Cloud Imperium Games is planning to bring a massive change to the regeneration system in Star Citizen, as all Medical Bed tiers will be able to be set as Regeneration Points, no matter if it’s inside an Anvil Carrack, a Cutlass Red, or even a Pisces C8R.
According to the latest patch arrived for the PTU version of Alpha 3.23.1, this change is being implemented to create “a less brutal experience when getting back into action.” Prior to this, only Tier 1 and Tier 2 medical beds could be set as regeneration points, and the only in-game ships that allow it at the moment are Anvil Carrack and Origin 890 Jump.
However, things will change with Tier 3 medical beds also getting the same ability. So, ships like Cutlass Red and C8R will be able to become your respawn point if you die within 20 kilometers of the ship. The supported range for Tier 2 med beds will be increased to 50 kilometers.
The developers ensure that all medical beds will function similarly in the case of healing players, and the only difference, for now, is the respawn range which is subject to change based on the feedback from players after its implementation.
While this update will make ships like Cutlass Red and Pisces C8R much more valuable than before, it will also reduce interest in high-tier ships like Carrack or 890 Jump, as the respawning feature is no longer exclusive to these ships and their Tier 2 medical beds. So, It sounds like limiting the difference between medical bed tiers to only the range of respawn is not a good idea, and there should be some better, more tempting benefits in using higher-tier medical beds.
Looking at the comments from the community, players don’t seem satisfied with the upcoming change. Some believe that this medical bed buff could be reverted after some time, as they see this more like marketing to sell more medical ships and vehicles through pledge stores.
On the other hand, some other players worry about the game becoming more casual than ever to probably net more new players. Although having a medical ship or vehicle is still a necessary part of this new regeneration system, the in-game price tag for a Pisces C8R or Cutlass Red is low enough that many players could afford to buy one in a week or so.
This change will definitely alter the shape of FPS battles in Star Citizen, especially in more intense missions like Ghost Hollow. Just imagine how easy it would be to earn money from this mission when you park your C8R a few kilometers away from the aUEC terminals, and then easily return to them whenever you die.
Also, having such a big change without mentioning it in the roadmap and only a few days before Invictus Launch Week Free Fly raises some eyebrows.
