7 replies to this topic

[Aesthetech]

So approaching LBX from a slightly different angle, how about the idea of simply giving the weapon a mode toggle and unified ammo? Yes yes, I know it's not quite canon, but it's more canon than an LBX that can't shoot a solid round at all. I also suspect a simple mode toggle, such as in the case of ECM, would be easier and quicker to implement than a multi ammo system.

Unify the ammo and give it a mode toggle. Meanwhile, also give it a slower rate of fire than standard ACs to offset the advantages. The weapons would then compare thusly:

Regular ACs: Faster rate of fire than LBX (though not as much as ultra), allowing for higher DPS at most ranges.

LBX: Longer range, slightly smaller weapon size (tons/crits), cluster mode that allows for quick spread shots and higher single hit damage at very close ranges.

Using the AC10s as an example, given that AC10s are at a 2.5s cooldown and AC20 at 4s, I would put LBX10 solidly between them at a 3.25 cooldown. This gives standard AC10s 4 DPS, and would put LBX10 (in slug mode) at ~3 DPS, giving standard ACs 33% higher DPS at most ranges. Again, though, LBX10 has slightly longer range, and can also do higher single shot damage in cluster mode at short ranges. Heat per shot would remain the same (meaning that AC10s will also generate heat faster, but given the relatively low heat of the weapon system per shot/damage I don't really think this is a concern).

Meanwhile, just to stylize this idea a little as far as the technical sense goes, it can simply be explained that the LBX system fires a 'smart' round that can stay as a single slug until impact, or can internally 'self destruct' after leaving the barrel, allowing for a shotgun-like effect. This, along with the lesser size and range, exemplifies LBX ACs as a more advanced weapon system, but the disadvantage is that with the smaller components and more complex feed system for the special ammo, engineers were never quite able to keep up the same rate of fire as the traditional autocannon. This also helps to explain while the ultra systems and LBX systems are completely incompatible (which will be more important to differentiate when the Clans come around).

Thoughts?

[MasterErrant]

Dally guns are a little beyond the tech level of the BT universe.

[jay35]

I think it's a great suggestion to help solve for the LBX's missing ammo modes using the type of code the game already has in it.

[wolfmanjake]

Maybe give it a choke toggle like switching out the choke on a shotgun. Then you can have a small spread vs. large spread.

[Aesthetech]

wolfmanjake, on 22 March 2013 - 11:13 AM, said:

Maybe give it a choke toggle like switching out the choke on a shotgun. Then you can have a small spread vs. large spread.

I'd be fine with this as well. The 'size' of the small spread at long range (540m) would be small enough that it would hit only a couple components at a time at most, in my opinion.. basically achieving the same effect as slug mode, without my complicated suggestion of 'how it works'.

The ultimate goal is

jay35, on 22 March 2013 - 11:12 AM, said:

I think it's a great suggestion to help solve for the LBX's missing ammo modes using the type of code the game already has in it.

Whether with a tight choke or with a slug toggle, I feel it should have a mode similar in damage spread to a regular AC at long range while suffering a drawback in firing rate/DPS to make up for the other advantages of LBX.

[Teljaxx]

Since LBX ACs are supposed to fire airburst rounds, and not shotgun shell as they do now, this could work. It could be explained that the spread type round is set to detonate in mid-air, and the slug type round is simply not.

[Cest7]

They should just put in ammo types

[Phaesphoros]

Aposiopesis, on 22 March 2013 - 08:44 AM, said:

This gives standard AC10s 4 DPS, and would put LBX10 (in slug mode) at ~3 DPS, giving standard ACs 33% higher DPS at most ranges. Again, though, LBX10 has slightly longer range, and can also do higher single shot damage in cluster mode at short ranges.

I tested this on testing grounds, shooting at the AWS CT. At 270 m, the pellets can spread to every section of the mech; that is, at larger distances you don't even hit with all pellets (510 m: at most 1 pellet hits).
Even if all pellets hit, you don't do more damage than with AC/10. Therefore, the LB 10-X AC currently does not have a "higher single shot damage" (it has buffed crit dmg, though).

Of course, it's more easy to hit with some pellets than with a single AC/10 round. But in MWO, hitting is not random as in TT, it's skill-based. Therefore, IMHO, the LB 10-X AC shotgun mode needs a buff first. Why would you even use this mode - now or even with your suggestion?