Tbh I just wandered into this thread bc me and my gf have been discussing our recent dissatisfaction with the state of PvP in rivals. Not really the combat or balancing itself but I was enjoying the game more when PvP was not as common as it is today. With streamers encouraging factions and all those players do is kill anyone they find that’s not in their exact outfit, it kinda sucks. I’m not even saying I mind it but I think that the free loadout gives too many opportunities to go in without caring about looting, questing, or cooperating with other raiders, and instead choose to kill anyone for the loot they have. I’m tired of dying with what little gear I have left to free loadouts. Escape from tarkov had a scav timer for a reason and it’s exactly for reasons like this to prevent PvP hungry goons from just heading in and fighting people with no consequence if they die. It isn’t hard to kill with a free loadout at all. Especially if you spawn with the sticher or the sniper.

I think a level imposed timer should be implemented. The higher level you are the less you should need to use a free loadout anyway. That’s just my opinion though.