Do you feel that the requirement to use damage mods for all races would make some suits less suited for the role, given a lack of high slots? Or Would that make them better because it doesn't cut into their main tanking rack?

Since stacking more than 2 damage mods makes no sense, it's really not a bad deal for any of the suits compared to the others. Minmatar and Caldari lose primary tank in return for more damage, but they are meant to be more mobile suits and can recover their health more quickly unassisted. Also, by equipping a damage mod, they are also reducing their depleted recharge delay by replacing a shield extender. And since there is no primary tank loss for Amarr and Gallente it simply gives them another viable option other than additional eHP.

No major losses on either side, and putting on more than one is pretty much gimping yourself anyway due to the stacking penalty.

Also, that number is obviously up in the air. It could be increased to 20% (100% @ max putting it to 10%) so assaults could use the old bonus, making stacking 2 mods viable again.

I like promoting racial suits using their weapons, but every time I think of RoF or damage increases all I can picture is a shithead on a roof with a RR firing on everyone below with impunity. Like I said before, it makes me nervous. I wouldn't veto the entire sheet due to this one issue because it makes up for a lot, it's just a personal issue I have with directly adding damage output.

Fair enough. I'll pen it in as an alternative for now.

That being said, what do you feel would be an appropriate Lvl 5 bonus to the damage mod, while avoiding the issues we had before with TTK being waaay too short?

As long as CR's and RR's remain the most popular rifles, I don't think that's TOO likely... but it is a possibility....

Flat bonus to repair modules, not to the suits themselves. Though I'm not opposed to it. In fact, all assaults having a base armor repair rate is a nice idea. It was spectacular just having 1hp/sec on the Minmatar assault.

Possibly give the armor races a x% speed penalty reduction for plates instead of an HP bump.

I apologize if my writing is hard to follow, not feeling so hot today.

I actually think the layouts need to be swapped for the Minmatar and Caldari suits so the Caldari can properly shield tank and the Minmatar can run proper lows (kincats, regs, whathaveyou) It's hard to be the versatile race with only 2 slots available to use for the modules that mean the most to versatility.

Well the concept I was going for was mostly to give each frame its own general form of tanking.

Heavies get Buffer
Medium get Active (regeneration)
Lights get Speed

Amarr Assaults/Logi's of course don't really fit this mold, however I wanted to shy away from giving them straight up more eHP. The reason being that the Amarr typically have the highest base eHP, with an emphasis on low lots but also high slots to work with. The natural choice is to stick a ton of plates in the low to take advantage of the armor plate bonus, then stack damage mods in the high to take advantage of the damage mod bonus.

So now you have a suit with more eHP than any other Assault by a long shot, and able to stack damage without any sacrifice to tank. Amarr Assault would instantly be the preferred Assault suit for superior defenses and damage output. That's basically why I avoided both of those bonuses.

So lets assume we wont directly buff damage, what sort of things would you think would give the Assault that sense of uniqueness that it currently lacks? It needs to be something that is difficult or impossible for other suits to replicate. The Cloak on a scout would be a good example.

You'll notice in my spreadsheet that I mention a bonus to grenades. This opens up a lot of flexibility for Assaults as it would make AV grenades terrifying, but also allow them to make use of anti-infantry possibilities. This would parralel a bonus Logistics would get to Remotes and Proxies, an idea that is being well received over in the Logistic's camp. Take a look and give me your thoughts.

Rate of fire modification is bad. The game uses rate of fire to determine a pseudo minimum range to weapons. Low rate of fire is poor at short range, this mechanic is part of what makes the Rail Rifle perform badly in CQC. Increasing the fire rate for weapons would completely throw this mechanic off and make weapons perform too well in ranges that it shouldn't.

Regeneration of Ammo devalues an important role that Logistics perform, and I dont think it really adds much to offense in the way that Assaults should. Its an interesting idea, but I don't think it's good for this application.

I actually think the layouts need to be swapped for the Minmatar and Caldari suits so the Caldari can properly shield tank and the Minmatar can run proper lows (kincats, regs, whathaveyou) It's hard to be the versatile race with only 2 slots available to use for the modules that mean the most to versatility.

I like the light weapon fitting bonus we have, honestly. Really helps fitting Scramblers, Lasers, Plasma Cannons.

I don't think a ROF bonus would work as an overall Assault bonus, but it might be a nice one for the GalAss. Would need to crunch the numbers, but I don't *think* it would break the AR.

Gal 3-4 Proto, 2% per level RoF bonus to Plasma weapons, 5-7% per level to Armor Rep efficacy

Amarr 2-5 Proto, 5% reduction to Laser heat build up, 2 or 3% per level to Armor Plate efficacy OR x% reduction to Armor Plate speed penalty

Caldari 5-2 Proto, 5-7% increased zoom fidelity on Rail weapons OR 5% less charge up time (though that does affect most snipers and RR charge would need to be increased for it to even be noticeable), 5% efficacy to all shield modules (or maybe just extenders and regs?)

Minmatar 4-3 Proto, 5% Projectile Clip Size (I'd possibly think about the explosive clip buff again, too, but maybe at .6 rounds/level, so it gains 3 at V), maybe 5% to all biotics modules OR 5-7% to all regen modules

I also agree that both Min and Cal need their shield regen rates and delays buffed, though, before any bonuses. Amarr and Gal are *almost* there, imo. Better bonus would go a long way for the Gal, plus maybe a touch more PG.

This actually started in a Logi discussion thread, but it involves Assaults as well.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18i0Z93RGQbZD-_OMwXmYDJk4ORDBml5Xq_2k_4sF8UY/edit?usp=sharing

Thoughts? Its a very rough, preliminary proposal but its a starting point to getting the ball rolling.

Assault's need to fill the "Light Assault" Function on the battlefield. not the Cal and Gallente Scout.... The Ability to be a fast moving, High damage suit with a little more health then a scout. Something with a more effective indirect damage bonus.. like RoF or something more Racial specific to the class. Basically sacrificing the ability to be "Tanky" for damage and mobility, and eliminating the need for scouts to fit and try and half fill this role.

Where Commandos Fulfill the "Heavy Assault" Role on the battlefield. Having a Straight damage bonus and the ability to be "Tanky" but at the sacrifice of mobility.. They still have an equipment slot alowing them to setup on outside perimeters and be the masters of toe to toe at medium range gun fights.

**P.S.**I think both classes have to be tweaked together or the balance will be off.**

"enhance the "feel" of weapons"??? CCP don't waste your time with recoil or kick bonuses....ROF for all assaults

there needs to be a second equipment slot at proto (like in the beta)

For shield assaults:

shield delay needs a huge improvement. Regs are pointless.

shield regen needs a buff (and energisers need to be worth it). E.g. Cal assualt should have better shield regen than the cal scout

For assaults in general:
Most importantly passive scans and precision for assaults needs to be improved - otherwise there will be no reason to shift from the scout. Knowing where people are (cal) or being invisible (gal), combined with speed, is too big a gimme.

LR would be beastly. ScR would be no better than it is now. If we're increasing DPS, do it via raw damage bonuses like commando. Otherwise leave it alone.

there needs to be a second equipment slot at proto (like in the beta)

For shield assaults:

shield delay needs a huge improvement. Regs are pointless.

shield regen needs a buff (and energisers need to be worth it). E.g. Cal assualt should have better shield regen than the cal scout

For assaults in general:
Most importantly passive scans and precision for assaults needs to be improved - otherwise there will be no reason to shift from the scout. Knowing where people are (cal) or being invisible (gal), combined with speed, is too big a gimme.

I think removing or nerfing weapons is too far

Yes. they need to improve passive scan and base range. I wont move from Scout Assault if perma scans with range are still a thing