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Gully Alex Foyle
Black Fox Marauders Repeat 0ffenders
216
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Posted - 2014.05.08 09:39:00 -
[1] - Quote
Skill training time is all about level 5s. Training level 5 takes almost 6x the time it takes to train levels 1 to 4.
But with some exceptions, level 5's bonus to whatever the skill does is nice, but not game-changing.
As an example, few people train Advanced Weapon Upgrades straight to level 5. They'll go to 3 or 4 and switch to another skill, leaving 5 for later. There aren't that many fits that work with AWU 5 but not with AWU 4.
Unless they want to fly Marauders or Dreads.
So it's really all about level 5 prerequisites, that are clearly intended time sinks before players (new and old alike) gain access to new gear.
CCP already waived level 5 prereqs on some skills, for example racial battleship 5 for carriers or PG management 5 for thermodynamics (overheating). They might decide to lower some other level 5 prereqs in the future (T2 ships and modules come to mind).
TL;DR: the training time of core skills isn't really 'gimping' anyone. Training to level 4 is fast and almost always enough to be 'competitive': player skill is much more important (and yes, it does take months and even years to train that).
Rather, it's level 5 prereqs that actually set the 'pace' at which players (new and old) gain access to new toys. It's CCP's call to balance short-term satisfaction vs. long-term commitment, it's a tricky job but their track record shows that they're not afraid to make changes. |
Gully Alex Foyle
Black Fox Marauders Repeat 0ffenders
223
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Posted - 2014.05.12 09:52:00 -
[2] - Quote
Khadhir Hashul wrote:I find it funny that EVE is one of those games where people think they can go 'we didn't want those players anyway' or 'you need to do [insert specific task here] for three months' in response to an argument like this. I've had at least five people quit on me because of the skill system.
Not that anything's going to change until the community's toxic 'working as intended' mentality changes, of course. There's nothing wrong about making a hardcore game that discourages casual gameplay and just isn't for everybody.
Moar players doesn't necessarily mean either a better game or more profits for CCP. Having a strong and unique vision seems to have worked better for the past 11 years. |
Gully Alex Foyle
Black Fox Marauders Repeat 0ffenders
258
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Posted - 2014.05.13 12:53:00 -
[3] - Quote
Another couple of points.
First is: as far as actual gameplay is concerned, SP makes very little difference. Lvl 4 missions are exactly the same gameplay as Lvl 1, mining in a hulk is exactly the same as mining in a venture, PVPing in a battleship is very similar to PVPing in a frigate (tactics differ obviously, but it's still warp/move/target/point/shoot/repair etc.).
Second is: if you're playing with others, SP isn't so important. No gang or fleet will say no to an extra tackle, scout or dps. Yes, FCs will say 'f*k off' to somebody that has the SP for a HAC but doesn't want to fly one because he's lazy or risk-averse, but I've never heard an FC say that to an enthusiastic and reasonably smart newbro that just wants to help and get involved with the 'big boys'.
SP seem to matter most to solo players, but this is an MMO. |
Gully Alex Foyle
Black Fox Marauders Repeat 0ffenders
761
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Posted - 2014.06.26 13:48:00 -
[4] - Quote
Khadhir Hashul wrote:Less players mean no game at all.
Or no updates, at the very least, which for a game like EVE would be death sentence. This 'argument' pops up in almost every thread. It's an incredibly silly argument because:
1) it has nothing to do with the gameplay
2) it could be used to support basically anything, from pink Hello Kitty style spaceships ('just think of all the little girls that would sub!!!') to hardcore avatar p0rn ('just think of all the pervs that would sub!!!')
3) while anybody that has played for a couple hundred hours can have something interesting to say about EVE - the game, nobody except CCP management has enough information to make meaningful comments on EVE - the business
TL;DR: Please focus on good ideas for better gameplay, not crap ideas just 'to get moar subs'. |
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