User:DrkStlkr3

Welcome!
Hello! My main character is AbsalonCononach, and I mostly play for NC (New Conglomerate) on US East Emerald server. I'm also a member of the AOD (Angels Of Death) outfit.

What makes Planetside 2 so unique from other games in its genre is that instead of playing in a relatively small area on small teams of 5 versus 5 or 10 versus 10, it's on a much larger scale. Hundreds versus hundreds fighting on large continents, the wide assortment of Weapons and Weapon Optics and Attachments for six different Classes (including mech-like MAXes), along with both ground and air Vehicles and their upgrades. It can be quite overwhelming for new players. Hence this guide!

The New Conglomerate is one of three Empires who are rebel freedom fighters against the oppressive Terran Republic and the cult-ish Vanu Sovereignty, and known for their slower firing rates, longer reload times, but higher damage Weapons. Make every bullet count.

Freedom, Liberty, and Shotguns!

Beginner's Guides and Tutorials
It's very hard starting a new character on Planetside 2, because you're often fighting against other players who are more experienced using better Equipment. When I first started playing, I was spending Certification Points into anything/everything I thought sounded interesting. Unfortunately, you can't recover/return Certification Points that you felt were wasted ("all sales are final"). So, I'm writing this guide hoping that others won't make the same mistakes I did, and for people who want to get the most out of their free accounts, while also providing some quick info about tactics for playing the different Classes.

Tutorials
If this is your first time playing Planetside 2, please do the tutorial and pay close attention. I know most people hate tutorials, but Planetside 2 is not just any ordinary, simple MMOFPS (Massively Multiplayer Online First-Person Shooter), either. I also highly recommend reading/watching these guides:
 * Getting Started guide
 * List of terms
 * The Absolute Beginner's Guide video tutorial
 * Basic Training video tutorials
 * Planetside 2 New-Player Walkthrough video tutorials
 * Planetside 2 Twitch.tv
 * Wrel's Planetside 2 Twitch.tv
 * Recommended game Settings

Many new Planetside 2 players are ready to jump into the game with guns blazing, expecting to dominate. Many of these people also never return to Planetside 2 once they realize that it's heavily team-oriented, and "lone wolfs" die very quick and very often. Honestly, I recommend going into the game expecting to die very quickly and very often, but like with every game, Planetside 2 has a learning curve, and takes time and patience. You'll also want to stay near large engagements defending your own bases while attempting to capture other bases, join large Platoons/Squads (discussed below), etc.

New Conglomerate Classes Loadouts
Remember you can only equip one Ability, one Suit, and one Utility at one time. Spending Certification Points into your Weapons is based upon your playing style, but here's some Loadouts (templates) I recommend. My Loadouts emphasize each Classes' unique abilities and talents, so that each loadout fills an important gap and plays a distinctive role within their Platoon/Squad. Most of the early levels (Battle Ranks 1 - 25) Loadouts focus on defense, self-preservation, and survival. But once your character has earned both Experience Points and Certification Points, many of my Loadouts switch to offensive, death, and mass destruction role.

Battle Rank
If you've ever played RPGs (Role-Playing Games), Battle Rank is basically your "overall character level". Below are Classes Loadouts categorized based upon your current Battle Rank, and I abbreviate Battle Ranks as "BR" below.

To view your or any character's stats outside the Planetside 2 game, please visit the Character Stats.

Directives
Directives aren't extremely important (although completing them do give some Experience Points and Certification Points), completing Directives shows both enemies and prospective Outfits alike how well-balanced/rounded your character is.

As of the time of this writing, most Outfits don't require any minimum completed Directives, but since it's a fairly new system, that could change (especially Outfits that are looking for experienced, knowledgeable players). I mostly focus on Infantry and Vehicles Directives, and abbreviate Directives score as "DP" below.

To view your or any character's Directives outside the Planetside 2 game, please visit the Directive Viewer.

Battle Ranks, Titles, Tier, and Directive Points
Below is an example table categorized into Battle Ranks, Titles, Tiers, and Directive Points...

NC4 Mag-Shot
The standard issue pistol all New Conglomerate Infantry Classes (except MAXes) gets. Definitely spend the Certification Points for these Weapon Optics and Attachments below...

Combat Medic Loadouts


Please also read my Combat Medic Tactics section!

Engineer Loadouts


Please also read my Engineer Tactics section!

Heavy Assault Loadouts


Please also read my Heavy Assault Tactics section!

Infiltrator Loadouts


Please also read my Infiltrator Tactics section!

Light Assault Loadouts


Please also read my Light Assault Tactics section!

MAX Loadouts


Please also read my MAX Tactics section!

Vehicle Loadouts
Lastly, to be a true team player, make friends, join Platoons/Squads, etc., I recommend spending Certification Points on Sunderers (nicknamed "sundies" in-game) before any other Vehicles. A Sunderer acts as a mobile mini-base. It can carry up to 12 Infantry (an entire Squad), and when deployed (default: B), has an Equipment Terminal to change Classes and/or Weapons, resupply ammunition and Consumables, and creates a spawn point for quickly joining the battle.

Sunderer Loadouts


Please also read my Sunderer Tactics section!

Galaxy Loadouts
A Galaxy is very similar to a Sunderer in that it can transport up to 12 Infantry (an entire Squad) and creates a spawn point for quickly joining the battle, but they lack the Equipment Terminal a Sunderer has.



Other Miscellaneous Hints, Tips, and Tactics
Because I keep growing, expanding, and elaborating on this section, I decided to create its own page at Hints, Tips, and Tactics
 * Miscellaneous Hints, Tips, and Tactics
 * Combat
 * Point Guard
 * Platoons, Squads, and Outfits
 * Squad Leaders
 * Alerts

Daybreak Cash
You don't necessarily need to spend any real money on Planetside 2. Unlike many other MMOFPSs (Massively Multi-player Online First-Person Shooter) games, most of the starter Weapons are good enough to last you throughout your entire career. However, you may purchase additional Weapons using real-world money, called Daybreak Cash. I recommend purchasing two $15 (USD) Game Cards from GameStop. You'll receive some free Implants that may help you survive.

Bundles
With an additional 3,000 Daybreak Cash ($30 USD), I recommend buying in-game bundles because you get more bang for your buck. In my honest/humble opinion, I think the NC (New Conglomerate) Engineer Pro Bungle is your best bet. You'll get the following Weapons in this bundle...
 * Spitfire Auto-Turret (defending points)
 * Anti-Vehicle MANA Turret (attacking enemy MAXes and Ground Vehicles from a safe distance)
 * Gauss Compact S (one of the most customizable/versatile Weapons because of all the different Weapon Optics and Attachments you can use)
 * GD-66 Claw (CQC combat with faster fire rate and a tighter spread, but less ammo)
 * Either the Extended Magazine (more ammo) or the Laser Sight (better hip fire)
 * Slug Ammunition
 * Either the TekLyte Reflex (1X) Reflex Sight or GD RefleXR (2X) Reflex Sight 2x scope

Color Deficiency
I only mention this because I am one of the 7% of the world's population who has color deficiency (“color blindness”), the most common type called Deuteranomaly.

Game Colors
But fortunately, some of the game colors are configurable! Under Settings > General > Empire Coloring, I set the Players colors to either blue (allies) or red (enemies). If you join a platoon, you can also set Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta Squad colors by clicking the down arrow next to each Squad group. However, I don't recommend joining small Squads, since you can't change the default Squad colors, and I often mistake fellow Squad members for enemies, and that never ends well for anyone.

Weapon Optics and Attachments
When possible, I also recommend using the GD RefleXR [2X] — Yellow Dot Reflex Sight 2x Weapon Optics and Attachments. For me, it seems easier to aim/center on targets versus the other Weapons' optics.

Video Card Driver Software
Lastly, most AMD/ATI and NVIDIA video card driver software programs will also allow you to adjust the screen color to make certain colors (in my case: reds, greens, and browns) more distinguishable. Look in the section that allows you to change "Gamma", "Brightness", and "Contrast" within your video card driver software program.

However, if your video card driver software program doesn't have "Gamma", "Brightness", and "Contrast" settings, then I recommend downloading/using Gamma Panel. Even though it's no longer being updated or supported, it still works with Windows 7/8 (verified).