WolfTeam could have used the characters as cosmetic goods ( A LONG TIME AGO)

WolfTeam introduces new characters. Video from Wolfteam's channel.

Ever since 2010 with the introductions of the characters and the eventual armor pieces for the characters, things have been going downhill. Softnyx, the developing team for WolfTeam had initially hit a sweet jackpot with these characters as they were a fresh, new addition to the game and provided players to use other characters beside their current one. As such, Softnyx should have kept the characters purely cosmetic, while providing some bonuses. Instead they eventually introduced the armor equipment that gave these characters survivability, eventually in 2012 introducing even the special parts and wolf look parts that just annihilated the playing field for many free-to-play players. Special parts were the equivalent of giving the bought(cash) character a 20-25% defense or more in different body areas, while Wolf-look provided a mixture of 17,5-22,5% defense.

So why talk about cosmetics when this has been a thing in other games? 

I think it's fair to say that Softnyx as a business had a keen eye in making profit out of these characters/equipment, etc. Only that they didn't think about the gameplay itself as a variable. Had these been more of a cosmetic thing, it would've kept the playerbase very satisfied since the players would have had the option to then think like this:

• Do I need to buy this character to gain extra gold/gp?
• Do I need to reach a certain goal, but I need the character's innate gp or gold boost to reach it faster?
• Do I want variety from my basic character?

With this, the money for Softnyx could have been flowing to their pockets similarly and the gameplay balance would stay fairly safe from unhealthy designs - You still would need to be skillful enough to edge out a lot of players which definitely would satisfy a lot of players purely from the fact that WolfTeam is, after all, FPS game. Hackers would, obviously, still be a nuisance from time to time(could spare the extra money for better anti-cheating system).

What else could be possible with this cosmetic trend?

Enter events!

WolfTeam's Halloween Event with pumpkin heads.

Having cosmetic characters would have easily worked out for Softnyx's development team if we're talking about events: What I mean is that being purely cosmetics and having every single character wear a pumpkin or a christmas mask/hat is pure joy. It's satisfying and most importantly - Enjoyable for all.

So what kind of changes should be done for the current characters if the game was to be furbished and molded, reborn again in its old image with some of the additions currently in the game?

For characters(that you buy):

• Keep their gold or gp % bonuses.
• If they're special editions or whatever, have their armor be purely cosmetic. It's more about fashion then.
• They can still keep their extra wolf % stats like extra +99 hp on wolf form, provided that they're not completely out of the line that they still tank ludicrous amounts.

Wolf Tattoos:

• Have to be altered, could be turned to cosmetic or provide VERY MINIMUM stat bonuses.

Weapons:

• If the cash characters and special edition characters are now just purely cosmetic without any bonus armor stats attached to them, Softnyx should return the old basic starter weapons and return the old gold weapons.
• You can add the basic weapons of the new, introduced rifles to the shop available for gold with stat changes.
• Fix the pricing of the weapons

But yes, Softnyx should have stayed on the cosmetics- side of the game for their items a long time ago - For characters and weapons, etc. Now? They either need to reform their game or start from scratch and really try to cater in the people of the old and of new blood.

The important thing is - Cosmetics for weapons, tattoos and characters. WolfTeam doesn't need its overstatted items.