89 replies to this topic

[Felbombling]

Something to ponder for PGI.

When the Flea drops, I think it should be the standard ride for every new player. This would give them immediate access to the Mech Lab, which is a huge part of the game, and give them ownership in something. The new players would have something of their own to work up, sell, strip down... whatever. Trial Mechs were an OK idea, but I think if you're trying to get people to spend money on your game, putting them through pain is not the way to do it. Keep the Trial Mechs as test drive beds that would allow a player, who now has knowledge of the Mech Lab, to consider the possibilities. Right now all the new players can imagine is the pain they will inflict upon themselves each time they hit the 'launch' button.

This way, a new player would have a Flea, access to the Mech Lab, Trial Mechs and the Cadet bonus. So, even though they'd normally be able to buy a Flea to begin with, after a handful of games, they'd already have had experience messing around in the Mech Lab to go along with their Mech options. They will have a better understanding of the game and can better decide if they want to buy another Flea chassis, or perhaps hang on and buy that Hunchback, Dragon, or whatever.

Edited by StaggerCheck, 25 March 2013 - 06:06 PM.

[shintakie]

You want to give every new player a walkin death trap?

Thats quite cruel of you.

[Signal27]

I...

holy $#!+ there's actually merit to this idea.

Nice introductory mech to get new players used to playing around in the mechlab and all the rules of mech tinkering.

Edited by Signal27, 25 March 2013 - 03:57 PM.

[Felbombling]

Everybody gotta start somewhere. I'd rather have a 20 tonner that I could modify than spend 20+ games in Trial Mechs, but that's just me. I think it would be a better situation overall for the new players coming in.

[Tennex]

what was that? i'm sorry i heard urbanmech

[Congzilla]

I've been saying this since the Flea since it was announced. World of Tanks gives every new player a basic crap tank that they own and can upgrade. The Flea needs to be MWO's version of that.

Edited by Congzilla, 25 March 2013 - 03:58 PM.

[King Arthur IV]

i like it!!!

[DrSecretStache]

I like it, though the flea is going to be dirt cheap already as it is. Last I did an estimate, I came to around 1.3 mil c-bills. Which is next to nothing, really...

[Nathan Foxbane]

Really? The Flea has some good modification potential and with a decent light player at the controls an actual threat. But stock? In the hands of a brand new player who knows little to nothing, going up against an in all likelyhood custom Atlas? You will drive players away in droves. In addition, as bad as the trial 'Mechs are not everyone is cut out to be a light pilot and forcing them into that role is not a good way to keep new players.

Remember that everyone's ELO starts at 1400 or so. Not 0 so they will be going up against people with some time behind the controls.

Edited by Nathan Foxbane, 25 March 2013 - 04:01 PM.

[Josef Nader]

I don't think the flea is the right way to go. Hunchbacks are far and away the best chassis to learn the game on. There's a hunchback that supports every type of weapon in the game, they're decently fast, decently maneuverable, pack a very respectable punch, and affordable. They teach you about protecting your rear arc, shielding your powerful weapons, and using your arms and torso weapons effectively.

But yeah, I think every player should get a free hunchback of their choice.

[Signal27]

Nathan Foxbane, on 25 March 2013 - 03:59 PM, said:

Really? The Flea has some good modification potential and with a decent light player at the controls an actual threat. But stock? In the hands of a brand new player who knows little to nothing, going up against an in all likelyhood custom Atlas? You will drive players away in droves. In addition, as bad as the trial 'Mechs are not everyone is cut out to be a light pilot and forcing them into that role is not a good way to keep new players.

I like the idea, because giving new players a Flea isn't MEANT to give them a viable mech for combat - that's what the trial mechs are for. It's for new players to learn how to use the MECHLAB with, BEFORE they blow a huge wad of C-bills on a newer, bigger one.

Edited by Signal27, 25 March 2013 - 04:01 PM.

[Shumabot]

Forcing players into a mech that is even worse than the spider is not a good way to introduce them to this game. Giving players a free stock mech that they can play consistently would be nice, but not the flea. That things going to be a useless death trap.

[Phoenix Gray]

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

I've been saying this since the Flea since it was announced. World of Tanks gives every new player a basic crap tank that they own and can upgrade. The Flea needs to be MWO's version of that.

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

[Shumabot]

Signal27, on 25 March 2013 - 04:01 PM, said:

I like the idea, because giving new players a Flea isn't MEANT to give them a viable mech for combat - that's what the trial mechs are for. It's for new players to learn how to use the MECHLAB with, BEFORE they blow a huge wad of C-bills on a newer, bigger one.

Thats a horrible idea. Why are you giving people a non viable mech for them to get curb stomped in during the games that determine if they'll stick around and actually play the game?

That's like giving someone a free meal at your restaurant so that they can get used to the chairs and handing them a burnt week old piece of meat that is sure to make them sick.

Phoenix Gray, on 25 March 2013 - 04:03 PM, said:

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

I'd rather take a baseball bat.

[Congzilla]

Nathan Foxbane, on 25 March 2013 - 03:59 PM, said:

Really? The Flea has some good modification potential and with a decent light player at the controls an actual threat. But stock? In the hands of a brand new player who knows little to nothing, going up against an in all likelyhood custom Atlas? You will drive players away in droves. In addition, as bad as the trial 'Mechs are not everyone is cut out to be a light pilot and forcing them into that role is not a good way to keep new players.

Remember that everyone's ELO starts at 1400 or so. Not 0 so they will be going up against people with some time behind the controls.

No one is saying to remove the trial mech system, but both together would work great.

Phoenix Gray, on 25 March 2013 - 04:03 PM, said:

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

Too bad you start with a T1 Cunningham

[Tennex]

Nathan Foxbane, on 25 March 2013 - 03:59 PM, said:

Really? The Flea has some good modification potential and with a decent light player at the controls an actual threat. But stock? In the hands of a brand new player who knows little to nothing, going up against an in all likelyhood custom Atlas? You will drive players away in droves. In addition, as bad as the trial 'Mechs are not everyone is cut out to be a light pilot and forcing them into that role is not a good way to keep new players.

Remember that everyone's ELO starts at 1400 or so. Not 0 so they will be going up against people with some time behind the controls.

by then hopefully the ELO system (or a supplemental system) will be good enough to pair newbies only against each other.

But the fleas will be playing against trial mechs though

[Nathan Foxbane]

Signal27, on 25 March 2013 - 04:01 PM, said:

I like the idea, because giving new players a Flea isn't MEANT to give them a viable mech for combat - that's what the trial mechs are for. It's for new players to learn how to use the MECHLAB with, BEFORE they blow a huge wad of C-bills on a newer, bigger one.

Theny why not have an ingame tutorial that takes a new player through the 'Mech lab and teaches some basics before they burn a sizeable chunk of their cadet bonus on an XL engine for for their Flea.

Phoenix Gray, on 25 March 2013 - 04:03 PM, said:

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.

Edited by Nathan Foxbane, 25 March 2013 - 04:07 PM.

[Signal27]

Shumabot, on 25 March 2013 - 04:04 PM, said:

Thats a horrible idea. Why are you giving people a non viable mech for them to get curb stomped in during the games that determine if they'll stick around and actually play the game?

I already told you: To screw around in the MechLab with at a much lower price than having to purchase a more expensive mech. They can mess with it, then drive it around the Testing Grounds to see how the changes take effect, and learn mech design that way.

If they actually want a viable mech then they should use the trial mechs - provided the developers will actually provide a trial mech that is at once newb-friendly but at least somewhat competitive.

[Sleepy Head]

That's not a bad idea. They actually have something to play with and learn to construct.

[Edustaja]

Giving them one flea could get them started on the mechlab, this is a good idea actually.