test is not supposed to be frustrating and shouldn't take very long. it simply wouldn't be worth the time and effort to hack it. two, the test is designed for new players who have no idea what they're doing. chances are, if you're a l33t hax0r and can hack the game to give you a license, you're probably pretty good at videogames too and didn't need it in the first place.
Last edited by Krappyappy (2005-12-02 22:23:44)