Apr 302014
 

Back in late 2012, a MMOFPS launched that I decided that I wanted to play, that game was Planetside 2.

I took many of you along with me on that wild ride.  Then we got sidetracked by things in EVE and I ran for CSM and so on and so we stopped playing.  We tried again a while ago, but SOE had the bright idea to turn our regular play day into patch day. Which sucked all the fun out of that given other days are reserved for other things.

However, SOE finally did something right.  The forerunner to PS2, Planetside, was opened up as Free 2 Play yesterday.  And the best F2P of all. One with NO cash shop and no cash advantages over others. Admittedly PS1 is as old as EVE, looks like ass, has some broken aspects that SOE wont touch however compared to PS2 is a veritable feast of features and meaningful combat opportunities.

So for the first few weeks of the newly reprised PS nights, we will be playing Planetside 1.  Get it here: https://launch.soe.com/installer/PS_setup.exe  It is a small 1.8gb download. You can use your existing SOE accts to log in I think (Not ProSeiben).

We will be playing Planetside every other Wednesday starting today April 30th from around 18.00 UTC. And every other Tuesday starting on May 6th.  Obviously if the wider community interest in PS1 dies, we’ll switch back to PS2 on those nights, but for now old school fun times are a go.

And in a small change from our PS2 faction choice, in PS1 we play as New Conglomerate (NC.).  As thats the faction I have played in PS1 for ever. I can be found on one of the following characters:

Mangala, Eaglestalker, Thevir, VirMax, Walkindude, EnginVir, Tiberian3

Some useful tips can be found here – the DO THE VR TRAINING one is like the most important:

http://www.planetside-universe.com/showthread.php?t=42566

https://forums.station.sony.com/soe/index.php?threads/for-new-players.11500063743/

http://www.reddit.com/r/Planetside/comments/24bpz1/planetside_1_is_really_confusing/

http://www.reddit.com/r/Planetside/comments/24btqu/new_player_ps1_tip_use_the_vr/

http://www.planetside-universe.com/showthread.php?t=55203

 

And here are a few videos:

Jul 012013
 

Recently, I and other members of We Form Purple [RVBP] have resumed our Thursday night PS2 sessions.  The game has improved dramatically since we stopped back in February, with new vehicles, weapons and even a new way of progressing on the way to capturing a continent: the lattice system (only on Indar right now).

 

So dust (lol) off those characters you have lying around and come join in the fun, every Thursday evening from around 19.00 UTC.

Remember we play as the Vanu on the Mattherson server.

 

Additionally, I have created two other Outfits on Mattherson, 1 for the New Conglomerate & 1 for the Terran Republic, here are the details:

NC: Smurf Republic [RvBB]

Contact is Auqakuh

 

TR: Elmo Federation [RvBR]

Contact is Simud

I would like to try and alternate our play on these factions just to change things up every now & then. Or if we ever get serious numbers, have our very own “Outfit Wars”!!! Yes, this does mean we too can become 4th Empire scum.

Dec 062012
 

We Form Purple – the primarily RvB outfit for those of us playing Planetside 2 – is found on the US East server Mattherson.

We are playing as the alien loving Vanu Sovereignty – whose signature colour is Purple.

To join the outfit, create a Vanu (VS) character on the listed server, and then add Mangala as a friend. You do this buy pressing O in game, going to friends and typing Mangala in the Add Friend box. Once I see you online I then invite you to [RVBP]. You can also hit us up on Mumble for an invite and anyone capable will sort you out.

If you find yourself in difficulty in joining us, just post a comment here and I, or others will then be able to help you out.

You can also join the Steam group and ask for outfit invites there too.

See you on the battlefield.

Nov 252012
 

As many of you will be aware, I am currently spending any and all of my free time in Planetside 2, a free to play MMOFPS from SOE.  To quote SOE “PlanetSide 2 is a Massively Multiplayer First Person Shooter that delivers truly epic, massive combat on a scale never before seen in stunning, breathtaking detail. Battles take place not between dozens of troops, but thousands; with air and ground vehicles slugging it out alongside squads of troops. Whether in open fields, tightly-packed urban centers or enormous structures, winning requires strategic teamwork and a quick trigger finger.”

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The premise of the game is that there are three factions in an eternal war over resources on a remote planet called Auraxis, using guns, tanks, planes and more to fight this war. These factions are:

“The New Conglomerate was initially formed on Earth as a mega collective of civilian corporations who worked alongside the Terran Republic until they felt that the Republics rules were too strict. The N.C. feel that any form of control is “oppression” and that they fight for liberty and freedom. The Vanu see them as unenlightened about the benefits harnessing the alien technology their way would bring. The Republic see them as rebels that would destroy their democratic way of life and form an oligarchy under their corporate masters. Its no surprise they will have to fight both for their cause.”

“The Terran Republic was formed by the unified Earth government after global war in the 25th century. Their idea of freedom was a bit more strict than some would like but many argue it has successfully kept Earth without war for hundreds of years. Their time on Auraxis has caused them to rely heavily on their honed military tactics and wide reaching resources. They were the originators of the colonization effort of Auraxis. The New Conglomerate see them as an oppressive and tyrannical government. The Vanu see them as unenlightened about the benefits harnessing the alien technology their way would bring. Its no surprise they must fight both for their cause.”

“The Vanu Sovereignty are a Transhumanist cult of academics, intellectuals, and technology worshipers who believe human destiny lies in the further development and exploitation of the alien technology. They viewed the rules the republic put on their research as oppressive and fight for the freedom to experiment on, alter, and integrate human beings with the alien technology that was found on Auraxis. They believe all this is the key to the future and are willing to do anything in pursuit of this goal. Of course this is at odds with both the Terran Republic and New Conglomerates views that they could end up destroying all of mankind or render us no longer human by all the integration and alteration. It’s no surprise they must fight both for their cause.”

=====================

The combat in this game revolves around thousands of players fighting over various continents and the territories, bases & outposts on them.  Capturing territory gives your faction resources which you the player then spend on guns, tanks & planes to take more territory, or to just harass the other two factions while they try to take territory until it is taken by another faction. Its a mechanic that has worked for 9 years at encouraging conflict, and as it does not involve any PVE, its one that has kept me playing the Planetside for a good chunk of the past 9 years – despite not liking shooters. And now Planetside 2 is here, and its free!!! 

Another draw is that unlike some shooters, this one has thousands of players all fighting at once, with many of them fighting together as Squads/Platoons or Outfits.  These groups are usually more organised than a simple zerg can be and always undertake actions as a group of like minded chaps. For instance the the first Friday after launch saw the outfit, WE FORM PURPLE [RVBP] try its hand at taking an enemy structure, running an armoured column and even attempting to drop MAX suits on top of another enemy base.  Many fights were won (& lost) and some good times were had.  See the pictures here:

 

Guns, Tanks, Planes & Mangala? IM SOLD!

So you like the video, or just want to see why I am making all this fuss over a “simple” shooter, then follow these simple steps to come play with me:

  • Well firstly you need the client, so open Steam and find Planetside 2 (or go to the Planetside 2 website and download direct from there);
  • Once installed, follow the instructions on the new launcher that pops up to create an account – or log in with an existing SOE account if you have one;
  • After that, simply hit PLAY and create a character. Just make sure you create a character that is representing the VANU SOVEREIGNTY;
  • At server selection, choose MATTHERSON. Yes its a US East server, but its very busy (Goons, TEST, Reddit, PL, and many others are here) which is a GOOD THING in Planetside terms;
  • Let me know your name so I can add you to our Outfit;
  • Jump on mumble and join in the fun;
 
WHAT IS THIS S***? I LOGGED IN AND WTFARGGLEBARGLE

On your first log in to the game following character creation, you will be immediately thrown in to a “tutorial”, which consists of your character being “hotdropped” into a combat zone, and also made a member of a random squad with no explanation.  Just die, and then leave using the command “/squad leave”.   It is the worst tutorial ever, even EVE 6 years ago had a better one. However there are various tutorials on the game’s website – they can be found here – as well as this great video by TotalBuscuit that outlines the basics quite well:

After watching those following your first  death, log back in and I will get you an invite to the outfit. Join us on mumble as mentioned above and pay attention to comms.  Hopefully you’ll start to understand things more.

If Mangala is not online to get you into the Outfit, then look up any of the following people:

  • WhyTalana
  • Catalyst XI
  • MourningSouls
  • ShenanigansBus
  • MacgyverIII
  • RashinoZea
  • NyuTrustan
  • Saffy
  • MaximusPowerz
  • MaIgaIad
  • TarganYaken
  • McGoatboy
  • TheOmegaMan
  • RandomDarkness
  • TGL3
  • Thecla
  • Geddonz
  • BunnyVirus
  • RisingStar
  • MarcHDelta
  • Lololol01
  • Siuil
  • PatrickKasper
  • GreenGambit
  • Roigon
  • Certissian
  • AzualSkoll
  • Nutbolt
  • XanDrakov
  • MarcHDelta

We now have a Steam group – so join that as well: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/RvBPurpleside.

NB: Some text and faction images are borrowed from Planetside Universe & a thread on Something Awful.