206 replies to this topic

[Stormdragon]

From the recent PC Gamer interview

Quote

Is there any chance of, say, cooperative missions? Where you’re playing through a story mission, or a fun challenge mission with scripted events?

BE: We have considered co-op. We’ve discussed single-player. We’re looking at how those will play out. But right now, as part of the initial launch, those will not be included

So w​e all pretty much know that they are at least "looking" at a PVE aspect of the game, so I was wondering how best to represent that with out stepping all over the PVP aspect of MWO. One thing that I think would work well is purchasable missions arcs or campaigns.

These can be bought with Cash or Cbills and would come in chapters (like a book) They could be played solo or with a few friends (Mission difficulty ramping up with a group but also paying out more rewards) and would have story elements besides kill everything, they could even have missions where we the player gets out of their Mechs to compleet certain tasks (like leading a small commando group to steal an experimental prototype) this could also bring in more social locations like Bars Hangers Dropship interiors where players can socialize.

I think this would be a huge source of revenue that would benefit the PVP meta game, but one thing that MWO should never stray from is the meta game being PVP. So I like to see what folks think of this and what your own ideas are of what PVE should look like in MWO....I'm pretty sure we are going to see it in some incarnation of PVE, so I think it would be good to revisit the topic.

Edited by Stormdragon, 01 June 2012 - 07:13 AM.

[Gendou]

Honestly, if they included an instant-action feature like in previous MW games where you could set up a scenario to test builds, I'd be happy, since that's what got the most replay value for me in MW2-MW4. But I'm honestly not sure how that would work in conjunction with a persistent, online, PVP-oriented game.

Edited by Gendou, 01 June 2012 - 07:14 AM.

[Stormdragon]

Gendou, on 01 June 2012 - 07:14 AM, said:

Honestly, if they included an instant-action feature like in previous MW games where you could set up a scenario to test builds, I'd be happy, since that's what got the most replay value for me in MW2-MW4. But I'm honestly not sure how that would work in conjunction with a persistent, online, PVP-oriented game.

They could add something like a Training simulation that would be easy, I think though if they did do a PVE component they would have a ton of resource material from the old MechWarrior RPG, it would also be a great way to forward the timeline.

[Voridan Atreides]

Stormdragon, on 01 June 2012 - 07:17 AM, said:

They could add something like a Training simulation that would be easy, I think though if they did do a PVE component they would have a ton of resource material from the old MechWarrior RPG, it would also be a great way to forward the timeline.

Yes please.

[Adeptis]

That would be totally fine. You wouldn't have to worry about 'making it work' because you simply wouldn't reward XP or C-Bills for it. LIkewise, your 'Mech wouldn't be actually damaged.

[Max Grayson]

PVE confounds me, I personally do not get joy from shooting mindless NPC's, that being said I know there are TONS of carebears that do. So long as the PVE aspect monetarliy supports the overall PVP meta game and PVE does NOT affect the end game RvR I have no problem with the dev's throwing the carebears a bone.

BUT PVE MUST NOT HAVE ANY R/R META GAME CONSEQUENCES. For example a group of NPC killing grind monkeys should not affect who controls what planets or give bonues to the player factions that fights in the pvp battles.

The mintue a faction of PVE players grinding NPC's can control a planet without a PVP battle i walk away from the game

Edited by Max Grayson, 01 June 2012 - 07:41 AM.

[StonedVet]

im tellin ya now if they had missions that was like storymode where you followed events through canon history etc I would be on this game 24/7 and quit my job lol (kidding)

PvE storymode showing all the lore like mentioned above would have a guaranteed interest.

[Vampyr]

I would love to see training missions (where you can test out mech builds and practice tactics), and or some campaign type arcs that you could play through as PVE.

[Vora MacEvedy]

Well, if the PVE starts for us Mercs either on Trell I (Decision at Thunder Rift) or An Ting (Wolves on the Border) it might be interesting... God help the Merc who gets sent Pirate Hunting on the Rock...

[Stormdragon]

Adeptis, on 01 June 2012 - 07:31 AM, said:

That would be totally fine. You wouldn't have to worry about 'making it work' because you simply wouldn't reward XP or C-Bills for it. LIkewise, your 'Mech wouldn't be actually damaged.

Well that is another good point....they could have separate Mechs for the PVE game, that would open up another revenue stream and eliminate they disparity that all PVE/PVP MMO's have....so it could go something like this

You purchase a Chapter that comes with a mission a basic PVE mech (that you get to keep) and a slot to put the PVE mech in lets say you purchase this for twenty five or thirty bucks or you have the option of buying the missions with out the mech and slot and use an alternate PVE mech that you already own. I honestly think that would be extremely popular and wouldn't get in the way of the PVP game at all.

Vora MacEvedy, on 01 June 2012 - 07:44 AM, said:

Well, if the PVE starts for us Mercs either on Trell I (Decision at Thunder Rift) or An Ting (Wolves on the Border) it might be interesting... God help the Merc who gets sent Pirate Hunting on the Rock...

Right that could be huge just think of all the locations they could do and once you buy the mission you unlock the social hub of that location.

Piranha would be taking swims in their Scrooge McDuck money vaults.

[Revage]

Stormdragon, on 01 June 2012 - 07:09 AM, said:

These can be bought with Cash or Cbills and would come in chapters (like a book)

I know the FTP game CrimeCraft used a model similar to this, where stories could be unlocked with cash or played through chapter by chapter with a one-week pause between each chapter that could be negated for cash. They also sold a one-month pass to get through as many chapters as you could in a row, I think. Seemed pretty successful for them, might be worth looking into for the dev. team.

[CompleteTanker]

A single player element with a good story arc etc is something I would love to see.

But....

I would hope the story included a reason for the player not receiving tons of salvage or c-bills. It's been done before, but they could pull the old "oh noes, you had to leave everything behind because there was no room on the ship" ;-) There are tons of ways to do this.

Rewards for completing any sort of single player might have to be limited to "fluff" items (campaign badges or markings for your mech or such).

Alternatively, if there was a single player campaign at the very beginning of your career, that would provide a "reason" for you having your mech in the first place (you "earned" it).

Shame there's no time to get it in place for release ;-)

So long as it stays voluntary, and doesn't give advantage.

[Dorado]

Having a PvE component that allowed players to participate in Co-Op mode in historical battles that evolved the established lore and story line throughout the BTU would be an awesome addition imho.

It would not only get those that aren't as familiar with the BTU more immersed with the lore but you would also get more out of the story instead of just getting an RSS newsfeed of the latest news from ISN. You would actually get to participate in significant events. PGI could have an ongoing periodic release of new Co-Op content as events occur within the BTU.

Perhaps it could even pay out some xp or c-bills depending on how well the Co-Op team performs, just as long as it can't be farmed. I'd still play through such scenarios if they existed just for the immersion factor even if it didn't earn me either.

[wpmaura]

I like the idea of NPC story content you purhcase.

But then again I wish I knew more about the current war mechanics to begin with how many maps type of maps territory control etc.

[MadBoris]

Save yourself the time...
They are not looking at PVE!
It came up in their thoughts, they talked about it, they negated it, they worded it appropriately for the interview.
Tried to get funding for a more regular SP/MP retail game, did not.

They are trying to build a workable PVP game that stays fun through the grind, which they have not, and some are still guessing they won't.
Which would be quite the feat alone.

People have desired a training grounds at least, something like Tribes:Ascend (class based game) provided on it's F2P release.
If we could test our mech that will be a surprise.

Not going to happen, there will be too much to do on this game to make new weapons and mechs to earn profit.
All this, maybe after release junk, is just that.
There is no AI devs making an AI, but maybe after release.

From what they are saving in AI and physics resources on their engineering and dev team, allowing them to put their focus on the best PVP, should make the way for a great PVP game.

Good ideas, would personally prefer a great SP campaign and some sort pf PVE, but they seem to have their hands full getting this to AAA on their timeline.

Edited by MadBoris, 01 June 2012 - 08:20 AM.

[DocBach]

What would be awesome would be an offline bot "training" mode or something. I spend a lot of time in craphole countries with poor internet and a way to get my MechWarrior fix without the internet would be awesome.

[Woska]

I think a PvE element to the game is critical to the long term success of this product. While I'm excited about the game as it stands, eventually I would like to be able to do something else besides PvP. A series of single player and cooperative play scenarios would be nice to have for a change of pace. And you would have both randomly generated mission, and repeatable scenarios.

I also think the PvE scenarios could become a very useful part of the overall metagame. Imagine deep strike missions to capture supplies, or take out HPGs, or to destroy enemy infrastructure. The success of these missions could actually have an impact on the larger game environment. This would encourage teams to actually attempt these mission.

Also, there are players out there that don't particularly care for PvP, and without a PvE campaign of some kind, they just won't play much, if at all. The more people we can bring to the game, the better.

[Damocles]

I just want to be able to set up matches AGAINST my friends.

Not just team with them and go MATCHMAKERGG and play some randos

[Stormdragon]

MadBoris, on 01 June 2012 - 08:05 AM, said:

Save yourself the time...
They are not looking at PVE!
It came up in their thoughts, they talked about it, they negated it, they worded it appropriately for the interview.

They are trying to build a workable PVP game, which they have not, and some are still guessing they won't.

People have desired a training grounds at least, something like Tribes:Ascend (class based game) provided on it's F2P release.
If we could test our mech that will be a surprise.

Not going to happen, there will be too much to do on this game to make new weapons and mechs to earn profit.
All this, maybe after release junk, is just that.

I really think you should look at what's been said about it before...they have never negated it, if you can show me a developer that said not ever please do.

Multi-Revenue streams especially for a Free 2 play MMO is extremely important....if you target one demographic you will end up like WAR, the devlopers know this saying something will never happen especially in a MMO is silly.

[Roland]

I think I may have said this before regarding my time spent with MW4...

Hours spent on single player campaign: ~4
Hours spent on multiplayer: 10 years