DUST 514: New Vehicle Roles and Characteristics

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DUST 514: New Vehicle Roles and Characteristics

DUST 514: New Vehicle Roles and Characteristics

Since DUST 514 traces its lineage to EVE Online, we wanted to give it the same rich combat environment that EVE Online has when it comes to vehicle classes and roles. For example, in EVE Online there are ships that share the same hull (and thus the same look) but have very different performance envelopes. This will be true in DUST 514 as well with vehicles that will share the same chassis or hull class but depending on their roles and level of technology, offer very different battlefield characteristics.

Another key aspect that is similar between ships and vehicles is the capacitor. A good way to grasp this concept is to think of capacitors as the energy source that powers everything in a vehicle. From weapon turrets to repair modules, almost everything that you fit on to your vehicle in DUST 514 will need to draw capacitor points in order to function. Because of the fusion technology that the capacitor is based on, you will never “run out” of capacitors in the long run, since it will always replenish itself over time. However, as you activate weapons, scanners, ECM and other modules over the course of a battle it is very likely that your vehicle will deplete its stock of capacitors in short order.

Much like ships in EVE Online, this means that when you customize your vehicles in DUST 514 you will need to pay heed to how much capacitor your vehicle has and how fast the modules on your vehicle will drain it. Therefore, along with combat and repair modules, a discerning player will also need to consider fitting modules that will act as a reserve “fuel tank” that can replenish depleted capacitors on vehicles, and this will certainly add an extra dimension to vehicular gameplay that is unique to the EVE universe.

Also similar to EVE Online is the skilling system for vehicles available to players. Each class of vehicles will require a player to have trained the necessary skill before he or she can pilot it. This will allow players to explore and specialize in vehicles that are more suitable to their own style of game play, and the variety of vehicle specialization is every bit as deep and wide ranging as EVE Online. So, let’s take a look at a couple of advanced vehicle roles that you, as a player, can look forward to specialize in.

Marauder HAV

The heavy attack vehicle (HAV) was conceived as a breakthrough weapon and as such is meant to be used as the armored fist by many mercenary forces. However, when the situation on a battlefield changes something even more powerful may be required. This is where the Marauder class HAV comes in. With more powerful armaments and heavier armor, the Marauder can be used to deal with the enemy’s “lesser” HAVs.

DUST 514: New Vehicle Roles and Characteristics

Name: Surya

Hull: Madrugar
Race: Gallente
Class: Marauder
Module Slots: 6H/4L
Crew: 3
PG: 2540
CPU: 235

Combat / Special Abilities:
Can fit siege module

Bonuses:
10% bonus to resistance per level
20% bonus to racial turret damage per level

As you can see from the stats above, the Gallente Marauder offers more module slots giving the player more customization options than the regular HAV. It also has special abilities not available on regular HAVs in that it can fit a siege module, which is a very powerful upgrade that will allow the Marauder to go into “siege” mode thereby granting it even more powerful combat capability. The Marauder also offers role bonuses that give it tougher resistance to enemy fire as well as higher damage dealing bonuses to ensure the death of your enemies.

Of course, all that extra performance doesn’t come cheap and the Marauder is by no means invincible… provided that your enemies know its weakness. As you will see in the next vehicle class, we have created a new vehicle role to counter the beast that is the Marauder.

The in-game maps in DUST 514 are designed to utilize varying terrain features to give players more tactical choices on the battlefield. That means there are plenty of places to conceal and set up ambushes. The fog of war system will also shroud enemies until scouted by friendly forces. So, how can players counter such an array of concealment in order to quickly reveal and assess the battlefield? The solution is the Force Recon dropship.

DUST 514: New Vehicle Roles and Characteristics

Force Recon (Dropship)

With its unique combination of speed, stealth, ECM and sight bonuses, the Force Recon dropship will be the mainstay of any mercenary army that wishes to maintain a strong ECM/ECCM presence on the battlefields of New Eden. Worried about what’s hiding in that embankment just around the corner? How many cloaked enemies are waiting in ambush near that upcoming objective? Or, maybe that EW LAV on your team needs a little ECM support? Well, send in the Force Recon dropship to get the job done!

Name: Eryx

Hull: Myron
Race: Caldari
Class: Force Recon
Module Slots: 8
Crew: 6
PG: 300
CPU: 500

Combat / Special Abilities:
Can use special cloak modules

Bonuses:
20% bonus to sensor dampener range
20% bonus to sight range per level

More customizations with Modules

Now that you’ve gotten a taste of advanced roles for vehicles, let’s examine some of the vehicle modules that we have in store for DUST 514 and how they will work in game.

The cap booster works by replenishing a fixed amount of capacitor points instantly when activated. Each vehicle can only carry a limited amount of capacitor charges, and an empty capacitor booster cannot replenish capacitor points on its own.

Sometimes the best way to knock out a tough opponent is to drain its capacitor bank and like EVE Online, the maxim: “no cap equals death” is just as true in DUST 514. Energy neutralizers work by remotely depleting a targeted vehicle’s capacitor bank. It does require a lot of capacitor points to activate it, however, so a capacitor booster module will most likely be required in order to feed the cap guzzling energy neutralizer.

There’s an old adage that states “an enemy can’t attack what the enemy can’t see.” and this is certainly the case when we add electronic warfare to the battlefield. Advanced combat vehicles like the HAV require a host of electronic gadgets in order to identify, acquire, and dispatch threats effectively. Electronic counter-measures on the other hand, can leave your enemies blind and helpless on the field and often during critical moments.

So, how can a sly player utilize the modules mentioned above to fit his or her vehicle and maximize its effectiveness? Imagine a battle in progress on a distant planet somewhere within the EVE universe. The attacking mercenary forces send in their Marauder in a gambit to break through the defender’s fortifications. As the Marauder smashes its way through barriers and choke points in its mad blitz to the objective, a Force Recon dropship suddenly de-cloaks in midair and begins to drain the Marauder’s capacitor. As the capacitor banks on both vehicles plummet each pilot is hammering the cap booster activation button in a desperate attempt to keep their vehicles supplied with enough power.

The Marauder pilot sees his capacitor bank emptied and has just run out of cap booster charges. He calls for help on the squad channel asking, no, pleading for someone to come and rescue him from his predicament. As the dropship batters away the last bit of armor off the Marauder, a friendly LAV jumps off a cliff and simultaneously lands next to the Marauder and activates its ECM module to break the dropship’s lock on the Marauder. The Marauder pilot gratefully thanks the LAV pilot and quickly limps off to the rear for urgent repairs.

The info above shows just a fraction of the inter-connected dynamics in DUST 514’s vehicle gameplay and the diversity of vehicle fits that will be available to players in the near future. We hope you are as excited about it as we are.

P.S. The retreating Marauder was later destroyed at a choke point by an ambush party before it could be repaired.

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49 Comments

  • Not my cup of tea.

  • we want game play videos

  • Gametrailers dot com just posted a DUST 514 GDC video interview which has game play.

  • Possibly one of the most confusing and complex games ever created? going to be a total headache learning how to play, if it wasn’t free i probably wouldn’t of bothered.

  • Really? Too complex? It’s really not that hard once you actually try it. Plus if you think this is complicated, just try EVE Online. Now that’s complicated, and yet plenty of people still manage to work it out on their own and play just fine.

    But on the subject of the dev blog, this is awesome news to see some of the actual mechanics for vehicles. I for one am happy to see the capacitor making it’s triumphant return. Still wondering if vehicles can use stasis projectors as well or if they’re limited to infantry.

    Also, I assume siege mode will still make the vehicle immobile, just like in EVE? What’s the timer on it’s cycle?

  • @GilgameshVIII – no big deal. just close out of the the window and go back to playing COD, nothing to see here.

    to all the people like me who love real tactical gameplay. got a feeling its gonna be a good year.

  • Video or it didn’t happen.

    Seriously, I am tired of these CCP posts with no videos. How about you SHOW us these gameplay elements in action.

    your words do not excite me.

  • this is coming out for vita as well right?

  • @ jvasq
    It is going to be an app on Vita, not an actual game. You can just use it for checking stats and such. (useless).

    Anyways, I am looking forward to the PS3 version. Not so much the Vita thing… So misleading.

  • @8 – The said the Vita version was going to be a companion app to start out.

  • I am so looking forward to this!! vehicles look so futuristic! awesome i like it. my kind of style…. keep up the good work! thanks for releasing a free mmofps!

    Is there going to be any destructible environments?

  • cool thanks

  • @ 1
    Then GTFO… thank’s.

  • + Phil Wang on March 9th, 2012 at 9:41 am said:

    That we might do, but no promises though.

    You guys are still that early in development that you aren’t sure if the environments will be destructible ?
    What is the time frame for this to come out ? 2013?

    • There are trade offs that we have to consider since we have to budget our memory allocation. We have tons of stuff that we want to put in the game, but not all of it can make it in. So we will have to see if there’s room to squeeze in that part.

  • @Tank_Baked No, it’s just that they can decide to add it as a feature later in it’s lifetime. This isn’t going to be like most games where they receive updates once every blue moon. DUST 514 will receive regular updates just like most MMO games do.

    • Yes, there is that as well. We plan to do regular updates similar to EVE Online, with new content and patches. So if something isn’t in right away, it doesn’t mean its out.

  • Are destroyed vehicles permanently lost like in EVE, or will they be automatically rebuilt when you respawn/a round ends?

    • It is different from EVE with destroyed vehicles. You will need to have a valid blueprint available whenever you call in a vehicle.

  • can i haz a Tier3-BC-like vehicle, a four wheeled glass cannon, something like the Tornado, just to serve my 12k Alpha from the back of the Battlefield.
    The names you gave the Vehicles are already set?! I always thought the stuff in Dust514 is build by the Players of EvE, so there could be some mixing up with the T2 Megathron Version named Marauder.

  • I have to say, one thing that has me worried here is a lot of the micro transaction things that have been on controversy over Eve Online. Chargine things on top of players who already pay for a game? pretty poor approach. What kind of nickle and dimming can us free ps3 users expect from Dust 514? hmm?

  • I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This is one game were the storyboards have truly impressed me. I have a feeling this game will be good.

  • Just caught some GDC…wait, you were at GDC?! And the guys from the PlayStation Blogcast didn’t come and talk to you!?!?!?!? Well, I guess I will have a few choice words for Sid and Jeff and the gang :/

    Anyway, nice update on what we are all hoping to be THE PS3 SHOOTER of the year.

  • Force Recon Dropships?!?!?!

    I think I need a towel.

    Any word on if there will be fail vehicle physics (ala MAG, Humvees should not be able to wedge under APCs and bring them to a stop)?

  • One thing that I am noticing is the lack of distinction between racial designs. Both vehicles shown above have extremely similar designs, yet one is of Gallente manufacture while the other is Caldari. In EVE ships have VERY distinctive design differences am I to understand that there will be none of that in Dust 514?

    • Yes, that dropship is actually a Gallente one disguised as a Caldari, fitted with a chameleon cloaking device. :)

  • aw. just a vita app? i was hoping for a vita/ps3 integration where i could play both. non the less still cool!!!

  • In EvE the most powerful weapon you can get is knowledge of the game. It looks like DUST will be similar in that respect…

  • itd be cool if the ps3 had some kind of usb extra ram module that you can plug in and utilize that ingame for graphics, destruction of environments and the like. Maybe sony should get in talks with some of the big rAM makers out there, all it would take is some coding to make it work in unison of the onboard memory. I honestly dont understand why sony only used 512 mb of ram in the ps3. For the next ps console I would hope there’s at least 8 gb of ddr5 (by that time) ram. Your game looks sick as Eff, i cant wait to roam the maps and take out the enemies….

  • Am sooo looking forward to this game its just my type
    The gameplay is exciting am sure this game will be my shooter of the year :)
    keep up the good work CCP

  • There isn’t much recoil in the big guns. What are the advantages to using the smaller guns?

  • i wonder if the tank/dropship etc. will have lock times that depend on the scan resolution of the dropship vs the sig radius of the tank,such as in EVE.

  • anyone know if it will be possible to have handheld EWAR devices? like mini targetted jammers/sensor damps etc?
    Would add a lot to the game if one person can run around and jam from the woods or disrupt tracking in a blizzard on ice worlds.
    just an idea

  • I like it how all the non-eve players are like “way to complicated” while my first thought, being an eve player, was “Why does the caldri vehicle have a sensor damp bonus?!?!?!?!?!”. Glad to see that all my experience in eve will carry over pretty easily.

  • WHEN WILL MW3 BE ON PSN STORE ?????????

  • Really looking forward to this. Heard about it through MAG players and it seems like there is going to be a large migration of MAG players/clans looking for a game that actually involves some deeper tactical elements and a persistent universe.
    If the game delivers on the gameplay I predict putting a lot of time and effort into it. I’ve logged over 400 hours into MAG and my MAG clan is already making plans for this.

  • @Phil Wang well the problem is that I don’t really go to that website and what I meant was we want videos here of game play of the stuff that you are telling use about it would be allot better to see it in action

    I do plan on checking this game out once it get release and once I buy new ps3 but need to get a job first and this economy is making it very hard

  • when can we be playing this awesome game : ) ?

  • Watched the Gametrailers video and it looks very exciting. It takes a certain genius to make Eve Online work as it is — it will take more genius to pull off the ideas stated in that video over long term. But if anybody can do it, I think you guys can. Can’t wait to play!

    12

  • Cant wait for this game. I would love to beta test it, and i hope i get a key once the beta launches

  • I can’t wait to get this game!!

  • Is there going to be a KB & M option or is it dumb downed enough making it not needed. Also will there be a PC release in the future and if so maybe cross platform and adding KB & M option. I find it strange that you would not release this same time on PC considering Eve was a PC release and all that will do is lose loyal gamers the P.C community plays the same game online for years well your lucky to get 8 months from a console gamer. Ofcourse mod kits are a bog reason for that though too

  • @burnlife308 Keyboard and Mouse are confirmed in the interview http://www.dust514base.com/2012/02/cast-514-episode-1-ccp-grand-opening.html

  • sweet, i’ll definitely download this when it comes out, the one thing im not gonna do is look at it as a COD game, sure its a FPS, but im not looking for that COD flavor ya know? i also think its extraordinary that DUST 514 will be tied-in directly to EVE online, i still wonder how that will work out, cant wait!

  • Yes gameplay vids(:

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