89 replies to this topic

[Voidsinger]

I hate to say this, but the last mech you should give a new player is a light.

Edit: I forgot to mention the other important reason a light is bad for new players. Mission types. Lights tend to be independent. For new players, you want them sticking with the group.

Forget all the customisation arguments. Except for a very few options like Endo-steel, the average light costs about as much as an assault excluding weapons.

Some might say that people who support this have a vested interest in racking up kills of new players in the most lightly armoured mechs, since all kills count the same as do component destructions, no matter the size of mech. Don't give a new player a mech that needs the most skill to survive on the battlefield.

I do support the idea of a heavy or a medium. Preferably one with at least one of each hardpoint type. A standard engine for survivability. If you go hunchback, try to make it the SP, since the hump is the first target for everybody.

Edited by Voidsinger, 25 March 2013 - 07:15 PM.

[TehSBGX]

This would definately help. As it's been noted this game really isn't gentle on new players.

Edit - considering a Hunch is a "learning Mech" voidsinger has it right. Give then the "Learning Mech right off the bat, anything to lessen how hard it is to be new.

Edited by TehSBGX, 25 March 2013 - 06:45 PM.

[shintakie]

Voidsinger, on 25 March 2013 - 06:40 PM, said:

I hate to say this, but the last mech you should give a new player is a light.

Forget all the customisation arguments. Except for a very few options like Endo-steel, the average light costs about as much as an assault excluding weapons.

Some might say that people who support this have a vested interest in racking up kills of new players in the most lightly armoured mechs, since all kills count the same as do component destructions, no matter the size of mech. Don't give a new player a mech that needs the most skill to survive on the battlefield.

I do support the idea of a heavy or a medium. Preferably one with at least one of each hardpoint type. A standard engine for survivability. If you go hunchback, try to make it the SP, since the hump is the first target for everybody.

See this is more likely to succeed. A heavy/medium mech generally has the survivability, mobility, and firepower to be decently useful to someone who knows jack all about the game. I'd honestly lean more towards heavy than medium, but either works.

Light mechs, especially really light mechs, are a lightly armored, undergunned, overheated mech that requires the most skill to pilot. It also sets up the idea that light mechs are meant to be graduated out of, the exact opposite of the sentiment that PGI wants.

[PeekaBoo I C Ju]

Now, Now....Fleas Aren't Very Nice....Talk About The Gift That Keeps on Giving LOL

[Nathan Foxbane]

Voidsinger, on 25 March 2013 - 06:40 PM, said:

I hate to say this, but the last mech you should give a new player is a light.

Forget all the customisation arguments. Except for a very few options like Endo-steel, the average light costs about as much as an assault excluding weapons.

Some might say that people who support this have a vested interest in racking up kills of new players in the most lightly armoured mechs, since all kills count the same as do component destructions, no matter the size of mech. Don't give a new player a mech that needs the most skill to survive on the battlefield.

I do support the idea of a heavy or a medium. Preferably one with at least one of each hardpoint type. A standard engine for survivability. If you go hunchback, try to make it the SP, since the hump is the first target for everybody.

Likely for the best that they get something bigger. I think the OP's concern was to give newbies a cheap 'Mech to play around with and learn the quirks of the Mechlab, but one of the first things to get replaced in light is also the most expensive piece of any 'Mech, the engine. The Catapult C1 and the Cents are some of the most forgiving 'Mechs I have played and the SP at least seems to be up there with them and they can be made in many custom varities that do not require replacing an engine.

[Voidsinger]

shintakie, on 25 March 2013 - 06:57 PM, said:

See this is more likely to succeed. A heavy/medium mech generally has the survivability, mobility, and firepower to be decently useful to someone who knows jack all about the game. I'd honestly lean more towards heavy than medium, but either works.

Light mechs, especially really light mechs, are a lightly armored, undergunned, overheated mech that requires the most skill to pilot. It also sets up the idea that light mechs are meant to be graduated out of, the exact opposite of the sentiment that PGI wants.

I'd go more towards heavy myself. One of the things new pilots tend to do is stop when they shoot. More armour the better.

This is one reason why I am against lights as a new pilot's mech. The light's defences are mostly active, high speed, constant dodging. Not good for someone learning the ropes. At the other end of the spectrum are assault. Slow, ponderous brick that put the stomp in stompy. Great for survivability, but the pace may drive off more than a few players, and team balance implications are horrendous.

One mech that displays the characteristics I'm looking at is the JM-6A Jagermech. Hardpoints of all types, average speed, useful weapons suite. Just a little light on the armour. Other good candidates would be the CN-9A Centurion (just warn about that gun arm), the DRG-1N Dragon, and the CTF-2X Cataphract. Mechs that have huge customisation options across all 3 hardpoint types, enough speed to keep up, and enough armour to stop a few shots..

[hashinshin]

Every new player should get a hunchback.

I mean it'd be realistic.

[Xetherius]

The Flea is terrible. If it's gonna be a light, make it something combat effective but without ECM capabilities, maybe a Jenner. Also, I second Hunchback as it's a sturdy little war machine, and tricked out with a (really) good pilot you can outpace some of the Assaults in damage done. Also somebody said Crab earlier, I like the sound of that. It's a solid energy boat that, while effective, would also force you to learn heat management and arm movements to be effective.

In reality, however, threads like this have been coming and going since CB, and not a thing has really been done. Personally, I think giving every new player a free mech that is definitively theirs is a great idea, and I support it, but experience dictates that nothing will be done, as why give away for free what you can try to make people buy?

[Mystere]

Tennex, on 25 March 2013 - 03:57 PM, said:

what was that? i'm sorry i heard urbanmech

NOOOOO!!!!

Urbies should be exclusively high-MC P2W items.

[Loc Nar]

Flea or no Flea, the 'starter mech' idea sounds like a good one with a lot of benefits. As an alternative to a Flea, it could be community designed/voted similarly to the 'design a heavy' thing was/is, but periodically updated to reflect the current meta. I think it should be a medium mech myself...

[Nathan Bloodguard]

I think the urbanmech would make a better first mech, as that's what it was most time in lore... And its not the best mech by far but very common in lore (even the CLANS made an urbanmech (IIC)).

[Rayah]

Or just 5 million C-bill right off the bat to either buy a mech right away or grind up a little for an assault or heavy.

Or just give everyone a complimentary Atlas...

[The Maddog]

As a seasoned player with plenty of mechs in my lab..I'm going to throw in my two pennys worth.

It's a good idea...sort of...but needs adapting!

There are two ways of looking at it:

1) I dont think they should be "given" a Flea....but rather have a trial flea that they can customise (for free) whilst the other trial mechs remain as they are. They wont earn XP from the mech but will at least get to see some aspect of the mech lab and earn a little cash along the way.

The only reason I dont think new players should be given one out right is:

a) It's unfair to those new players who forked out for MC's for whatever.

A new player might just sell it out right.

c) It's unfair to give new players something and but not the faithfull community at large!

or

2) Just give everyone, new and old players alike, 1 free flea + 1 mech bay (we all know many will need it) and leave it at that! Then they can do what they wish...level it, sell it etc.

[Therealjedipunk]

I'm buying a flea now just cause. If I can get a couple kills consistently in a match with a commando, I can get at least one in a flea. Especially if they drop an ECM variant.

[glunkr]

Yeah, I like this idea. Hope PGI considers it.

[Byk]

I really like this idea. But instead of a Flea, which will go super fast and be annoying to hit, how about a nice round and wholesome Hunchback? Not only will a Hunchback not immediately explode upon getting hit with a Small Laser like the Flea, it is a very "medium" mech and is good in lots of roles, sturdy, can mount a lot of firepower, and is reasonably speedy and agile.

[Aym]

If you want to give players a basic and iconic mech with no real utility, give them the founder's hunchback...

[Felbombling]

I agree with the idea of a heavier chassis like the Hunchback, but I figured there would be bent noses from players who had already purchased their own Hunchbacks through hard work. I considered the Flea a better option for a few reasons...

o Zero resentment from the established player base.
o Cheap and easy to advance tier progression, should the player choose to do so.
o Cheap weapon options to tinker with in the Mech Lab.
o Speedy Mech what would allow exploration and teach players the severity of making mistakes.

The Flea, coupled with the Trial Mech system, should give new players plenty of exposure to the game and game mechanics.

Thanks for the great feedback thus far, gang!

Edited by StaggerCheck, 26 March 2013 - 07:46 AM.

[Phoenix Gray]

"I think I'd rather take an M3 Stuart into River City.

Not a half bad idea as the other team would die of laughter or be laughing too hard to shoot straight."

Hey, don't forget the Stuart was a quick little bastid. You fix 'em and I'll goose 'em.

[Mousehold]

StaggerCheck, on 26 March 2013 - 07:43 AM, said:

I agree with the idea of a heavier chassis like the Hunchback, but I figured there would be bent noses from players who had already purchased their own Hunchbacks through hard work. I considered the Flea a better option for a few reasons...

o Zero resentment from the established player base.

Anyone who resents players being given a single free mech need to get over themselves and their sense of entitlement, and their bizarre notion that they ever "worked" or "earned" anything in this game or any game ever. You never have and you never will do or create anything of real value in the world by blowing up virtual robots. It's all just an illusion packaged into a neat little hazing ritual dressing up a computer game.

And it's trivial to work something out that won't annoy those players: give existing accounts the free mech too or some amount of C-bills instead if they're going to be so petty. But seriously, if your options come down to ( A ) get more people to play the game with you so everyone can have fun, or ( B ) watch your game's community die out because it's got such a dumb, artificial entry barrier, and you choose option B, you really deserve it.

Edited by Mousehold, 26 March 2013 - 05:11 PM.