Part of the reluctance of introducing Pilot Suits was that adding vehicle bonuses would further complicate vehicle balance.

However, if only people in Pilot Suits could operate closed vehicles (would not include LAVGÇÖs) then that would give Pilot Suits a purpose without having to give it vehicle bonuses.

It would be a low HP Scout suit, sidearm only (no light weapon), with an equipment slot for a Rep tool.

While it seems like a nerf to vehicle pilots on first glance, pilots will quickly realize that it is essentially the same as a vehicle lock, and therefor a buff to pilots.

Vehicles are getting native armor reps like infantry, so repair tools are no longer needed.

Additionally if you want to be supportive of your team as a vehicle pilot by spawning players, should you not be using a mCRU that's on your vehicle?

A swarm commando jumping out of his tank and using it as cover as he either immediately kills you or forces you off (likely to be killed as you flee) isn't smart or engaging or tactical, it's abuse of a mechanic.

Pilots should pilot. Don't want to be a pilot? Skill dropsuits, or save SP for both. We took away dual roles with Bandwidth, lets continue by adding pilot suit. AV players don't deserve to pilot at the same time, and honestly, really don't deserve to be laying down equipment either (even though I do all the time)

Actually most cockpits are extremely cramped, and can only accommodate certain people. It's very simple to say that these futuristic vehicles require specialized interfacing built into dropsuits just to get the damn thing to power on and sync the computations between pilot and vehicle.

Pilots should have to pilot. I hate adding even more SP and ISK sink to one of the most SP and ISK intensive aspects of the game, but it's for the better. If AV or slayers want along in a vehicle, they'll have to hop in a turret or a passenger seat.

Teamwork OP yo

Well some will insist I don't, but I assure you that I do.

For one, HAVs are gaining 2 additional slots, LAVs will likely receive a similar pass, so fitting is a little more flexible now. Not to mention I don't really consider HAVs as a platform that should really be a spawn point anyways, but since we lack proper MAVs I suppose I can't complain.

Additionally I don't have an issue with non-pilot suits hopping out and dropping uplinks. What I do have an issue with is a pilot suit gaining bonuses for piloting, but still maintaining that capability. The Pilot suit should be specialized completely around being inside a vehicle at all time. It should serve zero purpose whatsoever outside of a vehicle, even if its just to hop out for a second.

Bonuses for mCRUs and the sort? Awesome. But hopping out to drop uplinks? No, that's not the Pilot suits role. If you want to maintain the ability to use equipment but drop the bonuses that the pilot suit would offer, that's your call. But dropping uplinks is not an integral part of piloting the vehicle, even if you use the vehicle to drop uplinks.

Actually most cockpits are extremely cramped, and can only accommodate certain people. It's very simple to say that these futuristic vehicles require specialized interfacing built into dropsuits just to get the damn thing to power on and sync the computations between pilot and vehicle.

You are so butthurt, it's glorious.

The amount of assumptions you make is quite impressive, I do enjoy watching this.

I have already offered up a compromise but I'm sure you were too busy knowing every little thing I do on the battlefield, you wizardly wizard you.

Ah, the movie Fury. About Sherman Tanks, which I believe have been proven to be horribly designed when it comes to escape hatches. I believe most guys never made it out of a Sherman when the Tank went up in flames (which was around 55% of the time upon taking a hit, later reduced by 15% by using "wet stowage".). Perhaps you should draw arguments from reality, not Hollywood, my friend.

"Why should we give them less space in the future?"
-More space, means bigger Tank, means more weight and more surface area. More weight means less speed, and more surface area means bigger target. Yes, I can see how Tankers would be concerned about having some degree of comfort over having a reliable, safe vehicle that'll get them in and out of combat safely.


Anyway, while I don't count myself as a 'great' Pilot, I do enjoy flying Dropships, and occasionally Tanks as well. I also run dedicated AV fits, so I see both ends of the spectrum.
Personally, I believe Pilot suits, if handled well, would serve an excellent purpose in the game. Right now, there's too many Heavy suits running around, using HAV's and LAV's as a taxi to offset their low movement speed. And that's the problem we face. I see 2 possible solutions:

1) Pilot suits to command HAV's and Dropships (Perhaps only allow Light and Medium to drive LAV to end the 'Murder Taxi Spree')
Or
2) Dissallow Heavy suits from driving any vehicle.


Then, slightly off-topic, but it's been mentioned before.
I believe a Pilot/Tanker should go down with his vehicle. It's expensive, we get it, but most of the best Tankers (and DS pilots!) I've seen can safely pull back from even Heavy AV situations. At that point they should make a decision.
"Can I support my team with my Tank in this situation, or should I reclaim it and help as Infantry?"
And either he takes the risk, and maybe loses his Tank, in which case the AV guys also deserve a kill, because believe it or not, most AV fits die a couple of times before the Tank is finally destroyed.
Or he doesn't, and helps his team with his favorite Infantry fit. And usually, you'd drive back to a safe location to reclaim, and more often than not there'll be a Supply Depot close by.



And for all this people crying about the possibility of needing a Pilot suit to drive a HAV, just be happy you don't need 2 of your buddies to load and fire your Main Gun.