Carrying a Datamass with the left hand is pointless and doesn't make sense

[Daga]

I had this vague thought for a decade (yes, literally a decade) but never bothered to express it. Better late than never, I guess.

It's pointless to carry a Datamass with the left hand on Mobile Defense, and it doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

1. Why can't Tenno carry the Datamass on their back while they are attaching all kinds of weapons, armor and syandana to their body? On Void Flood, Tenno will be automatically given a drone to collect Vitoplast. Why Mobile Defense can't be like that? Heck, let the sentinels carry it.

2. Why can't Tenno use their Primary weapons while carrying a Datamass, despite that they can shoot and reload Dual/Ak/Twin weapons with one hand and swing two-handed melee weapons without any problems? Also, why can't arm cannons, which don't even use the left hand at all, be used while carrying a Datamass anymore? It used to be able to as it's supposed to.

3. When you have to carry a Coolant Canister (or Thermia, I don't remember), you're going to throw it at the enemies or the objectives so carrying them with your left hand makes some sense. You don't throw a Datamass.

 

Thank you.

 

[Loza03]

I think it's one of those old things. As a grandmaster, I'm sure you remember that Tenno used to be way less athletic and acrobatic, and the game was slower and more tactical. Under those circumstances, it makes sense that this would be done. Tactical challenge etc etc.

 

These days. Well, like you say, these days when we need a macguffin to do the thing it's as unobtrusive as possible.

[(PSN)haphazardlynamed]

I believe the Pistol Only limitation is a holdover from DE envisioning that Mobile Defense would be more like a VIP Escort type mission. (as seen in other games)

Where the datamass holder was a VIP limited to just a pistol, who would be in need of squad protection.

but instead we just bullet jump between the terminal 'checkpoints' and the travel time is ignored....

a mechanic that was supposed to be meaningful, players instead just think is annoying because the point was lost.

 

Perhaps DE should double down on it?

make it so the datamass carrier not only has a pistol only, but also has the effects of all 4 Dragon Keys on them? hobbled, low shields, low damage, etc.

then remove the timers on the Data Terminals, just make them into literal checkpoints that the Vip merely has to interact with.

a true escort mission. a real "mobile" defense, instead of 3 mini-static defense objectives.

 

 

[Daga]

16 minutes ago, Loza03 said:

I think it's one of those old things.

I agree. I'm just hoping that DE someday rework some of the old things like this.

 

11 minutes ago, Loza03 said:

As a grandmaster, I'm sure you remember that Tenno used to be way less athletic and acrobatic, and the game was slower and more tactical.

I remember that, and I was fond of that, honestly.

[Pakaku]

Gameplay reasons, you take on a slight risk from carrying it by having your primary restricted, hence all of the weird side-effects like one half of a dual pistols set suddenly performing twice as good. Maybe also as an early way to get people to consider their whole loadout more, if you're the type who is reliant on primaries and never considers their secondary.