How about an op ship or weapon?

[Narayan]

What if for a few months we brought back the old pyra and disabled the arming time on the light flack. The idea would be it might give new players a couple of tools they could use to learn the game. Kinda like most of us vets had the op pyra back in the day.

It could give them the chance to learn to pilot that we had and be a little more forgiving for new crew as the pyra is one of the easier ships to crew. This could help with new player retention.

[HamsterIV]

I think what you are asking for is a First Order Optimal strategy for low skill levels. Something like the COD noob tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EitZRLt2G3w
Something that will give a novice player a 1 in 50 chance of scoring a lucky kill on veteran players so they don't end matches with a big goose egg for score. The problem is COD was designed around 500 kill matches and GOI was designed around 5 kill matches. Also with the engineering game being what it is Muse would not make a mechanic that would nullify the effect of good engineering like instant kill weapons.
The best GOI has right now it the MantiGoldfish.

The ship is reasonably tough, maneuverable, and has wide gun arcs. If the pilot is unskilled and overshoots the target the crew can compensate by switching to the side guns.

The Mantcore makes a satisfying amount of explosions and prevents the enemy ship from shooting back. Its max range range,  lack of shot drop, and lack of arming time make it good for the low skill gunner

[Richard LeMoon]

I have suggested a pilot tool that slowly puts out/resists fires, gradually rebuilds all components, shows all gun arcs to the pilot (sorta like practice), and buffs all ships components damage resistance and ability by a small % (but not gun damage).

Practically useless to a vet, but gives a little bit of extra to a scrub until they learn the better specialized tools and grow out of it. To the new player, it would be the OP tool to have.

[Schwalbe]

Not really useless, because I'd take such a tool when I am having a single random low level engineer. This way I could put experienced squirrels on the gunpoint of my pyra, while having the newbie as a main engie. And with such tool I could put out more firepower on the front too, because stuff top deck would take care of themselves without the need of artemis engie to leave the gun 75% of the time he'd need too.

Of course in not too serious / try-hard matches


...Wait a second. This... actually does not sound like a bad idea, because this way a veteran may have something to defend himself against the salt overdose in pub matches he is forced to play with such players.

That is actually a tempting idea.

[KeijoPertti]

Would random scrub even know how to use such tool? I'd be willing to bet no.

[Schwalbe]

I assumed it to be a helm tool. I was not paying attention really, sorry.

[Daft Loon]

The 4 light gun version of the stormbreaker would be a pretty solid option for a noob ship:
-2 more or less forward facing light guns
-Open plan repairs
-Easy steering (the forward acceleration might need toning down a little)
-Pilot can see clearly where his guns are aiming/can aim


Also I would use Richard's proposed tool for almost every match with novice crew, for the sole* purpose of repairing that one turning engine that's damaged and slowly drifting my ship into a curve.

*at least the only purpose needed to justify it to me