Mystere, on 20 June 2014 - 11:18 AM, said:
That only works if skill and power are in a simple multiplicative relationship. But, what if it is really:
v = maximum([p * e^f(s)], [s * e^f(p)])
where:
f(s) = some function based on player skill
f(p) = some function based on mech build
p * e^f(s) = victory potential of a mech when piloted by someone with a specific set of skills
s * e^f(p) = victory potential of a player when piloting a specific mech build
Something to think about.
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You're trying to set up a relationship where an increase in power with no change to skill may result in an identical or lower victory potential, and I don't think you've actually succeeded, because you're not changing the type of build, only increasing the power of said build by putting in stronger weapons. It all becomes rather confusing when you try to use it in the real world since p is actually a matrix, and s is also a matrix, but it's not hard to predict that when you increase many values in p(ower) while holding other variables constant, you'll see an increase in v(ictory potential).
I understand what you are trying to say, though. Maybe clan weapons require a different skill set, or a different strategy to exploit their higher damage, range, smaller size, lighter weight, better heat efficiency, and somehow compensate for the minor increase in time on target. I have confidence that when you hand a player of any skill level a weapon system with 7-8 major pros and 1-2 minor cons (which sometimes turn out to not be cons at all, like in the case of the C-ERML), they'll figure out how to make it work in their favor.
People are putting a lot of faith on the PPFLD aspect to save the IS from obsolescence - mostly because the ballistics are the one place where IS weapons deviate significantly in nature from Clan and PPFLD is the one desirable attribute they have over the clan variants, which shoot faster and further, take up less weight and space and have more shots per ton of ammo. But aside from the fact that PGI is already flirting with changing IS weapons to increase damage spread as well, as has been pointed out the clan can also do PPFLD with gauss, plus has the option to crank out insane 36+ dps type attacks (6xC-UAC/5) and sustain them, among other tools in a bag of deadly tricks the IS will never reproduce.