Rock, Paper, Spinfusor -- Tribes: Ascend

[Bankrotas]

Recently got beta access. Love the game, but is it me or does it just feel dumbed down a lot? No customisable armors (Im not talking about unlocks), less items (packs, vehicles), regenerating health, etc. Actually, the unlocks and earning credits is whats very grating at the moment - is this really Tribes? And all the goddamn "pro-tip" windows... ("Press LMB to shoot") This Tribes just feels like babbies' first jetpack shooter, a game for the Halo/achievements/Counterstrike/Facebook +1'ing crowd.

Still, they got the core mechanics right, which counts for something I suppose. Definately gonna keep playing this (Not like we have much choice though). Im enjoying the expanded skiing functionality, the various homages to the original games (When I read the name of the map that was on the loading screen during mapchange and it read "Raindance" I couldnt help smiling) and other improvements. I'll just have to deal with it and accept that "gaming" has changed over the years and Bro McBroMate also wants to VGS while crushing cans on his forehead

But it's no Tribes 2

/rant

Cause they were not making Tribes 2 rehash or Tribes 3
It's a god damn Tribes Ascend. Why is it so hard to understand, that something you see with nostalgia glasses on will never be repeated.

And it's not a god damn beta any more. It's a released free to play game with constant updates. Unlocks and customization is under game shops part since they need to monetize on something.

[deadly.by.design]

Recently got beta access. Love the game, but is it me or does it just feel dumbed down a lot? No customisable armors (Im not talking about unlocks), less items (packs, vehicles), regenerating health, etc. Actually, the unlocks and earning credits is whats very grating at the moment - is this really Tribes? And all the goddamn "pro-tip" windows... ("Press LMB to shoot") This Tribes just feels like babbies' first jetpack shooter, a game for the Halo/achievements/Counterstrike/Facebook +1'ing crowd.

I'm fine with that, but not the half of me that was already familiar with Tribes gameplay. It's the half of me that understands that the Tribes experience is completely bewildering to anyone who hasn't played one before.

Seriously, I was trying to help out a friend of mine who signed up via my referral link, and he described it at chaotic and overwhelming. To his credit, that's kind of how Tribes plays a lot of the time, but it's also a big reason why it can be so good. Like TotalHalibut said in his WTF is Tribes video, it encourages an active play style. (in stark contrast to the CoD & cover games)

He wasn't even what someone might call a "console tard," etc, either. He's a year or three younger than me, but he's a big military shooter fan. (so, lots of CS & Source, some Battlefield, currently playing FarCry2) Tribes is just a whole different animal with its speed. Plus, aim in this game has quite a steep learning curve for newbs. Not only is everyone moving everywhere, the weapons aren't the usual hit scan affair.

TL;DR -- The tips helped a lot of total newbs, and even kind of helped people like me who haven't played a Tribes game in ten years. (until I disabled them soon after)

But it's no Tribes 2

Am I the only guy who preferred Starsiege: Tribes? T2 was fun, but it never clicked with me the same way as the original did. Then again, it was right around my college transition, so it might have been lost on me.

Either way, I'm glad that you plan to stick with it! It's a lot of fun, and really, it's just nice to see Tribes come back.

[Mistabashi]

I don't really understand why people get offended at the inclusion of things like tips - it doesn't harm the game in any way and it makes it more accessible, and being more accessible means that there will be more people playing it. Everyone is a noob at one time or another, you aren't born a vet.

There's plenty of issues with it, but overall it's a great game IMO. I don't think it would work well at all without regenerating health (never played the originals), the way it's implemented is far from the training wheels approcah you get in many single-player games - it won't stop you from losing if your opponents outclass you, it just keeps the game moving. The major gripe I have with it is the slow levelling and the number of rather crucial items/classes/perks that are locked behind really steep XP walls (or really steep real-money prices). The daily deals are a nice addition though, but even after pouring heaps of Xp and a bit of real money into it I still haven't unlocked DMB mines, which means I'm still only able to be a mediocre HoF. I don't really care about most of the weapons, but role-defining unlocks should either be available from the start or at least be really cheap and easy to unlock.

[Scumbag]

This may sound a bit bitter, but I'm not intending it to be so (use this argument with a lot of people who rose tint their views on extreme metal also):

Its no longer the 90s, time changes things. Regardless of if its for better or worse it things have changed.

Despite I did some Tribes 2 LANing with friends back in 2001 / 2002 ish, I prefer regening health now. I know the old ways are different, but just because a large profile console title made the practice popular does not mean its not suited to all games. Its doing a damn good job of fusing the old tribes feeling with newer mechanics.

And I don't think BroMcBroman plays that much. I've tried to get some people at work to play it and their reaction has been the rather predicable "If I want to play Halo, I play Halo. Not playing some F2P rip off of it."

[Boris]

I played a LOT of Tribes 2. And I really do mean a lot. It's a great game, but it is very confusing at first, even more so than T:A.

They're not the same games, they don't have the same goals. For example, the Jericho MPB was my favourite vehicle in T2 (it was a drivable inventory station with a built in missile turret. Think automatic Saber Launcher on an inventory station on wheels), and I'm glad it's not in Tribes:Ascend.
I liked how you could swap the barrels on your base turrets to meet different threats (but mostly, people used either AA or missile turret barrels. The default plasma sucked, and mortar barrels sucked even more unless you started controlling them from the command interface, fire-support way, but at that point you might as well just be a heavy and use your legs), but I'm glad it's not in T:A.

I however do miss the targeting laser. You shone it on something and your whole team got an aim marker for their weapon. Great with mortars. Lase the flag for a few seconds, heavy acquires target and starts raining down heavy love and off you go.

Tribes:Ascend is a smaller game than Tribes 2, map-size way. The original Katabatic was HUGE. It could house 64 players, and even then you could go a minute easy without seeing someone. The Jericho MPB was very much needed in such a map, and drove home the scale of it. But it also leaves you with minutes of dull, peppered with moments of fun. T:A is more of a constant action shooter, while T2 was more of a combined-arms shooter, if this makes any sense.

PS: If I'm rambling, that's because I haven't had any coffee yet.

[Scumbag]

As per usual: cheers for the game this evening. Good to see things rolling steadily finally.

From now on I may do an experimental day once a week in Arena or whatnot to see if people will play it. If arena is disliked I'll swap it out for something else.

[deadly.by.design]

I've played a few pub rounds of Arena and found it to be a little confusing. It also didn't seem to give you much XP for the effort involved. On the other hand, it's fun to duel as a LMG/disc jug. (though that's a little less effective on the map that had vertical gameplay)

[squirrelfanatic]

I'm fine with that, but not the half of me that was already familiar with Tribes gameplay. It's the half of me that understands that the Tribes experience is completely bewildering to anyone who hasn't played one before.

To be honest, I don't think that the game is that much different from other multiplayer shooters. Most of the time matches are less structured because of the open level design, but really, it isn't that hard to grasp the skiing mechanic or to figure out how to hit people with the automatic weapons. Spinfusors are a bit different, granted, but you get the hang of it quite fast. Classes are also pretty straight-forward. For instance, you can do a solid job as a Pathfinder once you have figured out a basic running route and how to grenade/fusor-boost. Raider and Infiltrator even more so.

[deadly.by.design]

Hmm. My deal of the day is the MIRV launcher for 65% off... Tempting, I guess. (if it were the Thumper I would have bought it by now)

I wasn't planning on ever getting it if it was going to cost 100k XP, but ... I play Jug more often than not, so I'll probably buy it. That, and I think buying each 60-75% daily deal is probably worth more than renewing my booster in ~75 days. (i.e., use gold on heavily discounted weapons, use xp for everything else)

@squirrel
I think it depends on the person. My friend has never played anything like Tribes. Heck, I'm pretty sure he's never even played Halo, for those who insist on drawing that comparison. So, it's completely foreign to him. Most other shooters encourage passive play, being tactical, paced, etc. Tribes is more like Unreal Tournament. By that, I mean overall strategy can get you only so far, and skill & doing crazy things is what really makes you excel.

[DarthPingu]

I bought it full price back in the days (2 months ago!). Definitely a good bargain. Slightly less damage than the fusion mortar, but not really. The pellets do ~200-400 damage per, but there's 5 or 6 pellets. They split at the same point as where the fusion mortar becomes explosive-at-hit. So it's good to clear flagstands like Arx Novena. And very good for indoor fighting.

[LaunchJC]

Been playing a little whenever I see the server has some people in (so thanks for the guys paying for that) I'm still not very good at Tribes, but it can be fun nonetheless. I've yet to pay any REAL WORLD monies but I can see myself doing so if I keep playing it.

The only thing that seems a bit of a shame with smaller games is the more specified roles get harder to use so I find myself playing Soldier all the time just cos it seems like it has the best chance.

[Scumbag]

Hmm. My deal of the day is the MIRV launcher for 65% off... Tempting, I guess. (if it were the Thumper I would have bought it by now)

Its a nice side-grade certainly. I use it for more shock and awe then actually picking off targets, like a long range exploding shotgun compared to the more precision mortar rounds. MIRV seems more "Get off that flagstand! I'm gonna scare you all away and wreck all your nice deployables!" Morter is more "I'm going to make YOU individually get off that flagstand (by killing you)!"

[deadly.by.design]

Its a nice side-grade certainly. I use it for more shock and awe then actually picking off targets, like a long range exploding shotgun compared to the more precision mortar rounds. MIRV seems more "Get off that flagstand! I'm gonna scare you all away and wreck all your nice deployables!" Morter is more "I'm going to make YOU individually get off that flagstand (by killing you)!"

Yeah, that sounds about right. (haven't bought it yet - currently @ work) I've really seen the points you've made exhibited in-game, especially on Crossfire. It seems to really rock both the flag stand as well as the tight generator entryway.

Also, if I only have five classes unlocked and buy the 60-70% daily deals, I'm bound to get to the Thumper ... eventually. I mean, that dumb Heavy Crossbow is my deal at least two times a week, so... Not much point in renewing another 90-day booster if I've already purchased most of the relevant weapons for 200-some gold apiece. With roughly 2,400 gold left over, that's 8-10 big ticket items that would otherwise cost the blood, sweat & tears of 100,000 XP. Unless I'm missing something obvious here, I'm better off saving the xp for armor, pack and perk upgrades.

[AuralViolations]

Due to the return of school and various husbandly duties I will be missing out on most of the events. However, I do see a fair number of you online throughout the day - so if anyone is playing daytime matches, add me as a friend so that we may combine forces (AuralViolations in game).


I hope arena night goes well, because I would like to try out some semi organized other game modes(although I can't make arena night)


Should we schedule something for Sunday? Is it possible to send out reminders a half an hour after the start of the event, to give people an extra little boost in case they miss the notice?

[AuralViolations]

Also I feel like more people should post their in-game names, as there are WAY more members of the group than the list of names.

[AuralViolations]

Been playing a little whenever I see the server has some people in (so thanks for the guys paying for that) I'm still not very good at Tribes, but it can be fun nonetheless. I've yet to pay any REAL WORLD monies but I can see myself doing so if I keep playing it.

The only thing that seems a bit of a shame with smaller games is the more specified roles get harder to use so I find myself playing Soldier all the time just cos it seems like it has the best chance.

It is worth paying at least the smallest, to get VIP - but if you really like they game get the 30$(don't know the price in euros) and buy some boost and use the rest of the cash on daily deals.

In smaller games you do have to be able to do a few things. I tend to stick with PTH for small games just because of versatility, but soldier can work well in the right situations. Look at your team and see what they are lacking - whether or not they need your soldier on offense or defense. In a small game, a JUG can shut down flag defense more easily than in a big game, so as a soldier you should be deploying to take out them, if possible.

[Scumbag]

This has no relevance to the thread, and helps no one, but when I see the Thumper at 75% off for 160 gold I smile as I buy.

Oh today made me happy!

[deadly.by.design]

This has no relevance to the thread, and helps no one, but when I see the Thumper at 75% off for 160 gold I smile as I buy.

Oh today made me happy!

Slightly jealous.

[frenz0rz]

This has no relevance to the thread, and helps no one, but when I see the Thumper at 75% off for 160 gold I smile as I buy.

Oh today made me happy!

Extremely jealous.

[DarthPingu]

Wow, you lucky...
'Last week I've been getting 6 skins and one grenade (for the sentinel).