alten hilt
DUST University
Ivy League
169
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Posted - 2014.04.06 19:21:00 -
[1] - Quote
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. The following idea will address many, if not all, the problems with frame balance in DUST 514.
Many of the current balance issues between the frames can be traced down to a single root cause: Uniform bonuses and penalties.
This is a carry over from EVE. However EVE balances this out by having small, medium, large, extra-large, and capital sized variations of modules.
Frigates & Destroyers = Small (and some Medium)
Cruisers and Battlecruisers = Medium (and some Large)
Battleships = Large (and some X-Large)
Etc. etc.
The system is broken in DUST because it does not take into account the different frame sizes.
Why is a light frame a light frame? Because it has stripped away increased protection (and the reinforcing structure necessary to accommodate that increased protection) in order to favor speed, agility and electronics. Yes, you can add protection back to a light frame, but because it lacks the necessary frame to carry that protection, it is going to come at an increased cost to speed, mobility, agility and EWAR.
Why is a heavy frame a heavy frame? Because it has additional reinforcing structures to accommodate increased protection, at the cost of speed, agility, and electronics. Can you add speed and ewar modules to a heavy frame? Yes, but the total benefit will be less because the frame isn't meant to handle it.
So, the way to fix the problem is to add frame specific modules for everything, OR to adjust bonuses and penalties so that they are attached to the specific frame, not the module. And do this with an eye towards frame role. e
.g. Light suits are stripped of protection so to allow their servos, and frames to move faster, be more agile, handle falls from increased height, have reduced scan signatures and increased stealth. If you add mass or bulk to this system (plates and extenders) then the consequence is significantly decreased speed, agility, mobility, and stealth and increased scan signature (change the cloak to have no blue shimmer on the base frame, but shimmer more with increased plates and extenders. Seriously, look up the description of light frames to understand why slapping on armor plates or adding bulky extender units would mess with the ability of the suit to cloak.)
In the first system there would be three versions of every module, and you can either force frames to use only modules designed for their frame, or you can create huge penalties for going up a level. (The numbers are just made up examples)
Light Plate: 40/60/80 HP -- 2%/3%/4% speed penalty 1%/2%/3% increase to scan profile
Medium Plate: 60/80/100 HP -- 2%/3%/4% speed penalty 1%/2%/3% increase to scan profile
Heavy Plate: 80/100/120 HP -- 2%/3%/4% speed penalty 1%/2%/3% increase to scan profile
Light Extender 25/40/55 HP -- 2%/3%/4% scan profile increase 1%/2%/3% speed penalty
Medium Extender 35/55/70 HP-- 2%/3%/4% scan profile increase 1%/2%/3% speed penalty
Large Extender 55/70/85 HP -- 2%/3%/4% scan profile increase 1%/2%/3% speed penalty
The second system keeps all modules the same, but changes the penalties associated with them depending on frame
Armor module on Light Frame 8%/10%/12% speed penalty for armor modules 4%/5%/6% increase to scan profile
Armor module on Medium Frame 4%/5%/6% speed penalty for armor modules 2%/3%/4% increase to scan profile
Armor module on Heavy Frame 2%/3%/4$ speed penalty for armor modules 1%/2%/3% increase to scan profile
So, imagine now how this would change the role of suits.
--Light frames could still brick tank, but they would actually be slower than medium frames and have a large scan profile and increased shimmer while under cloak. This is the balancing factor.
--Medium suits would be the jack of all trades; a balance between the protection of the heavy, and the speed and agility of the light, giving the medium suit the ability to go in any direction with the least amount of penalties. Damage modules would be geared towards the medium frame, with decreased benefits to the light and heavy frames.
--Heavy frames would be the heaviest tanked of all suits, but would experience little to no benefit from ewar modules, speed/stamina modules, and damage modules. This is the balancing factor.
I believe this is an elegant solution to many of the current problems experienced in DUST. Frames should generally define the benefits and penalties the suit experiences, while suit specialization adds utility to the base roll defined by the frame.
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alten hilt
DUST University
Ivy League
172
|
Posted - 2014.04.07 01:40:00 -
[3] - Quote
Vaux Karn wrote:I actually think changing armor plates and shield extenders to a percentage value would be the best fix...not only would it make heavies heavy, lights light, etc., it would also reinforce the racial strengths and weaknesses. So Caldari would make better use of shields, Gallente would make better use of armor, and so on. Also the frame size skills should get passives as well, but the passives should be attached to the suits not the skill. This would be more like Eve and allow more variants of suits without requiring entirely new skills. For example: Amarr basic heavy frame suit 1 gets passive bonus of 2% fanaticism per skill level, basic heavy frame suit 2 gets 2% bonus love of slavery, then Amarr sentinel suits get bonuses for heavy frame skill and sentinel skill. (The previously mentioned bonuses are negotiable...) Adding this skill change would further diversify the frame sizes and roles, and at the same time make the basic frames not a waste of SP.
The more I thought about it, the more I came to the same conclusions. A percentage based system would work really well at reinforcing strengths, but not preventing diversity. |