This idea came up in the Dev server testing discussion. Since apparently it got some support, I’m opening a proper suggestion for better consideration by the staff.
-DISCLAIMER- this suggestion is based on the assumption that the matchmaking will be working as we saw it in the second iteration of the Dev Server, with each gun having its own set of favourite and undesired campaigns.
=EDIT= after this announcement, Map preferences are no longer relevant, and BR is what matters instead.
THE PROBLEM: from what we know so far, after the merge most famous WWII guns such as Garand, Thompson, MP40, PPSH and such will be relatively far ahead in their respective progression tree. This may discourage and drive away some new players, who could decide to quit the game if they feel they will be stuck too long with early weapons before getting their hands on the iconic guns they expect to play in a WWII themed game.
THE GOAL: finding a way to let new players get easyly a taste of iconic weapons, while leaving normal progression relevant AND without dragging them immediately up into high level matches.
THE IDEA: “Starter guns packs” for each nation, available for silver.
Each pack would be limited to a one-time purchase and it would provide a sample of guns that are otherwise going to be unlocked later.
In example, a new player buying the US starter guns pack would immediately get ONE Garand, ONE Thompson M1A1 and ONE BAR M1918. Only one of each, and with their basic stars level: in order to be able to buy more and upgrade them, the player would still need to unlock the respective gun in the tech tree and upgrade the respective squad.
Similarly, the German pack may include one G41, one MP40 and one MG34, and so on.
(I think the general principle should be to include a semiauto rifle, an SMG and an MG for each nation. A sniper rifle is possible but not really necessary IMO.)
NECESSARY CAUTIONS: while the idea is to give new players a limited early access to better and well known guns, those should be chosen among the “weaker” versions that still allow the player to be sorted mainly in low level matches. In practical terms, anything that favours Normandy and Berlin over Moscow, Stalingrad, Pacific and Tunisia is a no-go.
=EDIT= Since there will be BR based matchmaking instead of map preferences, this suggestion may become problematic if the iconic guns end up being BR 3.
If so, starter packs should either include BR 2 guns maximum, or show a HUGE WARNING that equipping BR 3 guns may and will throw the player straight into endgame matches.
.