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[Sandpit]

Trial mechs are a hot topic and almost universally panned as a bad new player experience. I have an idea that doesn't involve removing them but changes their function entirely as well as implementing a new way for "cadets" to experience what to look forward to once they start customizing their own mechs and be competitive against players with optimized loadouts.

Trial mechs are no longer available for new players. They have no access to trial mechs until they reach a certain trigger. The trigger could be anything from games played to a certain amount of c-bills earned. Trial mechs are instead only available to players who have moved past that point.

"Vets" still have their normal option of running amok in the normal manner with trial mechs with the normal rotation system currently used. They still have the same limitations as trial mechs have now when it comes to exp gain. This gives the players a chance to test out new mechs and weight classes to see what they might like to purchase next. With the removal of the R&R mechanic trials really have lost a lot of their original purpose in being able to run one while not facing R&R fees after a match if you're running low on cash.

The new system for cadets would be as follows:

Every month players are able to submit their own custom designs for mechs in each weight class. The community or devs vote on and decide which mechs are going to be used for that current rotation. These mechs are only available to new players and only until they reach the trigger mechanism mentioned above. They earn the same way as trial mechs do now with no bonuses other than having a better mech to compete with on the battlefield as opposed to stock mechs that generally stand little to no chance in the hands of a new player still trying to figure out and understand heat management, weapon ranges, etc.

This would also help new players experience just what kind of mechs and customization they can look forward to once they start building their own stable. These mechs would still rotate as they normally do and there would be one available per weight class.

The players whose designs are used could receive a cockpit item like a medallion that gives a small loyalty point bonus for the contribution to the community or a c-bill award, etc. Just something small the acknowledges their effort in helping out new players and original designs. This would let new players be competitive from the beginning regardless of skill level and get the community involved in helping out one another.

So what do you guys think of this idea?