Simple idea to balance Gearlube and Rudder

This is a really simple fix. We create a new Hit Point perk, which is only for Gearlube and Rudder, and which adds about 250 hp per perk (the exact amount would be subject to balance).

This would mean that an Epic Gearlube with a full set of Epic HP perks, could add about 1000hp to your ship. Which would make it a viable alternative to Small Shield and Bandage. Thus, ‘hopefully’ breathing a bit of life back into the Blue Item meta.

 

This actually sounds better than combining the items.

I'll Tag two of the devs fo' sho:

@The Grim Repair @Miika

 

no , both are used less but not useless , gearlub is a great item on a shooter with cannons .and rudar is really powerful for speeders

 

I didn’t say either were useless. But their lack of popularity, not to mention the staleness in the Blue Item meta, indicates they need to be more competitive.

Rudder isn’t ‘really powerful’ on a Speeder. I play Speeder, I even enjoy using Rudder: it’s a really fun item... until you get hit! Then you remember why it’s not competitive.

Similarly, with Gearlube: it shouldn’t just be a rarely seen item, that occasionally shows up on ships with more Blue Slots than they know what to do with. It needs to be brought back into the meta, so that it’s a viable choice on all ship types.

Take a look at the most recent meta snapshot from the top 50. Gearlube shows up 0 times, Rudder shows up 1 time (surprised it’s that much). In contrast, Turbo shows up 49 times out of 50. That’s a striking imbalance in the meta, which is why I suggested this fix.

https://forum.battlebay.net/threads/item-popularity-snapshot-june-2018.20200/

 

Actually you are wrong. Dodging 1-2 blast or explosive cannon shot with rudder is better than a standard shield in value. Additionally rudder can do much more.

 

i was upgrading my 2 nitro since i was mk5 and they are powerful , and believe me if i had a rudder that will be 'really powerful' setup ,
and i have said before that iam against ( nerfing, buffing items due to how much it is used) , your idea is good , but let's don't make them OP because they are used less

 

That might make it op.
It can literally replace std shields at lower levels hp wise while adding yet another effect of agility.
Maybe if you lower the health perk value to like, idk, the same amount as shield perks?

Also, health doesn't relate to gear lube or rudder, just saying.

 

You can’t fit as many perks at lower levels. I think Standard Shield will always have more HP (assuming an equal number of perks), but I agree 250 might be more than is needed.

As for health relating to Rudder/Gearlube... All items can equip hp perks already, they just aren’t very good.

 

Rudder is fine as it is. Actually hoping to get a legendary one for when I am mk6 speeder.

But geat lube.... Gah.. What a useless piece of junk. Who invented that shit?

 

I'd rather have a gear lube than rudder. There were too many times when my turret failed me and I died miserably.

 

Gear lube=A bottle of Glue that makes your turret slower

 

Well Turbo and Shields aren’t just ‘popular’ they are virtually mandatory.

I would also like for Gearlube and Rudder to remain distinctive and unique. The problem is that no one (hardly anyone) is willing to give up HP or Speed in order to equip them. So they’re always going to get ignored, unless they can replace ‘some’ of the vital function that would be lost without Shield/Turbo.

I think that ‘most’ people would agree that there is currently a problem with the Blue Item meta, it’s undeniable. The advantage of this solution is really its simplicity: it doesn’t require any major alterations to ship stats, or redesigning of Blue Items. It takes an existing class of object (hp perk), which should be easy to add, and it instantly makes Gearlube/Rudder a more viable ‘option’ for players/ships that otherwise wouldn’t (or wouldn’t be be able to) consider them.

 

Hell yeah!
Bandage is overestimated

 

Go with big shield, with bandage you'll be one shot so many times that it'll take away the fun factor.

 

What if gear lube and rudder can increase effectiveness of other items that are equipped on the ship through training.

 

Not bad, but would require a lot more work for the devs than just adding a new HP perk for these items. This (hp perks) is probably the least effort way for them to make a meaningful change to the usability of these two blue items. Great idea imo.

 

I was thinking even if they combined gear lube and rudder. I probably still wouldn't use them.. The hp perks are a good idea but don't really align (make sense) with the item types. Along the lines of what SeaNavy mentioned. Instead of boosting effectiveness what if they reduced debuffs? Like the rudder would reduce how long your slowed for and lube would reduce how long your stunned for. Or maybe have them increase shield penetration to beat the double bubble? Honestly every fun game is like rock paper scissors, there's a counter for everything. Instead of nerfing the best thing update after update maybe a better idea would be to buff some items that don't get used.. cough rudder.. cough cough gear lube..