Only criticism I have about the blog is that you sound dissapointed about how 'Vanilla' Legions is, and how T:A has things such as vehicles, turrets, deployables and what not. You then go on to say that T:A is beginning to embrace LT, or Light Tribes. From the way you described it this is T:A with everything BUT the vehicles, turrets, and deployables. The goal of this is to offer "a much more fast-paced style of gameplay by getting rid of everything that slowed it down. ..The focus is on the players and the flag.". Isn't this what Legions basically is? You even state earlier in the blog that Legions is "you the player, and a flag to capture." Other then that I have to agree with some of your views on the upcoming update. I've always enjoyed the simplicity legions has to offer while at the same time it requires you to grind through such an enormous skill-cap just to become adequate with the game play. I'm not sure how excited I'll be when I see things such as turrets implemented into the game. Good blog post nonetheless though.
I guess I didn't word things properly. I
like how vanilla Legions is. The simplicity and accessibility of playing a game of CTF without having to deal with assets is the main draw for me. That's why I'm wary of introducing assets and C&H. I just don't know how popular they'll be, and fear it may have been time wasted on the dev's part (more-so the assets than game modes). Assets worked in previous Tribes games (and sorta in T:A) because there was actual indoor play. There was a reason to have indoor defenses, mainly to protect the generators that powered base turrets, stations and vehicle pad. Legions doesn't have any of that, since all of the flags are out in the open (ala LT or even base T:A). Maps like Gorge and Fallout were designed with assets in mind, but since there's no reason to actually go inside the base it seems a bit redundant.
I know StealthRG's new map will be introduced in the new patch (I even spotted Triad testing it last night), and it also has a rather complex base (judging by the
screens at least). Unless there's some sort of objective (flag, generator, whatev) in there somewhere, I don't see a point in really creating a base like that other than to encourage turtling. If you guys did manage to make indoor play viable, *dancing* fantastic. I'd love to see it, because I loved that kind of gameplay in Tribes 1 (even if I did shift to LT). I'm in no way saying indoor play is bad, either. I just want it to make sense and worthwhile (i.e. don't pull a HiRez). One of my biggest complaints with Legions pubs is the complete lack of defense incentive. Everyone goes O while the flag carrier has no one to work with. If assets fix that, then great. It's one reason why T:A has shifted to LT; playing Tech is pointless, especially with bullshit like the gen autorepair timer.
Basically, I'm optimistic, cautious and skeptical all at the same time.