Why change character?

[Imperial Patriot]

When you go on a mission you can choose to pick another character. Is there a reason to play another character than Big Boss?

[Goldman]

Other characters can have different looks. Also when you reach a later stages of the game some characters have unique skills but most of all you want to use them in the online infiltrations of enemy FOB's as they have a higher reward multiplier due to being less experienced than Venom Snake.

[Laugo]

There's also an achievement for doing it. I think.

[Greb]

Female soldiers look so much nicer than Snake does in the Sneaking Suit. That's about the only advantage I can see.

In the early game, Snake doesn't have abilities like the sprint punch, double plant gathering, faster crawling and sprinting, but some soldiers can appear with abilities that match these. Since these abilities also come from Snakes prosthetic, soldiers cannot combine all of them, while Snake can (eventually) so they pretty much only have a use early game where they possess skills Motherbases RD team can't develop yet.

They also get special head gear that can protect them from melee damage and sniper damage, but Snake gets damage reduction through upgrades to his prosthetic also. Snake also gets access to the sonar pulse function, which is useful in many situations.

An S++ soldier fights no different to Snake in combat, they don't have more life, more movement speed or more accuracy, unlike in Peace Walker.

They're pretty much only useful for infiltrating FOBs. Don't get too attached to them, even the special one you recieve for beating Chapter 1. Combat Deployment will kill them off eventually.

[Sblade]

You know you can contract them to avoid deployment right?

[cash cow mommy]

Not sure if the same behaviour is used when playing as Snake, but if you play as your avatar in FOB, I dont' think you suffer any staff casualties if you die.

[Nameless One]

Botanist.
Instead of 15 plant resources, you get 25. Pays for itself.
Other than that character skill, it's really preference if you ignore the hand attachments.
*edit*
IG other skills can do stuff for you while you play but I prefer botanist. One of the medals for the combat units is only achievable if you play a main op as them, and is frankly the easiest one to get.

[LSD]

Originally posted by Nameless One:

Botanist.
Instead of 15 plant resources, you get 25. Pays for itself.
Other than that character skill, it's really preference if you ignore the hand attachments.
*edit*
IG other skills can do stuff for you while you play but I prefer botanist. One of the medals for the combat units is only achievable if you play a main op as them, and is frankly the easiest one to get.

9 year old thread, great contribution. Did you scour google for a place to share that?

[Pepino Cumbion]

Athlete - Can sprint 20% faster, along with being able to jump 20% further and carry bodies with no speed penalty.
Boaster - Disguises abilities and ratings when analysed.
Botanist - Medicinal plant harvest is multiplied by 2.5.
Climber - Movement speed increased by 20% when crawling, hanging and climbing.
Fortunate - 50% less likely to suffer serious injury.
Gunman - Reflex Mode duration increased by 1%.
Quick Draw - Can draw weapon 50% faster.
Quick Reload - Can reload weapon 50% faster.
Rescuer - Fulton recovery success rate increased by 20%
Savage - Can unleash a devastating punch by using CQC while sprinting
Tough Guy - Health increased by 20%
Vanguard Sharpshooter - Can pick out targets from long range and carry out scouting missions. Originally exclusive to Quiet.

[AnonyCat 𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠]

I am witnessing a gooner mentality in this thread.