What if: Merc Progression

(watsyurdeal) #1

So this is really going to come out of nowhere, but follow me on this.

So let’s just say Splash Damage didn’t go the loadout card route, but instead, each Merc had their own progression tree, and each merc had a selection of different primaries, secondaries, melees, and augments that you can pick and choose.

For example, Fragger has his own tree, where he can get a Machine Gun, an Assault Rifle, and Burst Rifle. And he would have perks that would affect his abilities in general, and some that pertain specifically to his nade, such as one that reduces the fuse time but reduces explosion radius, or one that increases radius but reduces damage, or one that give you an extra nade but increases the cooldown by 50%. And you could pick and choose which augments you wanted and build the merc towards how you play.

How do you think that would go?

(henki000) #2

The I would generate 3x explodydendron arty, 3x flying pig proxy, 3x nitro Rhino or 3x tough and 3x healing reach aura.

EDIT: and for the lulz I would generate random merc with 3x pineapple juggler.

(watsyurdeal) #3

Well you wouldn’t be able to do that I imagine, prob one combat augment, support augment, then special augment that pertains only to that merc.

(SnakekillerX) #4

Wouldn’t this exaggerate any stigma towards higher level players? They would have a direct advantage compared to lower level players as they’ve had the time to get all the mercs and unlock all their weapons and perks.

Na.

(watsyurdeal) #5

@SnakekillerX said:
Wouldn’t this exaggerate any stigma towards higher level players? They would have a direct advantage compared to lower level players as they’ve had the time to get all the mercs and unlock all their weapons and perks.

Na.

Dude at this point no matter what they have the advantage, more cards, more mercs, more time played. If people can’t get used to that I don’t know what they expect. Deep progression is what gets people invested in the game. No progression? No reason to stay.

(TheStrangerous) #6

Do you want BRINK 2.0?!

TLDR: Merc progression discourages picking other mercs, since it’s better to specialize in one merc. Flawed concept.

(TitaniumRapture) #7

@TheStrangerous said:

TLDR: Merc progression discourages picking other mercs, since it’s better to specialize in one merc. Flawed concept.

Then account progression.

(SnakekillerX) #8

@watsyurdeal said:

@SnakekillerX said:
Wouldn’t this exaggerate any stigma towards higher level players? They would have a direct advantage compared to lower level players as they’ve had the time to get all the mercs and unlock all their weapons and perks.

Na.

Dude at this point no matter what they have the advantage, more cards, more mercs, more time played. If people can’t get used to that I don’t know what they expect. Deep progression is what gets people invested in the game. No progression? No reason to stay.

I play plenty of games that don’t have progression based systems. Just cosmetics and they are the ones I keep returning to. Its the game play and competitiveness of a game that keeps me playing it, not unlocking things. I don’t mind unlocks in single player games and co-op games, but it just shifts the balance as soon as you play PvP.

(hawkeyeguy99) #9

I like the idea here, progression is the one thing that is really lacking in the game. But I think it’s too big of a change. It’d just be a HUGE gameplay shift and add a big grind that isn’t present in the game now. Good step in the right direction, just too big of one in my opinion.

#10

What about if a system like this was implemented while retaining our current loadout system as well? I don’t think that would be much of an issue and it’s the only way I see things like these working out. It’s similar to my idea (granted, I’m sure 500 other people have suggested it or felt the same way) of creating custom loadouts with some obvious augment restrictions and weighted values.

@TheStrangerous said:

TLDR: Merc progression discourages picking other mercs, since it’s better to specialize in one merc. Flawed concept.

I agree with this, however. Will probably make most team lineups look like a nightmare of randoms with no regard to the team or objective.

(Nail) #11

we tried it, it didn’t work

(Szakalot) #12

i appreciate the idea, but am not looking forward to the P2W cries on the forums.

Progression as far as better skill and knowledge with the game is very different from ‘this guy is lvl 50 and has all that equipment better than mine’