Jeez, how did this end up on page 3 already? 2 replies and 2 likes? Is that it? No more feedback on this idea? Is everyone really happy with the shape of the current skill tree?

We have three rifles but two Assault rifles, The AR is (should be called) the blaster rifle, then the other AR is he scrambler Rifle, finally we have the laser rifle.

True but the LASER rifle doesn't fall into the same category because the amarr rifle is the scrambler. I actually can't imagine any racial variations on LASER rifles.

Caldari anti personell micro rocket launcher would full fill the caldari side of the racial speciality wepon I.e. ammar-lazer rifle minimitar - mass driver gallente - yet to come. (Ideas?) As all races will be given their own varient of the ar there will be a gallente and caldari racial special wepons to come.

Ah good point. Hmm maybe the gallente speciality weapon is supposed to be the plasma cannon?

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If anything there just need to ne militia variants of all weapons, equipment and modules so that people can test drive nefore they buy. That goes for every gun that doesn't have one now...flaylock, HMG, scrambler rifle, nova knife, laser rifle, remote explosives, etc. This would eliminate most of the (somewhat legitimate) cries for respecs and could add more variety and flavor to characters later on down the road by giving starter fits their race's gear. That aside though, we do need the ability to try out the stuff we are expected to invest sp into.

I agree with all of what you've said but see no reason in your statements that would go against my suggestion being implemented as well as those things.

I would like to see more depth in the skill trees as well for a couple of reasons. One is that it will encourage more specialization so you have more variety on the battlefield and roles, which create tactical interest and broader strategies for corps. It also makes it easy for people to get into a weapon quickly with the biggest bonuses coming fast and early while the ones deep in the tree that require the massive SP investments have much smaller bonuses. This helps balance the newer players getting to a relatively competitive place somewhat quickly, but still providing an edge to players who've deeply specialized.

I do disagree with your proposed method of organizing the tree. In EVE, it's based on weapon type. In other words, It could be organized by Lasers, Projectiles, Blasters/Rails, and Missiles, and then further specialize within those: So after getting Lasers to 3 it would unlock Scrambler Rifles, and Laser Rifles, and the (currently nonexistent) Laser-based sniper rifle. I think this approach would produce more variety on the battlefield than having specializations like Assault rifle (with the racial sub-specialties to follow). Under the system you're proposing everyone will use the variant of the Assault Rifle that's the current FotM since it's a trivial train, whereas if you've invested millions of skillpoints in hypothetical skills like "Laser heat buildup reduction 5" then jumping over to the rocket-based assault rifle that becomes the current FotM won't be worth the SP. Now instead of 10/16 players running the rocket AR, you've got 5/10 running that and you're still using your Scrambler Rifle which is still excellent and you're a lot more effective on the battlefield than running a gimped fitted FotM build. This will be a much more interesting match to play because you may have certain advantages over the Caldari AR and you'll try to fight in ways that maximize those advantages, while they try to do the same thing.

Variety is the key to keeping things interesting. I think it's why they went this direction with EVE and it seems to work well for them.

There are multiple problems with generalizing in this game. First, it is a game of specializations, it would disrupt the balance and progression of skills, not so much in the short term but in the long term. Second, it creates a crutch, players get used to it and become dependent on it, which becomes a damaging mechanic later on down the road. Third, allowing access to 4 (when all variants become available) advanced weapons is way too much and devalues all future skill investments (which at the sp cost are already of questionable value to many) to further specialize. Fourth, it doesn't fit lore or theme of the game, (I know most don't give a **** about it but none the less) which is different technologies which do not necessarily function the aame way for the different races and consequences for every decision. Fifth, the slippery slope, if this is done, in (to be very generous to the crying I have seen on these forums) it will only be six months before the band wagon starts rolling again to do the same for dropsuits, prototype weapons, categories of modules (ex. shield, armor, biotics), vehicles, and everything else to be lumped into single skills. That is why I say militia variants of all gear are to only reasonable solution. Test drive before you buy, it improves car sales and it can improve Dust.