DUST Search - [Feedback&suggestions] High SP vs Low SP. Will New players in 1-2years stay?

KAGEHOSHI Horned Wolf wrote:

EDIT - Guessing no one read this. TL;DR version:
There should equipment restrictions based on security level, this will make the game tolerable for newbs as well as people without that much time on their hands to play; this would help them play the game without being constantantly massacred by those with superior weapons and equipment. Highsec should restrict advanced and prototype gear, lowsec show only restrict prototype gear, and nullsec should only restrict nothing.
Dust 514 and EVE Online are already built around the idea of different areas of space have different security levels which affect what you can do there.

Many people feel that new players don't really have a chance against veteran players who have superior weapons, dropsuits, and other equipment. This is a major barrier to enjoyment for new players, and can really impede the growth of the game's playerbase; joining a battle with basic gear, and being steamrolled by experienced players with the added advantage of superior equipment can really turn someone away from a game.
Players that don't have much time to play will also feel punished since they make enough skill points to be able to use the mre powerful equipment, and thus be at a severe disadvantage.
Some would say that it is skill, and not expensive equipment that wins battles, but consider these scenarios:

Two teams are overall equal in skill, and tactics, but one team has prototype gear while the other uses militia. Which team do you think will win? Obviously the one with the prototype gear.

The same two teams again, but the team using militia equipment is slightly more skilled than the ones using prototype gear. Who do you think will win? It is more than conceivable that the team with prototype gear could still win despite being slightly less skilled than their militia-equipped counterparts; this is because the difference in skill might be less than the difference in quality of equipment.

This game however is an MMO, so it does make sense that you would get greatly superior equipment as they progress, that is how MMO's work generally. The answer to the problem of equipment disparity is NOT to nerf the higher grade equipment since nerfing would make leveling up skills and spending extra money no longer worth it, and equipment does need to get better as you progress because of the MMO nature of the game.

So what is the solution? Equipment restrictions based on security level. As many of you may know, EVE Online and Dust 514 are built to have different security levels reflecting how hardcore and risky certain areas of space are. The way security levels work can be altered a bit to limit what kind grades of dropsuits, guns, and other equiment can be used in each security level such that the lower levels become more friendly to newbs, and also to those who don't have much time to play. Example:

High security battles should only allow militia and standard equipment.

Low security battles should allow up to advanced equipment.

Null security battles should have NO restrictions on what kind of gear you're allowed to use.

This would make the game actually enjoyable for those who are just starting, or don't have much time to play by allowing them to play in more regulated battle environments in which they aren't going against players with massive equipment advantages. Players who want to use advanced and prototype gear can go fight in lower security levels with other hardcore pros like themselves.

CCP has made it know through countless interviews that they want this game to be accessible. They want this game to be something you can jump in and play for a quick battle without having to get deep into its MMO element. Nothing is accessible about joining a game with only militia items, and fighting a team with half their mercs using CreoDron Breach assault rifles, no one will want to just jump in and play. The more people this game manages to retain, then the more people will buy AUR to support CCP. You may not want your gear restricted, but you can always just go to nullsec and conquer planets and take contracts from EVE players without any gear restrictions, or you could go to lowsec with minimal restrictions.

This thread is a response to two threads I saw that raised the valid issues brought by equipment difference.
https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=26486&find=unread
https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=26548&find=unread


Author	Thread Statistics \| Show CCP posts - 1 post(s)
KAGEHOSHI Horned Wolf Seraphim Initiative. CRONOS. 3064	Posted - 2012.07.17 22:46:00 - [1] - Quote I have an idea for a way to keep the newbs from being constantly pummeled by proto vets. Its about items, not skills. https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=26571 copy/paste KAGEHOSHI Horned Wolf wrote: EDIT - Guessing no one read this. TL;DR version: There should equipment restrictions based on security level, this will make the game tolerable for newbs as well as people without that much time on their hands to play; this would help them play the game without being constantantly massacred by those with superior weapons and equipment. Highsec should restrict advanced and prototype gear, lowsec show only restrict prototype gear, and nullsec should only restrict nothing. Dust 514 and EVE Online are already built around the idea of different areas of space have different security levels which affect what you can do there. Many people feel that new players don't really have a chance against veteran players who have superior weapons, dropsuits, and other equipment. This is a major barrier to enjoyment for new players, and can really impede the growth of the game's playerbase; joining a battle with basic gear, and being steamrolled by experienced players with the added advantage of superior equipment can really turn someone away from a game. Players that don't have much time to play will also feel punished since they make enough skill points to be able to use the mre powerful equipment, and thus be at a severe disadvantage. Some would say that it is skill, and not expensive equipment that wins battles, but consider these scenarios: Two teams are overall equal in skill, and tactics, but one team has prototype gear while the other uses militia. Which team do you think will win? Obviously the one with the prototype gear. The same two teams again, but the team using militia equipment is slightly more skilled than the ones using prototype gear. Who do you think will win? It is more than conceivable that the team with prototype gear could still win despite being slightly less skilled than their militia-equipped counterparts; this is because the difference in skill might be less than the difference in quality of equipment. This game however is an MMO, so it does make sense that you would get greatly superior equipment as they progress, that is how MMO's work generally. The answer to the problem of equipment disparity is NOT to nerf the higher grade equipment since nerfing would make leveling up skills and spending extra money no longer worth it, and equipment does need to get better as you progress because of the MMO nature of the game. So what is the solution? Equipment restrictions based on security level. As many of you may know, EVE Online and Dust 514 are built to have different security levels reflecting how hardcore and risky certain areas of space are. The way security levels work can be altered a bit to limit what kind grades of dropsuits, guns, and other equiment can be used in each security level such that the lower levels become more friendly to newbs, and also to those who don't have much time to play. Example: High security battles should only allow militia and standard equipment. Low security battles should allow up to advanced equipment. Null security battles should have NO restrictions on what kind of gear you're allowed to use. This would make the game actually enjoyable for those who are just starting, or don't have much time to play by allowing them to play in more regulated battle environments in which they aren't going against players with massive equipment advantages. Players who want to use advanced and prototype gear can go fight in lower security levels with other hardcore pros like themselves. CCP has made it know through countless interviews that they want this game to be accessible. They want this game to be something you can jump in and play for a quick battle without having to get deep into its MMO element. Nothing is accessible about joining a game with only militia items, and fighting a team with half their mercs using CreoDron Breach assault rifles, no one will want to just jump in and play. The more people this game manages to retain, then the more people will buy AUR to support CCP. You may not want your gear restricted, but you can always just go to nullsec and conquer planets and take contracts from EVE players without any gear restrictions, or you could go to lowsec with minimal restrictions. This thread is a response to two threads I saw that raised the valid issues brought by equipment difference. https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=26486&find=unread https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=26548&find=unread