"What we are up to" - Feb 3rd edition

Yoshiro · #1 02-03-2012, 05:28 PM

It has been a busy week here at the Tripwire HQ. Crashes fixed, bugs replicated, plans finalized and more. What plans have been finalized you ask? Why those "RO Classic" ones and what we are doing moving forward.

As I've previously told you in the weeks ahead we will restart the RO 2 beta for anybody who owns RO 2. We will be using this to test out the first of our upcoming maps (which I'll talk more about at a later date) and the changes we are making to the game for "RO Classic". The exact start date is a bit fluid still and what will be in it (the map or RO Classic, or perhaps even Online Campaign) first is still up in the air.

But let us talk about our initial plans for RO Classic and what we are putting into the beta for feedback. Our goal is to provide a experience more similar to that of RO 1 while retaining the improvements to RO 2. We are not trying to create an exact RO 1 copy. The reasoning behind this is both community feedback and our own take on gameplay. Many of the changes from RO 1 that went into RO 2 were because we felt they were improvements to the mechanics in RO 1, they were an addition to the realism aspect, and a mix of our own taste in gameplay here in the office.

Now as one thing became clear during the late stages of the beta and post launch, there is a group of players who disagree with some of the design choices. While we wished we had had time to address them closer to launch, we ran into the dreaded performance issues that we had to track down which prevented more people from enjoying the game. Now while that isn't quite over, we have come along way on that front since launch and now have time to focus our coding attention to this new mode and other gameplay refinements.

The list below is what we will be doing initially for the new mode and we well observe and take feedback from there as we move forward with it:

"RO Classic"

This mode will be an additional mode complimenting Normal and Realism. We have chosen to to this route as there are players who enjoy Realism as it currently exists.

The mode, while featuring no weapon or player upgrades or perks, will be ranked. So players who do enjoy receiving those upgrades and perks can play in this mode and earn them for the other modes. We feel this will allow players to experiment with the mode who might not normally play it, and feel rewarded for their play.

Loadouts and weapon availability will be more similar to what could be found in RO 1. Towards that end, the Squad Leader will be loosing his access to sub-machine guns and semi-automatic rifles to bring the ratio in line. The weapons selectable by each class will also more closely reflect that of RO 1 with PPSH w/ drum mag being the standard loadout and many of the other weapons not having access to their upgrades or limited to a specific upgrade (such as weapons with bayonets for that functionality)

This is the list we are currently looking at:

PPSH w/drum mag and select fire (Level 3)
Kar98 w/bayonet (Level 2)
Kar98 Sniper w/4X scope (Level 1)
Mosin Nagant Sniper w/3.5X scope (Level 1)
G41 Sniper w/4X Scope (Level 2)
SVT40 Sniper w/3.5X scope (Level 1)
MP40 with single 32 round mag (Level 1)
MKB42 with bayonet (no scope) (Level 1)
P38 Pistol (Level 1)
C96 w/10 round mag (Level 1)
MG34 w/50 round drum (Level 1)
MG34 Tripod (no ranking anyway)
PTRS (Level 1, no ranking on this anyway)
Pzb 784 (r) (Level 1, no ranking on this anyway)
MN 9130 w/bayonet (Level 2)
G41 (W) w/bayonet (Level 2)
SVT40 w/bayo (Level 3)
AVT40 w/bayo (Level 2)
TT33 (Level 1)
M1895 (Level 1)
DP28 (Level 1)
Maxim 1910 (no ranking anyway)
All other weapons and equipment as normally given (binocs, satchels, smoke nades, etc)

We are also looking at the inclusion of the Elite Assault role back into the game in case the creator of a map wants the MKB/AVT to be available.

But this wouldn't be a "RO Classic" mode with just weapon changes. We also have an initial list of functionality changes and removal as well. This list is designed to emulate the "feel" of RO 1 by making distance engagements a bit more of an uncertainty. You can find that list below. This is once again a look at the initial changes we are going to make for the mode and take feedback on in beta:

Removal of peripheral action indicators
Removal of spawn on Squad Leader
Removal of the bleeding system (Player will always take 100% of the damage to an area on the shot and not half then bleed the rest out like in the current system)
Players will have a movement speed penalty after being shot in the feet
Stamina will have a much greater effect on weapon sway and recoil
Stance will have an increased effect on weapon sway/recoil (with the default standing state having more sway then the current game modes)
Removal of "controlled breathing" zoom, but retaining the functionality to help steady the weapon as well as the slight iron sight zoom
Stamina will recharge at a slower rate
No AI Tank Gunnery
No Lockdown

Now these changes will also be joining a host of changes and refinements we are making on the current systems as well. Several of these are still having their designs tweaked and updated so I will hold off on going further on these til a later date.

Now some might wonder why some of the other oft requested features are not readily on this list, such as player momentum. The reason for this is the momentum system in RO 2 is the same system as RO 1 with a small tweak of player friction at the start and ending phase to make it feel more responsive. So before we go and start making changes to this we want to see how the other changes play out first in getting players the experience they want.

We look forward to play testing these changes with you in the coming weeks.

Now to those uninterested in the "RO Classic" mode as I mentioned before we continue to move forward on refinements to existing systems as well as work on bug fixing and crashes. We actually feel we've nailed down the vast majority of crashes now, but have hit a snag releasing a stand alone binary patch to address it. It looks like it will take a content update (IE: several hundred meg patch if not 3 gigs, not 18 meg binary patch) and as we don't like doing those without stuffing as much into them as possible, so it might be held off longer.

We are also digging heavily into the network issues that some players are reporting as well as issues with the server browser. You might see us once again (like we did this past week) request player help to monitor something as we work on them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

-=}WoLvErInE{=- · #2 02-03-2012, 06:20 PM

Awesome! Thank you much!!

Looking forward to making many maps. Long live RO2

Brozex · #3 02-03-2012, 06:23 PM

Wow, it looks pretty good this way...

Alphons Alphahane · #4 02-03-2012, 06:28 PM

I appreciate the update and I can´t wait for the classic mode.

Rak · #5 02-03-2012, 06:29 PM

Thank you for finally steering RO2's course to what it should have been from the start. Your list seems pretty much complete, and that was actually very satisfying to read. I'm looking forward for the beta.

Though, now we'll have 3 seperate game modes and I think it'll be an unnecessary complication. Isn't it a good idea to get rid of "Realism" and replace it with "RO Classic"? Realism mode was supposed to be "RO Classic" after all.

Tuco22 · #6 02-03-2012, 06:32 PM

Looks good.

lods of emone · #7 02-03-2012, 06:33 PM

Extension7 · #8 02-03-2012, 06:33 PM

Thanks for listening to us!

Thank you.

Grimreapo · #9 02-03-2012, 06:33 PM

That looks good but:

Quote:

Towards that end, the Squad Leader will be loosing his access to sub-machine guns and semi-automatic rifles to bring the ratio in line.

Hm, not too sure on this as NCOs revived short ranged weapons so they could focus on commanding than sniping. As I said before, all what needs to be done about NCOs is to have the class scale to player or remove Assault class for the Germans so that they are in that ratio of SMGs and give the Russian NCOs bolts w/ pistols...

Veniathan · #10 02-03-2012, 06:33 PM

Oh dear. Now i'm really excited.

Thanks Tripwire!

Beefmaker · #11 02-03-2012, 06:34 PM

yesyesyes.

Loving every single bit so far

Darkseed · #12 02-03-2012, 06:36 PM

It's all sounding quite good except for one thing. Namely removing sub-machine guns from squad leaders. They were very likely to carry one in real life, and for good reasons.

I'm all in favor of having more bolters and less automatics but this isn't the right way to go imho. I suppose that some people will pick the SL just for the weapon, but I don't feel removing the choice completely is a good solution to this problem.

Edit: Voting me down won't do anything useful. Feel free to disagree but I'd rather you reply and explain why instead.

Spacepoop · #13 02-03-2012, 06:40 PM

I like the changes but this wont replace the hardcore mode? Now you're splitting the community into three and I dont think thats a good idea.

Deadbolt · #14 02-03-2012, 06:43 PM

Since getting shot in the feet will cause slower movement, will getting shot in the hand make the weapon get dropped like in the last game? It was always hilarious watching a team mate sprint around in circles trying to pick his gun up while getting shot at, and it is a realistic feature.

Moranh · #15 02-03-2012, 06:43 PM

Sounds great! as someone who never played ost and yet has heard its gameplay talked up so much compared to RO2 (which i actually quite enjoy, albeit with a few consistent gripes) It'll be really interesting to see what these changes bring. Hopefully a few players back at least! looking forward to picking off the poor sucker who just sprinted to the front line and is too exhausted to aim.

Buzzles · #16 02-03-2012, 06:43 PM

I predict nearly all servers will be switching over to this promised Classic Mode when it comes out, sounds much more like the game I wanted RO2 to be.

Now, if only Tripwire would address the big issue of "lag aiming" as shown in that big unanswered thread, then I'd be firing it up asap the moment the update containing it goes live.