I got a new suggestion here, which will be more beneficial to new players and it would keep them them. Of course, same goes for other long-term players.
Old system (outdated, too grindy and too restrictive)
We have 5 tiers. We have 5 upgrade levels.
We can buy a weapon, module or equipment item from the Store.
Such item is considered to be mark 1.
We can upgrade this item with a mark 2 Kit (green orb), or with the money to upgrade it to mark 2.
Mark III is the most demanding option. We need to have proper type and amount of loyalty vouchers.
We must upgrade an item from mark 2 to mark 3 with them every single time, regardless if the same item was already upgraded before.
Mark 4 option requires a mark 4 Kit (purple orb) or Iridium only to upgrade the item.
Finally, there is the final and the ultimate and infamous mark 5 (orange orb)!
You can only upgrade to mark 5, if you already got the same mark 4 item and if you got a proper blueprint and the amount of resources.
This of course, means Invasion resources, especially Monocrystals. It’s important to mention, that Monocrystals are not craftable, but they can only be bought by money, galactic standards currency in game.
The only other alternative to get them for free, is that you complete daily missions, from which you may get 6-9 of them.
New suggested system (much needed, because it’s more balanced and still offers a great deal of challenge)
Mark 1 item is fine as it is. It’s any purchased item you get in the Shop.
Once you upgrade such item to mark 2 with a Kit (green orb), or credits it can be further upgraded to mark 3.
Important change: (mark 3 - unlocks access permanently)
Once you have the opportunity to access and upgrade to mark 3, things change. You need to pay loyalty vouchers , but only one time for each item , for granted access.
As a Mercenary, I already paid my well earned loyalty vouchers (trust points) before and because of that, I have earned my access to mark 3 without any restrictions in the future, now with credits only.
However, I still need to pay for it, but no longer with loyalty vouchers , but just with an increased cost for mark 3 with credits only! I think that the cost of mark 3 should cost a lot.
I think that the diffence in price between mark 1 and 2 is around 120%. Well, the difference in price between mark 2 and mark 3 should then be around 240-300%.
If some people have bought mark 3 upgrade with GS only, they have the same benefit. Unrestricted access to mark 3 and an added +3% permanent synergy bonus.
Mark 4 is another dilemma. You can obtain a mark 4 Kit (purple orb) and upgrade for free, without any need for Iridium itself. If you don’t have a Kit, you must then pay the full price of Iridium cost.
Mark 4 here should remain unchanged, since I have been repeatedly warned, that the loss of grind is not considered by the developers. And I agree. Mark 4 should stay as it is, since you can still get Kits.
Important change: (mark 5 - researches the blueprint with the full resource cost, to get access to Mark 5 Kit)
Mark 4 item needs to be upgraded to mark 5.
If you never crafted any weapon before, from the blueprint, you need to pay the full price of resources, which includes Monocrystals).
However, you need to do this for each item just once! Why just once?
Since you have fully researched the item, you already obtained the skills to produce a mark V kit automatically.
Each mark 5 Kit will instantly and permanently unlock, after you invest in it, but only in the Workshop.
You will still need to craft it! To craft it, you will need the same resources, that are required from you for any mark 5 item, but without Monocrystals.
Credits will play a huge role here. Instead of paying Monocrystals on the same item for the 2nd time, you will need to pay credits.
Credits cost is affected by the tier and equipment type.
Mark 5 Kit cost :
example (Tier V shown only - all cases below)
Option 1 :
Tier V, Mark 5 Kit (expenses - credits only)
Applies only for option 1.
Crafting costs are separate and independent from the requirements below.
I think that crafting costs should remain the same as they are for any Mark 5 item.
Type: Amount:
Equipment: 500000 credits
Module: 750000 credits
Weapon: 1000000 credits
I also considered to implement loyalty vouchers again or Iridium here for Mark 5 Kits, but I think it’s better that we only get credit cost.
If loyalty vouchers would be implemented for Mark 5, each Mark 5 Kit crafted, would need to be used each time, when an item gets crafted.
This means that loyalty vouchers would still be preserved and economically viable, if they would be again require for mark 5.
Same type of loyalty vouchers would need to be reused, but at much lesser amount.
However, cost for such option would have to get reduced, since we are only crafting Mark 5 Kits.
Option 2 :
Tier V, Mark 5 Kit (expenses - loyalty vouchers only)
Type: Amount:
Equipment: 50000 loyalty vouchers
Module: 75000 loyalty vouchers
Weapon: 100000 loyalty vouchers
If Iridium is to be used instead, or to be considered again for Mark 5 Kits, then the cost should be something like this.
You would need to pay each time for each piece for specified item, since you do not unlock it, but you obtain it.
Option 3 :
Tier V, Mark 5 Kit (expenses - Iridium only)
Type: Amount:
Equipment: 50 Iridium
Module: 75 Iridium
Weapon: 100 Iridium
Mark 5 kits are then added to the Armory, when we can upgrade them only (orange orb) directly from the Interface. Crafting cost is independent.
There should be section Mark 5 Kits in the Workshop, when you craft your item for the first time and it should apply for mark 5 Kits only.
Same applies for Mark 3 option. Mark 3 access option needs to be purchased in the Workshop as well.
Prices or costs may vary. This is just an example.
If you wish to keep the players from leaving the game, you should implement this system.
I hope that you will heed my request.
Do not forget to vote!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Koromac