Possible tools:
Sonic cone: Allows for short to medium range spotting through clouds.
Gauge: Gives all crew an indicator of engine throttles on enemy ships.
Resonator: Shows targeted ship's permahull. When used as a 'buff' tool on your own hull, temporarily prevents foes from doing the same to you.
Scrambler: Puts false ship markers on the map.
etc..
I could see a support class being really useful. Something like a Quartermaster/Strategist.
Cat O' Nine Tails - While equipped, crew move and perform actions 10% faster (running, repairs, rebuilds, reloading). Must be held for at least 10 seconds before effect starts. Effects end immediately when removed.
I've got your motivation right here!
Paints - Can be used on the hull and balloon to temporarily change the color of the flags and balloon paint. Used to confuse the enemy. Prevents spotting when used on both components.
What, that? That's always been red. I mean blue. I mean... FIRE!!
Inspection Lens - Used to give an estimate of hull, armor and balloon health on targeted ships.
Hm.. burn marks on the balloon, armor compromised by bullet holes, hull held together with what appears to be rope made of shirts. One more volley ought to do it.
Advanced Spy Glass - Allows precision marking of ship components, causes marked components to 'glow' for the crew. (Can spot guns and engines, makes them appear as a bright red for easier targeting. Wears off after 30 seconds)
It's right there, you can't miss it!
Decoy - Spawns a dummy ship that flies directly away from the ship, begins shooting randomly after 10 seconds. After 12 seconds it becomes 'spotted' by the enemy with the ship's name. Used as a distraction/diversion. Can only spawn one at a time. Skill is usable again after decoy is destroyed. Decoy self destructs after 1 minute.
It's a trap!!
Sound Amplifier - Use this tool to target an enemy ship and be able to hear the team voice chat/signals as well as read their crew chat and team chat. Takes five seconds to calibrate once a ship is locked. (works similar to range finder)
Sir, they seem to be saying terrible things about your mother
White Noise Generator - Adds random false information to the combat log. (ie: Jimmy destroyed Hull ; John Rebuilt Balloon , etc. Using names of players in the game for these actions that didn't actually happen)
Too bad it took them so long to notice that Jimmy really did break their hull
Thermal Detector - Estimates ship location based on heat readings. Does not work while your engines are running. Gives a reading every 10 seconds, readings are 3 seconds behind. (every ten seconds it will give you an idea of where they were three seconds ago). Only works if their engines are running, only works within 800 meters. Does not distinguish between ally and enemy.
Warmer... warmer..... Oh wait that's us.
Insulation - Buff used on the engines, reduces their output by 5%, reduces thermal detector's range by 30% for large engines and 20% for small.
Let's see them find us now.
There's a fourth class already in the works, though Muse is keeping a tight lid on what it is at this point.
As for what you suggested, it's probably not good enough to actually keep a ship going vs traditional setups once you get into an actual battle.
I'd love to provide some, but I'm generally terrible at such things and really don't know what they could make that would be more useful than gunner/engie/pilot.There's a fourth class already in the works, though Muse is keeping a tight lid on what it is at this point.
As for what you suggested, it's probably not good enough to actually keep a ship going vs traditional setups once you get into an actual battle.
I didn't know they had an actual plan already. Any suggestions for improvements to the concept, or alternatives that might be more useful?
My only question, and perhaps I missed it somewhere, would be where would the tools go? Would this be considered a separate set of tools, and everyone gets to bring 6 items instead of 5 (3 from their role, 1 from each of the others). Or would the tools be divided among the other roles, and this wouldn't be an official new role, but something more like the gungineer?
In my initial response, I considered the idea that it would be a separate role, but it's the only one with access to those tools. Essentially bringing three of their own, and 1 of engi and gunner. (none of pilot).
However, I could see the tools belonging in the pilot or gunner category, allowing for a pseudo role (or just giving gunners a bigger variety).
I'm not sure how it would affect the game to create another tool category; although it would most certainly change how matches are played.
The new class Muse is developing is Deckhand, it will be able to have 2 of every slot instead of 3 slots for 1 skill and 1 slot for the other 2 skills.
Yes.
(http://www.fritzcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/all-hands-on-deck-w.jpg)
The new class Muse is developing is Deckhand, it will be able to have 2 of every slot instead of 3 slots for 1 skill and 1 slot for the other 2 skills.
Third class completely destroys other game's balance.
One engineer left can't handle all repairs. That is why there will be no gunners at all. 1 new class, 2 engineers
With such powerful strategic skills, Communications officer requres captains slot, because such abilities based on strategy and teamwork. Pilots will be degraded to crews, what definitely turn off a lot of them from piloting.
I am pretty sure that Gunner class fixing can be simply a better damage or increased profit from ammo. something like 5-7% of extra damage or projectile speed, or some targeting information like angles, + increase engineers on-ship running speed for 5%.
Gunner tools. End of argument. (Buffs to damage are highly unlikely to happen for only one class)
Except Muse has said they won't do Passive abilities for classes like that, so that kind of fix will never happen.
Except Muse has said they won't do Passive abilities for classes like that, so that kind of fix will never happen.
Where exactly have they said this? Can you provide a link?
Also, this class suggestion doesn't kill Gunners or Engineers at all, as it's designed to act as an effective alternative.
This class would be capable of playing like an Engie, just without the super-repair power they have. It can play like a Gunner, but without the control a Gunner has.
A Pilot can't be "degraded" as their job is the most important one. They are even more important than Engineers. While the Communications Officer concept can act as an alternative to a Captain as well, it has its own downsides when used in that way, same as with all the other classes. It can fill the roles already in the game, but in its own way.
QuoteAlso, this class suggestion doesn't kill Gunners or Engineers at all, as it's designed to act as an effective alternative.
Now tell me how one engineer will handle all repairs... on pyramidion, for example. On galleon. On spire. ALONE . With pilot gunner and communications officer, all three with wrenchQuoteThis class would be capable of playing like an Engie, just without the super-repair power they have. It can play like a Gunner, but without the control a Gunner has.
Engineer HAS NO_SUPER_REPAIR power. That is why Pilots take two or three engineers to have a slight chance of surviving in encounter. With the possibility of crew consisting of two engineers , CO an pilot, no one will take gunner on board unless Muse restricts "1 slot for 1 crew"QuoteA Pilot can't be "degraded" as their job is the most important one. They are even more important than Engineers. While the Communications Officer concept can act as an alternative to a Captain as well, it has its own downsides when used in that way, same as with all the other classes. It can fill the roles already in the game, but in its own way.
I feel like I need to explain my point. Many pilots are strong leaders. They need power to handle, it is the essence of piloting, and even more important than simply driving a ship. Comm. Officer concept rips pulls power away from pilots hands, degrading pilot from Captain slot to crew slot. Take this power away and a lot of active pilots will lose interest to game.
I suppose Gunner class have not deserved it's misrespect from newer players. And current class system is almost perfect, and needs no massive intrusions like bringing up new class
Except most of the time, on the average ship, a single Engie COULD manage the important stuff, as long as someone was dedicated to serving as a secondary repair person. Lets use your "problem ships" as an example.All ships are "problem" in encounter. There are no interest in maximum possible HPS, the repairing-bebuilding-cooldown balance is based on idea you need to be IN proper time ON proper place. That is why we have "responsibility" zones on all the ships, where parts are divided between engineers focus.
Pyramidian: It only ever needs one Engie anyway, as the Engie's entire job is sitting on the lower deck keeping the hull and engines working. The second engie is always stationed at the balloon anyway. This job can EASILY be managed by a Comm Officer, or even a Gunner. The ability to super-repair is NOT a necessity for this. Hell, the Comm Officer takes Mallet, the Gunner takes Spanner, and together they can maintain the balloon and guns, leaving the engines and hull to the actual Engineer.Fisrt enemy with caffonade or flametrower (or incendiary carronade) will be your painful death. Because destroyed baloon is a HUGE HOLE for hull damage. As well, balloon is most vulnerable to fire, so that it must be chemspayed all the time. So in the situation of real combat your people will not be on guns, but on baloon.
Galleon: Really, the Galleon is a tricky ship even with 2 Engies, so it's a ship that may not want a Comm Officer. However, if one is used, it could be assigned to the lower deck as a Gunner Comm Officer, maintaining the weapons lower-deck engines. Meanwhile, the Pilot actually sets up to help repair the balloon in a pinch, and the actual Engie goes where needed, with the Hull being their primary focus. While two engies could maintain the ship as a whole easier, it's not absolutely necessary. This ship does require more coordination between all the members regardless though.
Spire: A single Engie can actually maintain the entire Spire pretty easily if they know what they're doing, as long as they can keep the armor up. It's possible to hit the Hull with Mallet, drop down and hit the Balloon with Mallet, and get back to the Hull just as the cooldown from Mallet ends, and hit it again to start the loop over. That said, I'd put the Comm Officer on repair duty primarily on this ship, with their role being to repair destroyed parts rather than to keep things alive. Once the armor can be restored, the main Engie can easily use the parkour loop to restore the armor while maintaining the armor on the other part. Fixing broken engines and guns can be shared, with shooting happening whenever. Again, they don't need super-repair power, they just need to not spend 90% of their time on the guns. Even a Gunner could fulfill this role in the current game, if they didn't sit on the guns all the time. While they will obviously not be able to pull the trick the Engie can with Quick Repair then full Armor in a very short time, they can do basic repairs.
Basically, let the Engie deal with the Emergency Repairs, while the Comm Officer deals with routine maintainance, buffs, and information warfare. All of which it can do while doing said routine maintainance.Everyone does emergency repairs. Even pilots. Lueosi participated in rebuilds hundreds of times.
Now, as to what you've said about Pilots. You seem to have this belief that a Pilot, the only person on the entire ship who can effectively fly the damn thing, would lose their role as Captain if the Comm Officer was made.
QuoteExcept most of the time, on the average ship, a single Engie COULD manage the important stuff, as long as someone was dedicated to serving as a secondary repair person. Lets use your "problem ships" as an example.All ships are "problem" in encounter. There are no interest in maximum possible HPS, the repairing-bebuilding-cooldown balance is based on idea you need to be IN proper time ON proper place. That is why we have "responsibility" zones on all the ships, where parts are divided between engineers focus.QuotePyramidian: It only ever needs one Engie anyway, as the Engie's entire job is sitting on the lower deck keeping the hull and engines working. The second engie is always stationed at the balloon anyway. This job can EASILY be managed by a Comm Officer, or even a Gunner. The ability to super-repair is NOT a necessity for this. Hell, the Comm Officer takes Mallet, the Gunner takes Spanner, and together they can maintain the balloon and guns, leaving the engines and hull to the actual Engineer.Fisrt enemy with caffonade or flametrower (or incendiary carronade) will be your painful death. Because destroyed baloon is a HUGE HOLE for hull damage. As well, balloon is most vulnerable to fire, so that it must be chemspayed all the time. So in the situation of real combat your people will not be on guns, but on baloon.QuoteGalleon: Really, the Galleon is a tricky ship even with 2 Engies, so it's a ship that may not want a Comm Officer. However, if one is used, it could be assigned to the lower deck as a Gunner Comm Officer, maintaining the weapons lower-deck engines. Meanwhile, the Pilot actually sets up to help repair the balloon in a pinch, and the actual Engie goes where needed, with the Hull being their primary focus. While two engies could maintain the ship as a whole easier, it's not absolutely necessary. This ship does require more coordination between all the members regardless though.
You have not even invented the new class, but already founf where is it unneccessary. ;DQuoteSpire: A single Engie can actually maintain the entire Spire pretty easily if they know what they're doing, as long as they can keep the armor up. It's possible to hit the Hull with Mallet, drop down and hit the Balloon with Mallet, and get back to the Hull just as the cooldown from Mallet ends, and hit it again to start the loop over. That said, I'd put the Comm Officer on repair duty primarily on this ship, with their role being to repair destroyed parts rather than to keep things alive. Once the armor can be restored, the main Engie can easily use the parkour loop to restore the armor while maintaining the armor on the other part. Fixing broken engines and guns can be shared, with shooting happening whenever. Again, they don't need super-repair power, they just need to not spend 90% of their time on the guns. Even a Gunner could fulfill this role in the current game, if they didn't sit on the guns all the time. While they will obviously not be able to pull the trick the Engie can with Quick Repair then full Armor in a very short time, they can do basic repairs.
I really want to see you playing as engineer, because you seem not to be much realistic.QuoteBasically, let the Engie deal with the Emergency Repairs, while the Comm Officer deals with routine maintainance, buffs, and information warfare. All of which it can do while doing said routine maintainance.Everyone does emergency repairs. Even pilots. Lueosi participated in rebuilds hundreds of times.QuoteNow, as to what you've said about Pilots. You seem to have this belief that a Pilot, the only person on the entire ship who can effectively fly the damn thing, would lose their role as Captain if the Comm Officer was made.
Good pilot is a leader with 8 hands, who manages setting crew, setting teammates crew, setting good enemy team on opposite side, talking with crews on match, talking with ally, deciding tactics, taking up conclusions, and well, for the last thing he moves the damn thing. Appearance of person who can be in charge for strategy will move a pilot to crew slot. And a lot of pilots will not like it, and decide to abandon the game.
Except Muse has said they won't do Passive abilities for classes like that, so that kind of fix will never happen.
Where exactly have they said this? Can you provide a link?
Can't recall where I heard it, but I think it was mentioned on one of the Dev Fireside livestreams. I may be remembering wrong, but I'm still pretty sure of it. Sure as hell can't remember which one though regardless.