Gaming Star Wars: Battlefront (2015) & Battlefront 2 (2017) [Mod Approved]

Yeah lots of angry articles about it being a paid advantage and what not and I get that.

For me personally it doesn’t bother me as I’m likely to play this for the next two years so a little grind here and there isn’t going to bother me in the slightest.

Will be interesting to see how things are adjusted for full release in terms of cost of crates, coins gained per round and number of parts gained when breaking down duplicates.

Unfortunately I think it’s too late for anything to change for release as they probably won’t have enough cosmetics to replace them but maybe if enough people railroad the system we might see a shift from the cards to purely cosmetic items.

 

I got quite a few cards for heavy, and stuck with barrage instead of the shield. There was also one where you got points for being attacked, though it didn't supply many. If in the full game the system can supply the same amount of things easily, I don't think it will make much difference if others can pay for stuff. Well, so long as the credit amounts stay the same, anyway.

 

I'm not sure if the system will be altered for the full game, but it seemed quite easy just over the few days of the Beta to acquire quite a few level 3 cards (I probably picked up about half a dozen) and to get enough parts to upgrade a couple as well. The playing field will level out for most players. Some of the star cards (which to be honest I've never really liked) seem like they can be a little too unbalanced when fully upgraded but I imagine (or hope) they will tweak these values. They should ideally pay close attention to the hero buffs especially, as these have the potential to push them all back towards the overpowered level they were in the first game.

It's a pay to win system but with a crucial difference in that it's essentially a CCG game with blind booster packs like Star Wars Destiny. You could theoretically pay $50 and still get nothing amazing. We've yet to see how the currency is implemented and how expensive each crate will be.

 

The loot box system is the most asinine aspect of this game, period. Tying class level progression to randomly obtaining cards is ridiculous. Was never able to get any class beyond 5, spent all my credits on boxes and repeatedly got duplicate cards or modding parts. The modding parts would be fine except for the fact that i only received one blaster upgrade all damn weekend. So they were useless to me. This whole lottery system is terrible. I hated the basic blasters such as the F-11d. I didn't use auto blasters in the first game. I favor burst weapons. But I have no choice, and can't even progress toward a new blaster. Just have to rely on dumb luck? So backwards.

I have to say, this beta convinced a bf 1 vet with 900 plus hours played, a 2.52 k/d, and near 5000 matches under my belt to NOT purchase bf 2. Good job ea/dice!

 

I agree progression should be implemented through time spent using a class. The cards should be an independent factor, although I guess levels overall are kind of redundant unless it unlocks weapons.

In saying that the beta was glitched with the components, but it’s been stated in the full release duplicates will automatically be broken down into components which you can then use to craft new cards or beef up ones you already have, plus craft mods. I also thought the 2nd weapons were unlocked in the beta either through challenges or just playing the class? Am I mistaken? Either way you’ll eventually end up with everything at least on a base level to give you a feel and then you can focus on beefing up a build you like.

As I said it will be interesting to see the shift if there happens to be one. I wonder if the beta was sort of them dipping their toe into the water to see the reaction. Obviously it has not gone as they hoped but again whether there is time/EA allows for change is another story altogether.

While many will swear off the game because the system I would still recommend renting it to experience what looks like an interesting SP campaign. Hopefully custom arcade is to people’s liking as well.

I’ve just finished up what will probably be my last session of the beta before it closes, unless they extend. A bit sad as I want to keep playing and I know that OG battlefronts/EASWBF2015 will not really hold me over till November. Also just read that my precious specialist class with infiltration will be nerfed - no more domination! Can’t wait for the full game!

 

The bottom line is the loot crate system in it's current form makes a very good argument that BF 2 is indeed pay to win.

That's not to say a very skilled fps player with nothing leveled up won't be competitive with a fully leveled average or poor fps player.

But the majority of players are average. Therefore uogrades are a factor in outcomes. And the game does in fact become more pay to win than not in my opinion.

 

It can't be worse than the unbalanced hell that is Battlefront 1. At least this way, the luck element balances out the competitive edge for players who have simply put more time into the game.

 

There is no balance when a person whose Mommy and Daddy has a fat wallet buys 50 crates on day 1. It may be a lottery type system, but he who opens the most crates has the best odds. That is indisputable.

 

It's no practical difference than a student/teenager/unemployed person who spends all day getting stuff simply for playing the game. Time or money, they're both investments. Why should one be rewarded and not the other? Was there a similar outcry when collector edition bonuses would include instantly unlocked advanced weapons?

But the problem of balance is the cards themselves, not the loot crate system. There can be no balance when one player can get a clear advantage over another outside of skill, it doesn't matter how the player got that advantage. Unlike with BF1, however, the extreme rarity of the more powerful star cards will reduce their impact on the game in practice. There simply won't be as many of these rich kids running around ruining games. Whereas with BF1 90% of players now are running around using the broken combos.

In any case, I do hope they tweak many of the numbers and especially the post-game credits and crafting parts rewards, even perhaps some kind of way to trade in unspent battlepoints for something.

 

It seems there's an upgrade for Boba Fett's 'Death from Above' card that makes him 100% invulnerable to damage while using his jetpack.

I'd say that's pretty unfair.

 

I'll pick this up eventually when it drops a bit in price. Would have pre-ordered if it had Instant Action, but it seems EA aren't interested in my custom. They shouldn't have used the Battlefront name for these games. Just call it Star Wars Online or something. Cause it sure as hell ain't Battlefront.

 

Not quite. The damage reduction is only while he's using Rocket Barrage in the air. Such a cool ability, by the way, except the explosion effects are far too exaggerated.

 

Finally got to use Rey earlier. It was right at the end of the match but it was a great feeling when she appeared on my screen. I got to briefly play as Han once too but he seemed to be useless really. Seems they kept his random shoulder charge move but not his power blast that was really the only reason to play as him in BF1.

 

http://www.player.one/star-wars-battlefront-2-beta-leak-reveal-custom-arcade-mode-options-120675

Again, wrong.

 

The assertion I was responding to is that the new system is better or more balanced than bf 1. I say it is not. It seems neither do you?

That said paying to win is really not the same thing as grinding to earn upgrades with a random crate system. One can be implemented instantly, the other requires time.

Being the crate system is random, the odss are in the favor of the person who can open the most crates the fastest. In this case it's the person who buys them with real money being the game is brand new. No one will earn enough credits to open mass amounts of crates day 1. But a person with ample real money can. That person gets an early advantage which can also lead to more in game credits earned faster.

And to answer your other question, where was the outcry regarding collectors editions with unlocked weapons? I remember plenty of outcry on ea's official bf forum. Particularly regatding people starting with the pre nerf 2 shot kill DL-44.

 

No, I'm saying that BF1 has the worst balance of any multiplayer game I have ever played. Heroes are essentially a cheat. There are star cards that practically break the design of maps (the jetpack). Half of the star cards are one-hit kills that cannot be defended against in any kind of way. Half of the weapons are far better than the other half. The A-wing is hands down the best starfighter. What we have with the BF2 is far better. Because the probability of someone acquiring all of the best cards in all the best versions is astronomically low, and that's better than the guarantee that every player will have them all in a few months' time. There's this illusion that it's simply a case of throwing money at it, but that's not the reality. Just in the beta alone there are probably around 300 cards/card variations to collect and that's not including any of the cosmetic items. The drop rate for 'rare' items is going to be extremely rare. Sure we don't yet know precisely how much money each crate will cost, but the "ample real money" seems more a theoretical argument.

I play the lottery occasionally but the notion that I will win a million quid if I buy a million tickets is not how it works.

If someone wants to pay real money, and lots of it, to unlock some stuff (in an indirect way), then that's ultimately their right. And why should they not get an early advantage for their money? When playing a game like Destiny (assuming that either of us actually play it, I don't), do you feel that someone who has had to buy lots of boosters to get the legendary character shouldn't be able to then use it? For a lot of fans and gamers these days, time = money, it's a different form of investment as I said before but no less worthy of rewarding. Especially when in some ways, these are the people who will be funding the DLC so we don't have to.

And so they spent their money and got a Day 1 advantage. What's the big deal with that really? Over the course of days, weeks and months people will be catching up and that gap is going to close.

 

Ah, my mistake. (It is definitely a very fun ability).

Maybe if the font size on the UI was a little larger I wouldn't have misread it!

 

Arcade bears no resemblance to Skirmish or Instant Action. It's just missions by another name. That will be abundantly clear to everyone when the full game is released next month. You are going to have a considerable amount of egg on your face when everyone sees how wrong you are. I look forward to it.

 

Speaking of effects what are everyone’s thoughts on blaster bolts? Do they need tinkering? I’ve read a lot of people are unhappy with them stating they’re too slim. I haven’t noticed myself as I think most of the time I’m more focused on next opponent more than the animation itself.

In saying that I’ve seen some incredible in game photos taken that truly show how beautiful this game is. Cannot wait to see Kamino in full release.

 

Uhuh. You literally didn't even open the link:

Spoiler

When players set up a custom Arcade battle, they are given two main archetypes to choose from:

• Team Battle : Team battle pits two teams against each other in a fight to the finish. Set up your own Arcade to recreate your battle fantasies.
• Onslaught : Onslaught is the ultimate test of speed and strength. Can you wipe out the opposing troopers within the time limit? Create a bespoke challenge to put Star Wars Battlefront's legendary characters through their paces.

Within these two frameworks, players can customize matches in dozens of different ways:

• Custom Team Battle: Location, Player Team Size, Enemy Team Size, Troops Available, AI Skill, Health Modifier, Modifiers: Play As, Minimap Rules, AI classes
• Custom Onslaught: Location, Enemy Troops, Time Limit, Intensity Level, AI Skill, Player Lives, Health Modifier, Modifiers: Play As, Minimap Rules, AI Classes

 

I read the link. That ain't Instant Action. Or Skirmish.

 

I miss the old blaster bolts, never mind which is more Star Wars-y. Sometimes in the previous game I'd go to a high point on the map and just look out over the battle to appreciate all the lasers and jetpacking soldiers flying around. The thicker bolts also made it easier to spot targets during strafe runs. I tried to do this over Theed and it was much harder.

Why are we arguing about Arcade? It's obvious that it's Battles and Survival by another name. Yes, you can customize all these different variables but that doesn't change the fact that it's just shooting down bots with no other objective. True Skirmish/Instant Action should replicate a MP game mode.

 

You're certainly entitled to your opinion. As to what's the issue with pay to win and/or micro transactions? Not much more I can say on it that hasn't been said in hundreds of articles already. It's a topic that's been well debated for a few years now as you likely already know. I'm of the opinion that it's cancerous to the industry, particularly the players. I'm certainly not alone in my opinion. Neither are people who see no problem with it.

 

I gotta say, on the topic of blaster bolts I think it's hard to see sometimes where you're getting shot from. I don't even see my teammates getting shot half the time, but they are supposedly dying.

It's easier in indoor enviroments, but outdoor is near impossible.

I've also noticed that they have tweaked ADS play, because it seems like it is impossible now to be accurate without aiming down sights. In the first game, aiming was a hinderance to good gameplay. Now it seems I can't hit anything worth a ****. I've been playing since early access and I still haven't improved on hip firing.