Simple MAX change suggestion to fix lack of infantry AA and Dual arm config switching

[TerminatorUK]

First arm of anti-infantry (quasar, heavy cycler, scattercannon), anti-vehicle (comet, pounder, falcon), anti-air (burster) and flamethrower = Free to all new players.

2nd arm of any of the above = 8k Auraxium each.

Solves the AA problem and prevents constant dual-arm switching (and thus having to have a resource cost every MAX config. change as Higby mentioned in a recent AGN) for players that haven't specialised down the MAX path.

[EVILPIG]

The ability to dual wield was originally supposed to be a certification.

I still believe that MAXes should not have AA specific weaponry. Add more AA options to vehicles if necessary. That does not mean a DC should not do decent damage to aircraft or other vehicles.

[Helwyr]

A MAX with a single Burster AA is a waste of time. They already seem quite a bit weaker than PS1s AA MAXes with both arms configured to Burster AA.

[cBselfmonkey]

Originally Posted by Helwyr

A MAX with a single Burster AA is a waste of time. They already seem quite a bit weaker than PS1s AA MAXes with both arms configured to Burster AA.

Teamwork. Sure one burster won't do much, but if you can get twenty or so guys to grab'em things become more even.

I don't think the idea is to make single armed Bursters the new terror for aircraft. Its to make sure the only option for taking out aircraft at low levels is just to dumb fire HA rockets and hope for the best. Because unless you're a pilot with a fighter or your tank/Sundy driver grabbed an AA turret thats all you've got.

[Helwyr]

Originally Posted by cBselfmonkey

Teamwork. Sure one burster won't do much, but if you can get twenty or so guys to grab'em things become more even.

"Teamwork" seems to be the new catchphrase to justify everything. It requires multiple AA MAXes already to kill EASFs that aren't completely stupid. I mean how can you say with a straight face that you ought to get 20 of these 200 resource gimp suits to be a counter to something that is effective with just one?

Dual Bursters should be the the default like AI and AV MAX weapons. SOE can add Empire specific AA weapons more in line with the original Burster and Starfire in the Store that players can buy.

[EVILPIG]

Originally Posted by Helwyr

"Teamwork" seems to be the new catchphrase to justify everything. It requires multiple AA MAXes already to kill EASFs that aren't completely stupid. I mean how can you say with a straight face that you ought to get 20 of these 200 resource gimp suits to be a counter to something that is effective with just one?

Dual Bursters should be the the default like AI and AV MAX weapons. SOE can add Empire specific AA weapons more in line with the original Burster and Starfire in the Store that players can buy.

At the same time, it seems to me that you believe that a single MAX should be able to take on a single aircraft? Currently, AA MAXes have an advantage over aircraft due to spotting distance and their ability to attack from and disappear back into cover/buildings.

I'll say it again, it seems it would be better to remove AA MAXes and add more AA options to other vehicles. Perhaps they don't even need more AA options, as instead of AA MAXes you could field more Skyguards. The hand held AA infantry weapon has certainly been buffed as well.

[cBselfmonkey]

Originally Posted by Helwyr

"Teamwork" seems to be the new catchphrase to justify everything.

Well...it kinda is. Anything worth doing in this game is either immpossible or extremely hard to do alone. Particularly between uneven match ups like infantry vs aircraft.

It requires multiple AA MAXes already to kill EASFs that aren't completely stupid. I mean how can you say with a straight face that you ought to get 20of these 200 resource gimp suits to be a counter to something that is effective with just one?

Maybe thats the point? Dual AA MAXs are very effective at dealing with aircraft. They've got the range, damage and the ability to take effective cover without just running away. But thats a pretty big gap between getting those dual Bursters and being stuck with dumb fired rockets. Even then not everyone is going to get homing, nor would it be a better idea to give that at the get-go instead. Unless I'm playing as an HA I, and whatever group I'm in, would like to have some option to at least try and deal with aircraft other then just running to hide under the nearest roof. Hoping something friendly will come my way and drive it off.

And really, Beta is Beta. All the numbers can and probably will be tweeked once this goes live. Single arm Bursters might do more damage, or be more accurate, aircraft might get more HP or greater/lesser manoeuvrability etc...

[Toppopia]

I hope we can make our weapons do more damage against all tanks and all aircraft, because right now small arms fire is useless against vehicles (most likely the point) but a cert that lets me do damage to anything would be great, means i won't most likely kill something, but i will do some damage to make that thing go away.

[Helwyr]

Originally Posted by EVILPIG

At the same time, it seems to me that you believe that a single MAX should be able to take on a single [ESF] aircraft?

That's exactly what I think. An AA MAX is only useful against one type of unit, Aircraft, where as ESFs are good at taking on everything. It's a specific counter to the exclusion of everything else, heck now it even costs the same resources. All other things being equal it shouldn't just be an even match vs an ESF an AA MAX should dominate them.

[ThGlump]

Limiting dual wielding for maxes from start is not good. Instead give starter weapons to different arms. AI, flame to left arm, AV, AA to right. Then you can buy missing weapons for other arms with auraxium.
MAX should be able to defend himself with one AA against basic ESAF, duo AA co counter when ESAF get rockets.
Still liberators will be problem in beginning but that atleast need some cooperation so you should expect that from AA too.

[Hyncharas]

In the era of PS1, Bursters could kill a Mosquito or two from a single barrage before having to reload. Since then they've become a tragedy and a joke to use.