alten hilt
DUST University
Ivy League
171
   |
Posted - 2014.04.06 20:17:00 -
[1] - Quote
Thanks for reading my post.
Many of the balance problems between veteran and new players can be traced to a single root cause: Useless basic frames.
A form of tiericide is the answer
As I mention in this post on fixing frame balance, basic frames should have bonuses and penalties that define the role of that frame. Please take a look at the post for more information.
As it currently stands, only specialized frames get bonuses, and basic frames are a waste of ISK and SP beyond what is necessary to unlock specialized frames. Both basic frames and specialized frames have very steep SP requirements. This penalizes new players and artificially rewards veteran players. I propose that basic frames be given frame bonuses/roles, have significantly reduced SP requirements and cost less than specialized frames. While specialized roles continue to receive the basic frame bonuses, they will add a unique ability not possessed by the basic frame. The following are some examples of how specialization would add a unique ability enjoyed by the suit.
Racial Light frame (2x skill): Speed, hacking, scan profile, scan precision (each race emphasizes one role more than others.)
--Racial Scout (10x skill, req lvl 5 in light frame): Information warfare specialist. Ability to share passive scan information with entire team's tacnet and tag an enemy as an HVT (like a GPS tracker)
--Racial Pilot (10x skill, req lvl 5 in light frame): Aerial combat specialist with built in jet pack. Master of the vertical space.
--Racial Saboteur (10x skill, req lvl 5 in light frame): Trap specialist. 1 weapon slot, 3 equipment slots for explosives and traps (more damage, carry more, have more active, reduced scan profile on traps. Would need to add infantry proximity mines, webifier fields, ect. )
--Racial Assassin: (10x skill, req lvl 5 in light frame): sidearm specialist, knife bonus, ability to sprint with a full knife charge while cloaked (will disable cloak for 5 seconds)
This would create a system with a shallow bar of entry for new players, yet give deep specialization to veteran players. Prototype basic suits would be a viable option on the battlefield as they are easier to get into, cost less, and are comparable to the power of specialized prototype suits (just without the specialized role). |
alten hilt
DUST University
Ivy League
172
|
Posted - 2014.04.07 02:07:00 -
[3] - Quote
deepfried salad gilliam wrote:click the link in my signature, you my enjoy the idea.
Your idea sounds similar to the way EVE ships run their bonuses. It gives the ship a definitive role but still allows for fitting diversity.
Come to think of it, my idea is similar to the way EVE has To and T2 ships. T1 ships are generalists, they have basic roles they fill but T2 ships are specialist variations. |