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George Moros wrote:

I'd like to comment on some of the proposed changes, most particularly in the "Tiericide" section of the article.

It is a fact that in some cases (shield extenders and damage mods first come to mind), the attribute difference when going through tiers is ridiculously high. 3-fold or even higher difference in effectiveness between standard and complex gear puts too much emphasis on SP, and creates too big advantage to high SP players. Narrowing the gap between tiers would certainly help newer players feel less crippled. However, in some cases, the difference through tiers is abysmally low. Weapons damage goes up by a mere 5% per tier, and in some cases, this is the only attribute that sees any change. The problem is even more exaggerated by obscene tier-difference in achievable HP on dropsuits. IMHO, a good guideline for well balanced tier difference would be the current armor plates, which are at 85-110-135.

On the matter of time-to-kill, I disagree with the proposed base HP changes. Although I see your point in having to empty an entire clip to kill someone being unrealistic, having dropsuits with considerably less HP than now would make tanking damage obsolete. First of all, snipers would be able to OHK everything except heavies. Capable snipers with charge or Thale's rifle could easily make 30+ kills per match, which would be OP. Also, if it would take just a couple of AR bullets to kill someone, then attempting to fit a dropsuit that would be able to tank 1-2 extra bullets at best is practically meaningless since AR fires 10+ bullets per second. Your proposed complex armor plate wouldn't even suffice to tank one single AR bullet. Noone would bother with even attempting to try and create tank oriented fits, except possibly heavies.

As for limits to customization, I think there is a very simple solution, at least for the logi problem. Logis have extra PG/CPU compared to assaults in order to allow them to fill up those equipment slots that make them logis. However, the extra PG/CPU can be (and is) abused in other, non-logistics uses. This can be easily avoided using the method from EVE. Give logis assault-like PG/CPU allotment, and give them a role bonus of, say, 50% PG/CPU cost reduction to equipment. Problem solved.

As for everything else you suggest, I mostly agree. Good blog.


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Dusters Blog Galactic News Network 420	Posted - 2013.10.12 16:00:00 - [1] - Quote Recently a group of hardcore players from the Dust forums decided to do an open letter to the new executive producer CCP Rouge. It inspired the writers at our blog to do the same. While it may take some time for him to change the course of this title, we felt we would do our part to point him in the right direction.The player developed sites that have spawned as a result of this game have been nothing short of amazing. Have you taken a look at Dustboard, Duststats, The Dust Wiki, DustAlerts, DustReports and the newest [and quite possibly most impressive] Dustcharts? Did you know this community had a fundraiser for one of its luminaries [Quickgloves - thoughts with you and your family] dealing with a real life issue? The initiative, drive, dedication and creativity these sites and this community has shown is amazing. They deserve a developer worthy of their support. Where before have you seen so much backing from a community for a game that from a critical standpoint, tanked? read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/lgvp4up
Dusters Blog Galactic News Network 435	Posted - 2013.10.14 13:44:00 - [2] - Quote George Moros wrote: I'd like to comment on some of the proposed changes, most particularly in the "Tiericide" section of the article. It is a fact that in some cases (shield extenders and damage mods first come to mind), the attribute difference when going through tiers is ridiculously high. 3-fold or even higher difference in effectiveness between standard and complex gear puts too much emphasis on SP, and creates too big advantage to high SP players. Narrowing the gap between tiers would certainly help newer players feel less crippled. However, in some cases, the difference through tiers is abysmally low. Weapons damage goes up by a mere 5% per tier, and in some cases, this is the only attribute that sees any change. The problem is even more exaggerated by obscene tier-difference in achievable HP on dropsuits. IMHO, a good guideline for well balanced tier difference would be the current armor plates, which are at 85-110-135. On the matter of time-to-kill, I disagree with the proposed base HP changes. Although I see your point in having to empty an entire clip to kill someone being unrealistic, having dropsuits with considerably less HP than now would make tanking damage obsolete. First of all, snipers would be able to OHK everything except heavies. Capable snipers with charge or Thale's rifle could easily make 30+ kills per match, which would be OP. Also, if it would take just a couple of AR bullets to kill someone, then attempting to fit a dropsuit that would be able to tank 1-2 extra bullets at best is practically meaningless since AR fires 10+ bullets per second. Your proposed complex armor plate wouldn't even suffice to tank one single AR bullet. Noone would bother with even attempting to try and create tank oriented fits, except possibly heavies. As for limits to customization, I think there is a very simple solution, at least for the logi problem. Logis have extra PG/CPU compared to assaults in order to allow them to fill up those equipment slots that make them logis. However, the extra PG/CPU can be (and is) abused in other, non-logistics uses. This can be easily avoided using the method from EVE. Give logis assault-like PG/CPU allotment, and give them a role bonus of, say, 50% PG/CPU cost reduction to equipment. Problem solved. As for everything else you suggest, I mostly agree. Good blog. thank u for the feedback, for the record we think the health gap is the main reason the game doesnt retain new players. its our opinion that the advantages that better protection would give in regards to movement, scan profile and the ever important greed up cpu & pg would far outweigh what it loses in hp. lastly, we think ccp actually has sniper gameplay done very well. the damage would be adjusted so that only the higher tiers can ohk [just like they do now] also, your logi fix is one of the many good suggestions related to the class that we have seen, at this point its on ccp to choose one of them.