PPO's 101
(38 votes, average 4.66 out of 5)
Written by MOTORMOUTH   
Tuesday, 14 September 2010 14:06
1.32 will soon introduce three new Player Placed Objects to give players some new game play options. This is only the start of what we can do with this new feature. And, as with any new game feature, there are rules and codes governing the who, where and how of PPO usage. The following "PPO Primer" should clarify what those initial rules are. Some of these might be changed after a while, once we see how they work in the live game.

FORWARD REINFORCEMENT UNIT

  • Can be placed by Trucks or Mission Leaders
  • Instead of leaving a UMSP in the world, truck drivers will drop the new FRU. Trucks are then free to drive away
  • Mission Leaders have the option of "tearing down" the FRU at any time and placing it at their current position. They can do this as often as they need
  • Build Timer: TBD (Probably around 30 seconds)
  • Placement limitations and ranges: Same as current UMSP
  • Destroyable: yes
  • Resupply points for friendly unit
  • RTB point for friendly infantry
FRU

GUN EMPLACEMENT

  • Can be placed by sappers only
  • Will be able to accommodate smaller class of AT guns
  • Build timer: 120 seconds, interruptible (moving/damage)
  • Cool down timer (Determining when another GE can be placed): TBD
  • Placement limitations: Not on water, airfields, within 3 meters of buildings, limited number per area (TBD)
  • Destroyable: No
  • Time-out rules: GE will vanish after being abandoned for 30 minutes (timer resets to 0 every time any unit, friendly or other, is within 3 meters)

INFANTRY FIGHTING POSITION

  • Can be placed by all infantry except sappers
  • Will be able to accommodate prone/kneeling infantry
  • Build timer: 30 seconds, interruptible (moving/damage)
  • Cool down timer: TBD
  • Placement limitations: Not on water, urban tiles, city tiles, airfields, not within 3 meters of buildings, limited number per area (TBD)
  • Destroyable: No
  • Time-out rules: IFP will vanish after being abandoned for 5 minutes (timer resets to 0 every time any, friendly or other, unit is within 3 meters)

 

With both the GE and the IFP, terrain will factor into placement. The HUD will display a ghosted 3D image tinted either red or green, indicating where the PPO can be placed. Once the system has determined that the object meets the criteria for placement in the terrain, the infantry unit will be forced into the kneel position and unable to move, change states or fire a weapon during the build process. Infantry units will be damageable during the build process. Should infantry damaged any time during the build process, the build process is interrupted.

That's it for today's lesson. Initial testing is looking good. It's once these feature get into the live game that these features will really be put to the test. It's that we'll be able to determine if any of the rules needs to be changed. We hope you're as excited about PPOs as we are. We can't wait to see how you play with them and what new ones we can introduce in the near future.

S!

 

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Comments (44)
1 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 14:51
david06
Excellent update. How much damage will the Foward Reinforcement Unit be able to sustain? Will it be like the current unmanned mobile-spawns(one bullet) or will it require something stronger such as a grenade?
2 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 15:14
Gtanner
My only concern about these are what expected terrain tile loading lag can we expect when capacity is reached, or will this be issue be locked by the server?

Great work on 1.32 and especially the new inf, you got my $20 dev contribution.

Gt
3 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 15:27
Kilowolf
re:"Mission Leaders have the option of "tearing down" the FRU at any time and placing it at their current position." Does the mission leader have to be spawned in as a truck or can they do this when spawned in as an inf?
4 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 15:44
joyjoy
any chance we can get a look at this ifp?
5 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 16:04
cyclone
Any chance the FRU can resupply French and British troops?
6 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 18:07
jimerson
i still think you guys should make s new unit like a artillery like a 105 or what other ones are out there at that time just a thought
7 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 18:21
Knapp
Looks cool! One question. Can the mission leader move the FRU as any unit or does he need to be a certain type? i.e. infantry.
8 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 18:42
Sugabearto
the FRU is a spawn point correct? Act just like a UMS i take it?
9 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 18:48
Maxios
Sweeeeeeeet!


Nice job CRS!


S!
10 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 18:57
Schtoop
One small step for Rats. One giant leap for playerbase.
Another great update.
THANK YOU, CRS!
11 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 19:03
Meister
Will the ATG placement be limited by things that are already in the way? Say, can't be built over a berm, through a tree, on top of an already present friendly atg, etc? (Or you know, as a prank on top of an enemy tank that's not paying attention?)
12 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 19:45
Cokeman
When you have the red-ghosted cannot build, will there be a message accompanying it explain why you cannot build at that location?

I guess, also has it been tested around FB's to make sure Vehicles will have enough room to get out of spawn?
13 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 19:47
Cokeman
Also will you able able to build any PPO on another unit? Or will you get a red-ghost if you try to build it on top of a inf or vehicle? if so is there anything to stop griefing, people blocking your build location?
14 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 22:14
Folkgren
IFP's need to be placeable in towns and near cp's what do u think all that rubble gets used for , Nests, Barricades, roadblocks, hides.

IFP's need to have a 360 mount for,MG/Mo or at least one capable of allowing a LMG to fire in a AAA role
15 Tuesday, 14 September 2010 22:18
folkgren
Af defenders should be able to place IFP and GE.

Need AAA GE for field , Fb , Af.

Observer Corps Pits? perform as ship eac warning does.
16 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 00:05
Helvan
Nice, but I wish gun emplacements were just small, nondescript berms with a few bushes on either side like they'd be in the real war. That thing just screams SHOOT HERE PLZ.
17 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 00:06
sullon
Can we get a picture of the IFP?
18 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 03:17
cypher6
One question regarding the FRUs: Have I really understood that right? A mission leader will be able to reposition a FRU live during a mission? That means a true horror for every FB-defender as we will have EIs sneaking in from changing directions eve
19 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:09
Hobitt
Very nice!! i like it, i cant afford this game but this looks sweet when we will see free to play accounts ? anytime soon?
Administrator's reply:
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:30
MOTORMOUTH
We don't have any firm dates. But we're hoping not too far away. - MM
20 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 07:38
Kilo69
Looks great, only one thing. Can you either create a non-roof GE, or remove the roof.

AAA needs love too... this would help protect them from strafing and bombs!
21 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 07:42
rdmenace
First!

wish I could play when this comes out...
22 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 10:05
Windowa
Brilliant idea. I've been wanting to see something like this for a while. Now for medic class...
23 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 10:27
popeye0
OOOOhhh WOW.....when do we get our level 56 magic wand?

Seriously...time should be spent on new equipment for both sides. Fixing game play issues and old equipment that doesn't work right.
24 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 10:50
Badjasper
Thanks Rats, I just put that underwear on!

Seriously, OUTSTANDING WORK!

S!
25 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 11:50
hchris
CRS I love you.....
Administrator's reply:
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:29
MOTORMOUTH
And we love you, too - MM
26 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 12:11
bobdole
You should add an ability for sappers to build and maintain a forward air base so that fighters/fighter bombers can land and rearm/refuel. That would be some good fun.
27 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:16
Leopold
Please Clarify CRS: [FRU] 'Instead of leaving a UMSP' -This seems to imply that a FRU is a spawn point (among it's other features). Is this true?
Administrator's reply:
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:28
MOTORMOUTH
The FRU will have the same role as a UMSP: inf spawn point, resupply and, what's new, RTB for infantry. - MM
28 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:26
Zheriz
Rats, have you seen the HAVOK Destruction demo? Destroyable stuff, drool... video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a06hAe747Do
29 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 15:51
Lipton
So we will now have instant/silent magical spawn points? And those magical spawn points can disappear and re-appear at will? Little gamey don't cha think? Gunna make defense a WHOLE lot harder.
30 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 16:02
Riccardo
Great update! I agree with your new rules about PPO. A suggestion for future: maybe adding small(for the deep trenches around some FB)/big(for river obviously) bridge to sappers?
31 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 19:55
rdmenace
@popeye0 This is a game play issue.
32 Wednesday, 15 September 2010 23:26
mdundee
Will a mission be allowed to have an FRU And an MSP/UMSP on it? If so would you choose which one you want at the spawn screen?
Administrator's reply:
Thursday, 16 September 2010 09:44
MOTORMOUTH
The truck will no longer be a MSP/UMSP. It will return to being a truck. It drops one (per mission) FRU instead and then they become separate. - MM
33 Thursday, 16 September 2010 05:18
Diavlopl
Guys next AAA gun emplacement. Protected from sides with open top and gate where bofor can be pushed in. Great job btw.
34 Thursday, 16 September 2010 08:40
Ivnat
Are all old models? We want big changes in gameplay and models. This is a good improvement, but is not enough.
35 Thursday, 16 September 2010 09:36
klunk
Can abandoned GE and IFP's be used by the enemy and stop the abandoned timer?
Administrator's reply:
Thursday, 16 September 2010 09:40
MOTORMOUTH
Yes, any unit within 3 meters will reset the timer back to zero - MM
36 Thursday, 16 September 2010 10:39
Crossfir
Question - One truck will able to deliver up to "how many" FRU that can be deployed? I love to give ya $20 USD or more, but I want to see Allied APC and British TD plus Valentine Tank MKVIII/IX - low profile, reliability, good gun and weak armour. :P
37 Thursday, 16 September 2010 19:18
aorton27
Sounds interesting. Hopefully this will pave the way to removing the static FB's and allow FB's to be dynamic with player driven supply runs.
38 Saturday, 18 September 2010 09:47
Imkharn
The ability of infantry to place an MS will be amazing. Suddenly it's important again to be mission leader.

Yes I called it a MS. We will see yet again your attempts to name your creations will fail.

Remember the CP?
39 Saturday, 18 September 2010 19:35
vilhjalmur
Very nice !!!!
40 Sunday, 19 September 2010 11:31
BMAX
Did you get my last question ????? What will the new rev due to frame rate. After the last version my frame rate dropped to 1-2 in populated areas. Is this because the servers are over stressed ??
41 Monday, 20 September 2010 05:15
Sajer43
Great stuff! I especially like the FRU, and can't wait to see it in-game.

Keep up the good work CRS!
42 Monday, 20 September 2010 10:22
Chris5
Yea, that Havok GDC 2010 Destruction Demo would be an excellent addition or new idea to this game.
43 Friday, 08 October 2010 08:43
Weadley
Sounds like fun.. Maybe I will try it this weekend. Got the email on Friday.
44 Friday, 08 October 2010 09:05
ike250
SUPER!this type of features is what WWII online needs!expand, make the countryside also a place to battle,not just towns/cities,switch down a little the difficulty to battle others (move a litte to a FPS, but not too much!)and then you will shine!