Battlefield 3 multiplayer classes detailed

DICE has explained a little more about Battlefield 3's revamped multiplayer classes, including the returning Support class. Plus, it's shared more on the shooter's bipod and suppressive fire mechanics.

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More Battlefield 3 fact crumbs have dripped from the info-mouth of DICE, with a new blog post explaining the shooter's revamped multiplayer classes.

Battlefield 3 only has four classes, down from seven in Battlefield 2. However, roles have been combined, rather than outright eliminated. The Assault class picks up the eliminated Medic's healing abilities, although DICE insists it's still the same old "frontline run and gun class" and players needn't equip life-giving gear if they want more death-dealing tools instead. "It makes sense that the class on the frontline will be able to revive fallen team mates," DICE explains.

Engineers are largely the same as ever, able to repair vehicles, and armed with carbines and RPGs.

The Recon class is still a snipe-o-man, though he's picking up some new toys and tricks DICE isn't willing to reveal just yet. "Recon traditionally has been seen as just a sniper," senior mulitplayer designer Alan Kertz said. "We wanted to change that perception, so we've built several completely new teamplay oriented gadgets specifically for the Recon class so he can be a team player, even if he's sitting on the top of Wookie Mountain."

The light machine gun-wielding Support class, ditched in Battlefield: Bad Company 2, returns with some new mechanics. LMGs can deploy bipods when you're prone or crouched behind suitable waist-high cover, stabilizing the gun to boost accuracy and lessen recoil.

LMGs will also be handy for laying down suppressive fire, a new mechanic usable by all classes, but perhaps most powerful with machine guns. "When you lay down fire in close vicinity to an enemy, the incoming barrage will show up as a graphical blur effect on his screen to stress him and let him know it's not safe to pop out from behind cover," DICE explains. "Just as importantly, this mechanic also affects his character's in-game firing accuracy, making him less of a threat by using real world tactics. Better yet? You get team play experience points for doing so!"

"Supported shooting with Bipods and Suppressive Fire finally allows us to achieve an obvious difference between Assault and Support, since the heavy LMGs are not terribly mobile," Kertz said. "When deployed with a Bipod, they become an incredibly powerful force. Suppressive Fire forces the enemy to keep their head down and lets the Support gunner pin his enemies in place so teammates can flank."

Battlefield 3 is scheduled for release on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 25, published by EA. PC is the lead platform, but sadly it won't be getting mod tools.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 8, 2011 7:45 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Battlefield 3 multiplayer classes detailed.

    DICE has explained a little more about Battlefield 3's revamped multiplayer classes, including the returning Support class. Plus, it's shared more on the shooter's bipod and suppressive fire mechanics.

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      July 8, 2011 8:05 AM

      Sounds good! Can't wait!

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      July 8, 2011 8:07 AM

      sounds fine to me... can't wait to play this!

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      July 8, 2011 8:21 AM

      So basically it's the classes from BF2142. I'm cool with that.

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        July 8, 2011 12:49 PM

        I loved 2142, just wish the titans didn't lag to hell when you moved them!

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          July 8, 2011 1:37 PM

          Yeah it used to get unplayable for me if the titans were moved closer together. So bad that I would typically leave the titans and go for the points around the map farther away.

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        July 8, 2011 8:51 PM

        Totally agree. I thought that out of all the BF2, that 2142 had the best class design. BF2 had too many specialized classes, so I loved how 2142's customization pretty much gave the game the 4-7 classes depending on how specialized you wanted to make your kit.

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      July 8, 2011 8:37 AM

      Suppressive fire is making me hard!

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      July 8, 2011 8:44 AM

      Oh joy. A blur effect so I can't see what I'm shooting at. just what I wanted. Will wait to see how's it's implemented though.

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        July 8, 2011 8:47 AM

        [deleted]

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        July 8, 2011 8:49 AM

        The point is to reward team members who are providing suppression fire since it generally doesn't work in games (as gamers are fine with suiciding). Instead of trying to punish via respawn timing, suppression blurring is a good idea.

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        July 8, 2011 10:20 AM

        Only a handful of games have ever used suppression, America's Army being one of them. I am psyched for this.

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          July 8, 2011 10:29 AM

          AA had a great implementation of it. It didn't blur, it just made your aim much more difficult.

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            July 9, 2011 3:32 AM

            As much as I loved that game, I wonder if the blur effect might be more suitable? Not sure myself.

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              July 9, 2011 9:13 AM

              Yeah the player should be instantly aware that he's supressed, and that seems like a good way to do it.

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      July 8, 2011 8:48 AM

      Is it also EXCLUSIVE TO ORIGIN?

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        July 8, 2011 10:01 AM

        This is my biggest question. If it is I'll be pretty disappointed, but I also know I won't be able to stay away.

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        July 8, 2011 12:13 PM

        I hope it's not, I really want to play this game :(

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        July 8, 2011 12:26 PM

        people are dumb if they think it wont be. But you could probably easily pick it up in a retail store.

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          July 8, 2011 1:30 PM

          Which may or may not just contain an Origin activation key.

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            July 9, 2011 3:33 AM

            woa woa woa... do companies actually do this shit? Seems like something a few of them would try.

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            July 11, 2011 11:17 AM

            You can activate steam copies of EA games or from other DD or retail sources since it was EA Downloader. It'll be the same for BF3.

            I did this for ME2, Sims 3, RA3, BF2, Dead Space 2, Crysis 2, DA2, DA:O, and MOH.

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      July 8, 2011 9:17 AM

      Sounds shits. I have no problem waiting. Forever.

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      July 8, 2011 10:19 AM

      God that is music to my ears.

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      July 8, 2011 12:08 PM

      I really like this. Every time I try to flank in Bad company 2 I get there only to find out everyone jumped over their cover and charged each other anyways and I'm just there to mop up. I know I certainly don't fear death in Bad Company 2, but I would fear a goddamn blurry screen and crappy aim. I think this will work.

      Makes Support class something entirely different. They can set up, and suppress while making a resupply point for their team and supplying themselves with replenishing ammo.

      Bad company 2 suffered from medics and assaults both being front line classes, they kind of played the same game. Now it sounds like you can outfit an assault class as a combat medic or a pure assault while giving support a more specialized role a bit behind the assault but still not as far back on the field as a recon.

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      July 8, 2011 12:09 PM

      play it your way!... as long as you like one of the four classes of course

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        July 9, 2011 3:36 AM

        You must hate politics (I kid!) I like 4 classes, but I REALLY like 5... I would prefer a special class for the really weird stuff like commander, pilot, etc. I know that's not gonna happen, but I'm happy with what we got.

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      July 8, 2011 12:20 PM

      I think it's a interesting and positive move to eliminate the medic class and have the soldier inherit their abilities. Normally I'm against dumbing down games and giving the players less choices but I think this is a positive one that well help gameplay on the frontlines.

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        July 8, 2011 12:22 PM

        I really like that it sounds like the assault can be outfitted to be pure assault rather than combat medic.

        Maybe it will be a choice between paddles and noob-tube or scopes. I'd be happy with that.

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        July 8, 2011 8:56 PM

        I dont think it's really dumbing it down but more along giving someone the choice on how to gear his class to be effective at his job. Specialized or well rounded. You can have 2 assault classes and not feel like you have too much of something.

        Regenerating health and the overall lack of a medic with other games is what I think is dumbing down games. This at least makes everyone try to be more team players.

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      July 8, 2011 9:00 PM

      Knowing how they did the recon in 2142, I'm assuming the new recon will be a mix between sniper and the commando classes from BF2. Carbine or sniper rifle; C4 or claymore, something like that.

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