Well, after about two years since I last gave the NGE a try, I've come back for their free month for previous subscribers and I have to admit, it has improved a lot. Of course, there are still huge problems, the biggest one being the level-based class system that they switched to, but the FPSesque combat actually kind of works. It's still quirky and a little tough to always handle right, but with practice it's actually a lot of fun. But that's not why I'm here.

The new faction combat in the GCW:

It's disappointing, to say the least. Basically, they've ripped off DAoC. Which is not a bad thing, as DAoC had a very good, revolutionary for its time, seige system. But it's also not a good thing, because it doesn't really do anything new, you're next-to-useless without a level 90 character, and the general feel of it isn't very convincing.

In a nutshell: You establish a base just outside of a city to start an assault. There you can build faction perks such as assault vehicles and purchase NPC soldiers to help with the attack. On the defense side, once an assault has been declared, you have a few minutes to scramble around setting up defenses like turrets, barricades (I'm not entirely sure what these are good for), and hiring your own NPC soldiers to help defend. The vehicles are an especially nice touch, since they're driven, not pets. This probably works better with the FPSesque combat they have now, but could be adapted none-the-less. All very nice mechanics.

Here is where I feel it breaks down. In order to do any of the above, you must interact with various build points and terminals, big break in immersion. Everything basically has to be in the same places each time, which really deprives you of the ability to try out new strategies, or sneak attacks from unexpected flanks, etc. At least you can still attack an unsuspecting town and take over when there's nobody around to muster defenses.

Also, there's one of the same problems which I find with the WoW battlegrounds, which is the immediacy of it all. The battle happens and then it's over. There's not building up to the battle short of gathering the troops. There's no economic preparation, either. No manufacturing weapons and vehicles to build up to the assault, no raising the walls and preparing the defenses either.

Even moreso after the battle. If you successfully defend, there's none of the bother of rebuilding defenses, because you only do that at the beginning of the next assault anyway. Similarly, if you successfully attack, you take over pretty much right away, no muss or fuss. There's none of the logistics of battle which made the old system, as imperfect and sometimes pointless as it was, so organic. If you fail an attack, there's no impulse to try again as soon as possible before they've had a chance to rebuild their defenses. Similarly, if you fail to defend, there's no urge to recapture as soon as possible before the attackers have had a chance to bunker down in your territory. It all seems rather staged, which I find displeasing. Maybe others enjoy the quick combat and the lack of clean-up or preparation, but I felt that was what made faction combat the old way much more believable.

The only thing that had been missing was a real sense of permanency to your actions. Before, if you blew up somebody's base, it was a set back. They built a new one, but didn't loose anything else, otherwise. It was still their territory. Yeah, this can clash a bit with the player city mechanics, but I know there's a way to balance them together.

Well, that's my two cents, based on what I've seen over the past week or so of trying it out on Bria. Please feel free to add your own observations. I know there's a lot of nifty new stuff on the servers we can take for ourselves, but not so much mechanics-wise (I love the new windowed houses, and there's a ton of new collectible furniture like paintings to decorate with).

-Necro

Sounds like an awesome idea and maybe eventually have it placed into Emu. I see the downfalls yes, but the build an army and defenses is a great idea, just should have more time and more freedom with it.