Sounds like another stall tactic aimed at preserving the status quo. We've waxed lyrical long enough. I say we take action and improve NPE while there's still time.

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* There's a significant power gap between STD and PRO. Let's stop pretending it isn't there and stop wasting time trying to measure it. Instead, let's focus on finding ways to narrow it.

* Newbros can't afford ADV gear. Let's tweak pub pay, implement underdog bonuses, etc. It is better we pay them too much than leave them in the redline or lose them for good.

* Newbros need more initial training. Let's give them more SP upfront, extend the Academy duration and give them a respec on graduation. Why not?

* Newbros need tutorials. Let's build simple tutorials into Achievements 1.0. "Complete X task, Y times, and get Z rewards. Here's how to do X."

* Newbros need mentors. On arrival, let's systematically put them in touch with D-UNI, The Learning Coalition, etc via NPC mail or chat channel or whatever. Or perhaps even add a mentor section in squad finder and devise a simple system which rewards trainer/trainee participation.

* The power and wealth gaps which separate vets from newbros is too wide. Let's come up with creative, performance-driven means by which to narrow it. Example.

But what if the only restriction was on the highest of MUs? As in really stacked players couldn't bring those kits in. Just two tiers, I don't even know what the highest meta level possible is, but I imagine a reasonable cutoff could be found.

And it doesn't separate the player base, just what gear you can use. Playing FW, PC or high end pubs? Play to the max!

Just participating in casual pubs? You can still play at the highest cutoff point, definitely gaining your earned advantage over other players. But at least the newbros won't have to contend against the highest MU, wealthiest players onna regular basis in the same way they do now.

This isn't a fix all end all solution. But for a declining game without much support I see it as an easy fix that *might* go a long way in helping new players feel at home and not totally out classed. It also wouldn't require major modifications to the game.

That's why I support tiered gameplay. Not across all levels, just basically reserving the highest end gear for higher end play. I just got my first proto suit and I love feeling so powerful. But I would not mind reserving it for FW, PC and high end pubs. Adv. Gear is just as fun, especially if you're fighting similarly geared opponents! Same with proto! A fair fight is always more fun to me, especially when I lose to someone geared like myself. It's a great learning experience to understand you were on even ground and you fcked up.

interesting.

is it possible to use a characters current learned skills to calculate a highest potential meta level? then we can use that in matches to limit the meta level to the average highest potential meta level. we could use this for pubs.

-SNIP-

So ... now I'm an idiot? Would love to know what data and metrics were used in drawing that conclusion. Or are data and metrics only required when others are drawing conclusions? Lol.

This is the rabble people make to convince others that whatever paltry 'evidence' justifies their heavy handed solutions is enough.


* There's an insignificant power gap between ADV and PRO. Let's stop pretending there's more there and stop wasting time trying to suggest that 99% of the playerbase play in militia **** fits vs vets in officer gear.


I could go on but I tire of rebuttling "shoddy gobang's" like the one I posed above.

When there's more data to be digested or conversations more worthy than the mostly inept facade being propogated in comments like these, I'm sure I'll get pinged.

* There's a significant power gap between STD and PRO. Let's stop pretending it isn't there and stop wasting time trying to measure it. Instead, let's focus on finding ways to narrow it.

* Newbros can't afford ADV gear. Let's tweak pub pay, implement underdog bonuses, etc. It is better we pay them too much than leave them in the redline or lose them for good.

* Newbros need more initial training. Let's give them more SP upfront, extend the Academy duration and give them a respec on graduation. Why not?

* Newbros need tutorials. Let's build simple tutorials into Achievements 1.0. "Complete X task, Y times, and get Z rewards. Here's how to do X."

* Newbros need mentors. On arrival, let's systematically put them in touch with D-UNI, The Learning Coalition, etc via NPC mail or chat channel or whatever. Or perhaps even add a mentor section in squad finder and devise a simple system which rewards trainer/trainee participation.

* The power and wealth gaps which separate vets from newbros is too wide. Let's come up with creative, performance-driven means by which to narrow it. Example.

* There's an insignificant power gap between ADV and PRO. Let's stop pretending there's more there and stop wasting time trying to suggest that 99% of the playerbase play in militia **** fits vs vets in officer gear.

Meta Level locking is a bad idea.

You can easily make a viable fit with officer weapons for under 40 Meta. We had a thread on it a while ago.

Here are the solutions you snipped:

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^ Every single one of these would have a greater impact on improving NPE than anything you've suggested in this thread. We can talk about improving NPE all day long and cook up all manner of interesting metric to study, but at the end of the day NPE will remain unhealthy and our talking about it will not have changed a thing. We've been talking about improving NPE for 3+ years. How much more time do you need?

... and focus on a rock solid roadmap for our newbros.

If such a thing exists, I'd love to see it. If it doesn't, maybe we can pitch in and help CPM put one together.

:: Pokes Dennie ::

Meta Level locking is a bad idea.

You can easily make a viable fit with officer weapons for under 40 Meta. We had a thread on it a while ago.

we can adjust the meta level of weapons yes? make officer weapons carry meta level of something restrictively high. then you cant make viable low meta level fits with high meta level weapons

Tier lock solves the officer gank fit problem. Was like a week long process to get people off meta, and onto tier....

Link? I must've missed that discussion, as I'd still default to favoring Meta locks over Tier locks. At first glance, seems it'd be easier to implement and would leave more room for loadout flexibility. Deathwind solved the officer gear problem. What else am I missing?

I'd rather face a 40 meta suit with an officer weapon than a full officer suit with officer weapon and all complex mods.

we can adjust the meta level of weapons yes? make officer weapons carry meta level of something restrictively high. then you cant make viable low meta level fits with high meta level weapons