3 replies to this topic

[Jeb]

Ok Just came back and had not played since the new skill system was put in.
Tried to search...

Why do we have both "skill points" and exp cost for nodes?

In almost every game I have ever played with skill points, you gain skill points, assign them to your skill tree (or whatever system the game has) and away you go...
Respec? your skill points are refunded, and you reassign them again as you see fit.

In this system though, you have skill points (you get from converting exp to skill points), and then you respec, and you don't get your skill points back... instead, the skill point appears to have been to "unlock" the node, and you have to buy the node back again with exp... Why... I am fine with having to buy the node with exp... or I am fine with having to buy a skill point with exp... but I don't understand why the double layer that just makes things confusing...

I made the mistake of thinking that since I am buying skill points, when I respec, I get my skill points back, and get to reassign them (don't care if there is a cost to respec, some games have that... this is not my issue)
Nope... I respec, and don't get my skill points back to reassign... instead its some system that just unassigned the nodes... and when I go to pick the nodes, I have to pay exp again... So... the skill points are to "unlock a node" it seems... but we are already limited to a total number of active nodes.... so why is this entire skill point system even there? For a new player, this seems weird and complicated... for a long term player, it's also weird and complicated... for a new player that makes the mistake of doing a respec thinking they will get their skill points back, well lets just say that exp comes slow for new players, and respecing an entire tree and then finding out you have to spend all that exp again could be the point they give up on the game...


Again, not complaining about spending currency to respec... not complaining about the skill trees... I am complaining about the fact that we have exp cost for skill points... and exp cost for nodes... and that in game, they are not documented well at all... and on top of that, having this double layer seems odd and confusing.



As a side note... the better solution would be to refund skill points and let you reassign them to activate nodes... Why? Because having to spend exp to reassign nodes, means you have to grind that exp again on that mech. Meaning if I want to do any respecs, I need to play that mech a lot to get the exp needed... Meaning I am better off with fewer mechs to play...
I already have a lot of mechs I do not play for whatever reasons... with the current system I am best off finding the few mechs I like, and playing them often... instead of buying those new mech packs that come out... as that just spreads my exp gain across more mechs... Think MMOs and mains vs alts... someone that plays only their main will usually end up better geared than someone that spreads their time across a bunch of alts as well... but in those games, the devs are not trying to sell you the alts

[Bombast]

Well, we do still need XP. SP isn't granular enough.

Otherwise, yes, respeccing is kind of a mess, isn't it? I would have prefered using XP to buy SP, and then anything you unlock with SP is yours forever. Can still only have 91 (Or whatever) nodes active at once, but you'd have the ability to switch on command without all the XP nonsense.

Edited by Bombast, 16 October 2017 - 08:50 AM.

[El Bandito]

It is PGI's intention to keep the grind up, in order to entice people to invest in PT, and Hero/Champion mechs, in this F2P game. That is the reason for ST's existence, and it does require further refining.

Edited by El Bandito, 16 October 2017 - 10:41 AM.

[MechaBattler]

I think they could keep the grind, but consolidate the number of points to a more manageable level. People look at those skill 'trees' and groan at having to learn what it all does. Even though it's basically the old skills and some of the quirks chopped up into tiny percentages. Accessibility is important for new players. Especially in the age of instant gratification.

Edited by MechaBattler, 16 October 2017 - 09:46 AM.