Currently, there are only 2 campaigns so the problem isn’t as obvious. With the current system, you as a player are incentivized to play one side so you can progress through the campaign levels in a relatively normal time to unlock things for your army.
This already splits the playerbase because someone who is halfway into the Russian campaign likely won’t start all over again to play for the germans which means there will be an imbalance because people will gravitate towards the side with the more fun toys.
Now if they add more campaigns they will split the playerbase more and more into fractions which will inevitably lead to some campaigns being unplayable because some people don’t like it or they just can’t be bothered to start over again.
It’s obvious why they went with this route because it exponentially increases the grind. But that’s not healthy because no sane person will spend hundreds of hours to complete only one army of one campaign only to switch to a new one.
My suggestions would be:
A global army progression where you can use previously earned gear in future campaigns
or
A unified campaign progression where you unlock gear for both sides by leveling up your campaign, giving people an incentive to play both sides.
In an ideal world, I would love to have both because it would feel rewarding having my arsenal grow and being able to take it with me into later battles.
Edit: I did some math.
To get from lvl 0 to 25 it takes 2.484.500xp
Assuming you get on average 19.000 xp per game it would take 130,76 games
Assuming each game takes 30 minutes that would sum up to 3922,89 minutes or 65,38 hours.
I for one don’t want to work for almost 3 days straight to have all progress lost
That would imply gear earned in later campaigns could be used in early ones. While I would be in favour of an increase in arsenal, people want to keep this game authentic and I can understand their point. That’s why I suggested forward compatibility because gear that already existed could be used in the future, but gear from the future can’t be brought to the past.
Oh, the problem is already extremely obvious. It’s most likely too late to fix anything, though. This final change to progression was supposed to be their grand salvation that would make everything right. It evidently didn’t and any further changes are impossible now that the game is out.
They’d have to either do another progression wipe (which will irreparably damage whatever is left of game’s reputation) or think of a very complex solution for that to happen now. Meanwhile they are yet to demonstrate an ability to introduce even simple solutions that don’t ruin everything.
This entire project looks hopeless. A terrible shame, but it’s not like players can fix the game or teach developers something they didn’t already know.
While I fear this might be true, I don’t want to throw in the towel just yet. As long as I can express my thoughts as a community member and there is even a remote chance of it getting taken into consideration I will continue doing so. The game only just launched into open beta, things are very much still changeable and fixable.
Even to my suggestion to unify campaign progression, the solution would be to make an average of existing earned points and putting them into the new system. If there will be one.
I have made post about progression system but I told about advantaging people who buy premium account because they unlock all stuff way faster than they who play for free. Now, your idea is very obvious, progression system is fine but it demands too much time and as you said when more campaings will be added it will be hard to find some game. Like you said right now people all spread over 2 campaigns and 4 sides. When upcoming campaigns will be added they will spread over 4 campaigns and 8 sides (supposing this sytem will endure). I hope that in each campaign both faction will be able to earn points simulataneoulsy, e.g. 10th level in campaign will be unlocked for both factions.
As I understand you mean that e.g. Kar 98k could be accesable in all theatres, while Stg 44 should be accesable only in '44 campigns forward. Yeah this would be great.
I like your take even if I’d have to disagree on the weapon upgrades because, in my opinion, it’s not what it should be. I even made a post on how it’s identical to Fortnite’s guns system and how it should be instead.
However, I do sense a little bit of Warthunder vibes in your suggestion. If I understood right you’d like to take squads and overall equipment and give them star ratings similar to what WT’s tank roster has. And then be matched to people within a certain star rating which also determines how late in the war they get placed. Do I understand that right? If so I absolutely favour your idea over what we currently have in place. 100%