I've been thinking about this, and it's time for a big long in-depth response on why I think the suggested changes would still make repair unwanted, especially the 'the lower the current durability the higher the skill';
* You will need to keep your items upgraded constantly. Meaning a lot of repair hammers (using the dispensible hammer idea). Even if they stack, having to constantly fix your armor before the 'dead point' just isn't fun. You've got no leniecy, forget it once, get a long fight, you're done for. The result would still be exactly the same as currently; you simply keep an item till it breaks (considering 1 durability or full, it does not matter), then discard (sell) it. Most of the time long before it breaks, but I don't know if that speed keeps later in the game too.
Not only do you not have to annoyingly fix your gear after almost every fight then, you can even get boosts rather than be rewarded with... well... exactly nothing!
This is true most for weapons (who deteriote faster than armor), but again, you get more weapons than armor as well to compensate for that.
* If weapons and armor wont last that long, the +75% durability wear reduction special will help out. Considering (IMO) the entire list is made of one option worse than the other, it's no loss, there's nothing really valuable anyway. I give everyone the "revive with 1HP instead of dying" (ridiculous powerful), one person animal talk and... ehm... +2 ability, +1 stat? I'm really wondering what else to pick later on. So this would make a good option for that.
* This alternate repair-suggestion thus, as I see it, wont change a thing. The only thing it would is add tedium, tedium circumvented by just switching to another weapon, which doesn't have a "has to be within 10%" limit. As others said, bonusses with repair could be a good motivation too.
So, sorry, Gyson, but I think it just isn't good enough to save repair. It's a step up from the current method. But by holding true to one of it's greatest weakness (increasing repair as damage increases) it wont change anything. Other skill upgrades are making your character better, and not just aimed to make your life a little less miserable. Nothing in the game *should* be aimed at making your life as miserable as possible "unless you pay for this"... reminds me a bit of free to play MMO tactics.
EDIT; Why do you guys suddently all post here too?
Yup, also not a fan of the 300 charges thing as suggested. You really want to carry around half-depleted items around your inventory? I want more stuff to be stacked, not more stuff around the inventory to keep track of, even if the charges remain showed obviously so I knew which repair hammer was still viable. It's a long way before repair 5 you know...
Last edited by Hassat Hunter; 05/04/14 09:33 PM.
