“Statistics show that piercing weapons are overused because their power level was not on par with other weapons of the same tech level.”
- Phoenix points assault rifle is starting gear you level out of as intended
- Independents matches Phoenix points starter assault rifle
- New Jericho give you a second assault rifle that is just more damage THEN a third level assault rifle which ignores armor so results in more damage.
- Synedrion gives you second level assault rifle, based on range which is good for specific style of play.
- Disciples of Anu don’t even use assault rifles they get a tier 2 shotgun that I always get before phoenix point makes a shotgun, and when I am getting tier 3 assault rifles I am also getting Resistor Head, Regeneration Torso, and Agile Legs mutation (which for some crazy reason is limited to 2).
So New Jericho as the only Tier 3 assault rifle… of course the majority of people are using it.
Disciples of Anu shotgun assault was viable … until dash got nerfed in the same patch… because two shots with the shotgun meant you usually could run point blank and kill your target. Now you will run point blank damage your target, and its likely to kill your assault the next round. That was still fear before when walked around a corner and fond to Arthrons with machine gun arms ready to return fire and cut you in half, but you had a chance to blow off the arm on one, then finish him before he could claw or poison you to death.
Synedrion seems generally harder to ally with and your not likely to get until later in the game with infiltrator/assaults in Acheron armor sets. This lets them use the range, perception, and stealth. I have yet to manage to unlock this in a game. Its also a specific style of play. If you like sneaking around, you might go this route. It could be fun… but most people aren’t going to sneak because stealth with enemy trigger distance is not shown up front like Xcom2. Its almost a one faction system that is a bit vague.
This all means, New Jericho is the ONLY faction give a tier three assault rifle for the style play the majority people will use since Phoenix Point does not start with shotguns or have any significant depiction of stealth. Not until players have learned about the other options and how to use them will they even be considered. New Jericho’s tier 3 however, is a direct upgrade for what the games starts players with so its a natural path for anyone playing the first time or who just prefers direct fire fights without putting their assaults in extreme danger. (for no or little return now that dash uses an action point).
If developers want players to use other styles don’t nurf New Jericho’s their is nothing wrong with it. Instead, introduce a stealth mechanic like Xcom2, where players can tell if they are revealed and which aliens are alerted and introduce it in the tutorial (the mechanics are there it just lacks visual ques and player introduction). Then make dash once per and cost no action points so its about positioning not running all the way across the map. Last give Synedrion a third tier that does 50 damage and 2 paralysis in a 3 round burst.
On top of that when checking your Statistics take into account the number of shotguns replacing assault rifles too.
When it comes to the Raven SR13 , its simply a matter of taking out threats. You need to shoot siren heads and arthron arms. If the other guns are not disabling them in one shot… why do I need them? The Athena NS-2 can be used to capture, but the Gungnir SR-2 does 60 virophage to the over all health it doesn’t help with heads and arms. If you want make it useful it needs to compete with the Hel II Cannon if its just core damage or have a specific limb disabling effect.
