If you could have one thing added to or changed about the MMO(s) that you play, what would it be? I’ve been playing some of the DLC in Mass Effect 2 and some ground missions in Star Trek Online, and this has really made me wish that Cryptic would implement a cover mechanic.

I don’t remember it being a problem at earlier ranks, but at Vice Admiral, I’m finding that I often have to constantly stay in motion (often running backwards) because of melee opponents rushing me. While this does make ground combat more exciting, it also gives combat a bit of a Benny Hill feeling. This might just be because I’m playing a science officer, but that really just impacts which kits I can use (which affects which abilities I have access to) not what kinds of shields and armor I can equip.

A cover system would lead to battles that look more like what I’m used to seeing the the television series and movies, where people are shooting around corners or from behind rocks. The game’s current aim, sprint, and roll mechanics would still be useful and maybe actually more so than now. The major change would be the impact to melee NPCs and tactical officers.

By adjusting the cover available on maps and the stats on the sprint mechanic, I think there’s a way to balance between the current system which leads to enemies sprinting right up to you and then beating you senseless and keeping everyone pinned down behind crates for ten minute phaser battles.

Wish List: Cover System
Tagged on:             

4 thoughts on “Wish List: Cover System

  • September 3, 2010 at 4:17 pm
    Permalink

    Just more generally, I’d like to see mass effect combat in an MMO. Tabula Rasa had something similar, but when it was still live I had a PC that could barely run it so I never go to see much of it (mediocre frame-rates + all minimum graphics settings = poor gaming experience).

    • September 7, 2010 at 3:48 pm
      Permalink

      Me too. I think it makes a lot of sense in MMO’s since they’re slower paced than FPS games and cover systems serve to slow down the pace of shooters.

  • September 3, 2010 at 8:28 pm
    Permalink

    I don’t know why, but unlike you enemies getting in my face was a constant problem at all ranks! Maybe it’s because I’m a TO and as such always getting the attention, but what I’d give for a cover system (I’ve been making do with my engineer boff’s shield).

    • September 7, 2010 at 3:47 pm
      Permalink

      Maybe it’s just not something I noticed early on? I don’t know, I’m playing an engineer now though and I haven’t had nearly as much trouble yet with him. Possibly there’s an AI difference between the different enemies?

Comments are closed.