Idea: Use Extra Xp/affinity + Credits/resources For Upgrades

[Unknown924]

The goal of this idea is providing something to do with the XP/affinity that builds up when something is level 30. This idea will also help give a sense of progression and could also help balance having multiple tiers of weapons. A use for excess resources and credits could also be found with this idea.

The Idea: Add an "Upgrades" button alongside the cosmetic and mods buttons in the armory. The upgrades will be purchased from excess XP/affinity that is built up from using an item at level 30. Only XP/affinity earned for an item can be spent on its upgrades. There can also be a credit/resource cost depending on the upgrade.

Progression: This system would allow players to improve an item even after it is level 30 and they no longer want to Forma it.

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Example Upgrade Ideas:

Warframes: Two types of stat upgrades - Bonus and Base

Bonus - these stat upgrades are added on after all other stat calculations and always provide a flat value.

Base - these stat upgrades modify the base stats of a Warframe and as a result are affected by mods that boost that stat.

Cost: Bonus stats will come in larger amounts per upgrade and be cheaper than Base stat upgrades. Bonus stat upgrades will also increase in cost slower than Base stat upgrades.

Example Ammounts:Bonus Health - 5 per upgrade, Base Health - 1 per upgrade

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Weapons: Most upgrades modify basic stats. However there are also weapon specific upgrades.

Basic stats: Add flat values to base stats.

Weapon Specific: Do things such as increasing the amount of bullets/ammunition burst weapons fire per burst. Or for AOE weapons like the Ogris reduce the amount of damage done to yourself or increase the AOE size. The Lanka could even have an upgrade that gave it puncture without needing a mod - this would be a very small amount per upgrade and cost a lot. It could also be upgraded a lot less times compared to something like damage.

One upgrade I think would be nice is increasing projectile speed. For weapons such as the Dera and Supra it could cost a lot less than for weapons that have projectile drop.

There could even be upgrades than change the weapon model a bit, such as giving the Lex a laser sight that turns on when zoomed in/aiming. Or adding infrared/night vision to sniper rifles when zoomed. This would appear in the cosmetic section for the weapon so it could be removed. That would also also mutually exclusive upgrades, such as different scope types.

Cost: Based on the benefit a weapon would get from an upgrade. So it would cost a lot more to increase the damage of a Viper by 1 than adding that 1 damage to a sniper.

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Interaction with weapon tiers: This idea could support the idea of tiered weapons, even of the same weapon(such as a better Braton being added).

How: Adjust the costs for higher tiers of a weapon so they are the same when their stats match.

EX - New Braton has 5 more damage than the Braton. The cost to add 1 damage to the New Braton is the same as going from 5 to 6 added damage for the old Braton.

This would let older weapons stay competitive when higher tier weapons are introduced. The idea of paying a similar cost could also be used for different tier weapons that share a type. EX - Gorgon and Supra. Upgrade the Gorgon to the same damage as the Supra and it will cost the same to add 1 more damage. However, the Supra can have a projectile speed upgrade that the Gorgon doesn't need. This would allow the Supra to get closer the advantage the Gorgon has from being hit scan.

It is possible that by the time a new tier for a weapon is introduced it will be weaker than a lower tier weapon that has been used a lot. It would a good upgrade for players that don't want to or can't put in the time to upgrade a lower tier weapon.

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Credit Sink: By adding a credit cost in addition to XP/affinity cost it would give people something to do with their money. This would also reduce people just grinding XP and nothing else.

Resource Costs: The more powerful/ higher level upgrades could require resources. Such as clan weapons requiring Ampules/Samples/Masses for their better upgrades. This could also be a very good use for nanospores and other plentiful resources.

Lower levels of upgrades could be XP only.

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Max Upgrade Levels: With a tier system the max upgrade level at any time could be at the planned strength of the next tier. This would allow upgraded items to not be instantly outclassed when a new tier comes out. By making the next planned tier the limit it prevents the new items from being weaker than existing upgraded items when they are released.

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Cosmetic Opportunity: Upgrades could also have changes to how something looks. Such as adding a laser sight(as proposed earlier) to a weapon.

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I think an upgrade system like the one proposed above could add a lot to Warframe. There would be a sense of progression even after an item has reached level 30 and you don't want to use more Forma on it. It would also provide balance to having weapon tiers - a cheaper weapon could be upgraded to be close to a more expensive/higher tier weapon at the cost of using it a lot. Upgrades could also act as a good sink for credits and resources along with XP/Affinity.

Please tell me what you think of this idea. If you have ideas for upgrades feel free to post them(please try to make them balanced though).

[LasersGoPewPew]

i'd love to be able to upgrade my frames and weapons even if its' a slight upgrade like bumping reload speed a tiny bit or adding like 10 extra base health, it'd be awesome.

[DaveC]

I'd like the UI to work properly, the defence host migration bug, vaubans vortex making stuff disappear, antimatter drop bug and a whole host of other bugs fixed first!

[LunchBoxKilla]

DE: WE DO THIS BUT MAKE IT COST PLAT