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I would like to make four separate assertions/speculations, one of them totally unqualified, and make them add up to one possible future scenario for MechWarrior Online.
One: PGI will never go pay to win.
Not really. It must preserve it's pay to not grind status in order to be competitive.
There was at one time even talk of E-Sports, don't forget.
Two: People love MechWarrior, have for decades and some have jobs.
Is it a stretch to imagine that these people are more likely to team up with IRL friends, people who play at similar hours, be a bit older than non paying players? Have limited time to play? Have actual responsibilities they must tend to each and every day? Throw in a critical miss and you have an echo chamber to complete the picture. Not good. Serious disadvantages in the long run
Three: No-Life Freeplay Scum - A Deadly Alloy.
Some people have way too much time on their hands for their own good. Many people, you might agree
Some of us have no problem grinding away and don't really look at c-bills. 4 mechbays with four mastered mechs is fine for now. This type of player tends to spend a lot of time online and seeks out its own kind. Tends to get into VoIP, grind together and argue plenty. Lets say most of these people could throw in a few bucks if they really wanted/had to, like after 6 months of playing why would I not buy a few mech-bays etc. Some of these people have plenty of money; others are even generous with it if needed for their fellow players to function at the highest level.Four: Honey I Multiplied The Kids, Why Are You So Mad?
Here comes the one I will refuse to qualify.
TT values, straight into this game why what how? Who cares? It's a no-brainer. Didn't happen.
They were multiplied as follows:
Rate of Fire / DPS x 3
Armour / Health x 2
Heat / Mana / Potential DPS x 1
Damage values adjusted continuously, some like AC 20 always 20 like TT etc. etc.
I find this not only less than elegant, I'll even go so far as to say it's flat out wrong and must be reworked from scratch.
Conclusion: It's not bad, but it's not great either.
If all of the above is true devs have trouble actually balancing anything at all, but can make do with a patchwork of adjusted values and mechanics. The final product will, when finished, give one type of player/community an overwhelming advantage, while the devs try to carefully balance the MC only items in order to be able to state honestly and with a straight face:
"Older players with more money and less time are NOT just target practice."
Thanks for reading if you made it this far.
Sorry no I cannot into TL;DR. Really I can't.
Edited by Julian Huxley, 05 March 2013 - 03:54 AM.
