15 replies to this topic

[multiplesanta34]

I posted this on another thread but that one was busy and it got overlooked so i'll try one more time.

I'm a new player and planned to grind enough to get a catapult C-1. Well I have enough now after playing game after game in trial mechs and gaining only 65000-70000 C-Bills a match. This seemed pretty punishing but I stuck it out. But after reading forum comments on repair and re-arming costs it sounds like I should get something cheaper like a HBK-4SP. So now am I to understand that if I buy this mech and have to refit it every match that i'll be making even less C-Bills than I was in a trial mech and often times breaking even?

My intention was to buy a mech or mechbay with MC here or there to support the game until I felt there was enough content to justify a premium purchase, (4 maps, really?) but under these circumstances I think I might just be better off finding a new game or waiting the 9 months until launch. Was it really intended this way, or am I missing something?

[Zeh]

First, play with others. Even if you don't know them. Get on TS and join the LFG channel, and join a dropship.. will take less than 10 minutes, likely less than 3-5.

If you don't have a mic, let them know, but still do this. You can listen and type when necessary.

Then you won't lose, and you can use whatever you want.

OR, get on another voice system, play with other people.

So either play with other people or play with other people. Then you'll enjoy your new Cat a ton.

Otherwise, you can still get the Cat, but turn off auto-rearm, because you can just slide by on the free 75% ammo (Unless that's nerfed this week). You'll still earn money, but far less than you would with a decent chance at winning.

If you play with no game-plan every game, you will lose 90% of them. Just keep that in mind when you decide.

Just as a last comment, you will ALWAYS get less-cbills than you would if you didn't have to repair/rearm.. but you shouldn't lose money. And you start gaining exp. Yay!

Edited by Zeh, 05 November 2012 - 02:20 PM.

[Roughneck45]

Most of the time, you will be making money on a win, and breaking even on a loss.

Groups will help tremendously.Get a mech that you can fit to your playstyle, whether its brawling, sniping, or LRM support.

The threads you see about the costs (or really any topic) come from the vocal minority, not the majority. Most people are just having fun playing the game with the current costs.

Edited by Roughneck45, 05 November 2012 - 02:23 PM.

[SuomiWarder]

You don't fully refit a mech you own, but the intention is that you do indeed have tp repair battle damage. The general idea being that a more expensive Mech (an assault, one with lots of the high tech upgrades, etc.) cost more to run than an "off the rack" stock mech of medium or light class.

So yes, you will net less C-bills per match with repairs and ammo expenmdatures added in.

The main difference is that owning a Mech unlocks the part of the game where you can tinker with it and make changes to it to suit your play style. Which uses up...you guessed it...C-bills.

[Secundus]

I have premium time until tomorrow, my experience in my Catapult is that I earn about 120,000 from a loss, and about 200,000 (depending on salvage) from a win, including my 50% premium bonus salvage, damage, etc. If we remove the 40,000 premium bonus from a loss and 65,000 bonus from the win, you'd be looking at 80,000 cb for a loss and around 135,000 cb for a win. Now my repairs on my Catapult (energy weapons only, with AMS to reload) I'm usually around 40,000 to 45,000 cb for repairs.

Therefore, a loss will net me around 40,000 after premium expires, and a win will be anywhere from around 90,000 if I get cored, or 135,000 if I survive the victory. I personally find the progression really slow even with premium time, but then I can't stomach more than an hour or two at a time before I'm totally bored of the game mode and maps, and since I lone wolf in pugs I lose 80% of my games. With premium, I make more money in trials than in my catapult (~20,000 more per loss) because of how many losses I sustain and not having to pay for repairs. After tomorrow when my premium run is done, I don't think I'll be sinking much time as the grind will feel far too long and punishing for how little content there is currently. I wish they'd divert their resources to more game modes and maps than focusing on the mechs, but I'm sure IGP is pressuring their revenue side to the point that they've lost scope of what the customer is willing to put up with.

Edited by Secundus, 05 November 2012 - 02:26 PM.

[vettie]

so here is how it works.

You use the trial mechs to earn c-bills to buy your own mech UNLESS you use MC (purchased with real $).

Trial mechs - stock variants only. no modifications you keep all the c-bills from every match win or lose. somewhere in the 60k to 85k range depending on how you perform in the match.

Once you buy your own mech (C-Bill or MC) you own that mech. you now begin to earn more C-Bill per game win or lose. However, you now have repair/rearm cost. DEPENDING on how you load out your mech, it possibly could cost more to repair/rearm than you make if it is totally destroyed in game. If you do well, you earn much more C-Bills plus you earn XP which allow you to unlock things in the Pilot lab to make you more efficient with your mech.

Typically, with no Founders Bonus or Premium Time bonus, you can earn upwards of 110 to 135k (or more) per match while your repair cost could be in the neighborhood of 20k (depending on many factors)

So if you took a Hunch SP and did nothing to it as far as mods and you got 1 to 2 kills and 1 or more types of assist in a game and your team wins, you would make somewhere around 120k. Your repair bill if you live would be around 20 to 30k depending on how much srm6 ammo you used, for a net of 80 to 90k. If you did all those things, but the mech was destroyed, you would get a repair bill of roughly 30 to 35k. If you lost your CBill would be closer to 90k so 60k net and if destroyed, closer to 50 to 55k net.

The more 'fancy' stuff you add the higher it is to replace it. the more you do in game the higher the payout.

[multiplesanta34]

Zeh, on 05 November 2012 - 02:18 PM, said:

First, play with others. Even if you don't know them. Get on TS and join the LFG channel, and join a dropship.. will take less than 10 minutes, likely less than 3-5.

If you don't have a mic, let them know, but still do this. You can listen and type when necessary.

Then you won't lose, and you can use whatever you want.

OR, get on another voice system, play with other people.

So either play with other people or play with other people. Then you'll enjoy your new Cat a ton.

Otherwise, you can still get the Cat, but turn off auto-rearm, because you can just slide by on the free 75% ammo (Unless that's nerfed this week). You'll still earn money, but far less than you would with a decent chance at winning.

If you play with no game-plan every game, you will lose 95% of them. Just keep that in mind when you decide.

I appreciate the advice but i'm sort of on the fence about TS. I understand it, and see the merit in it, but i'm not sure how involved I want to get with the game just yet. If I decide to join a group or whatever of course I will, but now I just wanted to drop, try some mechs out, see what I like and what I should be aiming for. That's led to alot of losing but i'm fine with it and not one of those newbies who runs out into the open or doesn't play with his team. I use the teamchat and try to fill more role as best as I can with the trial mechs. It's funny that now that I have 6.5 million or so i'm reluctant to get an owned mech because that means I will effectively be stuck to it if my already meagre C-Bill progression is cut further back. In this way I can't even try out the other mechs or loadouts in the game even if I wanted to put real money on a certain variant.

[Roughneck45]

multiplesanta34, on 05 November 2012 - 02:28 PM, said:

I appreciate the advice but i'm sort of on the fence about TS. I understand it, and see the merit in it, but i'm not sure how involved I want to get with the game just yet. If I decide to join a group or whatever of course I will, but now I just wanted to drop, try some mechs out, see what I like and what I should be aiming for. That's led to alot of losing but i'm fine with it and not one of those newbies who runs out into the open or doesn't play with his team. I use the teamchat and try to fill more role as best as I can with the trial mechs. It's funny that now that I have 6.5 million or so i'm reluctant to get an owned mech because that means I will effectively be stuck to it if my already meagre C-Bill progression is cut further back. In this way I can't even try out the other mechs or loadouts in the game even if I wanted to put real money on a certain variant.

If you grind a little more to have 1 mil left over after you purchase and fit your mech, you will never have to worry about your repair bills costing too much, or going broke.

You may dip down a little bit in the beginning if you lose a couple, but it will all balance and go positive in the long term.

Edited by Roughneck45, 05 November 2012 - 02:32 PM.

[Davers]

The stock ("trial") versions of any mech are all very cost friendly. This changes the more you customize it. Endo, Ferro, XL engines all cost more to repair. If you pack on a lot of LRM ammo, that can get pricey too. But, otherwise it's pretty fine.

[Grey Rabbit]

Don't forget, you'll also be earning XP to expend on upgrades, too, when you buy a mech. 750 XP buys a skill that increases your cooldown rate. Some things may not seem like a lot of improvement, but together those improvements add up for an overall more effective mech to pilot.

-Rabbit

[vettie]

multiplesanta34, on 05 November 2012 - 02:28 PM, said:

I appreciate the advice but i'm sort of on the fence about TS. I understand it, and see the merit in it, but i'm not sure how involved I want to get with the game just yet. If I decide to join a group or whatever of course I will, but now I just wanted to drop, try some mechs out, see what I like and what I should be aiming for. That's led to alot of losing but i'm fine with it and not one of those newbies who runs out into the open or doesn't play with his team. I use the teamchat and try to fill more role as best as I can with the trial mechs. It's funny that now that I have 6.5 million or so i'm reluctant to get an owned mech because that means I will effectively be stuck to it if my already meagre C-Bill progression is cut further back. In this way I can't even try out the other mechs or loadouts in the game even if I wanted to put real money on a certain variant.

So if you have used the current trial mechs and by watching players in game and you are still on the fence about which mech is right for you, then wait.

There is NO hurry. The trials might even be rotated either tomorrow or later this month (maybe) which will allow you to freely try different mechs than you can now.

I would hate for someone to buy a mech and find out they did not like it, only to see in a few days or couple of weeks that mech come up as a trial that they could trial for free (sans modifications).

One more thing. You will most likely need 2 to 3 more over the cost of your 1st mech to mod it as you want it. Each mod cost some amount of C-Bills. Yes you can sell the stuff you remove (except ammo) and recoup some of your CBills, but most find it better to keep the items for possible later use (same mech or other mech later).

Take your time. decide what you want. then make your choice.

[multiplesanta34]

Roughneck45, on 05 November 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:

If you grind a little more to have 1 mil left over after you purchase and fit your mech, you will never have to worry about your repair bills costing too much, or going broke.

You may dip down a little bit in the beginning if you lose a couple, but it will all balance and go positive in the long term.

Understood, but what if I for instance purchase that Hunchback, customize it a bit so that it ends up costing 5 or 6 million C-Bills, have fun for awhile, but then want to go for that Catapult again, or some other mech. I'lI have to stop using my owned mech and go back to trial mechs because i'll earn more every match that way without having to pay for repairs and re-arms. If I don't i'll be making what, 20,000-30,000 C-Bills a match, assuming a loss because I solo? I mean iv'e had a fair amount of wins and kills too but that varies greatly depending on who i'm teamed with.

[Dagnome]

multiplesanta34, on 05 November 2012 - 02:42 PM, said:

Understood, but what if I for instance purchase that Hunchback, customize it a bit so that it ends up costing 5 or 6 million C-Bills, have fun for awhile, but then want to go for that Catapult again, or some other mech. I'lI have to stop using my owned mech and go back to trial mechs because i'll earn more every match that way without having to pay for repairs and re-arms. If I don't i'll be making what, 20,000-30,000 C-Bills a match, assuming a loss because I solo? I mean iv'e had a fair amount of wins and kills too but that varies greatly depending on who i'm teamed with.

You will in 90% of cases always make more money using a custom mech (Even with repairs) than using a trial mech, not to mention the XP. Despite what some people may want you to believe PGI does not want F2P players stuck in the ever grim world of trial mechs.

[multiplesanta34]

Dagnome, on 05 November 2012 - 02:45 PM, said:

You will in 90% of cases always make more money using a custom mech (Even with repairs) than using a trial mech, not to mention the XP. Despite what some people may want you to believe PGI does not want F2P players stuck in the ever grim world of trial mechs.

Is that right? My matches have been lots of 80,000 and 60,000 C-Bill gains, so lets say I earn 70,000 on average. If I purchase and use a custom mech I can still get around 70,000 after repairs and re-arming? If so, that seems ok then. All I really want to do is figure out which mech and weapon combo i'll have the most fun with when I do eventually decide to part with real money. Lately iv'e watched more games on twitchtv then iv'e actually played because C-Bills are so hard to come by. I don't want to make a mistake and have to start from scratch.

Edited by multiplesanta34, 05 November 2012 - 03:13 PM.

[Dagnome]

multiplesanta34, on 05 November 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Is that right? My matches have been lots of 80,000 and 60,000 C-Bill gains, so lets say I earn 70,000 on average. If I purchase and use a custom mech I can still get around 70,000 after repairs and re-arming? If so, that seems ok then. All I really want to do is figure out which mech and weapon combo i'll have the most fun with when I do eventually decide to part with real money. Lately iv'e watched more games on twitchtv then iv'e actually played because C-Bills are so hard to come by. I don't want to make a mistake and have to start from scratch.

Like I said, between playing with a team and using a custom mech you should be making as much or more than a trial mech after each match. I have tested the theory and it worked for me but I play with premades regularly.

If you have any questions about builds or general inquires feel free to ask me via PM or teamspeak if your interested in something specific.

Edited by Dagnome, 05 November 2012 - 03:17 PM.

[vettie]

multiplesanta34, on 05 November 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Is that right? My matches have been lots of 80,000 and 60,000 C-Bill gains, so lets say I earn 70,000 on average. If I purchase and use a custom mech I can still get around 70,000 after repairs and re-arming? If so, that seems ok then. All I really want to do is figure out which mech and weapon combo i'll have the most fun with when I do eventually decide to part with real money. Lately iv'e watched more games on twitchtv then iv'e actually played because C-Bills are so hard to come by. I don't want to make a mistake and have to start from scratch.

The real deal is as you use your new custom mech you will get more and more comfortable using it, thus better at using it. The better you get the more you make. I have made close to 200k with a repair bill of only 25k a time or 2.

I wont lie to you, yeah at first it may seem as tho you are not making much, but as you progress with your own mech you get better at playing and you start making more money (CBills). There will still be times where you will make a very little over your repair bill, but that again depends on how you load your mech. It is much more fun building your own rig and playing it and earning those cbills. You get that feel of accomplishment.

Nothing wrong with running Trial mechs either. We have some guys that have bought their own mech, but sometimes prefer to run a trial mech to earn up some C Bills (repair free income) to get that next 'thing' they want to do. ALso, if we as a team decide to go all brawlers or all missile mechs, some of the guys may not have one of those so they switch to a trial to fill that role for that match and hopefully we get lucky with the map to allow us to do what we want.

Also find a friend. Even a 2 man group (not to be confused with the BLue man group) cam really help each other, thus survive longer, get more assists and kills not to mention the win chances increase.