*HarryRed* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 10:03 am	Here's my problem with the rich get richer argument. 1) you can say that about literally any new feature of the game. Rich people will always be more able to take advantage of it because they can afford to, does this mean we shouldn't add new things? How about we get rid of characters, another obvious rich get richer plot initiated by the cabal of camp owners who play sam like their puppet! After all who has all the good characters - overwhelmingly the rich people who have been playing for the longest >. Lets also get rid of cars - clearly another plot of the rich conspiring against us. The only way to make this fair is to make it so everyone can only fight using symphonies with equal skill characters. 2) This provides one of the only ways of challenging vets - if someone is abusive and too rich and no one can take that wealth off them, that's where I concede it does start to become BS. This system provides one of the only environments where challenging their power and taking their stuff becomes possible, and a whole host of balances have been announced by us to stop one person from dominating. 3) The reason why inflation is such a problem for noobs is that this game functions as a PVE game right now, of course theyre going to have problems affording things if their only way of making money is to sell beat up pheonix chassis to Jake for 10k each. The people who claim the rich get richer with this update are in fact ok with condemning noobs to this fate until they grind up enough to venture south. This update makes noobs useful to camps. The people with money and rare stuff. They need people to scout on their land to keep up productivity, they need noobs to taxi stuff around, and they need them to fight should there be a merc cap. The people who are against this are actually taking this oppurtunity from the very noobs they claim to fight for.
*sam* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 10:11 am	Thanks Harry (despite your sarcasm). One point you make which is crucial here is that we're trying to make newer players valuable to long-term players. By making them valuable, this means that they can expect decent pay, and generally that the gains will be spread around a lot. They will be part of the larger camp, and they will have a real career path within it, helping them break the glass ceiling which we currently have. Also, this will hopefully instill a culture of mentorship which can only benefit player retention. Here's an additional idea I just thought of: how about, in these new PvP combats, we limit the number of vehicles that an individual player is allowed to have in a squad: to maybe 2, or 3? This will literally *force* people to work together, and will immediately make newer players very valuable to established players.
*sam* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 11:22 am	Also.. I'd be happy to hold a video call with anyone who has concerns or wants to discuss what we're doing and add ideas. Let me know if this is of interest. I genuinely value everyone's opinion: one thing I have learned over the years is that people want to play Darkwind in many different ways, and (apart from cheating or griefing) none of these ways is wrong. Voice/video is a much better way to discuss things than forum text.
*Ninesticks* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 11:57 am	*sam* said: Here's an additional idea I just thought of: how about, in these new PvP combats, we limit the number of vehicles that an individual player is allowed to have in a squad: to maybe 2, or 3?  This will literally *force* people to work together, and will immediately make newer players very valuable to established players. Good idea, cap it either by CR or vehicle numbers. You still need to retain the option to bulk out the rest with AI mercs if no other player is available. I think everyone would prefer to have a human with them than the AI but we do need a way of dealing with availability/scheduling.
*sam* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 12:14 pm	*Ninesticks* said: but we do need a way of dealing with availability/scheduling. Camps need to have sufficient members and members that are in different time-zones. This is another facet that makes newer players have an increased value to established players.
Hati Posted Mar 28, 2020, 12:17 pm	Sam, we have a very active discord if you wanted to announce when you would be available we could all get on there and have a chat. Also I'm going to come up with a list if resources and a bit of backstory for each. The thing about DW apocalypse in the lore is the sun acted up and fried the planet which means even though it's been 60 years in game the pre flare stuff would be there still. Ideas are percolating. Have a good day sir and if you decide you want to chat let us know. I'll be sure to blow up Facebook when you arecready
*sam* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 1:02 pm	Cool, yeah - Discord is good. How about later today - 7pm server time? I can pop in a number of times over the next while.
*Awefense* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 1:17 pm	1900 Server? I'll be around all day so will definitely try to get in on the discussion.
*sam* Posted Mar 28, 2020, 1:42 pm	*Awefense* said: 1900 Server? Yep