d0om on 5/9/2006 at 09:35
I had this rather simple idea for making repair/modify better and the assualt rifle less overpowering,
FrenchEpstien/Repair devices should all be removed
All weapons have the min modify skill required lowered to 1/2 (3/4 for second modify) other than the assualt rifle, which needs 4(6) to modify.
Min repair skill needed is also lowered for most weapons, bots drop broken laser/fusion at high condition. This means you can just unjam one, use it until its condition compleatly deteriorates and then chuck it for a new one.
Assualt rifle needs 6 maintenance skill.
Assualt rifle will keep its insanely high damage, just make it harder to maintain/modify/repair.
The viral proliferator and worm launcher need to be better against rumblers (possibly change anti-annelid stim to do more damage to hybrids, anti-human good for cyborgs/midwives)
Vigil on 5/9/2006 at 12:39
That doesn't make the assault rifle any less overpowering; it's already hard to use (Std. 6), all you're doing is making it harder to keep in shape, which is an entirely secondary concern. The principal problem with it is its ridiculous damage combined with very flexible ammo types, which renders other weapons completely unnecessary. Addressing the damage level will go much much farther than tweaking the maintenance, modify and repair requirements.
d0om on 5/9/2006 at 12:55
Ah, but an unmodified assualt rifle isn't any better than a modified pistol, and with the large number of modules needed for the assualt rifle and modify/maint 6 you can get EMP rifle + Worm launcher with lower modify/maint values.
And if the worm skin armour is improved, then the worm launcher's high research skill will be better value.