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I was thinking of a way that choosing a faction could be made more meaningful in MWO and I think I've come across something that would have at the very least, an interesting effect.
A system should be put in place that encourages players to use mechs that are preferred by their faction. One way this could be implemented would be by "charging" for mechs not typical and rewarding those typical of said faction. For example, Its well known that Clan Wolf has a preference for faster mechs like the timberwolf, gargoyle and ice ferret. A c-bill bonus for using those mechs could encourage the use of those mechs. Meanwhile, mechs like the arctic cheetah and ebon jaguar, much more particular to Smoke Jaguar, should come at a c-bill cost to the earnings at the end of the match if someone from Clan Wolf would like to use them. This would give some level of expectation for both one's team and for the enemy to prepare.
I know this sounds like it limits mech selection at first glance, but when factions start playing mechs more particular to the faction's style, it also builds a sort of play style for each faction. Factions with particular weapon and mech tendencies will take on a distinguishable style on the battle field!
Despite the definite waves of cries about how players bought mechs that they want to use anytime they feel without penalty, I believe that this will give meaning to choosing a faction as opposed to having a pretty colored badge that does little to distinguish the faction being played for. The system would obviously need fleshing out but the basic idea is covered here.
Banse, on 31 May 2016 - 10:57 AM, said:
I know the easiest method to giving an incentive for Faction Mechs is to do C-Bills and I think that would be an ok place to start.
What I would really like to see is for Faction Warfare is to have Invasion and Scouting mission types have some type of better scoring system for the match, and that using a Faction Mech gives points to that. I.E. If Invasion has the objective for the attackers to knock out the O-Gen, we leave that as the objective and give it a point value for completing. Now for every Faction Mech your team uses you get say, 1.05 multiplier, you would get more points.
This might not work for some, as it could throw math balance so that even if you "lose the match" (enemy kills your team) by having your team use Faction specific mechs it gets more points and actually wins by points. Kinda like Capture Mode in Quick Play.
What I would really like to see is for Faction Warfare is to have Invasion and Scouting mission types have some type of better scoring system for the match, and that using a Faction Mech gives points to that. I.E. If Invasion has the objective for the attackers to knock out the O-Gen, we leave that as the objective and give it a point value for completing. Now for every Faction Mech your team uses you get say, 1.05 multiplier, you would get more points.
This might not work for some, as it could throw math balance so that even if you "lose the match" (enemy kills your team) by having your team use Faction specific mechs it gets more points and actually wins by points. Kinda like Capture Mode in Quick Play.
This sounds like a great way to emphasize the need to salvage and fix some of the more problematic mechs then. I know implementation of something like this would come with hurdles, but they seem like the kind worth addressing to help establish a meaning to the violence and faction choices made. The system could be further enhanced for example by identifying significant planets (planets that may hold certain mech factories) and allowing the ownership of those to affect "usage costs" per mech. That would also give more meaning to attack routes rather than having attacking be a land grab for the sake of area. Meaningful planets would provide objectives and and reward for conquering in certain directions!
Banse, your idea sounds like a nice additionto encouraging the use of faction mechs. The ideas both need further fleshing out for practicality but i think that adding depth should be a top priority right now!
What are your thoughts on this?
Edited by SuperFunkTron, 02 June 2016 - 01:04 PM.
