Discussion: Limiting Access to Heavy Weapons by Skill Rating ?

[Danimal]

I wanted to start a new topic and float an idea. Should there be some sort of limit on who can use heavy weapons?

For example, a minimum skill rating could be required before a player can take a panzer or mobile MG. This would reflect both the scarcity and destructive potential of these weapons, as well as the risk of team damage when they are used poorly.

In practice, newer players often pick soldier and simply do not yet know how to use heavy weapons effectively. On the other end of the spectrum, very low skilled players can end up hogging the panzer for multiple rounds, which can seriously hurt team progress and objectives.

This is not meant as a criticism of newer players, but rather as a way to protect team balance and encourage learning of core roles before using high impact weapons. 

I am not sure what the right approach should be, but it feels like a problem worth discussing. Are there better ways to handle heavy weapon access without hurting new player experience?

Interested to hear what others think.

Just an idea for discussion.

[meanmachine]

Hey, what Danimal mentioned here is sth I was thinking about fev times, for example flamer is HW that should be used really really carefully so you don't TK half of your team

In my opinion this idea is good to discuss and maybe try.

[Jessica]

Danimal,

 

The idea is not bad. But I wouldn't have any idea how to impement that.

 

Lets say  : Only level 4 Soldiers can take heavy weapon. . . . . But the only way to get levels on heavy, is to play heavy weapon. . . .  So not possible

 

Other decision could be : Look at total XP. When someone has played enough time in our server, heavy is available.

Would that do what you want to achive ?

 

[Danimal]

Can it not be set by SR? 

i.e. you would need an SR of 10 or more? Or something like that?

I really don't know what would be the practical way of doing it could be. I have no tech skills, so no idea how to implement it. Maybe someone else might know a way?

[nUllSkillZ]

But how can a player get experience if he is not playing?

On another server there is a rule that someone can only play with panzer for 3 maps.
(The player has to tell in front of map how often he has used panzer.)

[Ande]

im not sure about basing it to SR only. someone who always joins weaker team never gains sr. But your point is good

[Flo]

Total XP is reset if someone collects a Prestige point.

SR is vicious because not very accurate ELO computation, it is mainly in favor of stackers. This approach is bit "elitist" and we would block non-stackers or non-pro players from using weapons which are a full part of the game.

Maybe something around wolfadmin data could fit, e.g you need to be seen at least 20 times on server before being allowed to use heavy weapon, so that you get time to know maps, rules, how people play on this big server and so on.