Background Poll
#1
Posted 05 April 2012 - 12:50 PM
A. We are adhering very closely to the BattleTech® tabletop rules. Some mechanics in the tabletop version of the game do not translate well into a videogame and we are coming up with our own rule sets that mitigate these differences in an intuitive and fun manner.
The above is from the Q & A section of the forums. I read it as is… they want to stick to the classic Battletech board game, so long as it fits in with how a computer Mech combat simulation will work out. When someone asks a question on the boards that I know the answer to, I try to answer that person using this understanding as a guideline.
Beyond this, the attitude of the player base is totally influenced by how they were introduced to Battletech. A table top player had books to tell them where Mechs came from, how long it took to create one, modify one, fully repair one. Variants on those chassis and the reason they were introduced. Owners of the original boxed set even had a rules section on how to create your own Mechs. Players may have been introduced to the game through Battletech novels. The stories gave life to these walking behemoths, and also gave a sense of how rare and precious they were. They introduced a vast and deep universe into which the players could delve deeper into, with great characters and heroic situations.
Now lets look at the computer gaming Mechwarrior crowd. They were introduced to the game by a computer simulation of a board game. Everything they know about Mech customization they learned in the Mechlab, free of charge, with full or limited flexibility... and with instant gratification. Anything they know about the history would be from what they learned in the computer world. If they got really interested in the game, the history and the lore, they had the option to buy the boxed set board game, a novel or three and a vast collection of supplementary source books.
Reading the message boards and seeing one of the dev team state bluntly that some of the people are really entrenched in their views of the game, I thought it would be enlightening to see how people view the above Q & A and to what degree they acknowledge the other side of the coin.
#2
Posted 05 April 2012 - 01:02 PM
#3
Posted 05 April 2012 - 01:25 PM
The cool part about sticking to the lore a good amount is it already gives you plenty to work with, and when you run out of stuff, you can skip down the timeline.
#4
Posted 05 April 2012 - 02:12 PM
other - I played Mechcommander first, then read the novels, then started with the table top. Sometime after that, MW4 & MC2 came out. I also have some vague memories of playing MW3 with a friend, but I can't say when that was.
Does that introduction influence how you feel MW:O should work?
Yes. If I had gone another way, I think I would not care about the lore so much. I'm really glad I got into the TT before wizkids took over.
I consider myself to be...
moderate pro canon Battletech.
#5
Posted 05 April 2012 - 05:19 PM
2.) I feel that MWO should follow the basic ideas behind Battletech. ie: heat management, ammo depletion, critical hits...etc.
3.) I think I am more middle of the road. Major canon events should be adhered to. But the universe should reflect the actions of the player base. So the method and/or timing of said major canon events could be altered but the event would take place none the less.
#6
Posted 05 April 2012 - 05:29 PM
Edited by Seabear, 05 April 2012 - 05:30 PM.
#7
Posted 05 April 2012 - 05:43 PM
Given that, I know both sides of the coin I can honestly say that sticking close to the canon is a great move. Mechwarrior/battletech has always been a niche game. It doesn't fall into the fast glide, back flip, transformer, twitch shooter that other mech games have dabbled into. At its core battletech is very well balanced (with Battle value) and highly strategic. It stands out because of this, and I believe that sticking to the canon while highlight the strengths of the franchise.
#8
Posted 06 April 2012 - 08:22 PM
It is what I've learned of the universe since my introduction that most influences me and what I hope for in the game.
While I was brought in by way of the games I feel I was really schooled with the books. In truth I'm a fairly hardline pro canon but having experience with the games I understand that it is a fine line to walk trying to take the world and make it fun to play so I'm taking a moderate pro canon stance to hope for the best of it all. The games have been fun but I've always wanted a hardline sim "game" MW:O seems like the best chance of it yet.
#9
Posted 06 April 2012 - 08:37 PM
I have about 40 mech minatures and about 12 tanks, and several infrantry squads all collecting dust in a box.
I can don't mind reasonable changes where cannon does not make sense for game play balance and flow.
As for the mouse and click generation they can eat it, love it, be a mech warrior the way BT makes mech warriors or go play something else.
Keep the Faith,
Semper Fi,
Grim
#10
Posted 06 April 2012 - 08:50 PM
Read the novels, up to Dark Age, and started playing MW in version 2, then 3, then AToW...so the oportunity to play it online was awesome, even with MegaMek...now, with this version coming out, I am stoked! IT will be interesting to see if someone can come up with some canon based story lines and plots, and have the Hiring Hall open for Mercs to join up...Outreach or Galatia anyone?
#11
Posted 06 April 2012 - 09:04 PM
MostlyHarmless, on 06 April 2012 - 08:22 PM, said:
'Infocom presents The Crescent Hawks' Revenge'. Free from abandonia.com and dosbox. Still incredibly hard and very advanced for the time.
#12
Posted 06 April 2012 - 09:21 PM
2. All of life is experience and shapes how we all see everything around us. We are what we have experienced. So yeah how I came to know TT shapes how I see the game and the future of the game. In the end, each game is measured and weighed on its own merits. Everything I have seen PGI do on MWO to this point has been a brilliant blend of TT and Sim and compromise and keeping us the rabid fans informed and involved is just icing on the cake. And yes I want my cake and eat it too. So closed beta invite is expected in the email anytime
3. Stick to as much of canon as possible that switching from TT to Sim will allow and when you make a change explain it to the fans so we understand why and at what cost the decision was made. Like the way the Dev's explained lasers, will do full damage to what is known as TT range then diminish over time and distance from that point on. Not canon but makes sense to me. I am happy with how PGI is handling everything so far. I probably won't be fully satisfied, but no compromise every fully satisfies both sides. If it did it wouldn't be a compromise. So I keep hoping for the best. I have never followed a game in development this closely before and have never had as high expectations as well.
Keep up the good work PGI and take the time you need. Nothing worse than rushing out the gate with an unfinished product. Finish the base game, do it right. The rest will come.
chris
Edited by wwiiogre, 06 April 2012 - 09:22 PM.
#13
Posted 07 April 2012 - 12:17 AM
No thanks.
This poll and its mentality is what tears communities apart.
Edited by pursang, 07 April 2012 - 12:18 AM.
#14
Posted 07 April 2012 - 12:47 AM
3049 was a year of change for the BT universe. The IS just finished the war of 3039 where we are starting to see more widespread use of Lostech. Comstar is getting more actively involved with the Houses - especially the Draconis Combine. Then come the Clans! The IS will never be the same.
#15
Posted 07 April 2012 - 01:13 AM
So, when you young fellers wonder what the big deal is with Phoenix Hawk LAMS, well, let me tell you.....
(come to think of it, you probably think LAMS are laser anti-missle systems. Waiter, get me another PPC, straight. I don't want none of that peppermint schnapps you Steinerkrauts put in it.)
Edited by Peiper, 07 April 2012 - 01:16 AM.
#16
Posted 07 April 2012 - 01:18 AM
Don't judge me!
#17
Posted 07 April 2012 - 01:22 AM
#18
Posted 07 April 2012 - 01:29 AM
But while I enjoyed painting some minitures and playing with them on the board, I think I was still a little to young to grasp the whole concept of Battletech. But I liked the 'Mechs (My favourites being the Locust and the Battlemaster).
I got more into it later when was a little older, played MechWarrior and Crecent Hawk's Revenge for DOS and started reading all the books my father had.
I sticked more to the PC-games then the TT after that. The liking I took into the old 'Mechs (and especially the Unseen I grew up with) was also what made me a Macross and later anime fan in general.
Thinking about it. I really wish they add the Thunderbolt into the game. It was my father's signature 'Mech and I think it would be nice to "drive my father's old mech" into battle. xD
#19
Posted 07 April 2012 - 01:36 AM
#20
Posted 07 April 2012 - 06:41 AM
Karel Spaten, on 07 April 2012 - 01:18 AM, said:
Don't judge me!
Good thing I put down an 'other' option. I totally forgot about the cartoon shows.
@Pursang I'm interested to see where the divide is, not create one. In case you haven't noticed... there is a division when it comes to canon vs computer sim. I think the poll results are rather interesting thus far, but that is just me. I'm fairly new to message boards, so I have no ugly motive here.
Edited by StaggerCheck, 07 April 2012 - 09:28 AM.
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