Captain Crutches
Nexus Marines
85
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Posted - 2014.04.29 23:22:00 -
[1] - Quote
I'll throw my hat in, having only semi-read the first 3 pages of this thread.
In response to IWS's challenge to justify not using proto if you have the ISK/SP... you can't. Higher tier gear is objectively better in every way, and that's the problem. The only reason there is "variety" in the tiers being used is because not everyone is able to run all proto all the time.
I would propose replacement of tiers with specialization and customization. Eve, for example, has several T1 cruisers for each race which you can use with only the racial cruiser skill. Each of those T1 cruisers has a role (assault, logistics, electronic warfare, etc) and the bonuses and slot layout to match. You can use those cruisers as cheaper alternatives to the T2 variants (HAC, Logi, Recon) to test the waters, see if that's something you want to specialize in, and then skill into the T2 ships you want - while still being able to use the T1 ships from the other roles.
A similar system in Dust might have, for example, several T1 medium frames, each with a matching T2 frame. You can skill into a race's medium frames and use any of the T1 suits, and then specialize into the more effective (but many times more expensive) T2 variants of your choice. Of course, that still has some semblance of tiers, but it mirrors the system in Eve which has worked well thus far, and it's something to work off of at least.
For weapons, perhaps a system of weapon upgrades and customization akin to Planetside 2. Let me buy, for example, an Assault Rifle, and then for a small additional price on top of it, add attachments like silencers, grips, and scopes. We could have several different types of each attachment with their own benefits and drawbacks. Since 1.8 I've seen a much greater diversity of weapon types being used, and that's great - but for those that would argue that tiericide would kill diversity, I invite you to look at my above response to IWS, and to consider the even greater variety that would come from different weapon "fittings" with these mods. (Obviously this would be technically quite difficult to do, but it's a thought experiment more than anything else at this stage)
So yeah. There's my .02 isk on Tiericide.
*cloaks back up*
Anti-Respec | Anti-Protostomp | Pro-Tiericide | Pro-EVE Link | Pro-CCP
Fun > Winning > KDR
Lifetime K/D 0.69, WP/D 69
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