Skill Ceiling: Heavy Vs. Light Bodytype

(Bridger) #1

So I was looking at this poll which shows that a much larger number of people are interested in light than in heavy bodytype. I think this is a reflection of the perceived skill ceiling available to each class.

Light bodytypes (and quick moving classes in other games as well) are going to have an inherently higher skill ceiling for movement than the heavies will. There is going to be a very big difference between skilled light players and new light players. There is not going to be nearly as big a difference in skilled heavies vs. new heavies, because they will not be able to pull off the complicated maneuvers.

This is a problem in TF2, for example. The heavy is a very weak class in that game, because the faster moving classes have a much higher skill ceiling. A very good Scout is much more useful than a very good heavy. But if they make heavies easier, they will be much too powerful in the hands of new players.

Though the real problem in TF2 is that heavies move so slowly they cannot keep up with the team, which should hopefully not be an issue in brink (I’m guessing the difference between heavy/light is not nearly as much as heavy/scout).

What are your thoughts? Is there any way to provide some skill to heavies to compensate for the lack of movement-related skills?*

*obviously they still can use the smart system, but it will likely be a lot less useful to them, moving as slow as they do.

(liQuid3x) #2

i dont think there is a skill ceiling in games, and thats way you see even the best progamers loss.
heavy bodytype will have a smaller learning curve,the Light bodytype will have to be more then a good shot but also know every part of the map and probably will force you to shot only on the move do to low hp.

(Bridger) #3

Of course there is a skill ceiling. For example: What’s the skill ceiling for moving forward? It’s basically nothing because moving forward is as simple as pressing W. If instead you had to use 4 buttons to control your various leg muscles, moving forward would have a much higher skill ceiling.

heavy bodytype will have a smaller learning curve,the Light bodytype will have to be more then a good shot but also know every part of the map and probably will force you to shot only on the move do to low hp.

You literally JUST described why the light has a high skill ceiling and the heavy has a low one. :confused::rolleyes:

(jegis) #4

It’s because using your mobility to survive means you need good reflexes and a quick thinking. That’s a key part of skilled based FPSes and you can’t compensate it.

(Nail) #5

I welcome all the lights, they die easier

(Jess Alon) #6

You don’t think the higher damage output of the heavier weapons and added range will offset any of this? Though the light has mobility the heavy has weapons that can suppress. I’m planning on playing as the heavy and using the autoshotty a lot to suppress any lights that get the jump on me while having an AR type weapon to maximize my distance gap against them as they can only can only carry SMGs at max or maybe light rifles with a low fire rate. The only big problem will be mediums who can also carry ARs. But hopefully I can close the gap and mow them down with the auto shotgun and my high HP and some buffs thanks to medics and maybe some kevlar from some soldiers.

Heavies will have benefits too.

(H0RSE) #7

So lights have a higher skill-ceiling because they ave more movement maneuvers that can be mastered?..

It;s a shame there is much more to this game than finding creative ways to move around the map. Both body types require the same amount of skill to master, they just need to master different skills.

(aaarrm) #8

How did you get that assumption? You just said you think Lights will be more skillful and possibly better than Heavies just because more people want to play as Lights. I just want to play as a Light because it has more parkour abilities and this game centers a large part on that, so I think it will be more FUN (not everyone plays for skill). I want to play as a Light but am afraid of how terribly underpowered they seem, they have weak weapons AND low health. I hardly think Lights will have a much higher potential than Heavies and Mediums… especially not just because a lot of people (who have never played the game) are thinking that’s who they want to try playing as first.

And TF2 is a different game.

(MatthiasK75) #9

more skill at what? if my objective is to plant a change and then defend it until it blows up wtf does it matter if i can run really fast or climb higher things? i need big guns and to be able to take a beating.

(Ragoo) #10

I agree that light body type will require more movement skill. But on the other hand heavy will require more skill knowing where to be when, cause you can’t change your position easily. Also they get more complicated weapons that require different skills than the standard weapons that a light guy has.

Probably it will come down to heavies being easier to be good with tho, which is not necessarily bad if a variety of bodytypes is needed for a good team to work well.

(Jess Alon) #11

I really don’t think there’s going to be a best class… bodytype… weapon… or any of that. Hopefully it will all be balanced. And if not upon release it’ll get worked until it is balanced.

(H0RSE) #12

With the popularity of Lights, I see them being kind of like how snipers are in games - Everyone wants to be one, only a handful are actually good.

(Jess Alon) #13

And the medium will be like the assault… and the heavy will be like the destruction/rpg guy.

(Ajax's Spear) #14

Some would have you believe that lights are just so fast that they can outrun bullets, and are impossible to see other than when they’re stationary, so you wouldn’t be able to hit them anyway. And a light operative is double trouble. Not only do they travel at the speed of light, but they can also kill you in one hit with their super secret ninja judo chop before you even see them.

eyeroll

(Shadedluck) #15

Just because there are more lights than heavies doesn’t mean heavies are useless and have a low skill ceiling. The heavies have much higher health than the lights, allowing them to push forward through the map, thus allowing the lights to get further than they could alone. A heavy may not be able to do all the fancy maneuvers that lights and mediums do, but that doesn’t mean they are that simple to control, either. A heavy with a good aim would have no issues whatsoever at hitting a light and killing him. Just like all other classes and weight types, you have to get used to it and pick your own that you want to be.

(H0RSE) #16

Overall, I would think that the popularity with Lights (other than playing them would be fun) is because players believe they will be easier to play and/or master.

(DarkangelUK) #17

A lot of the previous SD game regulars will more than likely go the lights for the speed, to try and bring them a pace akin to W:ET/ETQW.

(Jess Alon) #18

As soon as they realize they have lower health as a trade off they might not be AS excited about it.

(Ajax's Spear) #19

On a somewhat related note, I believe the popularity with operatives comes from people thinking that they’re ninja stealth assassins that will be impossible to see or kill. Don’t get me wrong, they do sound badass, but I have a feeling that using an operative efficiently will have a pretty steep learning curve, and that a lot of these folks are going to change to something else when they realize that they aren’t something out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

(H0RSE) #20

Based on the hands-on time our guy at Fragoworld had at Brink, (who also has 1000’s of hours of playtime with W;ET and Quake Wars) he said that the sprint speed of the Medium was comparable to the sprint speed in W:ET.