Problem #1: Any way you slice it, a level 50 is going to be able to easily kill a level 1. Skill-Based or not, the gap between their gear stats and playtime is going to make worlds of difference. During my short 5-hour playthrough, I had the unfortunate experience of having to play with two of the top leveled players in beta. They tore through my little lowbie like a hot knife through butter again and again. They'd always move around servers too. Then I asked myself, "If there's 2 hotshot destroyers in this short beta, what about after release?". The answer is Billions and Billions. New players will stand zero chance, making for a tough learning curve and throwing off the artsy and casual crowd this game is trying to appeal to as the hardcore shooter crowd smashes in their faces. They risk losing roughly half of their subscribers to savage beatings alone.

Solution for #1 only: Group level ranges into different instances, it's not hard. Lowbies play with lowbies, highbies play with highbies. I guess they could also come up with a system that allows highbies to play with their lowbie friends, with their high-level gear suppressed or maybe even disabled, forcing them to use noob weapons and limiting their body armor. (like sidekicking in CoH)

Problem #2: "Ah, the Financial District... and the financial district... and the financial district... oh hi again financial district." With the same map over and over, after a few short months, people will start to get sick of it, I know I would.

Solution for #2 only: MORE MAPS. Not really hard to do. Why aren't there more Action Districts? Why can't we tear up the neon-lit streets of a chinatown-esque area or blow up cars in an area that looks suspiciously like downtown Miami? The question isn't "Why more maps?", it's "Why not?".

Solution for #1 and #2:
Dynamic city changes through character progression.
As you level up and are placed in higher leveled instances of the Financial District, you'll notice things. It looks dirtier, and as you get up there in the levels, it could look absolutely War-Torn.
This concept of Zone Progression could apply for any other instances they could possibly make.

I'm not sure if any of these ideas are already out there or are going to be implemented already.

Originally posted by Xero_Chance

Problem #1: Any way you slice it, a level 50 is going to be able to easily kill a level 1. Skill-Based or not, the gap between their gear stats and playtime is going to make worlds of difference. During my short 5-hour playthrough, I had the unfortunate experience of having to play with two of the top leveled players in beta. They tore through my little lowbie like a hot knife through butter again and again. They'd always move around servers too. Then I asked myself, "If there's 2 hotshot destroyers in this short beta, what about after release?". The answer is Billions and Billions. New players will stand zero chance, making for a tough learning curve and throwing off the artsy and casual crowd this game is trying to appeal to as the hardcore shooter crowd smashes in their faces. They risk losing roughly half of their subscribers to savage beatings alone.

Solution for #1 only: Group level ranges into different instances, it's not hard. Lowbies play with lowbies, highbies play with highbies. I guess they could also come up with a system that allows highbies to play with their lowbie friends, with their high-level gear suppressed or maybe even disabled, forcing them to use noob weapons and limiting their body armor. (like sidekicking in CoH)

Problem #2: "Ah, the Financial District... and the financial district... and the financial district... oh hi again financial district." With the same map over and over, after a few short months, people will start to get sick of it, I know I would.

Solution for #2 only: MORE MAPS. Not really hard to do. Why aren't there more Action Districts? Why can't we tear up the neon-lit streets of a chinatown-esque area or blow up cars in an area that looks suspiciously like downtown Miami? The question isn't "Why more maps?", it's "Why not?".

Solution for #1 and #2:
Dynamic city changes through character progression.
As you level up and are placed in higher leveled instances of the Financial District, you'll notice things. It looks dirtier, and as you get up there in the levels, it could look absolutely War-Torn.
This concept of Zone Progression could apply for any other instances they could possibly make.

I'm not sure if any of these ideas are already out there or are going to be implemented already.

Gonna have to disagree with you on the gap between new toon and a toon thats been advancing for months. Use your head and your fine. I was going up against some much higher "level" toons than myself. They were tearing me up every time I rounded the corner to complete my mission. I decided F' this and hopped in a dump truck, circled around back of the building barreling down the alley. With the pedal to the medal and gunning straight for the 3 aholes that kept picking me off I jumped out of the truck and opened fire, tossing some grenades at them as the dump truck smashed into them. 

With a really kewl explosion and a warm fuzzy feeling I completed my mission. 

So... I don't see there being a huge gap if you simply use your head instead of rounding that corner repeatedly. Take the high ground, find a good vantage point, find some good cover, use the environment to your advantage, use cars if you need too, lob some grenades, call for backup......... being outnumbered and or out gunned doesn't mean a definite loss. 

And from my understanding more maps are already on the way. 

No need to seperate everyone further, no reason to and no point in it. 

I have to agree with ghost on this one I decided to give criminal a shot last friday for kicks and went up against a lot of higher level enforcers wasn't that rough, Although I do see the OP's point, mostly about the Districts.

Some kind of district progression seems to be the way to go in my opinion.

Gives us something to look forward too, cause that's going to be a problem I think even though  you can get a new car or weapon from time to time.

There are things that needs to be done to seperate this game from a normal fps with minor character progression.

The lack of content in All points bulletin is pathetic. RTW is cheapskating the public by having only two action districts at launch when they can and should have so many more. I probably played every mission more than 3 times in the 30 hours that I played. Sure this game will be worth the 50 hours, but for the hardcore mmo gamers, dont bother with this one. APB is a watered down version of what it potentially could be. I hope they have something up their sleeves that they are going to surprise us with come june 29th, but I highly doubt it. Everything that is actually in the game is awesome, i just cannot quite grasp why there isn't more of it...Nonetheless i look forward to apb and will be playing Because quite frankly, they have sucked me into the game and I want to play it right now. I have been scouring the apb and mmorpg forums since the beta ended. lol im addicted..

They want it to be an mmofpsrpg.  Yet they have less maps then an FPS does.  Sure, people still play CS, because it is a great game for what it does.

I can't see JUST two maps being enough.

Originally posted by Swanea

They want it to be an mmofpsrpg.  Yet they have less maps then an FPS does.  Sure, people still play CS, because it is a great game for what it does.

I can't see JUST two maps being enough.

There already planning a chaos district for a more open PvP type of play. There talking about a racing district and other districts already as well.

So....

but thas in the future, not at launch... unless they reveal a massive overhaul on launch day then it wont have enough content... and to the OP, his idea is a step in the right direction, because if ure R20 going up against R150, then u will lose no matter wat... dont tell me u run them over, cause dodging cars is pretty easy, and it takes 2+ beginner nades and a couple of shots to kill some1...

Originally posted by desperaux

but thas in the future, not at launch... unless they reveal a massive overhaul on launch day then it wont have enough content... and to the OP, his idea is a step in the right direction, because if ure R20 going up against R150, then u will lose no matter wat... dont tell me u run them over, cause dodging cars is pretty easy, and it takes 2+ beginner nades and a couple of shots to kill some1...

Well I already told you I have been, because I have. You may not be able to hit people with your car, but that little hand break and a bit of driving skill seems to let me hit people I'm aiming for very often.

As far as 2+ beginner grenades being needed plus a coupld of shots, that I didn't experience.

And no the OP's idea is a huge step in the wrong direction. The way the district is designed it gives a sandboxish feel to it.

In any case, if you don't feel there is enough content for launch then don't play at launch. Wait a few months, it's good to wait 3-6 months after an MMO launches before joining anyways. By then most bugs should be taken care of and things should be ironed out it also gives some time for more content to be added.

See your problem solved :)

Fact is yes there are only 2 maps but more will come. Another thing ill point out is people who play COD, counter-strike, and many other fps/tps play pretty much the same rotation of maps.

You map problem isnt one. I garuntee you that if u ran around with me i can show u things on each map 3 months after release that u have never seen or thought of doing. My buddy and i had the devs scratching their heads and wondering how we did the stuff we did. I have vid after vid after vid that i will post about 3 months after the game releases showing our antics.

As far as the level issue goes... yes and no. The only real issue u ill have is if somone has damage reduction 2 or 3. then your boned. past that your fine. At low levels use an OBEYA and call it a day untill u unlock the hangman. Then as a crim use an NL9 and have fun stunning people and shooting them and win pistol kills for the day and get great rewards.

Also NA didnt delete beta characters for the Key to the City event because NA didnt have as long as some of us in EU beta. So thats the 2 u saw. They didnt know some uber fast way of leveling.

Final thoguht is, more maps will come. I do see a china district, i also see a ghetto/SE d.c. look coming to this game. Dont fret it will be there. Give it time. Dont forget WOW didnt always have Deathnights and the Lich King....

"Zones" or progression, is not warranted in this game. The disparity between new toon and old is NOT that big, this is not a gear based RPG.
I have over 80+ hours playing this game and it is only perception that there is a huge divide. Quite frankly, the only thing different between a high rank and a low rank is they have more game time, i could make a new toon right now and make take you out again and again. This at its core is a shooter, it follows much the same learning curve as any shooter. If you want to win constantly, stick to RPG's.
This is a combined arms based shooter, the upgrades do not even do much for the individual, but it does affect combined arms. Do not solo in this game, or if you do, take it like a man, because it will be harder.

Again, you spent 5 hours in the game, you cant possibly make this assessment with out simply just assuming. You don't know the pace of combat, you don't know the maps, you dont know the mechanics or what guns and options are out there. that is the kind things you need to learn in a shooter. Gear won't help you. If you still feel it does, then buy some off the marketplace.

BTW: One map in APB is 40 cirty blocks. 40. There is stuff in there you won't find for months, let alone 5 hours.

See i disagree totally above... i kinda retract a little out of my last post by stating if u go against a person who has a weapon with 3 slots and one of htme is savage 3 your boned. ontop of that they have damage reduction III on their character as an upgrade ur not going to win. N-Tec with savage III and damage reduction III on character i guaruntee you that i could take a group of 4 solo no problem. They might get a couple kills on me but over all i will win. You cant deny this. This is truth as it was a huge complaint on beta forums.

That being said the system very rarly puts you up against these players at low ranks so u need not worry. Just play level and move on, u still get a nice chunk of xp for losing too :)

Originally posted by pepcfreak

See i disagree totally above... i kinda retract a little out of my last post by stating if u go against a person who has a weapon with 3 slots and one of htme is savage 3 your boned. ontop of that they have damage reduction III on their character as an upgrade ur not going to win. N-Tec with savage III and damage reduction III on character i guaruntee you that i could take a group of 4 solo no problem. They might get a couple kills on me but over all i will win. You cant deny this. This is truth as it was a huge complaint on beta forums.

That being said the system very rarly puts you up against these players at low ranks so u need not worry. Just play level and move on, u still get a nice chunk of xp for losing too :)

All upgrades got a 20% nurf, as well as the N-TEC getting one just for itself at the end of beta. You have old info.

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by pepcfreak

See i disagree totally above... i kinda retract a little out of my last post by stating if u go against a person who has a weapon with 3 slots and one of htme is savage 3 your boned. ontop of that they have damage reduction III on their character as an upgrade ur not going to win. N-Tec with savage III and damage reduction III on character i guaruntee you that i could take a group of 4 solo no problem. They might get a couple kills on me but over all i will win. You cant deny this. This is truth as it was a huge complaint on beta forums.

That being said the system very rarly puts you up against these players at low ranks so u need not worry. Just play level and move on, u still get a nice chunk of xp for losing too :)

All upgrades got a 20% nurf, as well as the N-TEC getting one just for itself at the end of beta. You have old info.

 whats 20% of 10??? 2% so its a 8% upgrade gimme a break. Key to the city i tested the N-Tec it was the same ol' N-Tec. so i think your working off BS information. N-Tec got nerfed before beta ended but it was a distance nerf not damage. I have screens to show this. And not all upgrades got a nerf and Damage reduction is one of those that did not get nerfed.

So in reality... a 10% damage item was reduced to 8% savage II is 6% so 20 percent of that is 1.2% making it 4.8%... come on now.... is that really a Nerf i think not.

Test server bro.

PTW? yea i was just in there. Nothing has really changed.

ok at the big picture. If your character has 900 health a weapon does 100 damage a shot u add 8% to that thats 108 damage a shot. Instead of 9 shots to kill its now 7-8. it was the same at 10% nothing changed.

Look, even before the nurf, at max something reduced the bullet hits needed by one, and there is a lower cap of two shots, thats with a sniper rifle with full upgrades.
So, you are bloating the situation. Upgrades have more of an affect on combined arms, than an individuals power.

It is absolutely myth, or bad playing, or being unaware of being shot at by more than one person that creates the perception of "OMG I WIN" gear balance.

Gear gives an advantage, but does not, in any way, create unwinable situations. Its a myth perpetuated by those who play to many RPG's and are accustomed to that being the case.

You are treating tiny, TINY increments as large divides in power, its simply not true. At all.

Buddy.

But I agree with your attitude, you win some you loose some. Teamwork > Solo. As it should be.

Point being a day one noob can take out a 5 month Vet. Thuss no need for "level" segation, there isn't even levels in this game.

This is the way of plantside, so it is in APB.

Ok well even in FPS games there is not advantages at all even the slightest advantage is enough to make a game unbalanced.

So. Its not unbalanced if I can shoot you twice and kill you. While you shoot me with an entire clip and more and I not die? cool story bro.

Add to that rooftops where you cannot reach the person because they shoot the cans they used to reach it. AFK on rooftop till mission over.. Yep.. Sweet.

Originally posted by Garick

So. Its not unbalanced if I can shoot you twice and kill you. While you shoot me with an entire clip and more and I not die? cool story bro.

Sniper rifle. Please pay attention.