#8

Personally I hated how BAR was “open ended” there was no reason to try and do it, since you’ll never really get anywhere except increasingly diminishing returns.

Proficency had a clear goal, and the effects were noticeable. Also unlike BAR you had complete control over which type you increased. I have characters that have 50 prof in 2 weapon types and 0 in everything else.

Despite GBXs claims prior to Bl2, in the long run BAR is just a very slow increase in everything.

Proficency wasn’t perfect though. I’d like to see a system similar, but with a better implementation than “xp levels up your guns” since it was so easy to exploit.

My idea (which I’ve said before) is to have challanges tied to Proficency. So if there’s 3 Challange types for each weapon, then each time you comple a teir you get a bonus to that weapon. There is also melee, grenade and shield based challanges, so they could have Proficency to.

#9

I don’t disagree. But the bl1 proficiencies did lack something…especially once maxed out, which is what I believe the BAR system is designed to amend. Not saying it’s perfect, but…better.

4 Likes
#10

Blizzard did well with paragon, a pool of buff points that can be distributed to skills in four categories. The problem with challenges is they get grindy. I have over 180k ba rank just from playing about 15 characters. Only one Sal has prestiged. Once.

The downside with bl1 proficiencies design is your character gets pinned to certain weapon types. A pain in the ass for end game experimentation. BA ranks interfere with some builds like health gate abuse or shield delay. Personally I like taking damage buffs over durability buffs because I like the challenge of a glass cannon often.

Skyrim did ok by proficiency by usage then an allocation system. It might be interesting to gain objects that buff skills. Kinda like an a la cart com and/or gear mod system. That could make a crafting system interesting I suppose.

Gbx should not feel obligated to investigate Destiny’s bounty system. I put the game down after burning on it. (Think Capt Scarlet and her final comment on Herbert) : )

Maybe its nostalgia or that bl1 seems fresh after so long an abscence but I find the orignal spider ants cooler too. About the craziest enemy so far are those scathy-watcamacallits and their weird flipped out flying.

1 Like
#11

I never quite understood this. Its not like its hard to fix. Id much rather work on an empty proficiency stat than grind for badass tokens.

3 Likes
#12

Yeah, all it takes is some Guardian Killing or the sneaky “get Rakk Hive or Craw down to 1% health and finish them off with low proff weapon type” method.

#13

And I’d rather just shoot stuff in face as I please. : )

#14

I certainly prefer how you don’t end up having to boost stats you don’t like. What I’d like is a more flexible bad ass rank system. Don’t have it force you to boost low stats. Have each stat something you can disable on it’s own. AND let it allow you to put points into more stats. Like SMG mastery, Pistol mastery, etc…

And more! Oz kit air capacity, Oz kit slam damage, melee speed.

What I love about bad ass rank is being able to improve all my characters at once and effectively making my brand new characters more and more uber.

Bad ass rank in the future
#15

Very true. At end game you can max out a new stat just fighting high experience stuff. I maxed out pistols fighting Crawmerax worms. Yet I hadn’t really used them much the whole game.

However, once you max them the only thing left is finding better gear. And they don’t help your other characters. Plus, I think the challenges in the bad ass rank system are more fun to target. Sort of a game within the game.

1 Like
#16

I have nothing against BA rank, but would gladly trade it in (if given the choice between the two) for the return of weapon proficiencies.

What I love about proficiencies is that the game rewards you directly for your style of play.

#17

Back to on topic. Yea. BL1 had a different feel to it. It’s kinda hard to nail down. The pirates DLC for BL2 actually reminded me the most of BL1 because of the dried out sea concept. If you read about Arches national park you’ll know what I mean. Borderlands 1 had a lot of places that reminded me of that park. That said, I enjoy the heck out of both games.

The funniest thing I thought of related to comparing both games recently is this:
imagine the player who played BL2 first and then went to check out #1. What’s priceless is: the first time he realizes that fall damage is implemented in BL1 when he’s used to jumping off all kinds of stuff in BL2.

edit: also I love the pre sequel for it’s different feel and new mechanics and classes.

#18

So… how about if they extended proficiencies to everything then?

IF you use turtle shields a lot then your turtle shields get even higher shield capacity and lower recharge delay.

Use amp shields a lot? Your amp shields get a shorter delay and higher amp damage.

Roid shield bonus: longer delay and higher roid damage.

In other words, logical bonuses would be applied to heavy usage of any type of item. Tesla grenades would grow in size and damage.

#19

An Elder Scrolls approach? I could get behind that.

1 Like
#20

Yeah all ~100 damage of it. It was never an issue except at really low levels.

And Baron Flynts dig site, but that was a killbox, not fall damage.

1 Like
#21

To even add to that. What if after maxing out the proficiency. You unlock a small skill tree. That has skill points to be spent on specific character upgrades. Even though it makes me shutter to even mention this broke Game. But along the lines of Destiny and its armor attributes Or maybe enhancing AOE effects and Range. To make that weapon even more personal to the character you’re using it for

1 Like
#22

bl1 feels more like fallout2 style wise.

It’s darker, grittier, although less polished in most aspects (music, item management, quests etc)

#23

I like that they dropped it. You had a game with bazillion guns, and were encouraged to use an eighth of them. You might find a cool looking sniper and go “nah, better build my revolver proficiency”. They probably wanted to let you use anything with impunity and I couldn’t agree more

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#24

But Bl1 was easy enough that you could use whatever you wanted.

I understand while people like BAR more, but I can’t grasp how people think Proficency stopped them using guns.

1 Like
#25

Agreed. Though Destiny did add some useful ideas to the loot based shooter genre.

#26

I’ve felt it both ways.

#27

(edited -> deleted)