Hey Mike, great idea. However I would like to make a few suggestions and point out a few flaws.

With what you are requesting, it would pretty much take out alot of the pub matches, and increase proto stomping noobs. ( the flaw)


Suggestion: Take your original idea, no sp , no isk , no actual loss. BUT you can only use basic gear, nothing advanced or proto. this way you still get to learn the ropes, but you don't get to beast over the noobs with proto and will keep the proto stomping in the pub matches. And have a limit of so many matches allowed per day, or maybe week in these training grounds. so it will force you to go out into pub matches.

Eventually I believe ccp plans on having a testing server, but it would probably be limited to actually testing new content before release.

+1 we do need a training grounds of sorts for the new guys and a warm up of sorts for when you first get online.

Flaw -- no, I don't think so. Thought this one out. Which is why I suggested keeping it within the Corp, so new players don't get slammed by the vets. Idea is for TRAINING your Corp for battles, and assisting the newer players.

And the basic gear bites, no real power weapons there, for the new players that can be very frustrating. Better to learn ropes with powered up players, so the new ones can see what they will eventually become. Recommend using suit outfits that have been earned in battle to train and show players what can be done, and how to skill into suit sets.

However, the limitation of training matches does work for me, good idea.As well, the battles can/should be used for practice with squads --- learn attack tactics, when to run, when to fight, etc.

SUGGESTION

I think it would be a good idea, anyway:

Training Mode -

Players can go battle each other for purpose of training only.
No ISK, SP or WP earned or spent.
No clones, equipment or weapons lost when fragged
Simply just a training ground to teach and learn in.
Either use existing maps (preferred), or a special map(s) for the purpose.
Possibly only Corp members, but would be better if could bring non-Corp members as well.

I welcome thoughts, suggestions, comments on this idea.

Also, before I get spammed, please disregard this suggestion if it has already been posted.
I looked, but did not find anything similar, if there is, please point me that way

they should allow players to go onto their corp owned districts were they can call in whatever they want to practise defending their property

This is a good idea indeed, but you need to be able to pick a map for battle, their would be no point if you did not have a place to go to train. Maybe we would wan't to train in a specific place!

This is a genius idea. As clones, we don't care about live-fire exercises, because even if we die, we just respawn. An excellent way to learn tactics. Death becomes a learning experience.

As a dropship pilot, It would also be a safe environment with which to practice flying without worrying about a forge gun popping you.

I support this 100%.

squad training.


enemy bot players could be added to this mode..


to improve squad coordination while defending and attacking targets...

This is something that I've wanted since I started playing Dust. I've been meaning to post a request for this but have never gotten around to it.

I would like to see a map specifically developed for this with shooting ranges to try out different weapons at moving targets and various ranges. Could even be a couple of players in a sparring type mode just practicing shooting at each other and scoring points for hits. Then you get to practice movement as well as marksmanship.

Case in point; I've played around with the mass driver a bit but haven't really stuck with it because the way you aim and fire it is so much different than other hand held weapons. I get killed a lot using it which ends up costing me suits and isk and so I get frustrated and put that fit away and go back to the weapons and fits that I'm better at and more comfortable with.

Another example - I really want to skill up one of my alts as a dropship pilot but trying to learn to fly one in a match has also proven to be costly and frustrating.

A real world comparison scenario would be like this: Special forces/commandos are the elite of any military. To get to that level, soldiers constantly train often for years with weapons and tactics. In fact, their training never stops until they leave special ops or retire. In Dust however, everyone is just thrown onto the battlefield and expected to mix it up with players who have far more experience and therefore far better equipment than the noob does and so consequently the noob gets killed a lot and very often gets so frustrated, he quits playing.

We're all supposed to be warriors/mercenaries and yet in this environment, we're given no opportunity to do what any self respecting warrior/mercenary would ever do and expect to survive and go into combat without any training or practice. Seems kinda odd to me.

Environment where killed clones are free and players can scour maps for hours to find exploits/glitches/etc..? Perhaps not as awesome in the long run.

What about virtual reality mode where CCP gives us some wild skins/textures and some smaller VR maps (single installations, perhaps)? That retains the lore of real clones costing money and every battle being on a wildly varying map on one of thousands of planet districts.

Also, VR maps would be an AWESOME way to introduce and encourage player-created custom maps! Thunderdome arenas, dropship obstacle courses, lav race courses, etc.