3 replies to this topic

[Dracol]

Although the thread title is a little bit on the click bait side, I believe what I propose below would be a better option for the skill tree.

What my idea attempts to address in regards to improving the current skill tree PTS:

- Actual choices to define a mech's role
- Removing the need to purchase undesired skills to unlocked desired ones
- Reducing the number of nodes to select
- Cleaner presentation

Elevator Pitch:
Mechs can be improved in 6 different areas (Offensive / Defensive / Mobility / Sensor / Operations / Specialization ). With the exception of the Specialization tree, each tree has 10 levels of improvement and at each level a pilot choices one of 3 options. The Specialization tree has only 5 levels, but each level has 7 options to choose from. Any tree can be improved at any time, however each level needs to be unlocked in order. Once a level is unlocked, the selection can be changed at a reduced xp cost.


At each level, a pilot will choice one of the three options available
Offensive Tree
Lvl 1 - Weapon Cool Down | Cool Run | Heat Containment
Lvl 2 - Velocity bonus | Range bonus | Heat Gen
Lvl 3 - Missile Ammo Bonus | Ballistic Ammo Bonus | Extended Bombardment

Lvl 4 - Weapon Cool Down | Cool Run | Heat Containment
Lvl 5 - Velocity bonus | Range bonus | Heat Gen
Lvl 6 - Missile Ammo Bonus | Ballistic Ammo Bonus | Extended Bombardment

Lvl 7 - Weapon Cool Down | Cool Run | Heat Containment
Lvl 8 - Velocity bonus | Range bonus | Heat Gen
Lvl 9 - Missile Ammo Bonus | Ballistic Ammo Bonus | Extended Bombardment

Lvl 10 - Weapon Cool Down | Cool Run | Heat Containment

Defensive Tree
Lvl 1 - Armor Bonus | Structure Bonus | Shock Absorb
(Note: Armor bonus would be less than what the Structure bonus would provide)
Lvl 2 - Reinforced Casing | AMS Overload | Leg Armor Bonus
Lvl 3 - Torso Spped / Arm Armor Bonus | Jump Jet Lift Speed

Lvl 4 - Armor Bonus | Structure Bonus | Shock Absorb
Lvl 5 - Reinforced Casing | AMS Overload | Leg Armor Bonus
Lvl 6 - Torso Spped / Arm Armor Bonus | Jump Jet Lift Speed

Lvl 7 - Armor Bonus | Structure Bonus | Shock Absorb
Lvl 8 - Reinforced Casing | AMS Overload | Leg Armor Bonus
Lvl 9 - Torso Spped / Arm Armor Bonus | Jump Jet Lift Speed

Lvl 10 - Armor Bonus | Structure Bonus | Shock Absorb

Mobility Tree
Lvl 1 - Arm Speed | Torso Speed | Turn Speed
Lvl 2 - Arm Pitch | Torso Pitch | Hill Climb
Lvl 3 - Hand Brake | Kinetic Burst | Speed Tweak
lvl 4 - Arm Yaw | Torso Taw | Jump Jet Calibration

Lvl 5 - Arm Speed | Torso Speed | Turn Speed
Lvl 6 - Arm Pitch | Torso Pitch | Hill Climb
Lvl 7 - Hand Brake | Kinetic Burst | Speed Tweak

Lvl 8 - Arm Speed | Torso Speed | Turn Speed
Lvl 9 - Arm Yaw | Torso Taw | Jump Jet Calibration
Lvl 10 - Hand Brake | Kinetic Burst | Speed Tweak

Sensor Tree
Lvl 1 - Radar Range | Radar Decay | UAV Range Bonus
Lvl 2 - ECM Bonus | Radar Derp | Seismic
Lvl 3 - Info Gathering | 360 Retention | ECM Nagation Range Bonus

Lvl 4 - Radar Range | Radar Decay | UAV Range Bonus
Lvl 5 - ECM Bonus | Radar Derp | Seismic
Lvl 6 - Info Gathering | 360 Retention | ECM Nagation Range Bonus

Lvl 7 - Radar Range | Radar Decay | UAV Range Bonus
Lvl 8 - ECM Bonus | Radar Derp | Seismic
Lvl 9 - Info Gathering | 360 Retention | ECM Nagation Range Bonus

Lvl 10 - Radar Range | Radar Decay | UAV Range Bonus

Operations Tree
Lvl 1 - Imp/ Gyro | Quick Start | Speed Retention
Lvl 2 - Cap Assist | Imp. Narc | UAV Duration
Lvl 3 - Enhanced Cool Shot | Jump Jet Vectoring | Zoom Bonus

Lvl 4 - Imp/ Gyro | Quick Start | Speed Retention
Lvl 5 - Cap Assist | Imp. Narc | UAV Duration
Lvl 6 - Enhanced Cool Shot | Jump Jet Vectoring | Zoom Bonus

Lvl 7 - Imp/ Gyro | Quick Start | Speed Retention
Lvl 8 - Cap Assist | Imp. Narc | UAV Duration
Lvl 9 - Enhanced Cool Shot | Jump Jet Vectoring | Zoom Bonus

Lvl 10 - Imp/ Gyro | Quick Start | Speed Retention

Specialization Tree
Lvl 1 through 5 - LBX Spread Reduction | Missle Spread Reduction | UAC Jam Chance Reduction | PPC ECM Negation Duration Bonus | Laser Duration Reduction | Gauss Charge Reduction | Increased Crit Chance

Some design notes:
One of the goals of this design is to make a player choose between options that are important to different play styles. For example, the choice between Speed Tweak, Hand Brake, and Kinetic Burst. A brawler that needs to get into engagement range quickly would choose speed tweak. Peek and Poke mechs would benefit from hand brake, while jump mechs would benefit from kinetic burst more so than other play styles.

I did remove the bonus consumables since all levels can be unlocked and adding them in would only increase the number of consumables for all players, unlike the current PTS skill tree which requires an investment into them to unlock.

Bonus Solution: Reimbursement for live environment mastered mechs
With skills not providing any C-bill returns, players with a large stable of mechs that swapped modules are feeling slighted. With this proposed system, players with currently mastered mechs could receive a free number of unlocks for one mech of the mastered variant. 15 would provide a fairly significant savings that would reduce the grind needed to remaster a large number of chassis.

[Dracol]

Thinking on the bonus solution, the number of unlocks should probably be higher, like around 21 minimum.

Figure 8 from basics, another 8 for the double unlock. Additional 5 from therest of the skill tree brings the number to 21.

Aldo, the specialization levels could have an eith option. To levels would be bonus mod slots, the three remaining could be increased usuage of uav, coolshot, and bombardment respectively.

Edited by Dracol, 05 March 2017 - 10:24 AM.

[Sandslice]

By any chance... have you seen the talent system in current World of Warcraft? Your idea seems similar to it, and that's a good thing.

[Dracol]

Sandslice, on 05 March 2017 - 12:23 PM, said:

By any chance... have you seen the talent system in current World of Warcraft? Your idea seems similar to it, and that's a good thing.

Naw, I stopped that particular form of addiction just prior to the first exapnsion. However, I have been reading the MWO foruns and a similiar format was put forth, it just didn't go so far in forcing a choice between desired skills.