Melee damage is largely useless at the moment. I've tested it fairly extensively; basically, it can two-shot an unshielded technician, but takes 3 shots to kill even a standard commando, by which point they can raise their shields, even if attacked by surprise.
This makes it a relatively niche bonus, especially when Increased Battery Capacity exists. The only real advantage melee has over Overload is not taking energy, but increased battery capacity fixes that problem, with many other benefits besides.
With that in mind, it would be nice if Increased Melee Damage had some other effects, as well.
I'd like to see it become a more comprehensive bonus, one that offers a wide variety of bonuses, none of which are as strong as their dedicated counterparts, but which, when taken together, become a viable option. I'd call this effect Synthetic Muscle Fibers.
Basically, it would give your suit an exoskeleton-like mesh of fibers that increase your strength on a holistic level. Strength means a lot of things, after all, not just the ability to punch harder, but also to lift more, jump higher, even to have more precise body control.
Synthetic Muscle Fibers would therefore have a wide variety of effects, all related to strength.
+5 Goods Carrying Capacity(the ability to carry extra weight, but not more data or lightweight materials, which simply take more space than you have available.
+33% Jump Height(but not boosted thruster fuel, making it a much more limited option)
+33% Fall Damage Threshold(fall from higher without taking damage. Not a massive effect, but a convenient one in tandem with other bonuses).
-50% Falling Noise(stacks with quieter footsteps)
And, of course, +150% melee damage, as before.
None of these on their own would be worth having, especially compared to their dedicated counterparts, but taken together, they could become a viable option for a wide variety of suits.
This makes it a relatively niche bonus, especially when Increased Battery Capacity exists. The only real advantage melee has over Overload is not taking energy, but increased battery capacity fixes that problem, with many other benefits besides.
With that in mind, it would be nice if Increased Melee Damage had some other effects, as well.
I'd like to see it become a more comprehensive bonus, one that offers a wide variety of bonuses, none of which are as strong as their dedicated counterparts, but which, when taken together, become a viable option. I'd call this effect Synthetic Muscle Fibers.
Basically, it would give your suit an exoskeleton-like mesh of fibers that increase your strength on a holistic level. Strength means a lot of things, after all, not just the ability to punch harder, but also to lift more, jump higher, even to have more precise body control.
Synthetic Muscle Fibers would therefore have a wide variety of effects, all related to strength.
+5 Goods Carrying Capacity(the ability to carry extra weight, but not more data or lightweight materials, which simply take more space than you have available.
+33% Jump Height(but not boosted thruster fuel, making it a much more limited option)
+33% Fall Damage Threshold(fall from higher without taking damage. Not a massive effect, but a convenient one in tandem with other bonuses).
-50% Falling Noise(stacks with quieter footsteps)
And, of course, +150% melee damage, as before.
None of these on their own would be worth having, especially compared to their dedicated counterparts, but taken together, they could become a viable option for a wide variety of suits.
