6 replies to this topic

[Nighthound]

Balancing Clan Tech is no easy task. We all know the Clans are (likely) coming and that they will dominate the IS for the next two years. Without balancing, fights involving Clans and IS Units will thus nearly always end with the Clans winning. Balancing this to give IS Units an equal chance at winning would seriously (at least in my opinion), reduce the immersion into this Universe by reducing the dread and fear felt by the IS.

I would now like to suggest NOT balancing the Mechs or the Tech, but instead developing game modes (Missions) that can be won by IS Units, without the Clan Units actually loosing.

1. Evacuation Mode (Clans attack)
IS Units have to evacuate the Planet before the arriving Clan forces can wipe them out.
The Clan Units start at the north end of the Map, while the IS Units start in the Center. The IS Units now have to evacuate the Planet, by reaching a Drop ship on the south end of the Map.
The terrain is designed to favour jump-capable Mechs, but to allow non-jump-capable Mechs to reach their destination by taking longer routes. (E.g. a ravine with a bridge, or a high mountain that can’t be walked over)
The actual location of the IS Base (starting Point) would need to be balanced out so not to allow any side a too big advantage.
Initially this would seem to favour fast Mechs as they would be able to escape without engaging the Clan Troops at all, but if you think about it, everything and that includes running, the Clans can do better then the IS. By choosing all Light Mechs, Clan Players will be forced to adapt and use their fast Mechs (and nothing is faster than a Firemoth/Dasher) too, the IS will then switch to Heavies or Assaults, because they would have the advantage of firepower, so the Clans adapt again and use their Heavies and Assaults. In the end a mix of different sized Mechs should be the common route.

2. Supply Raid Mode or Rescue Mode (Clans defend)
The Clan Units start in small Groups (maybe pairs) all over the Map (they are on Patrol) with only a small Garrison (maybe automated turrets) defending a Base. The IS Units start close (maybe 500-1000 meters) from that Base and have to reach it, disable the defences, wait a few seconds (get the package) and get out of there.
If the Mission would be to rescue someone instead of getting a package, one player of the IS Team is randomly selected and his/her Mech is placed inside the Clan Base, of course powered down. When the Team has entered the Base and waited a few seconds the captive’s Mech is powered up and must escape with the rest of the IS Units.
Naturally the Clan Team’s job is to prevent this.
Again small and fast Mechs seem to have an advantage over the slow ones but the same as with the above mission it should balance itself out after a fashion.


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The Idea behind these kind of Missions is a rather simple one :
Regardless which team wins, the Clans capture or retain Planetary Control story wise. Win or loss has the same effect in the Metagame as all other game modes, but just for the sake of fluff and story only the Clans nearly always win.

PS.: Maybe we can add that if the Clans are wiped out in those missions it would count as 2 victories in the Metagame.

[Steel Talon]

BV will puch clans in face, they will stand outnumbered all the time
Uless some advanced IS mechs come

[Angelicon]

steel talon, on 15 May 2012 - 05:42 AM, said:

BV will puch clans in face, they will stand outnumbered all the time
Uless some advanced IS mechs come

Example:
Clan BV for one Star readied up for battle = 6000bv
So the match maker selects IS mechs like this:
Lance #1 is ready with 2500bv
Lance #2 is ready with 3000bv
One lone wolf worth 480bv is also selected by the matchmaker

I guess I can see that working, but the pool of mechs/Lances/stars ready to fight is going to need to be pretty large, or else BV rather loose, or we're in for some long waits while units with the correct/usable BVs queue up.

[Siilk]

steel talon, on 15 May 2012 - 05:42 AM, said:

BV will puch clans in face, they will stand outnumbered all the time
Uless some advanced IS mechs come

this. Team BV-based matchmaking is all we need to balance Clan vs IS games.That said, I'm not opposed to mission play, OP suggestions could be quite interesting if done right.

[Steel Talon]

I saw some faction predicted population stats & FRR player base is pretty low, so clans will take most of theese worlds like they done story wise
Only difference may be a Lyran front, since Stainer playerbase is above average & their assault class ideology make them endure harder

[Jonas]

I like the Idea but I am not worrying about the Clans. I am more concerned with what we will have at "Launch". Are the Clans coming, I would say yes am I worried about them, not that much at the moment.

But I do like the ideas you had.

Edited by Jonas, 15 May 2012 - 02:30 PM.

[Nighthound]

Where is this BV stuff coming from? Other than the Dev Post about it .... yea I read it .... which has nothing to do with this thread.

After reading my own Post twice more I see how it could be misunderstood, but I did not try to suggest how to balance IS and Clan Tech, I have other Ideas for that, but there are too many unknown factors as of now to really come up with a good solution.

I am suggesting game modes that are specificly designed to increase immergence into the Universe, by as good as guaranteeing that the Clans win/retain planetary control story wise only.
If the Dev's want to use them to further balance the two sides, then that would be ok by me and I bet they could be used that way, but their primary function should be .... to create the illusion (for lack of a better term) ..... that the Clans are this inhuman, overpowering and alien force the IS has no chance to stand against.

Edited by Nighthound, 16 May 2012 - 12:46 AM.