Maps:
With how the clustering works I do agree with DICE that it is good in theory with how big the maps are now for next gen and PC at 128 players (And hopefully 127 AI Soldiers for Solo matches).
But like the Specialists we really can't say how good or bad the map flows will be until we play it ourselves.
"And lastly, different game modes will use different areas of our large maps. For example, when playing Conquest you’ll fight on certain areas of the map that aren’t available in Breakthrough and vice versa."
This is where things get really interesting as apparently there will be certain parts of the maps that are only in Breakthrough and other parts that are only in Conquest. I just hope the huge jumping moment is on the Breakaway map in Breakthrough similar to Damavand Peak in Battlefield 3 during Rush.
"At reveal we talked about the 7 maps for our All-Out Warfare experience, and the addition of further maps through our live service. But that’s not all we have to share about maps!
Be sure to tune in to EA Play Live on July 22 as we dive into the experience created by our Ripple Effect team (formerly known as DICE LA). We’re highly excited about this one!"
Yea I think it's safe to say that the BattleHub with maps and other stuff from previous games mixing together is all but confirmed at this point. I just hope it's available to play with the AI Soldiers in Solo and Coop matches as well just like we can with the normal maps.
Next post will be the Vehicle and Call-In System as I have a feeling I now know exactly how it will work.
Vehicles and the Call-In System
For all those wondering how the Vehicle Deployment System will work for Battlefield 2042 you will first need to go back a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) has a system called BattlePoints where you get points for kills and other stuff such as supporting your team. (Basically the same things where you get XP)
You will then use those points to deploy in a vehicle such as a Tank or Fighter Jet or call them in and have one drop near your current position.
So yes it's pretty clear that this Call-In System will be more or less a replica of the BattlePoints system and I think it will work for Battlefield 2042 as well as long as the Individual Vehicle Caps for each team and cooldowns for each player can be balanced properly.
Other than that I just hope we do get a map similar to Parcel Storm and the Carrier Assault maps in the future even if it's not at launch.
Next will be the part that is getting me to pre-order the Ultimate Edition to show my support for DICE adding this. The AI Soldiers.
AI Soldiers
My main feedback for them right now is that I truly hope we can play with 127 AI Soldiers during Solo matches and up to 124-126 during Coop matches
"AI Soldiers are intended to play the game like how you would play it yourself. However they are not designed to be Specialists and cannot use Traits and Specialties. You will see them undergoing certain tasks such as using the vehicle call-in system and engaging with vehicles, or capturing objectives. Whilst they can’t use the Wingsuit, they do have the intelligence to decide between engaging with you via enemy fire, flanking, throwing grenades or even reviving a downed squad mate."
I am glad that the bots will be able to use all of the vehicles including the Call-In System themselves but the part about them not being able to use Specialist Traits and Equipment is disappointing yet understandable.
Hopefully they will be updated in the future to use the Specialist stuff even if it's not at launch.
"Battlefield 2042 is a multiplayer-only experience. So while you can play Solo against AI Soldiers if you’d like to practice, it will be in an online setting."
Disappointed is truly the only way to describe how I feel about this.
However at the same time while I am disappointed about them not being available offline I understand why they need the servers.
1. It allows the bots to be updated a lot more often without needing full game updates so that they become much better over time and at a fast pace. Would also hopefully make it easier to get them to eventually use the Specialist stuff... Especially if the parts about Machine Learning is true.
2. It allows us to get XP for our Specialists and Weapons even when playing Solo and Coop. This is great for new players and will be how I probably unlock everything before moving into the Multiplayer matches after I get my loadouts right and learn the best places to fight on each map and mode.
If 1 and 2 are both true than I understand why they need the online servers and can accept it as a fair trade for not being available offline at launch. But hopefully they will be playable offline eventually just like in Battlefront 2 which didn't get Instant Action Offline until well after launch.
So what do those from EA and DICE think about this feedback for everything? In the end I believe it's all very reasonable and hopefully the offline matches will be possible eventually before support for the game is shut down completely.
Anyways I'm still interested to see what those from EA and Dice think about this feedback so far.
