Sniping is still an option. This really doesn't effect that. If anything it just provides more countermeasures for those that do choose to snipe, while giving a adequate tool-bag of options for those who want to find other ways to use the suit without being forced into a singular play-style.

Well, maybe it's not THAT little.

So, scouts have been hurting for a while now as where they currently stand is just a slightly faster medium suit with far less options. I see scout potential as being something tremendous when utilized properly, provided the opportunities existed for them to shine. That got me thinking about HOW to make that possible without disrupting the delicate balance between suit classes. Many people are calling for additional slots, additional PG/CPU or additional item slots, and adding any of these to the scout suits all present their own obstacles that don't effectively address the problem which is that of utility. Scouts needs to be more functional without stepping into the realm of the logi by adding another equipment slot. This is the solution that occurred to me:

Add a new type of equipment slot. Specifically for scout related items. Something along the lines of Gadgets or Devices. This equipment slot would be for items that specifically benefit the scout and that style of game play. The Device slot would work the same way sidearms work to Light Weapon slots, or Light Weapons to Heavy Weapon Slots. They would be a specific variant that can be equipped on their own special slot, but being as they still count as equipment then can ALSO be equipped to an equipment slot. This would allow for cross play between classes while specifically boosting scout abilities.

So, how will it be implemented? The immediate balance notion I considered was to have two scout suits with double device slots (probably the Gallente and Caldari, but CCP can handle balancing), one suit with the regular Equipment slot, and then one suit with a Equipment and a Device slot. This gives an amount of versatility and variables between the possible load-outs of the different suits.

So, what equipment would be Devices?

Active Scanners, for one. This would allow for Scouts to make use of and benefit from Active Scanners more than any other class by having a slot ready for their use.

Active Camouflage, when that is released, will absolutely fall under this category as well. It's 100% designed as scout equipment.

Certain variants of already available equipment can be amended as Device slots, as well. For example perhaps the Compact Nanohive would fit the concept really well while heavier nanohives would still be relegated to full equipment.

Another idea I had that would be ideal for a Device slot as well would be an EWAR item that interferes with and disrupts active scanning through use of misinformation. This would be with an ewar item that CREATES margin of error in scans. And generates false enemy chevrons as you increase from STD to ADV. So that way you're not always sure if your margin of error is accurate or the enemy messing up your scanning. Would very much fix the problem in an elegant way and maintains the information/counter information flow of the battlefield, ultimately leading to a much richer and complex environment. If Active Scanners defeat the items scan profile than the item location is shown instead.

And in addition most other EWAR related items would be Device candidates, as well.

I think this really opens up a lot of possibilities to help break the class wide open as one of utility and deceit by establishing the opportunities to make use of those categories without pushing the scout in a direction where it's encroaching on the territory of equipment based logistic suits.

I'm not sure what you mean, also I'm not sure which role the Pilot is meant to fill. Or I can guess what the role will be but I'm unaware of which specific attributes and such it will have, to make it optimal for said role.

[quote=Jadd Hatchen]I think you misread what I wrote. All Devices would be equipable in all Equipment slots. They would be the same as fitting a Light Weapon in a Heavy Weapon slot. This wouldn't change what you're suggesting at all, but instead give scouts specific equipment that they could make better use of.

Nope I didn't, you missed my point. Why make more complicated categories with artificial reasons why others couldn't use the same equipment. Equipment is equipment. Any suuit can use it as long as they have the right PG and CPU and slots to fit it. Period. No "scout only" stuffs. Instead work within the system already established as that affects the coding less.

@Jadd: You did, infact, miss what he is trying to say. How bout for the sake of the discussion we change "Equipment" and "Device" to "Large" and "Small" respectively. You can fit an active scanner (Small) in a large slot which every suit will still have, but you can't fit Rep tool (Large) in a scout's small slot just like with sidearm, light, and heavy weapons. You can put a sidearm in light slot, which everyone has, but cannot put a light weapon in a sidearm slot. Get it?

Final Thoughts: Wow, ever since the new games came out there have been many, many fewer D bags... Really puts a smile on meh face.

I prefer the active module slot idea more so than "scout only equipment", you can actually make lore sense with modules designed to fit into the scout suit. It is harder for me to picture an "scout scanner" with a handle that only a scout knows how to grip.