In continuation of the discussion in this thread: Let's talk about the future of the Rider class
As well as the recent update Pre-order: Armored Personnel Carriers! - News - Enlisted
The Rider class is not only irrelevant, but supplanted and made completely obsolescent.
To summarize, the Rider Class:
- A class that can either equip either rifles or submachineguns;
- is exclusive to the Rider squad (Only 2/3-man bikes are presently available);
- is consequently limited to 2 Riders at a time in the same squad;
- do not confer any special effects or bonuses, apart from the relatively useless 7% repair speed perk;
- and the squad (likely) costs the same as other infantry squads relative to ticket count.
Even worse, it is entirely possible to run a “Rider squad” with no riders .
The game even encourages you replace them with an engineer, with the 2nd slot usually occupied by an AT gunner, so the class itself is completely unnecessary for anything other than be stand-in riflemen that are exclusive to its squad, which must be stressed, only has 2 slots for soldiers .
The introduction of paratroopers render the mobility aspect of the class moot, with additional flexibility in terms of equipment.
The introduction of APC Drivers is the final nail in the coffin.
A mobile rally point for your team! These vehicles will not only provide a convenient transportation for your squad, but will also allow your allies to join the heat of battle right away.
The mechanics are similar to the engineer’s rally point, but APCs are more durable and faster — pick up your teammates, drive behind enemy lines even while under fire and launch a surprise attack. Or just leave a vehicle where a normal rally point would be easily destroyed.
This squad will use its own unique transport slot, and you can arm and change the vehicle’s crew as a regular infantry squad. It consists of 6 soldiers of different classes, where only one is a driver, the rest are various specialists who you can arm at will. The rally point will be active as long as the vehicle is in one piece.
There is no merit to the Rider Class.
- It’s unnecessary to staff the vehicle exclusive to the class- It was meant to be replaced.
- You cannot put Riders in any other squad.
- The class itself offers nothing unique other than the ability to equip both rifles and SMGs.
- It is an inherently undermanned squad.
- The mobility aspect is made irrelevant with the introduction of paratrooper squads, and the future APC Driver Class (I still don’t know why they couldn’t make these Riders)
- The “Get out and make a rally” niche is likewise taken over by the aforementioned two classes.
The Rider class needs to either be incorporated in some other squads, or removed entirely. It fills a niche role where it is intended to be replaced, and judging by the arbitrary decision to make another class to cater to armored transports, there is no future for this class at all.