Cosgar
ParagonX
3185
   |
Posted - 2013.07.25 19:25:00 -
[1] - Quote
After some extended play in Uprising, there seemed to be a little something missing from Dust 514. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something was missing compared to Chromosome. After some discussion in game, observing some battles, and paying attention to the forums, I think I figured out a problem that needs to be addressed.
The current dropsuit/skill system promotes Power Creep
In Chromosome, the Standard, Advanced and Prototype dropsuit system worked for several reasons:
- ISK was a balancing factor that prevented prototype spam. Prototype was so expensive, that it was limited to CBs. In pub games, using strictly prototype could seriously hurt the user's income and added more value to STD/ADV fittings.
- Prototype weapons were kept in check because prototype suits were too expensive for everyday use. If a player wanted to use a prototype weapon, they had to either use a prototype suit or give up something on a lower meta level suit to fit it.
- VK.1, T-II, and B-Series sub variants within the suit tiers offered incomperables that balanced dropsuits to be better in different situations, not just all around better. Shield/Armor imbalance in Chromosome didn't fully allow this to come to fruition, but having more choices in a player's fitting selection rather than more raw power was a healthy encouragement.
With all these examples, power creep was at a minimum. Even though there was a sufficient gap between STD/ADV/PRO weapons, the economy prevented everyone from running around in the best gear in the game at all times. This allowed newer players to at least have somewhat of a fighting chance despite the SP gap, veteran players with more SP could specialize in different roles without sacrificing their overall effectiveness and players that did narrow themselves into one specific role were properly rewarded as they should. But when prices were lowered, beta players received a refund for all of their assets, and the changes to the skill tree became more dropsuit, weapon and vehicle specific, this delicate balance was thrown off and created a situation of power creep:
- Prototype dropsuits are too commonplace, therefore making prototype equipment more commonplace as well. Pub matches have degraded into a situation where whoever has the most veteran players winning.
- Because of the abundance of prototype, all players are forced to specialize in one specific role just to compete. This limits how many different roles/fittings a person can use.
- Players that specialized in more than one role are even less effective because the gap between one prototype fitting vs 2~3 STD/ADV fittings available is too wide.
- It's harder for newer players to be able to have a fighting chance. With everyone running prototype, a player has the option of either AFKing for the SP they need to compete, enduring the unnecessarily extensive struggle to be competitive, or quit. Many of which choose the latter.
- Many veteran players are burned out. If you're stuck in one role, it's going to get old. This is why we see so many topics, requesting respecs. Nobody wants to be completely locked into one role like we are now. The common mentality seems to be that you have to grind into prototype X in role Y because it's the only way to compete, it shouldn't be this way. STD/ADV gear is severly devalued because prototype is readily available, more rewarding, and a minimal risk of losing it.
If this goes unchecked we're going to be left in a situation where player retention will decline because nobody will want to endure months and months of getting curb stomped by prototype gear. There are a lot of "Dust is dying" topics as of late, claiming this because server turnout is at an all time low, but as I've stated before, summer is, has, and always will be slow for the entire gaming industry. Even with that truth, we're still going to lose players, new and old because of the current flaws.
Incomporables: Power Through Options
I propose that instead of making each tier of dropsuit more powerful through raw power, we make them powerful through the options they allow. For the following example, I'll be strictly using the Caldari CK.0 medium frame dropsuit. This isn't etched in stone, but rather a suggestion. Any feedback on the topic would be greatly appreciated. First off, let's look at the Caldari CK.0
CPU- 300 gF
PG- 60 KW
High Slots - 4
Low Slots - 3
Equipment - 1
Light Weapon Slot -1
Sidearm Slot -1
Grenade-1
Shields- 210 HP
Armor- 120 HP
Shield Recharge Rate - 20 HP/s
Recharge Delay- 5s
Depleted Recharge Delay- 8s
Movement Speed- 5m/s
Sprint Speed- 7m/s
Sprint Duration- 15/s? (Might have changed since the stamina nerf)
Stamina- 150
Stamina Recovery Rate- 15/s
So for all intents and purposes, let's make this the STD Caldari assault CK-1. No racial bonus, no suit bonus, just the suit slots and fitting options. In fact, for the remainder of the example, I'll be using these stats as the base for changes being made from STD > ADV > PRO. The idea is that the suit will be more powerful through the different fitting options and bonuses that encourage different styles of play. The end result should be the dropsuits being used as a canvas for incomperables- different gaming mechanics that aren't powerful through stats, but their usefulness in a different situation.
Players that invest into the Caldari suit will be granted with more fitting options in the different suit tiers, add just as much value to the lower tiers, and reward players that want to be more versatile the ability to be almost as effective as someone that fully invests. In my next post, I'll be covering the Caldari "Sharpshooter" C/1 Series, an assault dropsuit designed for longer range combat at the cost of effectiveness at close range.
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Cosgar
ParagonX
3185
|
Posted - 2013.07.25 19:25:00 -
[2] - Quote
Caldari "Sharpshooter" C/1 Series
High Slots - 4
Low Slots - 3
Equipment - 2
Light Weapon Slot -1
Sidearm Slot -1
Grenade-1
Shields- 210 HP
Armor- 120 HP
Shield Recharge Rate - 20 HP/s
Recharge Delay- 6s
Depleted Recharge Delay- 10s
Movement Speed- 4.7m/s
Sprint Speed- 6.7m/s
Sprint Duration- 13/s
Stamina- 130
Stamina Recovery Rate- 13/s
Dropsuit Bonus: 3% Hybrid Weapon range per level in Dropsuit Command
Caldari Dropsuit Bonus: 6% Scope Zoom per level in Caldari Dropsuit Command
Sharpshooter Role Bonus: +5% Hybrid Weapon Damage -25% Light Weapon Accuracy
So what we have here is a higher tier Caldari assault suit that isn't more powerful than the basic suit which is all around good, but a dropsuit that is better in a specific role. This would make a good sniper suit or take advantage of weapons with a scope like the TAC AR, ScR, or the Gauss Rifle. But these advantages create disadvantages as the suit is slower and has significantly lower accuracy when hip firing. With levels in Dropsuit Command and Caldari Medium Dropsuit Command, the suit will only get better as you invest SP. In case if you didn't notice, I've changed the bonus system where each dropsuit will have 3 sets of bonuses:
Dropsuit Bonus- A basic suit bonus that increases with each level of Dropsuit Command
Caldari Dropsuit Bonus- A bonus that increases per level of Caldari Medium Dropsuit Command
Role Bonus - Default bonus tied to the specific suit's role. Can't be improved through any skill. (May sometimes have a penalty)
Next up, let's look at another suit, the Caldari "Demolitions" B-Series, an assault suit that specializes in anti-vehicle:
High Slots - 5
Low Slots - 2
Equipment - 1
Light Weapon Slot -1
Sidearm Slot -1
Grenade-1
Shields- 220 HP
Armor- 110 HP
Shield Recharge Rate - 25 HP/s
Recharge Delay- 6s
Depleted Recharge Delay- 10s
Movement Speed- 5m/s
Sprint Speed- 7m/s
Sprint Duration- 15/s? (Might have changed since the stamina nerf)
Stamina- 150
Stamina Recovery Rate- 15/s
Dropsuit Bonus: +5% To Light and Sidearm Ammo Capacity per level of Dropsuit Command
Caldari Dropsuit Bonus: +5% To Grenades Carried per level of Caldari Medium Dropsuit Command
Anti-Armor Role Bonus: 25% To Equipment Carried
So as you see, we have a dropsuit that would benefit from just about any kind of weapon with AV properties. Mass Driver, Swarm Launchers, AV Grenades, Proximity Mines, Remote Explosives, Flaylock Pistol and even the Plasma Cannon to some degree with the 25% Ammo Capacity buff. It's not better than the Basic or Sharpshooter suit, but it provides more options to someone investing in Caldari medium frame suits.
Next up, let's look at the Caldari "Shock Trooper" CK.1, a dropsuit that specializes in sustained combat through its faster shield regeneration and higher shield buffer.
High Slots - 5
Low Slots - 2
Equipment - 1
Light Weapon Slot -1
Sidearm Slot -1
Grenade-1
Shields- 280 HP
Armor- 50 HP
Shield Recharge Rate - 25 HP/s
Recharge Delay- 5s
Depleted Recharge Delay- 8s
Movement Speed- 4.7m/s
Sprint Speed- 6.7m/s
Sprint Duration- 15/s
Stamina- 150
Stamina Recovery Rate- 15/s
Dropsuit Bonus: +5% to shield regulator efficacy per level in Dropsuit Command
Caldari Dropsuit Bonus: 5% reduction to shield module PG/CPU usage per level Caldari Medium Dropsuit Command
Shock Trooper Role Bonus: +25% Shield Recharger and Shield Energizer efficacy -25% Armor Plate efficacy
Now assuming my math is correct, (could be wrong) with all shield extenders, in the high slots this suit could get up to 713 shields  might seem a bit OP, but look at how little armor the suit has. Consider this the Drake of Caldari dropsuits, just beware of any lasers, ScR, or Flux Grenades. But with the bonuses to shield energizers, rechargers, and CPU/PG reduction to these modules, you can fit it for a faster shield regen instead of a huge buffer. But it can only shield tank because it only has 2 low slots and a 25% penalty to any armor plate fitted.
Last, but not least, let's look at the Caldari "Assault" CK.0, an offense oriented class that provides increased DPS at the cost of shield regen.
High Slots - 5
Low Slots - 2
Equipment - 1
Light Weapon Slot -1
Sidearm Slot -1
Grenade-1
Shields- 200 HP
Armor- 130 HP
Shield Recharge Rate - 10 HP/s
Recharge Delay- 6s
Depleted Recharge Delay- 10s
Movement Speed- 5m/s
Sprint Speed- 7m/s
Sprint Duration- 20/s?
Stamina- 200
Stamina Recovery Rate- 20/s
Dropsuit Bonus: 5% Hybrid Weapon reload speed per level of Dropsuit Command
Caldari Medium Dropsuit Bonus: 1% to Hybrid Weapon RoF per level in Caldari Medium Dropsuit
Assault Bonus: 10% Damage Mod efficacy. -25% Shield Recharger efficacy
So with this suit, you have an option for the ultimate ganker... at the cost of shield recharge/delay. Still a powerful suit in its own regard, but not recommended for extended combat.
So with level 5 in Caldari Medium Frame dropsuits (and Dropsuit Command) you wind up with more fitting options to use on the field, instead of just a prototype and a bunch of weaker suits you're not going to use anymore. Players that want to dabble in Caldari suits get a generalist that isn't particularly good in any specific area. Also newer players can try out Caldari suits with little SP invested and be effective with the lower tier models. Everybody wins because no suit is better than the other, just better in specific situations and players won't be locked into one role. Want to be a sniper? Use the sharpshooter, Seeing a lot of vehicles on the field? Use the Demolitions suit. Want something for guerrilla warfare? The shock trooper might be for you? Want to gank? ...you get the point. Again, these are only suggestions and a compilations of ideas from in game discussions, any feedback would be appreciated |