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# Primary Topic - Community Warfare
#Are you really dropping all the regular maps and going 100% invasion for CW?
- Changes in CW has made it harder to use the old maps and modes
- 2 Confirmed Maps... 3rd will be complete in early Dec Alpine theme, Canyon Network theme, Caustic Valley Theme
- 3 different lance dropzone for Leopard dropships
- Normal maps won't be included in CW intitially.. will need to be upgraded/overhauled to support new Invasion functionality
# Due date for CW Dropship testing?
- Tomorrow Nov 14 - starts Friends and Family CW Testing
- Its big feature so need encompassing testing
- Dec 2nd patch very light
- Dec 16th still target for CW release
- Need to decide on Invitation mechanic for testing
# Will Solo Faction Players be supported in CW without units?
- Yes we expect you to be reasonable participate in CW
- Attack and Defend as a Solo Player with Contracts
- Que will build up to 12 players and then launch.. mix of Solo and Group
# Attack windows seem very inconvenient any chances they will be changed?
- Attack Windows gone.. open all the time
- Will watch ques and put in extra Calls to Arms during peak times to draw people into CW
- Want to support players to exist exclusively in CW.
- Will watch battles alot / gating implemented to try to prevent auto wins. Perhaps a 10 minute wait for defenders to show up
- Need to get alot of real data to help make decisions
# How are you going to prevent large factions from ganging up on smaller and what rewards will you provide if you help them out as Mercs?
- Capital can never be taken... always a base
- All factions will initially start to pay the same to attacks
- Can alters reward structure as the game goes to help out weaker factions
- Smallest Faction is atleast 1000 players
# what are you going do to maintain faction balance?
- Change rewards to influence player behavior
# Will Dropships be armed?
- Will be armed and customized with turrets.. Significant damage output to prevent spawn camping
# Can you separate CW and Competitive players by allow people to be in both a unit and SolarisVII stable?
- Not now.. but in the future
# Large units have both hardcore IS and Clan players... can this be supported?
- No.... This is why they went with Contracts to allow individual players to switch sides.
- Probably never salvaged mechs allowing IS unit to have Both Clan and IS mechs on same side
- Clan tech on IS mechs? YES, but way down the timeline
# Will the Concept of Attrition be in CW?
- Not in the beginning
- plays into logistics which isn't available at the beginning
- Doesn't want to handicap players since this modifies and sent players away
# What are the planned limitation on Group Creation in CW?
- None.. this is suppose to be hardcore mode
- Large Groups and Competitive teams are not going to be stopped by groups of Solo Players. The Counter for these are more of the same.
- Big groups want to see big rewards.
- Solo player support needs to be watched, as its going to be very hostile for these players, but there will be trade offs that will need to be evaluated.
- Probably very tough for Solo players
- Battle Wheels and VOIP additions on the board to get into the game.
# Warning to Solo player that click on Faction Tab so they know how dangerous CW will be for them?
- No
# Set of Module of cost more mech with upgrades. Makes Dropship mode VERY expensive to outfit mechs. Will this change
- Maybe change modules system to that modules are cheap but are permanent additions to mech.
- Perhaps MC to remove them like WoT
- likes the expensive but interchangeable
# What will make Permanent Contracts stand out for Long Term
- Longer the the higher the multiplier for LP
- Permanent created to support those types of players that don't want to
- expect vast majority of players to do 1 2, or 4
# Intensives to use Faction Mechs in CW?
- Probably not since it will be limiting to the player... maybe in the future
# Will you force 1PV only for CW
- Sure it makes sense but He really doesn't care about forcing it
# Will Faction Rewards be truly special?
- Wants to make truly unique rewards (player driven)
- LP will be under used to start with
- 20 levels of LP... Phoenix packers will start between Lvl 1 and 3
- Titles will appear in game within 1 to 2 months of CW launch
- Decal system will launch shortly after CW launch
- Wants to avoid Faction skins since the time involved to create them is immense.
- to start with will look an achievement system.. will evolve over time.
- Perhaps add in discounts for equipment
- Will get lower rewards if added and you are already higher level
# CW Summary?
- All Players be set at Mercs - Now Choose
- No planned Seasons, want persisent, much might need to reset at some point
- Contracts to start 1, 2, 4 months and permanent
- Want to make faction decision feel weighty
- Each Attack / Defend Contracts will tell you the rewards upfront
- LP as you fight
- Unit Players will ALWAYS drop as a Unit/group.. never solo
- As you gain planets the map will change
- Highest Performing in attack/defend Unit Tag will appear next to Planet
- Universe Map has had a major upgrade
- 140 to 240 starting dropdeck
- Will vary by planet.. but 140 to 240 will be most common
- 3rd Person view as the initial drop starts
- First Death sends you back to drop ship lobby and select next mech
- 30 second respawn timer
- Thinks match lengths last no more than 30 minutes
- Main Objective will be giant anti-drop ship gauss rifle
- 24 hours to fight over 11 zone. who ever has 6+ zones at the end gets the planet
- December 16th is the target release
- Beta Test with Friends n Family starting Nov 14th... will expand via invitations
- Initially Faction will care BETA tag so that we know its a work in progress
- Probably wont have Drop Costs to start with. Unit Coffers wont be needed to start
- Wants Coffers to be able to upgrade planetary defense upgrades
# Whats the incentive to go Merc vs House?
- None to start with, tossing around ideas for change in rewards
- Would like to evolve it.
- wants to prevent faction flipping as much as possible to prevent gaming the system for better rewards
- will take ideas from players on how it can be improved
# What were your takeaways from the Weekend Challenge with Weight Limits to help Group Queue MM
- Keep 3/3/3/3 in UI make it more restrictive 2 - 1/1, 4 1/1/1/1, 8 2/2/2/2, 9 3/2/2/2
- Provide Small Handicap to Small groups... with tonnage restrictions 2 man 60 - 175 3man 120 -230tons 12man 480 - 720
- Match up group sizes on each side
- Layer in Average ELO for groups
- Reintroduce Game Mode voting with ability to veto ONE and Only One Mode
# When will these changes be made?
- After Christmas
# Are you worried about player backlash on this proposal?
- Players have to accept things have to change for the betterment of the game. Something has to give.. cant get something for nothing.
# Any plans to fix JJ animation on certain mechs that allows them avoid/spread damage?
- Aware of issue but not near future fix.. 2015
# TTK Triple HP on all mechs to make everyone will more survivable?
- Match Length since Quirks has dropped only 15 seconds.
- Trying to find a good way track this better.
- Based on Match length the TTK probably has only drop a small amount.
- Might consider increasing Armor and HP in short term.
- Current Meta from their stand point is all MPL and SRMS now.
- Looking for balance... always going on
# If we get Clan Hero Mechs will they get Omnipods or Locked Hard points
- Assume there will mechs but no timeline
- Not really thinking about them right now so can't really answer it well
- Don't see Clan Hero mechs breaking Omnipod rules.
# What was the result of the community outreach on ECM?
- Still committed to attacking the ECM problem with directed Town-halls
- Probably post Christmas
- wants to talk ECM, Ghost Heat
# Do you have plans to review mechs that have fallen short of the mark on Quirks?
- already have a list building
- probably no changes until Dec 16th build at the earliest and even then will be small to start
# Add Non Weapon IS Quirks? Consumable, Sensor Range, etc...
- Absolutely but no list right now
# What was the reason for adding the S Variant of the Timberwolf... seems overpowered. Consider changing it to provide better balance?
- Wont be removed from game
- Can't forsee everything.. sometimes things get added. Sold alot.. not going to take it away from anyone
- Nerf it? Maybe... but that's apart of the balance equations... maybe add negative quirks
# Would you consider a longer release schedule because of the price point of mech packs?
- yes
# Possibility for a bigger, more organized, better marketed tournament?
- Yes, would love one soon!
# Urbanmech ETA?
- Alex has mocked up the Urbanmech
# How the API coming along?
- didn't comment
# How is VOIP coming along?
- not worked on at all... want Buckton on it soon.. A TOP priority
# Command Wheel?
- Would like but not priority
# Any plans for global help and chat tabs?
- Huge revamp of UI underway
- Smurfy Mechlab + Collapse Smurfy view
- Potential to drag weapons directly onto the mech
- Alot of work.. most after the New Year
- If going to go Steam 1st 1/2 of next years need a FTUE overhaul including help and new tutorials
- No ETA
# UI 3.0 when?
- You can call the above 3.0 if you want
- 1st 1/2 of 2015
- He will call it 2.5
- it will be wicked
# Colorblind friendly mode for UI?
- Doesn't have an answer?
# Plans to take smaller maps out of rotation, enlarge or revamp them?
- Been talking about reworking them
- Using them for FTUE to ease new players into the game in 4v4 games
# Any Re-flavoring of existing maps in the works?
- Possible
- Working on Time of Day functionality probably see it in CW Invasion maps first
# Would be nice to have a module swapper
- Much easier in new UI..
- will know what mechs they are on!!!!!!
# Map release schedule? How often?
- Fairly quickly AFTER CW
- Maybe as much as once a month for re-flavored maps
- 5 new maps this year... just sayin
# Will some maps be available for Dropship mode and Public Que modes?
- Effort need to make the two compatible... definitely not day one of CW... in the future maybe
# How happy are you with Clan Engine XL drawback? Most players don't seem to notice it
- We can grow it pretty easy
- For now no immediate plans to change it
- Will wait for CW and review
# Mech Collisions and Knockdowns implemented soon?
- Top Priority for Russ.. but need resources to become available after CW to look at it
# Will we get additional Omnipods added to Ice ferret and Summoner to give them more variety?
- Yes but no schedule at the moment
# Is PGI willing to create variant for Chassis that don't have lore variant that are available?
- Yes
# Custom Hangers for MC? Things to customize Hangers
- Great idea! Just need available resource
# Mauler Update?
- Not really but its an obvious good candidate
# Considered IIC mechs?
- Yes.. will be a timeline thing
- Very focused on Clan Invasion
# Any last comments?
- Very glad we got chance to have another one before CW release
- Work very hard to get CW into the hands of the community ASAP
- Some players will be disappointed but that will always happens you do your best to please as many as possible.
Edited by Zeece, 13 November 2014 - 08:39 PM.
