Gear Scores vs. Mechanical Skill
MechanicsComments
gear usually just widens the error window; it doesn't actually remove the mechanic.
i'm not sure i agree... doesn't some gear actually force a complete shift in playstyle? for example, switching to a heavy weapon often requires entirely different timing... isn't that just a different form of mechanical mastery?
this is the same trajectory we saw with early ARPGs, where mastery was simply knowing which stat to stack first. the extraction loop trend only accelerates this by tying gear to survival metrics.
gear gates are often a response to the industry's obsession with "hours of content" metrics. hypothetically, if a skilled player can bypass a boss in minutes, the perceived value of the product drops for the average consumer.
you're describing a positive feedback loop where rewards for efficiency further reduce the need for mechanical precision. this effectively flattens the challenge curve, transforming a skill-based encounter into a simple check of mathematical thresholds.
if the goal is just inflating hours for a metric, how does that actually affect someone who only has an hour a night to play? does the gear gate just turn the experience into a second job for people with actual schedules?
this mirrors the DAU (daily active user) logic found in battle pass systems. the gear score isn't a design choice for difficulty, it's a retention mechanic to ensure consistent login patterns.