Changes to The Merc System?

(glossyBag) #1

Hi guys. Ive been playing Dirty Bomb for well over 4 months now and i have got to say that it is one of the best FPS games out there. There is actually teamwork in this game and not just one guy racking up kills with a one shot kill sniper.

I only have one problem, well its more of a suggestion. Why should Aura and Skyhammer be unlocked by default? I mean they are strong solid classes. Aura’s hitbox is one of the smallest in the game and she is also the fastest merc in the game. Her healing station is tremendously helpful and literally could be camped on. She also has the ability to revive as well. Meanwhile, Skyhammer has a powerful airstrike tool that could temporarily block players from entering a certain area (unless they want to die) or rack up amazing accolades. He could also give ammo to other players for pete’s sake therefore having unlimited ammo for himself as well.

By having these two mercs as default, I feel as if Dirty Bomb is devaluing them since EVERYONE is able to access the merc.

Suggestions:
Dirty Bomb should make a “default” merc class in while the class only has a primary, secondary, and a knife. This “default” merc would be first given to new players upon joining the game. Furthermore, completing the tutorial for the first time should award new players with a free merc of their choice. This would make sure that players would actually go through the tutorial and actually know how to complete the objectives in the game. Moreover, right off the bat, new players are choosing which mercs they are going to use themselves. This allows them to look more in depth in each of the mercs (for fear that they choose a shit merc) and reccomending them to learn their chosen mercs. New players can learn how to use these mercs with skill and learn how to actually play the game and use their chosen merc efficiently as well as integrating them into using them to complete objectives. This could get rid of confused players. (There have been too many times where I never see medics heal/revive or skyhammers giving ammo to others). The system in which the new players gain an insane amount of credits in the first few level could stay. In conclusion, new players would get two mercs of their own choosing upon reaching level 3 on top of the current merc rotation. That grants up to 5 mercs for new players with even having to grind.

As for Aura and Skyhammer since people have become so accustommed to them, Dirty Bomb could put them on “sale” for a few weeks for maybe a price of 10k credits. Then after the sale is over, they could become purchased for 30k credits.

TD:LR

Aura and Skyhammer should no longer be defaults because they dont deserve being labeled “default” (they are awesome mercs also)
New players start with a “default” mercs
Tutorial grants a free merc of their choosing for new players
New players now have two mercs in their arsenal (credits from first few levels)

If this change was made:
In order to combat mass panic
Put Aura and Skyhammer for sale for a few weeks for 10k

What do you guys think about this? Is this idea good or complete shit?

IGN- BOOTYSWIPER

(Gi.Am) #2

Thats a well tought out plan. But I see some problems with it.

One of the things that makes DB a very good F2P model is that it gives you competive mercs from the go. Introducing a weaker standard merc would ruin that impression a bit (sure the new standard mercs will be awesome but your motivation seems to be “skyhammer and aura are so awesome new players don’t deserve them” that would either apply to the new ones aswell or they are weaker).

Second there is a good reason why you get those 2 first. This is a Teambased objective oriented game and you get exactly those 2 mercs whoes main job is to support the team. Sure not everyone gets the message, but alot do and a team can always use a Aura or a Skyhammer.
Furthermore Aura is the dedicated medic of the game so people will focus alot more on healing and reviving, than they would do if they got sawbonez first (and healing and reviving doesn’t need mad tracking headshot skills). Skyhammer on the other hand is a good starter pick because he is easier to use and less situational than the other firesupport mercs and he behaves the most like the main shooterguy from other FPS games.

Allowing people to choose a merc freely at the beginning while cool for the new player. Would mean alot of first day everyone takes what they heard is OP and gets the high K/D aka we end up with a huge amount of vassilis / fragger / naders. Which are all mercs that mostly help the team by killing (therefore if you are still busy learning the map and adjusting to the speed you wouldn’t help at all).

Another thing just a small one. Right now Aura and Skyhammer are excluded from the free rotation which means new players always have 5 Mercs to try out. if they choose 1 freely there will be people having only 4 from the start.

(glossyBag) #3

I didnt say that they dont deserve them. They could choose them if they liked. Its just aggrivating to see new players not knowing what and how their mercs work. As you said, this is a Team Based shooter, and with a players that doesnt know how to do objectives or use their merc abilities, it puts the whole team at a disadvantage. This is just a solution that could solve this.

Although, you do have a good point on how new players would then search for the most OP mercs specifically designed to kill, but i doubt that would happen since everyone has a unique play style. I guess we would just have to take a chance here. Besides players would soon realize that having the “OP” mercs would not win them games amd would eventually buy new mercs that help with support or objectives.

(seashellPond) #4

I think all mercs are powerfull in the right hands. Theese starter merc are also, easy to play.

(ebonyMountain) #5

[left]I feel, that the 2 free mercs + small rotation is partly the reason you got some strange “balance” tips. The rotation would be better, if it was 5 mercs big, but you don’t have 2 perma free mercs. The rotation would be always 1x random medic, 1x random engineer, 1x assault, 1xfire support and because only Vassili exists at the moment 1x random, but can be a 1x random recon later.

I read about AirStrike and Laser being op, because people could not repair the EV fast enough. I read about tank Aura being to strong, because they did have the right assault.
Right now new players can have the problem, that they only experience 2-3 classes of gameplay. This will not be a good retention rate. :frowning:
[/left]

(ebonyMountain) #6

useless double comment