24 replies to this topic

[Zyzyx66]

I know it's been mentioned (many times) before, but I'd still love to see stock-only matches in MWO.

It certainly wouldn't mean balanced matches (Battletech has a wide spectrum of usefulness in mech designs) but I think it'd make the game more interesting in different ways.

The concept of sandbox customisation is great, and testing your build against others' can be a lot of fun, but other times (most times) it'd be fun if the meta was about the dynamic of known qualities - there is something to be said for sighting an AS7-D and knowing what it is capable of.

Rather than diminish strategy, I think to a large extent it extends it. You wouldn't feel compelled to build one of a handful of 'effective' builds and roll around in a mech-ball. Instead, each mech will have a known role, and the interaction between those roles would be key to deciding matches. Knowing what a specific mech is capable of helps strategy and tactical manoeuvre not only against the enemy, but when deciding what your own team will do. See a Cat C4? You KNOW what its role is, and its pilot will prove themself by how effectively they adhere or modify that role.

This thread wasn't intended to start another grinding discussion on whether or not a custom loadout is 'better' or not. I just wanted to start a discussion as to whether others thought that the option of a stock drop would be a valid and enjoyable mode.

I suppose in order for the meta in a game mode like this to really work we would first need to be able to see the map and our team's mech choice - but the inclusion of that would also go a long way to promoting strategy, and give players an opportunity to briefly settle into their team.

I remember a while back the dev response was something along the lines of no, because they wouldn't want to divide the playerbase. But I think perhaps there are many players out there that would really jump at the opportunity to play with classic designs, against classic designs.

... For the love of god please keep my poor thread clean

Edit: added poll for good measure

Edited by Zyzyx66, 15 May 2013 - 12:57 AM.

[MrZakalwe]

Be careful- some of the more rabid forumites will soon accuse you if being a 'neckbeard' for liking how Battletech does things.

[Lee Ving]

If access to stock mechs is made available without having to down-grade existing, or purchase new ones I'm down.

If it means running trial or not running at all, I suppose that'll depend on the trial mechs.

If it means keeping a stable of stock alongside my hot-rods, no thanks.

[Adridos]

I'm all for it, but it would require a completely separate balancing values for both customisable and non-customisable matches.

[Bernard Matthaios]

I'm a big fan of the mech lab, but I love this idea. It would really separate the "men from the boys" on how well you know your chassis. I love my centurions. They fit my play style, mixed weapons I can use at all ranges. Me going up again another stock would test my pilot skills greatly.

[TheForce]

YES YES YES.

I don't play this game anymore because I'm a fan of the btech/mechwarrior lore. this game looks like MechWarrior, but it feels like GenericRobotWarrior. adding a stock mode would give it more of a btech/mechwarrior feel.

the problem is that PGI designed the game based on customization and they don't have a business model to make $ off a stock mode. personally i would buy premium time for a hard core/stock game mode.

[Ferreiros]

Are Mechs bought with MC also in the "Stock-Only" category?

[Adridos]

Ferreiros, on 29 June 2013 - 11:58 PM, said:

Are Mechs bought with MC also in the "Stock-Only" category?

Yen-Lo-Wang is canon and I don't think would cause any trouble, but the others were designed with heavy customisation in mind... I think it would be for the better to keep them away from it, but that's just my opinion.

[Jesushupfer]

Any MC only Mech that mounts either a gauss, an xl-engine oder double heatsinks is not canon since all other battlemechs are from a timeline where none of those three was available in the IS.

[von Pilsner]

Jesushupfer, on 30 June 2013 - 01:25 AM, said:

Any MC only Mech that mounts either a gauss, an xl-engine oder double heatsinks is not canon since all other battlemechs are from a timeline where none of those three was available in the IS.

XL Engine
The technology wouldn't resurface in the Inner Sphere until 3035, when it was rediscovered by the Lyran Commonwealth.

DHS
Following the sacking of their facility at Hoff, the Federated Suns found they lacked the industrial capacity to resume production of the prototypes. They approached various Lyran Commonwealth firms to build components which were brought together at Hesperus II where Kincaid Defiance Industries assembled them and secretly shipped them to New Avalon from ca. 3026 onwards.

Gauss Rifle
Introduced in 2590 by the Terran Hegemony, the Gauss Rifle utilizes a series of electromagnets to propel slugs of ferrous nickel-iron alloy at extremely high velocities.

I thought it was 3050 in-game.

Edited by von Pilsner, 30 June 2013 - 02:29 AM.

[Adridos]

von Pilsner, on 30 June 2013 - 02:28 AM, said:

I thought it was 3050 in-game.

There is a very ood reason that albeit they do have the tech available, even the best warriors in the whole IS (Kai A-L, for instance, neither does Victor or Ryuken, Genyosha, Drakons,...) don't use it.

We are currently fighting with post-invasion (post 3052) equip for the top tier units.

[Otto Cannon]

I can see it working. There's already the option to use trial mechs so they'd just need a stock mech list with all the variants.

As for 'not dividing the playerbase' that's hilarious considering they plan on doing just that for 3PV...

[Unrelenting Farce]

Why didn't I ever think to make this topic into a poll when I posted about it?

I would LOVE a stock mech game mode. I'd play both game modes.

The mode strikes me as a wonderful idea for so many reasons, including 1) the Awesome would actually be awesome (as would many variants that see zero play, like the Cicada 3C (I think that's the one?)) and 2) it'd be slower and more methodical, because the mechs are better rounded and lack insane heat dissipation. Real slugfests.

I would love to see a community form around the stock variants. Another meta would be sweet.

OH, it'd be perfect for new players who are taking out trial mechs. There's nothing more frustrating,as a new player, than taking out that junk trial and getting killed instantly by a tricked out Stalker, in a matter of seconds. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Edited by Unrelenting Farce, 01 July 2013 - 10:45 AM.

[flying1ace]

Good idea and it would balance out well, if some mechs were left at the shop. It should be a gamemode though, and your mech automatically switches to stock.

[BillyM]

Yes please!

(agreed that your non-stock mech would automatically revert to stock only for the duration of the game, without changing your non-stock build otherwise)

--billyM

[Splitpin]

Any addition to variety of modes would be a good thing at the moment. Not all stock mechs are created equal though, some are pretty good, some are god awful. So once again the favoured list would be pretty short leading to the usual FOTM issues. So I'd be keener for something like; current Trial mechs with 2,2,2,2 mech balance - forget ELO for this mode. Which would also keep it 'fresh' with changing trial mechs.

[BillyM]

Who are the 2 people who voted no? May they collect copious amounts of PPC to the face.

--billyM

[General Taskeen]

The 2 that voted no are probably Elite Min/Maxers.

[Killhunger]

I voted yes.

The only thing I'd also like, is that something should be there to prevent everyone from choosing the stock variant boats. Like the Hunchback 4P with the 8 or 9 Med lasers. A whole team of 4P's or similar would ruin the idea/intent.

I'd like the challenge of either having to choose from a random list of available mechs generated at the start of the match, or just being thrown into a random stock mech would be good.

I also think the generator should limit the assaults to 1 or 2 max and the majority of mechs would be mediums.

As long as you are going stock lets make it more realistic.

Additionally, I thing they should design some cannon scenarios. For example have a set of predefined scenarios for each team to accomplish with a short story detailed about it.

Give some of us that wouldn't mind some PVE a little of that even though it is against PVP opponents.

My opinion anyway.
- Kill

Edited by Killhunger, 10 July 2013 - 11:12 AM.

[Stewbawl]

i don't like this idea at all.

part of what makes the choice between each mech purely personal is the fact that i you can change your mech loadout to what suits you or what is needed.

if you have a drop mode that is for stock only mechs it will only perpitrate the atitude of 'nerf this mech because it's too good compared to this mech'. i don't see what problem it solves and i see it creating infinitely more problems/complaining.

although i somehow really do like the idea of dropping in a random mech.

Edited by Stewbawl, 10 July 2013 - 12:30 PM.