Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I find the current Ship Mastery implementation interesting and also frustrating. It's interesting because it allows me to see how my current skill set applies to mastering a given ship. The frustration is because that's all it does, it makes me feel I want to push towards that rank 5 mastery, but I just can't force myself to level up e.g. weapon systems I never use, so there's no incentive to do so.

So how to add an incentive to the current Ship Mastery system? I've thought long and hard about this and any bonuses must be small enough so as to not OP the system, but large enough to make them attractive. The other question is should they be the same across the board, or specific to a given ship. The second question is easier to answer, I think the easiest implementation would be to make a given ship type have the same benefits across the board, e.g. all Combat Ships, including tiers, factions and all races could have the same set of Mastery improvements, likewise for all Industrial Ships. There is always the option to tailor bonuses to a given subset or even specific ship once the system is in place.

Next is what should you gain? This is going to be very much open to debate given it could easily create imbalances if not done carefully. My own suggestion for possible Mastery Level bonuses is in respect to combat ships. Bonuses should be considered additive between mastery levels, with all bonuses resulting in +5% in total by the time Mastery Level V is reached.

Mastery Level I:
- 1% bonus to ship sub-warp velocity

Mastery Level II:
- 1% bonus to ship sub-warp velocity
- 2% improved ship agility

Mastery Level III:
- 1% bonus to ship sub-warp velocity
- 1% improved ship agility
- 3% bonus to structure hit points

Mastery Level IV:
- 1% bonus to ship sub-warp velocity
- 1% improved ship agility
- 1% bonus to structure hit points
- 4% bonus to targeting range

Mastery Level V
- 1% bonus to ship sub-warp velocity
- 1% improved ship agility
- 1% bonus to structure hit points
- 1% bonus to targeting range
- 5% bonus to armor hit points
- 5% bonus to shield hit points

You already get a bonus as you progress up the mastery tree - it's called being able to the ship more effectively.

I like that idea, maybe a small bonus like 1% to ship bonuses per mastery level. So in the end it'd be akin to having a 6th level in the ship skill.

Personal note: I have mastery with several ships. :)

bet it go nice with 5% implants you probably have too lol....would mine lol.



Masteries are a guide as said. And my usual bit about use of 3rd party tools. Just because the mastery says 5 this, always check in a fitting tool to see what if any changes happen. Are they worth it? This the call you make after you see the numbers.


Basically know why you are training something and if the payout there for maxing it. See mastery 5 is going to tell you to 5 it....its the only thing left to do. Question is do you need it at this time. Or ever.

Insert everyones fave shield mastery skill most may never train to 5. Tactical shield manipulation. For reasons why hit up ships and modules....been covered many times. Level 5 is actually bad for you (I'd be in the damage bleed off to armour is good sometimes side of the debate).

Everything you're asking for is already provided by actual skills, implants and boosters.

This idea increases the separation between noobs and vets in every ship and forces you to train skills you might not need to get bonuses you want yet are actually un-related (i.e i dont want to skill max warp skills to max out my shield hp). It's an awful idea and the only reason you're making it is because 'MOAR for MOAR sakes'.

Definitely no from me.

They already do - that's the part you're not comprehending.

As someone who has been playing over nine years, this game doesn't need anything else to widen the gap between a new player and an old one. It's also counter intuitive. Why should my ship get 5% more shields because I trained Torpedo Specialization V?

Just say no to a lousy idea.

You already get bonuses for training skills that is an intrinsic part of the game.

And I agree CCP never gives without taking something away so be careful what you ask for because you may not like the results.

To be honest the whole mastery tab thingy is going the wrong direction and it causes confusion with new players. I do not even want to think about the number of new players that are training useless skills instead of things that really matter simply because they are using the mastery tab instead of a fit tool to guide their training.

The certificates are generic. If you have "Core Spaceship Operations Level III" for one ship, you have it for all of them. I believe they provide a useful tool for newer players to see if they have overlooked something and work reasonably well up to level III. Beyond that you should pick the skills you need and should have enough experience to do so.

CCP should make some really blingy SKINs that are only accessible if you have Mastery 5.

No to actual bonuses to ship effectiveness, yes to pimpin' bling.