The speaker has extensively tested the Master modes in Star Citizen, finding them to provide a good foundation for space combat but noting some confusing nuances like limiters and circular flight models. They emphasize the importance of designing around group play rather than focusing solely on 1v1 duels, providing detailed feedback on ship archetypes and mechanics while expressing optimism about the game’s potential but raising concerns about balance and strategic depth.
The speaker has spent over 100 hours in Arena Commander testing the Master modes in Star Citizen. They believe that Master modes have set a good foundation for future development, making space combat easier than the Legacy flight model. However, there are some nuances in Master modes that the speaker finds confusing, such as limiters and circular flight models. Despite these complexities, the speaker finds Master modes more enjoyable than the Legacy flight model.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of designing around group play rather than focusing solely on 1v1 duels. They draw parallels to other MMO games that shifted focus to small-scale battles and duels, leading to a decline in popularity. The speaker believes that Star Citizen should prioritize group battles to ensure long-term success and player engagement.
In their review of specific ship archetypes in Master modes, the speaker finds the Interceptor archetype confusing and potentially problematic. They express concerns about the potential imbalance of power between solo pilots and multi-crew ships like the Constellation. The speaker suggests that multi-crew ships should require a minimum number of players to reach peak performance to avoid abuse of game mechanics.
The speaker provides detailed feedback on various ships in Master modes, highlighting issues with weapon velocities, power management, and the effectiveness of certain ship classes. They express a preference for ships that cater to group play and emphasize the importance of rewarding teamwork in combat scenarios. The speaker also critiques the handling of ballistic weapons and missile mechanics in the game.
In conclusion, the speaker acknowledges the importance of Master modes as a step towards improving Star Citizen’s gameplay experience. They encourage players to accept the current state of the game or move on if they are dissatisfied. The speaker expresses optimism about the potential of the archetypes and classes introduced in Master modes but raises concerns about the need for balance and strategic depth to ensure a rewarding gameplay experience for all types of players.