1 reply to this topic

[WarRats]

Stock mechs are a fun part of the game. Customization of said stock mechs are also a fun part of the game. A balance needs to be reached where stock can still be viable in game play.

Here is just a few suggestions that would help with balance and might fix the trial mech issue as well.

Harpoints still exist. The mech functions at peak capabilites before modifications. Each modification will have a negative impact on the fuctionality of the chasis.

Custom Mechs

Two types of modifications would need to be added. Field customizations and then Expert customizations.

Any Field customizations take two module slots and are way less expensive then the expert customizations. All customization penalties are doubled.

Expert customisations only take one of the chasis module slots and cost at least tripple what normal customizations would cost.

Weapon Systems

Energy Weapons- If it is a weapon that was not part the stock loadout loaction or type then it generates 1 more heat when fired.

Balistic Weapons- If it is a weapon that was not part of the stock loadout location or type then you get less ammo per ton.

Missle Weapons- LRM's and Streaks - If it is a weapon that was not part of the stock loadout location or type then it takes a second longer to get a lock.

SRM's - Add a small firing delay to when the missles are launched.

Other Components

Engine- If the mech moves faster then stock - Turning speeds should be reduced by a 10%.


Armor- If you add more armor then stock - have torso twisting speed reduced by 10%.
If you add less armor then stock- then you have less armor and that already is a penalty.


Summary
I think it would be bad for the game to make Stock mechs completly obselete as they almost already are. If there was some more challenges or penatlies to changing the weapons loadout, speed, and armor it would add more strategy to the mech lab part of the game. It would also make non-optimal stock loadouts viable which is baddley needed.

Edited by WarRats, 25 March 2013 - 02:07 PM.

[MasterErrant]

stock mech aren't relevant in part because odf the skewed heat system and in part because many of them are crap builds inserted into the TROs for color. I rather like the stock Catapult c1 and would play it if upgrades weren't available ..
also because of the way they distorted the engine weights many of the "Stock" mechs aren't actually. The original game has rather subtle rules for taking a mech out of it's designed function...they usually involve reliability and handleing issues as well as increased maintenance costs. adding or subtractinn armour and or heatsinks are minor thinge taking a Catapult and making it into an energy boat of gun platform would be an example of this.

Edited by MasterErrant, 25 March 2013 - 03:05 PM.