First of all, there are a couple of main reasons to want to port First Strike from BF2142 to BF2:
+ BF2142 is tied to a master account server, which was previously supported by the Revive team, but is currently being supported by the Reclamation team. Since it is being supported voluntarily by a private team, there is no way to control the up time or how long it will remain up. Without the master account server, complicated work-arounds have to be used to set up new profiles. BF2142 was designed to always use the online account even when playing SP and COOP modes. If forced to use an offline account, testing has shown that random crashes can occur.
+ BF2 has a much larger player base, was designed to play COOP and SP in offline mod, and, consequently, works just fine without a master account server.
Now, here are the problems:
1. BF2 does not have autocontrollers, which made the automated personal droids work and automated the capital ships on the Battle of Taloran. Droids could be deployed to heal, repair and supply, but would not be able to follow you around.
2. BF2 can not handle the fully animated mechs, like in BF2142. So the AT-ST and AT-PT would not be able to work in BF2 as is. The AT-AT was never completed due to limits even with the BF2142 game engine. For Galactic Conquest for BF1942, the AT-ST/PT/AT used rotational bundle where the legs moved in a circle as if they were cycling. It worked and it was fantastic that the team was able to get them to work in BF1942. However, it would seem like a big step backwards when going from the more realistic looking walking capability of mechs in BF2142 that you would lose in BF2. IMHO, I would rather leave them out than to see them in a poorer version. It would also require someone to update the animation, and I don't see anyone that would want to do it.
Alternatively, going off cannon, since it is just walking part that would be the issue, perhaps an alternate version of the mechs could be created? After all there are examples of non Star Wars mechs using wheels and tracks.
examples:
For Star Wars, it would fit better to replace the legs with a hover platform. Whatever platform is used, someone would be needed to create one. On the other hand, an AT-AT on hover rails would work better with both BF2 and BF2142 game engine limitations.
3. True Space maps are not possible in BF2. DICE updated the game engine as part of a patch to allow true space maps to be created for First Strike. BF2 would have to use the same work arounds as with Galactic Conquest for 1942 to simulate space maps by using Black water for the bottom of the map, using grids to set out of bound limits for the top and bottom of the map, and deal with low gravity instead of no gravity. Low gravity means that the space craft want to 'fall' to the bottom of the map. Another work around for porting space maps would be to have the battles over planets/moons or large asteroids. That way, having gravity and a bottom to the map makes sense.
I only ever played against bots but I loved the unique combat style of Star Wars' wars with the First Strike mod. I still think about it
First Strike was always such a high quality mod. I remember playing it for the first time what, some 10 or more years ago. Such a great mod, can't say enough great things about it.
There is also a new project called Phoenix Network that is planning to have support for 2142, along with it's already revived BF2, P4F and Heroes games. I know you mentioned in your post about not wanting to rely on 3rd parties to ensure an online master server is working to allow singleplayer support, but hey, it is there as an alternative. I feel like these classic BF games will remain relevant for a few more decades to come as far as it comes to the community still supporting them with master server workarounds and fixes. They are just too popular to get shut down completely for very long.
It sucks to not be able to implement walkers, but there's no shortage of hover/treaded vehicles in Star Wars to give the Empire that could fill the role of the AT-ST/PT/AT, without having to invent new vehicles.
Just that we dont have any replacements available in the current mod. Also we would have to combine eras to create some
BF2142 is almost dead because its to complicated to setup servers. And less ppl. know about the option to get it easily running with BF2142HUB. BF2 with BF2HUB is an good option but .....
DONT port it to BF2, it would be just a half mod without the walkers etc.
I think it would be better to port it to Bad Company 2, the playerbase is the largest of those classic games and its still supported, also by PunkBuster Anti Cheat.
Bad company 2 uses the frostbite game engine that does not have any mod support tools, so that would not be a good choice. Without a substitute for the AT ST, it would not be worthwhile to do anything but an infantry only port, which might generate some interest in renewing development of the mod.
The problem of leaving the walkers out is that Star Wars era covered in the mod does not have any other vehicles to replace them -- First Strike does not have any in the mod currently. It was the issues with getting the the AT-AT to work with the game engine that prevented Hoth from being finished. It a classic map, all the models were finished, but without a working AT-AT the map was never completed.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a re-imagined AT-AT with repusorlift stabilizers on either side instead of legs. It could lower to the ground to pick up crew and equipment and even deploy speeders from the rear. The top could have an access panel, which would be the exploit. So you would have to land the speeder on the top and jump down the hatch to take out the crew by hand.
An alternate could be a modified sand crawler, with weapon platforms and retextured white.
Also, imagine a version of the AT-ST with 4 reulsor lift pods that stick out like the the props on a droid. The ability to hover would be cool.
I have no substitute for the AT-ST.
Even if the space maps are left out, there are enough land maps for a fun port. But, without someone willing to create either new vehicles to replace the walkers or vehicle variants it is not worth porting.
I was working the a Star Wars game on the Unity engine, but they stopped because EA was making waves over fan based games. Hopefully they will restart at some point of another team will come along...
Another point is continuing the mod in BF2 would expand the potential player base, more vehicles could be ported over from the star wars mod from bf1942. Bespin would be a good one, along with the cloud cars. The sail barges in bf1942 tatooine along with the sarlak pit would all be interesting.