What if sidearms were replaced by knife slots? And knives were reclassified into their own class instead of being a sidearm.

What if sidearms were replaced by knife slots? And knives were reclassified into their own class instead of being a sidearm.

Well, the thinking was to give the second EQP slot to GA, CA, AM suits and leave the Minmatar with one EQP slot and its sidearm. Still debating that one though.

So here's a question... would you like a Caldari Scout skill that actually increased the precision of anyone caught within the passive radius even if there was NO UI FEEDBACK telling you the adjusted scan precision/profile values? I'd love to make the Caldari Scout a jammer suit, but without decent UI feedback it'd be more confusing than enjoyable.

Also: Remember to make an active variant that works as an anti-scanner for the Caldari Logibros to equip.

So here's a question... would you like a Caldari Scout skill that actually increased the precision of anyone caught within the passive radius even if there was NO UI FEEDBACK telling you the adjusted scan precision/profile values? I'd love to make the Caldari Scout a jammer suit, but without decent UI feedback it'd be more confusing than enjoyable.

Three thoughts:

1) Min scout without a sidearm wouldn't make any sense, the knife bonus would be wasted.

2) I really really like the idea of having 2 light frame variants for each race, the current scout and the type 2 with no sidearm and 2 EQ. That would be a great addition. More diversity >> less.

3) If for some reason CCP doesn't want to have 2 light frame variants for everyone then perhaps they should split the races: 2 races get "regular" scouts with a sidearm and 1 EQ, and 2 races get the type 2 scout. I'd vote for adding the 2 new scouts as type 2's and keep the sidearms on the existing scouts to be consistent.

(That could even be done as a trial and CCP can see how often each type of scout gets used and how successful they are. If the demand is there, perhaps they will then go forward with both types for all 4 races.)

Done and done. Though, you're gonna be losing a sidearm slot.

With respect, you're comparing Apples and Oranges that have "Apple" stickers on them.

Tacnet/IFF Jammers are something that should be implemented but that should not be for the logis. They can use it, but like the cloak it should be meant for the scout (along with webifiers and any other E-War thing ccp dreams up). Logis can have the rest of the equipment, but E-War proficiency should belong to scouts.

Fixed that for you.

I would rather not have the cal scout locked into using sniper rifles or cloaks for that matter. I would prefer that scouts got fitting reduction bonuses for biotics/profile modules and kept their sidearm. I still feel that the best choice for cloaks is to make it scout only equipment so scouts will get decent passive bonuses and won't be forced to use a specific piece of equipment.

I have no problem with removing sidearm slots to get a second equipment. Here's why.

With the cloak as a pretty much "must" on the scout that removes a lot of pressure to have a secondary weapon that could "handle" ranged encounters (ie SMG/ScrPistol) as an alternative to a close range weapon (shotgun/NK) in case we got caught out in the open. I'm assuming that the cloak is a viable method of moving across open territory etc... with a timer that is long enough to make it worthwhile.

I rarely if ever run with a sidearm anyways, preferring to use my fitting for additional modules or higher tier modules. Personally, I think that the extra versatility you get from a second equipment (especially in placing covert uplinks, so forth) is worth so much more than a "hold-out" weapon.

Besides this also means that (with the buff to scout profile to 35 dB) you can forgo the cloak in some occasions to get maybe a RE and nanohive or multiple prox mine fits. So many options are opened up with 2 equipment slots.

I do agree that some of the racials should keep their sidearm and 1 equipment slots. I disagree with the idea of having multiple configs of dropsuits within one race. There should be a cost to having the increased variety (that cost would be SP investment for a different racial suit).

My two biggest concerns over the proposed update have just been allayed. Other items are still concerning but less difficult to adapt to.

Edit: Also as to the caldari scout bonus. I'd much prefer a AOE profile decrease for friendlies. That would be a balance to the active scanners as well as passive scanning (which others have mentioned isn't used heavily enough to make enough of an impact to justify a racial suit that only effects that).

Otherwise if you're set on precision effects, then there has to be some method to also effect active scanning precisions.

Alternatively, I really like the UI effect of graying out / white noise on the Tacnet. That's a great visual and also very disturbing to the people it effects. It combines some psy-ops elements as well as eWAR. (make the skill increase radius by 5 m each level from a base of 10 out to perhaps 30 m at max skill) It could also depend on dropsuit precision to determine who it effects. So the Caldari (who would focus on high slots) have a reason to use a mix of precision enhancers as well as shield extenders.

With that idea in mind, an additional bonus of 2-3% precision enhancement per level might also be justified.

So here's a question... would you like a Caldari Scout skill that actually increased the precision of anyone caught within the passive radius even if there was NO UI FEEDBACK telling you the adjusted scan precision/profile values? I'd love to make the Caldari Scout a jammer suit, but without decent UI feedback it'd be more confusing than enjoyable.

I have no problem with removing sidearm slots to get a second equipment. Here's why.

With the cloak as a pretty much "must" on the scout that removes a lot of pressure to have a secondary weapon that could "handle" ranged encounters (ie SMG/ScrPistol) as an alternative to a close range weapon (shotgun/NK) in case we got caught out in the open. I'm assuming that the cloak is a viable method of moving across open territory etc... with a timer that is long enough to make it worthwhile.

I rarely if ever run with a sidearm anyways, preferring to use my fitting for additional modules or higher tier modules. Personally, I think that the extra versatility you get from a second equipment (especially in placing covert uplinks, so forth) is worth so much more than a "hold-out" weapon.

Besides this also means that (with the buff to scout profile to 35 dB) you can forgo the cloak in some occasions to get maybe a RE and nanohive or multiple prox mine fits. So many options are opened up with 2 equipment slots.

I do agree that some of the racials should keep their sidearm and 1 equipment slots. I disagree with the idea of having multiple configs of dropsuits within one race. There should be a cost to having the increased variety (that cost would be SP investment for a different racial suit).

My two biggest concerns over the proposed update have just been allayed. Other items are still concerning but less difficult to adapt to.

Oooh, a reduction to damage. That sounds really nice... so long as you don't decrease the damage on Sniper Rifle, shotgun, or nova knives, all of which are under-performing .

And it is really nice to see a Dev comment on this thread, however CCP Remnent are you aware that there is a 348+ page long thread by scouts and about scouts that exists on general discussion?
Because coming in and talking on a thread by someone that has not been around very long nor no know place in the scout community really does not help balance or get the opinions of the majority of the players that use the Scout suit.

I would rather not have the cal scout locked into using sniper rifles or cloaks for that matter. I would prefer that scouts got fitting reduction bonuses for biotics/profile modules and kept their sidearm. I still feel that the best choice for cloaks is to make it scout only equipment so scouts will get decent passive bonuses and won't be forced to use a specific piece of equipment.

Done and done. Though, you're gonna be losing a sidearm slot. (Also, I think people are gonna faint when they see the PG/CPU costs of cloak fields; Scouts'll be alright though)

Remnant:
Well, the thinking was to give the second EQP slot to GA, CA, AM suits and leave the Minmatar with one EQP slot and its sidearm. Still debating that one though.

On Minmatar:
Thank goodness you've recognized the potential problem here. Please don't take away the Minmatar's knives. Please reconsider taking away the sidearms of others.

---

o7


Edit: If Cloak is potentially overpowered, then I can understand CCP needing to nerf Scouts to coincide with its release. Even so, it'll be a sad day when Scouts migrate further towards Rifles, which will likely occur if sidearms are removed. I've been running RR and NKs lately in preparation for upcoming event. Given the opportunity, I'll always stalk and kill a merc with knives rather than plugging him in the back of the head from safe distance. Style, excitement, challenge, fun ... killing with a knife is a quality experience. A quality experience I'll certainly miss as a Gallente Scout without a sidearm slot :-(

There's something special about killing with Nova Knives.
You could -- in theory -- outfit all Scouts with Nova Knives.
We are, after all, a 'bit like Special Forces :-)

Well, the thinking was to give the second EQP slot to GA, CA, AM suits and leave the Minmatar with one EQP slot and its sidearm. Still debating that one though.

...

Then you're scanned by a proto gal logi and your stealth link meant nothing. You're crossing a field and.......scanned by a proto gal logi.