148 replies to this topic

[Paul Inouye]

Hey folks, here's a clarification post (with pictures!) for the laser changes on PTS build 2 for 'Mech Rebalance.

There are 2 fundamental changes being made here:

1) Clan laser MAXIMUM distances are being shortened globally. The LongRange value is not changing from what it is now. (It WILL be affected by change 2 below however).

Here's how Clan lasers are being affected...



2) A global change to lasers based on target lock.

If the target 'Mech is not locked, your 'Mech's targeting system is going to focus your lasers at 60% of it's normal LongRange. Damage falloff happens from this point on. If you DO target your enemy 'Mech, your targeting system now knows the distance at which to focus the lasers to do maximum damage. This is when your lasers go back to normal max damage at LongRange. Targeting or Not Targeting does not affect MaxRange distances.

Here is how targeting affects all lasers...



These two system combined are meant to futher enhance the importance of InfoTech and Clan laser max range imbalance.

[Heffay]

I miss Professor... umm... the chalkboard dude! Bring him back!

[Paul Inouye]

Professor Dakka. I don't think I have the chalkboard template handy at the moment.. his stick figure likeness is in that file.

[Hans Von Lohman]

If you go with this change, can I make a suggestion?

I would have that Global range thingy actually represented in the weapon box on the lower, right-hand corner of the HUD. I.E. I want my chest medium lasers on my Centurion to say 162 meters, and then change to 270 meters when I lock onto something.

Also, for Newbie friendly-ness, can the laser range for x2 (or in the case of the clans x1.4) also be listed on the weapon chart?

I hate doing the math. I want my HUD to do those two numbers for me.

Edited by Hans Von Lohman, 14 October 2015 - 02:42 PM.

[Paul Inouye]

Hans.. it does that now. If you do not target you will see that your range is shorter than normal... when you target, it goes to full distance.

[Deathlike]

This greatly disappoints me.

[Kraftwerkedup]

Deathlike, on 14 October 2015 - 02:47 PM, said:

This greatly disappoints me.

[Mcgral18]

Deathlike, on 14 October 2015 - 02:47 PM, said:

This greatly disappoints me.

Yes, it would be fine if it was a 60% reduction from the MAXimum range, but 60% reduction of Optimal is just sad and uncalled for.

162M isMLs?


66M isSPLs?



But at least the Jesus Box was brought down a peg.

[Tennex]

If you got to make such a complicated chart to explain it then there is a problem.

For the 40% Clan ERLaser nerf:
Why not just nerf the clan ERLaser optimal range by say 10% or something
I dont see very much this complicated system accomplishes, that simply dialing down the range will not accomplish.
Or if you HAVE to make this change, apply it globally to all lasers innersphere too.

For the 60% range all laser nerf unless locked:
Why even have that in the game? It doesn't add very much, and makes things complicated. Its a terrible idea.

Edited by Tennex, 14 October 2015 - 03:04 PM.

[Felicitatem Parco]

I like this change. It encourages people to use the in-game technologies (sensor systems, modules, BAP, etc.) Instead of relying entirely on VOIP to choose targets for concentrated laser vomit.

PPC, ballistics, missiles all unaffected. Works for me.

[Pjwned]

Cool, thanks for clarifying things reasonably quickly.

I'm not sure I like the changes entirely, but that's another matter and I realize this is being done on the test server.

[Jman5]

I'm fine with reducing damage on max range unless targeted, but I don't think we should be touching optimum ranges with this new system.

I think a more sensible, less confusing system would be to just adjust maximum range with targeting.

[FupDup]

By the blood of my people and the sweat of my brow, I hereby declare the official name of this mechanic to be...

Ghost Damage.

[sycocys]

Its kind of a weird system to understand.

It's described wrongly in the PTS notes btw. Says 60% beyond the Maximum range.

Should be - 60% of the normal optimal range.

You also get full range IMMEDIATELY when you hit R on a target. There is no delay, so that part will mostly nullify many of the complaints I've seen outside of where to set the ranges.

Either way just feeling it out in training grounds since MM won't find matches on PTS for me, and I actually like what its doing and can see how it will work well with info sharing/scouting.

[Hatchet Jack]

[Kraftwerkedup]

Ok so now I need PGI to let you assign the same button to two actions.

So I can put my firebutton and targeting button as the same mouse button.

Gee something else I can fix with macros *sigh*

[Jin Ma]

Leave it up to paul to make something that shoud be simple like laser range into rocket science. Meanwhile accomplishing nothing.

This is like pulling out a nuke for a cockroach. Just adjust the clan's laser range normally. Either that, or make the global change to laser max range.

Edited by Jin Ma, 14 October 2015 - 03:15 PM.

[OznerpaG]

this is unnecessarily complicated

and here i thought i waaaay overthought everything....

Edited by JagdFlanker, 14 October 2015 - 03:15 PM.

[Kiiyor]

Hatchet Jack, on 14 October 2015 - 03:11 PM, said:

heh, with the changes to ECM also, pressing R might be the new meta, rather than an afterthought.

I was screwing my face up in incredulity at when I first read it, but now i'm beginning to think it makes a kind of sense. As long as you have good sensor coverage, it shouldn't be that much of an issue.

Will this make lasers less desirable though? Will boated AC's be crowned king?

Edited by Kiiyor, 14 October 2015 - 03:17 PM.

[Tennex]

[Redacted]


- Players

A lot of the other changes on the PTS really great (heat sink change), but these couple of laser changes are bad.

Edited by GM Patience, 14 October 2015 - 03:47 PM.
non constructive