Idea: Class "Skills"/"Skill slot"

[SakuraTenshi]

Basically the idea is to give every class a single, additional slot in which they can slot one of a handful of exclusive abilities. Some of these would help shore up a class' weaknesses (like letting gunners repair their guns faster than an engie could), improve on their strengths, allow for specialization, and/or just add a bit of extra variety to the game.

Here's a few ideas example ideas, I won't give exact numbers since I don't have a full comprehension of the specifics of this game yet, but here they are.

Engineer:
Speedy Service - Boosts an Engineer's movement speed, jump height, and ladder climb speeds to get to ship components in need faster.

Deft hands - Reduces cooldown time on repair tools for faster repairs.

Tinkerer - Improves the buffs given by the Buff Hammer and extends the protection period of the Chemical Spray Extinguisher. Sort of making this a "buff specialist".

Gunner:
"Don't Touch My Gun!" - Increases repair power on weapons while reducing cool down on fixing them. Also grants short period of increased damage with reduced recoil when you repair a gun from broken.

Point Blank Shooter - Grants bonus damage as an enemy ship is, also increases the arc you can swivel your gun by a few degrees more in all directions.

Sniper shooter - Grants bonus damage the further away an enemy ship is, also gain a small, additional bonus to attacking engines.

Pilot:
Dare Devil - Increases benefits gained from piloting tools, especially self-damaging ones

"Play it safe" - Reduces penalties received from piloting tools, especially self-damaging ones

"Just a dent" - increases the amount of HP ship components can be repaired for.

Well, these are just a rough idea. So what do you guys think overall?

[Mod Josie]

Passive buffs have been discussed before for the classes and they certainly aren't a bad idea. However, it goes against the premise that everyone-can-do-any-job which is quite core to the game's teamwork roots and mechanics. While it wouldn't necessarily hurt to specialise the classes a little, the allure of the classes is that any crewman can help with other jobs. While that would still be true, a specialised crewman would be more effective in one job and less in others - moreso than now.

Take note that (according to general consensus) the gunner is typically a weaker and less useful class than the other two. It certainly has its place, but giving all the classes passives might worsen this quibble instead of helping it.

[SakuraTenshi]

Perhaps, then, these skills should focus on making each class more viable to do the work of another class?

Like the gunner skill I mentioned that lets them repair their guns faster, or an engineer skill that allows them to make ships go a bit faster when they pilot, or a pilot skills that allows them to turn guns in a wider arc?

Nothing too much, but just some small somethings that let one class have something to do another's job while making up for not having all the tools of the class proper?