GameplayConquestBattlefield 2`s "conquest" gameplay draws from the previous games in the franchise. Each map has two opposing armies fighting over a territory. To win the match one team must reduce the other team`s "tickets" to zero. The tickets represent the reinforcements the team can bring in, and the number of tickets each team starts with is determined before the beginning of the game. To reduce the amount of tickets on the other team, players must either kill people on the other team or capture control points. The team with less control points has its tickets reduced at a slow but steady rate in addition to any reductions that might occur as a result of its players being killed. This rate is increased as the opposing team captures more control points. The game usually ends once a team`s tickets are reduced to zero. Also, if all control points are captured by a team and the entire opposing team is dead (they cannot recapture a control point), then that team wins. Finally, if the game timer runs out, the team with most tickets wins.
The largest maps will commonly have around ten of these control points spread across the battlefield, forcing teams to co-ordinate their efforts in order to hold on to important positions while assaulting the enemy`s.
Players are able to choose from one of seven distinct classes, each with their on advantages and limitations. A good team will use these classes strengths to support each other to best effect. As well as the seven classes, there are a variety of vehicles available for use that spawn at a faction`s CPs. These range from simple buggies to main battle tanks, helicopter gunships and fighter-bombers, and can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
VehiclesThe various forces still use the trademark feature of the Battlefield series – the large stable of vehicles that any player can climb into and control. There are many different types of vehicles playable in Battlefield 2, all based on real-life vehicles used by the militaries of different countries.
In contrast to Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 2 has only one purely water-based vehicle, the rigid-inflatable boat; however, the BTR-90, the MEC APC, can travel in water as well as the LAV-25 and the WZ 551, the USMC and PLA equivalents, respectively. The developers tried to design the game so that every vehicle would be weak to another type of vehicle, intending to create a situation similar to a game of rock-paper-scissors. For example, mobile anti-air was intended to effectively destroy helicopters, but are vulnerable against opposing tanks. Included within this relationship are stationary defenses such as light machine guns and anti-aircraft/TOW emplacements. The availability and number of certain vehicles are dependent on the map and its size as well as control points captured. Also, more vehicles become available to be used on the maps of expansion/booster packs. (see Maps). The USS Essex is the only naval ship featured in BF2, featuring two spawn points and aircraft spawn points, and is not drivable or destroyable, except for its Phalanx turrets
Persistent LevelingBattlefield 2 was the first game in the franchise to include persistent character progression. As players earn points, they earn rank promotions for their account. Players start at Private and, as they play the game, they earn Private First Class, Sergeant and so on. Each promotion earns the player a new weapon unlock. Each class has 2 weapons to unlock, each of which replaces the class`s primary weapon if chosen in the class selection screen.
Commander RoleBattlefield 2 was the first game in the franchise to include the commander feature. The commander is a player who applies for the role who, in addition to any actions performed on the ground, also has the ability to lead his or her team in battle. The commander can view the battlefield from a strategic perspective and order players to attack, defend or move to various locations (though whether the players perform those actions is completely up to their discretion).
The commander can also utilize a range of special abilities designed to help the team on a strategic level. These abilities include calling in a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to scan an area of the battlefield, pointing out enemies on the players` radar, artillery strikes to kill enemies, a complete battlefield scan the reveals every opposing player on the map to the commander, and supply and vehicle drops. A team with an effective commander has a distinct advantage over a team without a commander.
SquadsPlayers are able to form squads of up to six soldiers in order to more effectively work as a team. Up to nine squads are permitted per team; each squad has a number (automatically assigned) and name (usually a phonetic alphabet letter) for identification. Members of a squad have the ability to communicate with one another via Battlefield 2`s integrated voice over IP (VoIP) system.
Squad leaders may assign their squad a variety of objectives (for example, moving to or attacking a specific location). Orders may also be given by the team`s commander. Squad leaders are able to issue requests for commander assets (such as artillery fire) and have a direct VoIP channel to the commander.
Members of a squad may spawn near their squad leader, provided that the leader is not dead (or incapacitated), and that the team holds at least one control point. This feature allows squads to more quickly regroup after taking casualties.
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