Hey all,
Thanks for the feedback. No, we are not ignoring it. Quite the contrary, actually. We totally understand your concerns about the Antagonist role, and we are working on significant changes on it along with many other adjustments, redesigns and total overhauls for the progression system.
Bear in mind the Antagonist's role is embedded into the core concept of the game. Thus, changing it (among many, many other things) while working on the new campaigns and other content is being a monumental task, requiring all our production resources and not little time.
Personally, I enjoy playing as the Antagonist, but I share many of your opinions. I reckon you'll be gladly surprised when the big update arrives.
Thanks for being constructive about the game. Please, keep it up!
Can I make a STRONG suggestion? Don't lock weapons behind Stigma/Antag ranks. You have to understand that many players, like me, DON'T like trolling or bullying others in games and the antag system doesn't appeal to us. I feel forced to play this unpleasant mode as I want to improve the weapons of the raiders I like. When I lose a game as an antag, I feel angry, resentful and like I wasted my time since I literally received NOTHING. When I "win" as an antag I fell horrible, cruel and like a bully who was forced to ruin the fun for, let's face it, new players. But if I don't play as antag, I don't get new weapons, weapons vital to fight against antags who have them. Superior weapons, mind you.
Question, if this game mode is not fun for players what should they do? Do they leave the game? Do they simply accept that people who delight in ruining the fun of others are the only ones who will receive the weapon upgrades? Is this ok to you? Do you, as a developer who is interested in the longevity and success of their product, believe that new players being routinely harvested in Hanging by a Thread by antags is a good thing? You realize this is turning new players away from the game, don't you?
Make antag an optional way to play the game, not a mandatory way you eventually HAVE to. Many of us were drawn to this game because we miss games that have campaign modes and PvE. Too many games focus on PvP and it gets tiring. But if you HAVE to keep the antag system, which I suspect you do as it is a core function of the game, do not lock weapons behind it. And for Christ's sake keep antags out of Hanging by a Thread for new players, this is suicide for your game.