(If you don't want to read every sentence, then look at the 3 bold sentences for the main points)
This game must constantly be updated and modified to prevent it from stagnating and becoming yesterday's news, which is what the developers have been doing since the creation of Anarchy Online. That being said, there's a difference between implementing ideas that have a massive effect on gameplay and adding new content to bolster the game experience in some smaller aspect. One such example of an idea with a big impact can be found inside the victory points shop: Nemesis Nanos.
The reason these nanos are not acceptable in their current state is because they vary in usefulness and effectiveness relative to each other. While there are some nanos that stand out enough to constantly be heated topics of debate, there are other nanos which are never brought up in arguments. Compare the acronyms BR or RI to BTC or FTI, there's a discrepancy in use amongst these.
Therefore, only two options lay before FC:
- Completely throw away specific and nonspecific nemesis nanos. RI is at the top of the list. Doubles are supposedly "going away" as the community knows them, and this week's FWM was partly focused on a nemesis nano.. a lot of attention has been placed on nanos found inside the tower shop, past and present- there's a reason for this.
- If the nemesis nanos are kept ingame, they must ALL be modified to a desirable state. Ambiguity aside, the point was mentioned earlier: there's a balance issue between the nanos, some pull down the scale and some have no effect on it whatsoever. Adjustments must be made.
While there should be strengths and weaknesses between professions, they should not be laid out before the community so concretely and decisively that gameplay is shifted to revolve around a 'rock-paper-scissors' mechanism with guaranteed outcomes.
Also, as a final note: even though FC is rebalancing many things and looking into all the aspects of this game, some points must be stressed to ensure that they are not missed.