Topic: More extension requirements for robots
The current 20k starting EP plus the 20k bonus EP and added to the additional 20 160 EP a new player can earn over the course of his/her 2 week trial allows a new player to essentially step into a heavy mech within their first month of gameplay. While the train of thought seems to be more EP = happier and more skilled = sub for game, I think in reality it has backfired completely.
What is happening is new players rush into mechs and heavies because of the "bigger is better" mentality and completely skip the light and assault bots. This results in a player sitting in a mech and heavy with absolutely minimal supplemental skills and unable to do anything effectively, resulting in a very frustrated new player who is unlikely to remain in game.
This is from another topic but I didn't want to derail that. However I've been having the same feeling for some time.
How about we add some more extension requirements to use certain robots? The current requirements are indeed just the bare minimum.
We could add weapon usage extensions (e.g. mediums for heavy mechs), maybe some minimal electronics/engineering ones, specific module extensions that the robot gets a bonus for, etc. Extensions that those who use the robots day by day would have anyway, but those who just want to control a heavy mech by any means necessary may not have yet.