MUDFLAPS McGILLICUTTY
Local Tankers 514
11
   |
Posted - 2013.09.28 05:51:00 -
[1] - Quote
TL/DR: Make it unprofitable to Proto Stomp.
Instead of just Academy and Public, split all contracts based on value.
Cap all public contracts on minimum and maximum skill levels (Public contractors wouldn't want to hire out clones in expensive suits if the contract is of low value) --- If you HAVE proto gear, that's fine, but you can't wear them in low-level contracts, because the corporate sponsors refuse to pay for it. High-value contracts come with much more lucrative payouts, but also come with stronger minimum requirements for participation.
This would accomplish multiple things:
1) It offers an incentive for new players to reach the next level of dropsuits (offer a 40-75% corporate reimbursement of base suit value - reimbursed as corporate insurance for those who die in combat.) New players in militia only have to deal with advanced gear --- This also prepares them to don that advanced gear, and start fighting prototypes.
Training as a part of the game - rather than hoping new players learn something from getting massacred.
2) It offers multiple levels of financial rationale for experienced players to not stomp newbs. The strongest being they can't actually bring their best gear to the field because the public companies won't pay for it. Additionally, if the contracts of higher value come with a stronger end-of-game reward, it will naturally draw players of higher skill to the game. This combination of active & passive motivations could send the "proto stompers" against each other to fight for high value contracts, while letting the newer players (and experienced players in lower-level gear) duke it out on relatively even terms.
Example under the current version:
Split all public contracts into two categories:
Low Value
High Value
Low Value Contract
Minumum Gear-Level: Militia
Maximum Gear-Level: Advanced
1st Place Skirmish Reward: 150,000-250,000 ISK
Dropsuit/Vehicle Hull Insurance: Miltia: 90% / STD: 60% / ADV: 30%
High Value Contract
Minimum Gear-Level: Advanced
Maximum Gear-Level: Prototype
1st Place Skirmish Reward: 300,000-800,000 ISK
Dropsuit/Vehicle Hull Insurance: ADV 30% / PRO: 10%
Ditch the academy, it achieves nothing other than setting new players up for failure. Some kind of gentle passage from low-middle to middle-high, encouraged by financial reward for players to self-stratify, would greatly increase the game-play for new players, while still allowing advanced players to fight against them at a significant handicap.
It's a win/win. |