Posted 08 February 2012 - 08:15 PM
What about Starcraft 2-esque "placement" scheme? For those unacquainted:
Starcraft 2 will have you play 5 matches when you first create your account in order to determine your skill level, and you'll then be placed in a league based on your performance.
Since (I believe) this game won't have "leagues" to speak of, these matches could serve as kind of a 'live fire training' session. Playing with and against real people, but no one who's been playing the main game long enough to cream you before you notice them. It could have a computer-guided walkthrough to train you in the various functions of the mech.
No "trial by fire" first matches against experienced players, no consequences for screw ups, no fees or cooldown timers for repairs between matches, etc. Just a limited number of no-strings-attached matches to play, then you go live.
Would a system like this satisfy the player who want a training mode?
Like Starcraft, this game could give experienced players the choice to skip the practice league and jump right into the main game.
The big problem would be smurfing, I guess...