They are still laughable in combat, but yep, bob is right, a good step in the right direction.
I wouldnt call it laughable when they kill me in couple turns with shotgun and some low tier pistol
when i have over 70 hp (yeah not much but im not high lvl) and metal armor while i also had 2x toughnes.
Of course people who have combat armor etc and lvl 21 may not have problems, but 9CH slaver chars for example are quite frail at start
and starters may have to try hunt them in bluesuit and mauser at worst which is now practically impossible, when i was bluesuited
and using my slaver to try get some tent guards i was more or less 1 shot by lonely slaver even though i tried to instantly run away.
JUST because well geared high lvls may not have problems with them doesnt mean its all good, and fighting for their loot is bit silly also.
As someone already mentioned they give crappy equipment, but some people may actually use them or sell them.
I actually use mauser and shotgun still so i hunt ammo or new shottys from those npcs sometimes.
If everything is balanced with high leveled and well geared people + powerbuilds in mind its just gonna kill the creativity even more, and soon people
need more alts because jack of all trade characters will become agony to level from scrap with no funding.
Also not everyone can just go to tent and pull out new Sniper rifle/flamer/assault rifle etc when they die, some have to slowly craft and sell stuff or hunt brahmins for ages trying to dodge pkers just so they can get gear which they will also lose some minutes later when they get 1-3 shot by LOW tier
npcs with low tier weapons, they use those crappy weapons better than some mid lvl SG characters!
*edit* yeah michael, imagine how i manage trying to get some slaves with desert eagle and leather jacket...
PS* if my post is somehow messy its because i just returned from hellish work so do excuse typos and such
