So, What Happened With The Original Warframe Ability Levelling System?

[Renegade343]

Hello all,

 

Before the arrival of U15, DE(L) has detailed the changes to the Warframe Ability levelling system, from levelling up the Ability mod cards, to levelling up through the amount of uses (and thus removed Ability mod cards). While the proposed system is flawed in some areas, it actually made sense, and would actually encourage the use of some less popular abilities every now and then, either for fun, or for actual battle. 

 

However, when U15 arrived, players are instead given this: 

 

- Abilities are first unlocked based on Warframe Rank (still makes sense, since the player is getting used to the Warframe).

- Abilities are levelled up based on Warframe Rank (which is a bit of a train wreck, because that basically means one does not need to even use any of the abilities to level them up anymore [i.e.: Like the original mod card system, with using Fusion Cores to level up abilities instead of amount of times used.]). 

 

And so, I would like to ask DE(L): What made you suddenly change from the proposed system (which would actually be great once all the bugs, exploits, flaws and such are ironed out) to the system given to players in U15 (which basically is just swapping Fusion Cores to rank up abilities to Warframe Rank to rank up abilities [i.e.: No need to use powers at all])? Was it because there was not enough time to code that proposed system in? Or was it the fact that it was too easy to level them up with the proposed system? Or was it too difficult?

 

Please discuss civilly in this thread with regards to whether you would want to have the proposed Warframe Ability levelling system rather than the current one.

 

Renegade343

[NoLife]

I prefer current one. It does not force people to use abilities they'd rather not prefer using to have it maxed in case they'd like to try it further down the road.

I don't understand why others thought using the ability repeatedly to max it was the best solution. Fleeting Expertise + Streamline = quickest and preferred way to max rank abilities? I'd rather not.

Edited November 4, 2014 by NoLife

[Renegade343]

I don't understand why others thought using the ability repeatedly to max it was the best solution. Fleeting Expertise + Streamline = quickest and preferred way to max rank abilities? I'd rather not.

There is that problem, which I did address in another thread, when the proposed change was announced, to have diminishing returns for spamming the skill, then have challenges that allow extra experience gained for the ability when done (and also allow for player-submitted challenges for fun as well). 

[Shion963]

IMHO they didn't want players to have to use abilities that are situational, (or straight out dislike) in order to progress them. Current way requires the player to use abilities, but aren't specific about which ones to use.

Example: Levelling Terrify to the point that it actually helps requires me to use Terrify that doesn't do much A WHOLE LOT. I use Terrify when it would logically help me most, and it doesn't save me because it's at rank one. I brush it aside as Useless and ignore it, nothing anyone says will turn my opinion because I'm now prejudiced against it.

Currently: Oh hey Terrify is maxed, lemme try it out some.

[-FrostByte-]

either way it wouldnt be that hard to rank abilities to their "max" so it doesn't bother me

[Renegade343]

Currently: Oh hey Terrify is maxed, lemme try it out some.

Or: 

 

Oh, alright. That's one thing maxed. Still killing things without it anyways (because I have been doing that without that skill, and the skill levelled up itself) (i.e.: There is no direct player involvement with levelling up the skill, which makes the whole thing almost like the mod cards scenario again). 

[trst]

I'd say the issue with the first new system they proposed would have numerous grind-related issues.

 

Even if they put in place methods to make spamming them far less rewarding and some form of challenge to the system it would not change the fact that people would still simply spam everything to rank up their abilities and people would moan and gripe about how much (more) of a grind they made the game.

 

Also, nobody would want to do that repeatedly between polarizing.

 

I mean, sure it would have been a far more engaging system but considering that you would already be required to farm affinity to rank up your frame. Plus having the added hassle of needing to constantly remember to use that one skill that you normally wouldn't use just so you can have it maxed in-case you ever do need it. (i.e. I rarely use Link on Trinity but if I had a situation where I did need it but I never got it past rank one then I'd be rather bummed out then feel like I needed to grind it out.).

[Renegade343]

I'd say the issue with the first new system they proposed would have numerous grind-related issues.

 

Even if they put in place methods to make spamming them far less rewarding and some form of challenge to the system it would not change the fact that people would still simply spam everything to rank up their abilities and people would moan and gripe about how much (more) of a grind they made the game.

 

Also, nobody would want to do that repeatedly between polarizing.

 

I mean, sure it would have been a far more engaging system but considering that you would already be required to farm affinity to rank up your frame. Plus having the added hassle of needing to constantly remember to use that one skill that you normally wouldn't use just so you can have it maxed in-case you ever do need it. (i.e. I rarely use Link on Trinity but if I had a situation where I did need it but I never got it past rank one then I'd be rather bummed out then feel like I needed to grind it out.).

Then again, the new system feels (in fact, it probably is) like a re-skin of the mod card system (i.e.: Basically no change at all, except for not diluting the drop table, and having eight slots for Warframes). 

[Ailith]

I kind of wish that we were able to spam an ability to level it because the current (new) system locks ability ranks at certain levels, which is a bit annoying (most abilities are just terrible unless maxed). But, I do like the fact that I don't need to go through the trouble of spamming skills that I never, or rarely, use just to level them up (I would cry if I had to individually level each of Frost's abilities).

 

Some downsides either way, overall I think the system is better (lower ranks of abilities might need reviewed).

[(PSN)Hollow118]

I kind of wish that we were able to spam an ability to level it because the current (new) system locks ability ranks at certain levels, which is a bit annoying (most abilities are just terrible unless maxed). But, I do like the fact that I don't need to go through the trouble of spamming skills that I never, or rarely, use just to level them up (I would cry if I had to individually level each of Frost's abilities).

 

Some downsides either way, overall I think the system is better (lower ranks of abilities might need reviewed).

i can agree with this, the system itself currently has some positives in that yes it reduced a grind but its not going to give players a reason to use certain skills on their frames. IMHO i believe DE saw that players wouldnt use skills and therefore would never level them up in the proposed system, and its not like they are trying to force us to use powers once thought useless, but i feel they are giving us that opportunity to use those powers as we level, while we get stronger so do the powers. Purely speculation i might add.

overall the new system is better to me.