Deadeye Dic
Namtar Elite
Gallente Federation
31
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Posted - 2013.05.08 10:36:00 -
[1] - Quote
I'm not a new player, but I have rolled a new character and wanted to share my input. There are many various threads around that are hit and miss on this topic as a whole. I would like to have a consolidated and CONSTRUCTIVE dialogue concerning potential new players and what various other players (both veteran and perhaps new) have noticed. With that said, here is my list of things that I feel are going to make it very hard for new players to get into the game.
1. First and foremost, the ISK cost of basic drop suit skill books are too high. Once you buy the Dropsuit command skillbook, there is no way to buy the follow on skill book, even though you have enough SP to train it. This can be offset by running a few matches and isn't exactly game breaking, but drop suits are the path to better things, long before weapons or even drop suit upgrades such as shields or armor. No other infantry tree has tier 2 skill books that cost as much.
2. I have read it time and time again, but for the majority, it just isn't true. New players are not going to be happy with the game if they are constantly being pwnd on the battlefield. Starter gear simply cannot compete with proto gear on a consistent basis. This doesn't mean that proto players should be punished either. This simply means match for match proto wearers are more likely to dominate the battlefield.
3. Either by choice or because there is no tutorial telling new players this, no one seems to squad up. As veteran players know, squading up is the most important thing that you can do, it facilitates team play, but more importantly, it allows for the accumulation of WP to be able to provide OBs. So my solution to this issue is twofold. First, the system should automatically squad you up when a match starts. Second, this game needs a comprehensive tutorial/training simulator to explain things like WP and how they are used.
These are my big three issues. Now I realize that there are similar issues going on with the Vehicle Trees as well, but I'm not a vehicle person and can't speak intelligently enough about them, so I'm not going to try.
So how can we improve upon the system? Well in regards to my first point I think:
New players should be given more ISK and SP to start with. I think 750 ISK and 750K SP should do it. This will at least let new players get into basic suits and allow them to get into some basic weapons.
On issue number two, this one is hard. We could say better match making, but lets be honest, matchmaking can only take it so far. So I would suggest some skill tree changes as well. For instance, drop suits. From drop suit command to racial drop suits, the rise in SP and ISK is not very limiting especially for the more hardcore players. This is one reason why the gap between casual and hardcore players is so large. Looking at the new skill tree in tiers, I'll try to explain the changes that I think will work.
Lower the training multiplier and ISK cost of basic drop suit skills. You go from a 1x multiplier to a 6x multiplier then to 10x multiplier. Perhaps something more like 1x -> 3x -> 10x would be better. While I know players hate the 10x requirement, those are "top tier" suits and should be harder to get, but by lower the costs basic skills, you can have additional SP to spend later in either the racial suits or other skills. Drop suit upgrade skills are fine where they are at, IMO. The additional ISK and SP initially provided to new players would allow them to at least get into some basic defensive skills. Weaponry skills are a bit different. Weaponry and [Weapon] Operation skills are fine, but once you get into a specialized weapon tree the training multiplier remains the same at 2x. This should be changed to perhaps a 4x skill to help close the gap between casual and hardcore players. Once you get into Ammo and Proficiency skills the multiplier should be brought back down to 3x which is where it currently is.
Concerning issue number three, just change the way matches are brought together. Just force squad player that ARE NOT already in a squad when they queue up for a match.
So sorry for the wall of text and I know most people won't read it, but for those who do, please commit and provide suggestions as well. |