30 replies to this topic

[Khanahar]

So, I, for one, can't wait for the preliminary stages of CW to start up sometime, and it occurred to me that a likely starting point would be faction-specific 'mech bonuses. Such things have been talked about forever (pretty sure it got mentioned as an RnR reduction by a Dev in Open Beta). But what would such a thing actually look like:

Probably, it would come in the form of a small XP or C-Bill bonus. 5% sounds about right, stacking with hero bonuses, premium time, etc. Enough to be noticed, but not so much as to make running your faction's 'mechs mandatory.

Note that for this to work, limitations would have to be placed on faction swapping to prevent abuse. Maybe as much swapping as you want in your first month, then only one switch per month?

And which 'mechs would everybody get bonuses on? For a very approximate list, see below! Please comment and make suggestions.

** All Variants
* Most Variants
NB for new folks: Steiner and Davion are currently allied under the unified Federated Commonwealth (FedCom). This comes up below.

STEINER:
*Atlas (D, D-DC, RS)
**Hunchback (4G, 4H, 4J, 4P, 4SP)
*Commando (1B, 1D, 2D, 3A, TDK)

KURITA:
Atlas (K)
**Highlander (All?)
Catapult (K2)
**Dragon (1C, 1N, 5N, FNG, FLM)
Trebuchet (7K)
**Jenner (D, F, K)
*Spider (5K, 7K?)


DAVION:
Awesome (PB)
Victor (?)
Cataphract (3D, 4X)
**JagerMech (All)
**Blackjack (All)
**Centurion (A, AH, AL?, D, YLW)

LIAO:
*Cataphract (1X, 2X, IM)
*Catapult (A1, C1, C4)
**Raven (2X, 3L, 4X)
Flea (All?)

MARIK:
**Awesome (8Q, 8R, 8T, 8V, 9M)?
**Orion (All)
*Trebuchet (3C, 5J, 5N, 7M)
**Cicada (2A, 2B, 3C, 3M)
Spider (5D?)

FRR (going off of http://www.sarna.net...lic_BattleMechs)
Dragon
Jenner
/Maybe for FRR go with somewhat reduced bonuses on both Steiner and Kurita 'mechs?
/or, should FRR get 'mechs with the (sometimes) Periphery tag H?

UNCLEAR/GENERAL
Stalker (Mfd: S, M, other? Triad)

Mercs
?
(Perhaps some cleverness is in order here. Say, an overall higher rate of C-Bills for Mercs/LNWs/FRR for all 'mechs, but at a lower rate, like 2.5%. Or maybe a specific bonus on heroes. Or something else!)

Also: Maybe some FedCom-wide bonuses as well?

(Notes on method:
I'm no BT/TT expert, and am very eager to see suggestions or corrections to this list. I used Sarna where I could to identify the faction MOST associated with the 'mech and variant. For now, Hunchback and Cicada are still “unknown” for me, but I would love to move these if a case is made for them—or specific variants of them—belonging to some specific faction. Also note that my “most associated” rule means that I'm trying to come up with a one-mech-to-one-faction scheme, which can be slightly problematic for some 'mechs.)

Edited by Khanahar, 25 May 2013 - 10:39 PM.

[Merky Merc]

Shouldn't Steiner and Davion be combined into Federated Suns right now? Or something along those lines? FedCom FedSuns something

[The Silent Protagonist]

As a Steiner who likes Commandos, I second this motion.

[Khanahar]

Merky Merc, on 20 February 2013 - 06:26 PM, said:

Shouldn't Steiner and Davion be combined into Federated Suns right now? Or something along those lines? FedCom FedSuns something

Well, yes, but there are still many 'mechs that are distinctively Steiner or Davion.

But it's possible there might be a secondary list for that. I just imagine PGI will think it's easier if it's a one-mech-one-faction deal. And they do already have us sorted so we have to identify with a Great House. (I'd ID as FedCom if they let me.)

[Merky Merc]

Khanahar, on 20 February 2013 - 06:28 PM, said:

Well, yes, but there are still many 'mechs that are distinctively Steiner or Davion.

And they do already have us sorted so we have to identify with a Great House. (I'd ID as FedCom if they let me.)

Nah I got that, I just don't understand why no FedCom if they're following timeline o_0

[Risko Vinsheen]

Merky Merc, on 20 February 2013 - 06:26 PM, said:

Shouldn't Steiner and Davion be combined into Federated Suns right now? Or something along those lines? FedCom FedSuns something

Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns = Federated Commonwealth.

On topic I think YLW probably should also go under Liao. At least at some point the mech ends up in the Liao military.

[Mira Widowmaker]

No stalker? not even among unclear?

[Coughlin]

If something like this was implemented, at least 50% of the current faction members would jump ship to whatever faction gets bonuses for their mech of choice.
It's a good idea in theory, but the fact that factions are lenient and you can change yours at any time (at the moment) means this idea will just result in everyone getting more money and XP, meaning PGI will probably bump prices up to make sure they're making as many MC sales.
You'll find what I'm saying to be especially true if this idea is released before the rest of community warfare and faction pride can really start growing. Even then, it'd arbitrarily rearrange the fanbase into factions they don't particularly like because they want a new, shiny mech; which is arguably even worse.

For the record, Cicada is heavily in use by the FRR and the Hunchback is a fedcom design. I believe they're Steiner, but they might be Davion.

[Khanahar]

Mira Widowmaker, on 20 February 2013 - 06:34 PM, said:

No stalker? not even among unclear?

Good catch. Added.

Risko Vinsheen, on 20 February 2013 - 06:32 PM, said:

Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns = Federated Commonwealth.

On topic I think YLW probably should also go under Liao. At least at some point the mech ends up in the Liao military.

Just checked, and I'm pretty sure what I read indicates we are really close to the refit by First Prince Hanse Davion, and that it is firmly in AFFS hands atm.

[Khanahar]

SovietPanda, on 20 February 2013 - 06:35 PM, said:

If something like this was implemented, at least 50% of the current faction members would jump ship to whatever faction gets bonuses for their mech of choice.
It's a good idea in theory, but the fact that factions are lenient and you can change yours at any time (at the moment) means this idea will just result in everyone getting more money and XP, meaning PGI will probably bump prices up to make sure they're making as many MC sales.
You'll find what I'm saying to be especially true if this idea is released before the rest of community warfare and faction pride can really start growing. Even then, it'd arbitrarily rearrange the fanbase into factions they don't particularly like because they want a new, shiny mech; which is arguably even worse.

For the record, Cicada is heavily in use by the FRR and the Hunchback is a fedcom design. I believe they're Steiner, but they might be Davion.

Thanks for the advice and tips. OP updated to incorporate some things you brought up. Most importantly, faction switching MUST be limited in some way. (also the Cicada thing is added to its entry). But that's going to be necessary eventually anyway. I just hope they make sure its easy for new players to switch freely. And maybe exempt trial 'mechs from the rules to prevent abuse.

Also, it's essential that the bonus be small. 5% seems about right to me, but I could see the case for it being, say, 3% or even 2%. It's mostly a matter of flavor, rather than anything serious.

[Davers]

I have to say that giving me a discount on purchasing mechs after I've already purchased them a year before is not really an incentive to pick a house.

[Aaren Kai]

FRR has a mix of salvaged or bought mechs from both Kurita and Steiner. So Dragon, Commando, and Zeus. (Okay I slipped that last one in). AAAannnddd the FRR hates mercs, we are going to have to kill you for placing them in the same section.

[Coughlin]

Davers, on 20 February 2013 - 07:02 PM, said:

I have to say that giving me a discount on purchasing mechs after I've already purchased them a year before is not really an incentive to pick a house.

But it will be for new players, which will end up being the majority in a thriving, healthy game.
For experienced players, this would indeed not effect anything. But anyone hurting for cash is going to look at this and say "I can either leave this house, go to that one, and get extra money, or I can stay in this one and receive an equivalent to nothing because I don't like the mech bonuses of my preferred faction." The choice is going to be the same almost every time.

[Khanahar]

Davers, on 20 February 2013 - 07:02 PM, said:

I have to say that giving me a discount on purchasing mechs after I've already purchased them a year before is not really an incentive to pick a house.

The idea is a C-Bill bonus on earnings, not a reduction of price.

But hey, maybe both. Or just the price thing. Though that seems to weaken the meaningfulness of this a little too much.

Edited by Khanahar, 20 February 2013 - 07:40 PM.

[Davers]

Khanahar, on 20 February 2013 - 07:38 PM, said:

The idea is a C-Bill bonus on earnings, not a reduction of price.

Oh. Don't think that is going to happen. Sounds like a poor man's hero mech.

[Khobai]

didnt they already say that all the CW rewards will be achievements only

[Nathan Foxbane]

Cicada is also popular with the FWLM and is produced in the FWL.

[Khanahar]

Davers, on 20 February 2013 - 07:40 PM, said:

Oh. Don't think that is going to happen. Sounds like a poor man's hero mech.

Except that it's a quarter the bonus or so. And, if you were running a hero 'mech, the bonus would stack.

Note, btw, that while most heroes are aligned with the faction most associated with their 'mech, the Pretty Baby is the odd man (woman) out. I personally think it ought to have been a Marik or FRR hero, but that's neither here nor there. If I were implementing this system today, my vote would go for classing it as an Awesome and giving it a Marik bonus, but I could see the argument for giving it to FedCom or both.

[Django Jr]

SovietPanda, on 20 February 2013 - 06:35 PM, said:

If something like this was implemented, at least 50% of the current faction members would jump ship to whatever faction gets bonuses for their mech of choice.
It's a good idea in theory, but the fact that factions are lenient and you can change yours at any time (at the moment) means this idea will just result in everyone getting more money and XP, meaning PGI will probably bump prices up to make sure they're making as many MC sales.
You'll find what I'm saying to be especially true if this idea is released before the rest of community warfare and faction pride can really start growing. Even then, it'd arbitrarily rearrange the fanbase into factions they don't particularly like because they want a new, shiny mech; which is arguably even worse.

For the record, Cicada is heavily in use by the FRR and the Hunchback is a fedcom design. I believe they're Steiner, but they might be Davion.

Steiner has 2 production sites for Hunchies

Free Worlds League and Draconis Combine have each 1

[Khanahar]

Nathan Foxbane, on 20 February 2013 - 07:47 PM, said:

Cicada is also popular with the FWLM and is produced in the FWL.

Good eye. OP updated to take this into account.