Let's define the problem first: a team that has a squad or (synced) squads running full-proto gear results in terrible experiences for players on the opposing team.

This problem comprises two isues:

1. Squads vs solo players
2. Proto gear vs lower-tier gear

I'd like to discuss the second issue here - the first issue is clearly important to players and should have its own thread.

Remove full-proto fits from pubs, because they are by definition OP; because everyone hates being protostomped; and because maxed out fits belong only in FW and PC.

The reality of players running full-proto (and especially, squads of proto) in pub matches is just an incredibly poor experience for both sides*.

The winning side has an utterly hollow victory.
The losing side faces a blob of almost indestructible strafe-machines and are forced to decide between:

• Bring out your own expensive gear and settle in for an expensive, PC-like battle
• Stay in the same gear and take the beating

Who wants to lose around a million ISK in a pub just because they didn't want to throw in the towel again?

It would be like a multiplayer racing game where every 3rd or 4th match your team of Prius, Mini and Camry drivers went up against Team Ferrari and were expected to compete. We can all agree that would be a stupid, unbalanced and ultimately pointless event.

So why does Dust allow the exact same thing?

We talk about balance - CCP, CPM and the community pore over the numbers in minute detail, comparing like for like (i.e., basic CR vs basic AR) which is reasonable - except what about basic AR vs Kaalikiota RR? Is that balanced?

Because that is the scenario that actually happens, very often, in pubs.

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Proposal
Display the Total Meta Level (sum total of suit, weapon, equipment meta level) in the fittings view, and introduce a Meta Level Cap in public contract battles to eliminate full-proto fittings. Proto would still be allowed, just with some trade-offs.

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Is there a strong reason why this would be a bad idea?

There are countless "Protostomping is bullshit" threads on here, this seems like an reasonable solution.



*Well, with the exception of hardcore scrubs who actually enjoy winning with a grossly unfair advantage - but we should ignore those guys because they shouldn't be the customers who are primarily catered to, however vocal they may be.