16 replies to this topic

[TheArisen]

Russ has announced in the Roadmap for the coming months that we'll be getting "Supply Crates".

The point of this thread & poll is to discuss and vote on whether or not we like supply crates and what, if anything, we'd prefer. I've come up with a few options but feel free to share some more.

To be as fair as possible, I've included a list of what we know so far about supply crates
]may/june/july road map
Supply Cache
July will introduce a new Supply Cache mechanic into all Quick Play and Faction Play matches. Each match will include a single Supply Cache randomly placed on the map. If a player finds and captures the Supply Cache, all members of the team are notified of the successful capture. At the end of the match a random player from the discovering team will receive the Supply Cache. If the Team who captures the Supply Cache also happens to win the match, a second player from the same Team, randomly selected, will also be given a Supply Cache. Once received, Supply Caches are added to the winning player's Inventory; a new tab has been added to the Inventory screen which will contain Supply Caches that have been earned.

Each Supply Cache can be inspected before opening to see what is contained within. Players then have the ability to purchase a Supply Cache Key using MC to unlock the Supply Cache. Once a Supply Cache has been unlocked, a random selection of the Supply Cache contents will be awarded to the player; the rest of the items are destroyed. Alternatively, unopened Supply Caches can instead be sold off for C-Bills.

What Russ Has Said Since this was Announced,
1) the Crates will be much like Gift-Bags(Trick or Treat Event Bags)
they can Contain Colors, Camos, MechBays, Weapons, Modules, Ect,
2) the MC Crate Keys will be Reasonably Priced
Credit: Andi N.

Here's Russ's expanded explanation combined with the feedback that's been given.
http://mwomercs.com/...-clarification/

Edited by TheArisen, 12 May 2016 - 07:13 PM.

[KHETTI]

I simply don't care for loot crates, but i'm not against them entirely if others are into it, provided, it doesn't negatively affect other previously promised features ie Decals.
Custom geometry would also be a really nice and popular feature, but as for players essentially creating heros, that's a nope from me.

Put decals in and i will spend spend spend on em.

[TheArisen]

KHETTI, on 11 May 2016 - 12:23 PM, said:

I simply don't care for loot crates, but i'm not against them entirely if others are into it, provided, it doesn't negatively affect other previously promised features ie Decals.
Custom geometry would also be a really nice and popular feature, but as for players essentially creating heros, that's a nope from me.

Put decals in and i will spend spend spend on em.

Interesting, why are you against players making their fave mechs into a hero?

[Elendil]

I'm just trying to figure out the purpose of the caches...

Obviously the primary purpose is to sell keys, but what does it add to game play?
Are they there to encourage map exploration? To discourage samey tactics and routes? To encourage people to play lighter mechs?

And will they detract from game play by encouraging people to split up and search for them, instead of sticking together? I see it as a bit of a nightmare in FW matches...

And as far as loot goes, will it actually be worth it? I get that "the MC Crate Keys will be Reasonably Priced", but that generally means that the actually nice things will be rare, and you'll mostly get crap (note the phrasing "can contain").

The idea could work if it's handled well, and if they give alternate ways of earning keys (like placing top in a match, or completing certain achievements, etc).
But I get the impression that it's an ill-conceived money grab tossed in without regard to how it might effect gameplay (but I'm also a cynical *******, so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised).

Edited by Elendil, 11 May 2016 - 03:53 PM.

[davoodoo]

You can even tie decals with hero champion bonuses.

Slap it on the mech and enjoy +30.

[Johnny Z]

Well the second option isn't to good so I just chose supply crate, but I hope there is all kinds cool items that do not give gameplay advantages but are like trophies from victories on the field or exploration of the galaxy.

Edited by Johnny Z, 13 May 2016 - 11:07 AM.

[TheArisen]

Johnny Z, on 13 May 2016 - 11:06 AM, said:

Well the second option isn't to good so I just chose supply crate, but I hope there is all kinds cool items that do not give gameplay advantages but are like trophies from victories on the field or exploration of the galaxy.

They could have certain decals & geo. that's only available if you complete certain achievements, etc.

[Quaamik]

Bad poll.

If you hate it, or even if you don't like it bat can accept it, you probably wouldn't pay for anything in them, but you have to vote for something"

[Quaamik]

Elendil, on 11 May 2016 - 03:53 PM, said:

I'm just trying to figure out the purpose of the caches...

Obviously the primary purpose is to sell keys, but what does it add to game play?
.............

But I get the impression that it's an ill-conceived money grab tossed in without regard to how it might effect gameplay (but I'm also a cynical *******, so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised).

Bingo. Hit it on the head.

It's primary purpose is to add money WITHOUT adding content that would take significant extra programming.

[TheArisen]

Quaamik, on 13 May 2016 - 06:37 PM, said:

Bad poll.

If you hate it, or even if you don't like it bat can accept it, you probably wouldn't pay for anything in them, but you have to vote for something"

Well this is about alternatives to supply crates, I'm not sure "none" qualifies.

[TheArisen]

Looking so far like crates aren't popular, even after the new explanation.

[Spleenslitta]

I need to pay MC to open a crate that might contain a bundle of MLs and a flamer? If i'm very lucky it will contain a mech or a mechbay.
Can't say i'm that thrilled but if it earns PGI more revenue to keep the game going longer it's allright.
I'll sell all my crates for c-bills anyways.

[p4r4g0n]

I will just re-quote what i posted in the other Supply Cache thread

p4r4g0n, on 12 May 2016 - 09:11 PM, said:

On the premise that Supply Caches are definitely going to be in-game, some thoughts on possible options that could be implemented to improve the mechanics.

Suggested Revamp Supply Cache Concept:

Instead of randomly awarding a complete supply cache to one member of the team that secures the supply cache, all members of the team that successfully secures certain specified game objectives get a partial piece of information that when combined with Y other pieces will grant them the location of a supply cache.

Players may opt to collect the info pieces or sell them for C-Bills.

Possible Supply Cache Objectives:

• Assault - obtain supply cache info by capturing enemy base
  
• Conquest - obtain supply cache info by capturing 3 - 4 out of the 5 resource points (depending on how easy PGI wants to make it) at some point during the match e.g. capturing Gamma twice counts as 1 so must be different resource points. If both teams manage to do this during the course of the match, both teams obtain supply cache info.
  
• Domination - instead of destroying enemy mobile bases, capture them to secure supply cache info regardless of end match result. Once the mobile bases are captured, they cannot be destroyed to set timer back 15 seconds
  
• Skirmish - no idea how to use this mode to award the supply cache info other than killing the entire enemy time in under X minutes which seems a silly thing to do.

Suggested Revamp Supply Cache Unlocking Concept:


Players may opt to hire a recovery team to secure the supply cache using either C-Bills or MC.

C-Bill option works are as originally described based on RNG, Common items (high probability), Uncommon items (medium probability), Rare items (low probability). Note that probabilities will likelier have to be lower than the original probabilities envisaged by PGI using the MC only option. This option functions as an additional C-Bill sink that potentially has no limit unlike other current sinks in-game.

MC option will give an equal chance to get one of Z number of Rare items of equivalent value, upgrade the MC cost to get 2, further upgrade to get 3, etc. Depending on MC pricing, Rare items may be parts of a whole that need to be collected and combined.

Possible additional MC option is a specific MC amount to be able to pick the exact item wanted. For this option to work, the item has to be a supply cache unique item and the MC amount would be close to the cost of an equivalent item in store. From a revenue perspective, would probably work best it said item can be broken into component parts that can be obtained using either the C-Bill or MC RNG options.

In short, RNG would still apply in the folliowing:

• Assembling the supply cache info pieces. Combined supply cache info would contain a list of equipment that may be recoverable.
  
• During the recovery process of the equipment unless the 100% guaranteed MC option has been chosen.

I am still not crazy about playing the lottery to get stuff but having a C-Bill option and and an option to pay full MC cost for a supply cache unique item (if any) makes this at least palatable PROVIDED none of the supply cache unique items are OP or P2W.

[Rogue Jedi]

I do not have a problem with the idea of crates, especially the way PGI plan on implementing them, they are a potential revenue stream and they are planning on giving far more upfront information than other games, so I do not see why they are dredging up so much hate, it will literally just be awarded to 1 player per game and they can be sold for cbills if you do not want to open them.

worst case you get a few hundred cbills every 24 games, and it may take PGI a few days of development time to implement.

[TheArisen]

Rogue Jedi, on 15 May 2016 - 02:02 PM, said:

I do not have a problem with the idea of crates, especially the way PGI plan on implementing them, they are a potential revenue stream and they are planning on giving far more upfront information than other games, so I do not see why they are dredging up so much hate, it will literally just be awarded to 1 player per game and they can be sold for cbills if you do not want to open them.

worst case you get a few hundred cbills every 24 games, and it may take PGI a few days of development time to implement.

I think the majority of the hate comes from how it was first presented. If ppl read Russ's updated version they'll see it's not soooo bad.

[Steelmesh]

Here's what I think about the idea of a supply cache..

I suggested a similar idea a while back.. and I'm thrilled that PGI is considering it..

The idea is solid, but I would like it if everyone got something out of a successful capture..

Maybe small amounts of cbills or MC, or a random grab for every player that was actually useful during the match..

I would most like it if they made us somehow work for it, like capturing a building.. and I hope that at some point, we will be able to capture a mech that way..

I hope they don't place the capture spot in such a way that it makes a team split its forces, or makes lights race to it, and definitely not so that matches play out fighting for it.. It should be a clearly secondary objective, something you pick up if the opportunity arises.. never something that your commander will tell you to "go secure" before you even drop..

[Miles McQuiston]

Supply crates add nothing to the game. The purpose of playing MWO is not a box scavenger hunt that has nothing to do with winning or losing a match. The fact that the reward for finding "the box" is trading your real money to find out what is inside... is ridiculous.