@CCP Rattati:

Ok,so to over-simplify here for me to get my head around something that I can relate to, dropsuits are going to be a generic nebulous thing, that we as players will then apply a software design to so that when "built on-the-fly," we can tweak the physical build of the suit to support whatever role we are looking to provide. If anything, it's the firmware patches that we earn/purchase/whatever that defines the suit being BUILT in our little player suitcase (or whatever we call it) that we take to the field.

I take that to mean the original design of a suit is some generic universal template, where race isn't even a factor anymore. Do I assume all races are using the same generic molding blank? I mean as far as lore goes? So each race will then have a "car" template. Basic 4 wheels, sedan, 6-cyl engine. Everyone in the universe has access to this due to some universal socialist-type agreement that this is everyone's base standard; or over some long time-frame that allowed all suit tech to distill itself down to the most basic common version? Instead of evolving the suit, the suit devolved until reaching that most comment default universal state, while custom firmware evolved instead?

Everyone buys a ps3, but with each software update, your ps3 goes to the next gen capability without really changing the ps3 case. Well, I guess in this example, you have a 3d printer at home just building a slightly modified version of the ps3 with each upgrade, but essentially the ps3 is the base model.

Who designed the default suit? How did enemy races get access to that design?

Please correct me where I am wrong. I am only trying to connect the dots. If I am understanding you right, this is *very* different than what we understand dropsuits to be based on our experience with DUST. That is not necessarily a complaint as it is just pointing out why it is so difficult for us out-of-the-know to grasp. We are trying, but all we really have to to relate to is coming from DUST experience. I think it would help greatly to preface everything with "this is not DUST... strap in, because this is going to be tricky to explain! Forget everything you know because it's no longer relatable." ;) I'm over here trying to conceptually patch your A to my understanding of what A used to be and it's no longer a one-to-one relationship. At least something like that would help break us from the ideas we have already built so many fantasies on since NOVA's announcement ;)

I mean that with respect and love btw.

I think I'm getting closer to getting what is going on. Assuming my post is anywhere near point. Thanks for the check-ins.

I see how that would work. Except it doesn't make sense to add two corps from the same race as manufacturers of the same class.

You wouldn't add Thukker logistics along side an existing Boundless logistics because it's redundant. Isn't that what the firmware is for?

So the logistics class would look more like Boundless, Carthum, Roden, Lai Dai. And then firmware for Thukker, Creodrone, Ishukone, Viziam.

That's unnecessary.

The Vx. 1 Apex suits were literally the same dropsuit, color scheme, and stats as the original apex suit, but with a different load out.

If we can eventually swap modules from other suits after progressing through them, there's no need to offer something so similar. The way progression was described by Rattati, we would be able to swap out modules on the suit we want and then choose firmware to give the appropriate bonuses.

Suggesting we add Carthum Vanguard next to a Viziam Vanguard, is redundant if they only differ by load out. It produces an item that item otherwise created by the players through progression.

This I kinda what I've been getting at for a week now. The only logical additions to any class, are those manufacturers whose who belong to a different race. Don't add another Amarr vanguard manufacture if one already exists. Players can basically create those themselves using firmware. We would add caldari vanguard manufacturer instead. The base stats would be different for a Lai Dai vanguard vs a Viziam vanguard and would also have different modules. The bonuses can be swapped out. I also think the base stats should change based on firmware.