A call to Bioware/EA to change skill point mechanics, if not now, at some point in the near future
Mar 21, 2017 3:20:00 GMT
SalMasRac, Cyberzombie, and 10 more like this
Post by ddrguy300 on Mar 21, 2017 3:20:00 GMT
It has come to my attention that character cards give said character increases in base skill points. The reality at present is that a grand total of 86 skill points max are awarded to character kits at level 20 and rank 10 (having acquired all cards).
It also appears to be that the base number of skill points for the same kit at level 20 and rank 1 is 62.
You guys kind of phoned it in on this mechanic, and I expressed my mixed feelings in another topic.
My question is this: Why did you guys design the system this way? And can you please change it in the future?
This severely limits players ability to utilize their character builds. With only a base of 62 skill points to use, I can max out just under 3 skills - a 6, a 6, and a 5 - all three if I get a second card. While this isn't an issue with bronze kits, it becomes more and more of an issue the more character kit rarities increase, especially ultra rare kits.
One of the things that made the Mass Effect Multiplayer so great was that, especially in the later days, anyone could jump into some high level matches, get a character to max level, and have the same points to put into skills as the veterans. This always kept the pool of players fresh and equal. But the way things are set up now in this manner you've designed, it will lead to a future of inevitable divide of newcomers and veterans - something no one wants, not even the veterans. This is a divide that could and will significantly shorten the life span of the game.
To quote TheThirdRace:
"Being able to pick up the game and play instantly in the highest difficulty was one, if not the most, important thing that made the longevity of the game so successful.
It was impossible to compete on higher difficulties in DAI MP because you needed the promotions. The only thing this mechanic created was that the number of high difficulty players started to dwindle and nobody could replace them since new players were stuck on lower difficulties. It effectively split the community behind a wall taller than the distance from Earth to the moon.
DAI MP has died less than 2 years after its launch, even if in its current state it's a great game. ME3MP is still alive and kicking, without anyone even paying attention."
And whom he was responding to, dcal31:
"If it is limited as described here, it would be purely to stop people from playing higher difficulties with higher payouts at low levels. With the right kit and coaching, even a brand new player could be effective in Platinum with the correct character.
My one friend picked up the trilogy before Christmas after I let him borrow a copy of the first game. With another friend, we brought him directly into Platinum with the human adept. The first couple of matches were rough for him, but the huge payouts persuaded him to stick with it and once he was leveled up, he was quickly able to be a contributing member of the team relying almost entirely on his biotic abilities. And with Platinum payouts, he was quickly about the burn though common and uncommon unlocks, and start unlocking truly Platinum capable equipment."
And they're both spot on.
Now, my numbers may be off a little, but the point still holds true.
So I urge the Devs to keep in mind a date in which they'd be willing to pivot this mechanic to one that acts more as a reward and less like crippling a kit from the get go.
WHAT I WOULD CHANGE:
I would change the base skill points at level 20 back to 84 like in ME3. As for the cards increasing skill points as well, I would keep that mechanic in one of two ways: Either let us finally play with fully maxed out kits, giving us a total of 105 skill points to use, OR if not that, give us something as simple as one point per card allowing us to have 10 extra points to play with so we can have a less squishy power focused build, as an example. Those ten points would make all the difference, as seasoned players from ME3MP will attest to.
Either way I'm sure warrants some balance changes/buffs to enemies, and in that case, there's really no reason to give us the full 105 - just buff the enemies more than if you only gave us ten extra. I'm sure the vets would love that.
But the point at the end of the day is to not give the players half of a working car to jump into the game when everyone else at that point have all full working cars.
So, in closing, please consider making this shift as the game ages. When we start to play Platinum, that would be an ideal time to make the change. And, again, I'd honestly love to see this change right now, but it's not as much of an issue because the divide it causes is small at present. But the divide will grow as the game moves forward. And I'd like to see this great game last as long as possible. Removing this divide would aid greatly in that. Go ahead and make your extra money for the time being as it makes sense for said time, but their will be a time in the near future where that scale will shift and it will become more lucrative (not to mention right) to make this change in skill point acquisition.
It also appears to be that the base number of skill points for the same kit at level 20 and rank 1 is 62.
You guys kind of phoned it in on this mechanic, and I expressed my mixed feelings in another topic.
My question is this: Why did you guys design the system this way? And can you please change it in the future?
This severely limits players ability to utilize their character builds. With only a base of 62 skill points to use, I can max out just under 3 skills - a 6, a 6, and a 5 - all three if I get a second card. While this isn't an issue with bronze kits, it becomes more and more of an issue the more character kit rarities increase, especially ultra rare kits.
One of the things that made the Mass Effect Multiplayer so great was that, especially in the later days, anyone could jump into some high level matches, get a character to max level, and have the same points to put into skills as the veterans. This always kept the pool of players fresh and equal. But the way things are set up now in this manner you've designed, it will lead to a future of inevitable divide of newcomers and veterans - something no one wants, not even the veterans. This is a divide that could and will significantly shorten the life span of the game.
To quote TheThirdRace:
"Being able to pick up the game and play instantly in the highest difficulty was one, if not the most, important thing that made the longevity of the game so successful.
It was impossible to compete on higher difficulties in DAI MP because you needed the promotions. The only thing this mechanic created was that the number of high difficulty players started to dwindle and nobody could replace them since new players were stuck on lower difficulties. It effectively split the community behind a wall taller than the distance from Earth to the moon.
DAI MP has died less than 2 years after its launch, even if in its current state it's a great game. ME3MP is still alive and kicking, without anyone even paying attention."
And whom he was responding to, dcal31:
"If it is limited as described here, it would be purely to stop people from playing higher difficulties with higher payouts at low levels. With the right kit and coaching, even a brand new player could be effective in Platinum with the correct character.
My one friend picked up the trilogy before Christmas after I let him borrow a copy of the first game. With another friend, we brought him directly into Platinum with the human adept. The first couple of matches were rough for him, but the huge payouts persuaded him to stick with it and once he was leveled up, he was quickly able to be a contributing member of the team relying almost entirely on his biotic abilities. And with Platinum payouts, he was quickly about the burn though common and uncommon unlocks, and start unlocking truly Platinum capable equipment."
And they're both spot on.
Now, my numbers may be off a little, but the point still holds true.
So I urge the Devs to keep in mind a date in which they'd be willing to pivot this mechanic to one that acts more as a reward and less like crippling a kit from the get go.
WHAT I WOULD CHANGE:
I would change the base skill points at level 20 back to 84 like in ME3. As for the cards increasing skill points as well, I would keep that mechanic in one of two ways: Either let us finally play with fully maxed out kits, giving us a total of 105 skill points to use, OR if not that, give us something as simple as one point per card allowing us to have 10 extra points to play with so we can have a less squishy power focused build, as an example. Those ten points would make all the difference, as seasoned players from ME3MP will attest to.
Either way I'm sure warrants some balance changes/buffs to enemies, and in that case, there's really no reason to give us the full 105 - just buff the enemies more than if you only gave us ten extra. I'm sure the vets would love that.
But the point at the end of the day is to not give the players half of a working car to jump into the game when everyone else at that point have all full working cars.
So, in closing, please consider making this shift as the game ages. When we start to play Platinum, that would be an ideal time to make the change. And, again, I'd honestly love to see this change right now, but it's not as much of an issue because the divide it causes is small at present. But the divide will grow as the game moves forward. And I'd like to see this great game last as long as possible. Removing this divide would aid greatly in that. Go ahead and make your extra money for the time being as it makes sense for said time, but their will be a time in the near future where that scale will shift and it will become more lucrative (not to mention right) to make this change in skill point acquisition.
