I think it's time to move away from the Rank-I to Rank-X system

If Multiplayer is to continue with the franchise, I think it's about time we ditched the Rank I to Rank X system. I understand that the system likely appeals to an audience that likes the grind to a fault, but in the long run it can lead to a lot of fatigue for people. It's a personal opinion, but I imagine for most people, the excitement of getting a reward from a loot pack only comes at Rank I (i.e. getting a new item) and Rank X (i.e. finally getting that item to max and out of the way for new gear). That gulf in between can be repetitive at times, and downright brutal with Ultra Rares. This problem has been exacerbated in ME:A, due to skill points for characters now being linked to the rank of said character. I know it's easy to say that skill points should not have been tied to character rank (which I agree on), but it just shows the absurdity of the system.

We need a system that doesn't revolve around maxing out gear, but instead about getting new items and gear that provides more build variety. Build variety is one of the most beneficial aspects of the games multiplayer, and what allowed players to continue playing the mode for hundreds of hours on end. Of course, this is also aided by having numerous characters, weapons, and gear to play with as well. Rather than attempting to get an item (be it weapons, equipment, or characters) to max rank, we should instead be able to max the stats of these items by simply playing. Do you enjoy using the Dahn? Play a bunch of games with it, and if you - for example - get enough points with it, you'll eventually reach max stats with the weapon. In this way, it feels less artificial; in a manner similar to leveling up a character.

As far as making up for the loot deficit, I feel as though this is where the mechanic of augments comes in. The Augment system - as a mechanic - not only provides the possibilities for better build variety, but also satisfies the need to grind for gear that'll make you better overall. Depending on the rarity - and type - of augment, it could drastically alter your playstyle. Imagine having the option to use the augment that increases recharge speed cooldowns by 50%, but reduces weapon damage by 30%. This type of augment allows for a build style centered upon casting powers left and right, and completely shifts your way of playing. Not only should augments alter the base stats of your characters abilities, but they could also alter the function of abilities themselves. In Dragon Age: Multiplayer, the player could receive Rings that boosted the damage, or slightly altered, a particular ability. This could be expanded upon in Mass Effect Multiplayer. Do you like using Nova? Maybe you could strike lucky and get an Augment that increases its radius by 30%. A more drastic alteration would allow the ability to deal significantly more damage, but in a significantly smaller area. And of course, the same would apply to weapons as well; which we already see in-game.

Having this type of system would help in breaking up the monotony of seeing the same items over and over again, and could possibly add more worthwhile longevity to the game mode.