Creativity and Game Balance

[BadAsh]

I think the developers made an error in the initial decision on how to make each Empire unique. The decision was to make each Empire have a characteristic defined by how their equipment functions that gives them a unique style. The problem here is while initially this seems simple; it�s a bear to maintain game balance. In certain situations one side will have the advantage. There is nothing that can really be done about that.

I�m the competitive type. I like things to be even and fair in any situation. I don�t want my victories to feel cheap nor my defeats seem inevitable. I�d prefer to see battles decided by tactics, strategy, and player skill as opposed to victory being defined by capitalizing on your inherent strengths and the enemy�s inherent weaknesses. This is not always the case, but much of the time it is. And to me that�s just not as fun as it could be.

I think making all of the equipment used by each empire statistically the same this would be alleviated and much more fun would be had in the game. I brought this up before, but it was more of a side note to another topic/thread. So I figured I�d bring it up again, just for discussion. One valid concern that was raised is that this might make the game too �vanilla� and ruin the uniqueness of each Empire. I disagree with this, and in my opinion it already is too vanilla. Just look at the amount of �common pool� items and you will see exactly what I mean. Most of the equipment you have access to is the EXACT same as what any other Empire can get. Look at the aircraft for example. The only difference is the coloration to note which Empire it belongs to, but otherwise every flyer is the SAME.

Let�s take a quick look at what equipment you can get (including AT items)

Standard Assault: 2 common pool, 1 unique
Medium Assault: 3 common pool, 1 unique
Heavy Assault: 1 common pool, 1 unique
Special Assault: 4 common pool, 0 unique
Sniper: 1 common pool, 0 unique
Anti-vehicular: 0 common pool, 1 unique
Grenades: 3 common pool, 0 unique


Support: 8 common pool, 0 unique
Body Armor: 4 common pool
MAX Armor: 3 unique

Ground Vehicles: 11 common pool, 3 unique
Air Vehicles: 5 common pool, 0 unique (including the Load Star which WILL be common pool when released)

Overall Total: 45 common pool items/vehicles and 10 unique items/vehicles. That�s a well over 80% common pool identical gear� not very original and not at all unique. Hence my statement about the game being already too �vanilla�.

What I would have done is I would have made each Empire statistically identical but vastly different in sound, appearance, and name. An example of this would be the body armors. Look at how each one is uniquely different, but statistically identical. Now imagine if each of the common pool items and vehicles were as unique and different looking, sounding, and had a unique name but were identical statistically as well. The whole balance issue would fade away.

Additionally each empire would have more items to choose from because I would not eliminate anything that is currently in the game. Let�s evaluate the HA weapons.

The VS have the Lasher an area of effect and splash damage weapon.

The NC have the JackHammer a slow firing mega punch delivering weapon.

The TR have the Mini-Chaingun a rapid firing weapon.

I�d make all 3 available to each empire but make them uniquely different. For example the VS would fire energy blasts from their weapons, the NC would fire razor discs, and the TR would fire more traditional slugs. Each would have a splash damage HA weapon, a slow firing heavy hitter, and a rapid firing light hitter. Graphically each would be very unique and the sound of each would be unmistakable. Further I�d give them names appropriate to the Empire�s theme. The VS would have strange alien Vanu names to their equipment, the TR would have very militaristic (make, model) names, and the NC would have idealistically descriptive weapons (vengeance, dispatcher, etc.)

By making everything �common pool� but giving it a complete artistic overhaul the feel of each Empire can be made even more unique than it is now and offer superior game balance at the same time. To me this would be the recipe for more fun, more diversity of actions/battles, and less lameness.

BadAsh