29 replies to this topic

[Inappropriate849]

I like playing support classes, although no healers for me, and would like to see those in MWO. Although I played the old PC games, it's been a while. So, are there support classes in the game? I guess Scout counts.

I'd be mostly interested in target designation (probably Scouts can do that), setting up mines or turrets, hauling ammo, and general C&C.

[Pariah Devalis]

Scouts, C3 equipped lance members relaying tactical data to the command unit, this new infotech UAV stuff, or, really, missile boats. Stand off artillery fire support waiting on you to tag someone with a NARC.

[Inappropriate849]

Sounds good. UAVs are big these days, they have those in BF3, and it seems to be a big gameplay feature in Ghost Recon Future Soldier.

[Pariah Devalis]

It makes sense to include it, though. Sure these UAVs weren't in the books, but we have the tech now, in the real world. I doubt the IS would lose that technology even after the Dark Ages of the first Star League collapse.

[John Clavell]

I wonder if scouts will be able to spot for fire support Mechs to help improve indirect weapon fire accuracy?

[SwordofLight]

I like the implimenation of a food chain in World of Tanks - tank destroyers protect the artillery from light tanks, artillery protects the medium tanks from the heavies, while the heavies take on all commers. Now, implementation is sketchy due to the tendency of war-by-committee to fail - whats that, all your TDs have decided to go assault rather than wait for that Leo to get in the backfield and kill your artillery? Sucks to be your team.

But what I dont want to see from this game is battle after battle of assult lances v. assault lances. Thats the failure of WoT's Clan Wars - pretty much all you see in CW is a team of fifteen Maus, IS-7s and T30s against a team of fifteen Maus, IS-7s and T30s. Its unfair, its unrealistic, and it favors the power gamer rather than the tactician.

-Don

[Pariah Devalis]

Well, there will always be that natural balance generated by the speed of lights and mediums against assault mechs. Up close, they're just plain difficult to hit, so their speed and small sizes make a sort of counter to assault mechs once the range is closed. The grey area comes in the heavies and the larger mediums. They're by nature jack-of-all-trades when it comes to combat roles.

[Adridos]

Sword_of_Light, on 03 November 2011 - 05:43 AM, said:

I like the implimenation of a food chain in World of Tanks - tank destroyers protect the artillery from light tanks, artillery protects the medium tanks from the heavies, while the heavies take on all commers. Now, implementation is sketchy due to the tendency of war-by-committee to fail - whats that, all your TDs have decided to go assault rather than wait for that Leo to get in the backfield and kill your artillery? Sucks to be your team.

But what I dont want to see from this game is battle after battle of assult lances v. assault lances. Thats the failure of WoT's Clan Wars - pretty much all you see in CW is a team of fifteen Maus, IS-7s and T30s against a team of fifteen Maus, IS-7s and T30s. Its unfair, its unrealistic, and it favors the power gamer rather than the tactician.

-Don

I like WoT, but tanks and mechs are very different. Tell me your "food chain" for Mechwarrior. Its just bad from the very heart. Tanks were able to do it, because there existed something like it in the real world, but mechs are completly different kind of thing. They are (mostly) driven by one man and have lots of guns, lasers, rockets and other stuff on them, while tanks are driven by around 5 people and the only thing that matters is to hit the opposite one.

[Majesteria]

I guess to set up you food chain you would need to know first off if this , like WoT , is going to be strictly player vs player or if there will be some sort of AI. Is this going to be open field battle or will there be missions to accomplish? I did nto have time to read all the otehr posts but in the end WoT is a game in development and at this point is face to face once their quests come in as expected within 6 months the tanks will gain value. I expect this game will go through the same process and the add ins after main system is in will grant value to every mech.

[Colaessus]

Catapult is a Support Mech, raining hell from above at long rang.

[Barantor]

Amro_One, on 03 November 2011 - 07:57 AM, said:

Catapult is a Support Mech, raining hell from above at long rang.

As is the Longbow. There are tons of long range sniper style mechs, scout mechs, artillery style mechs and command mechs. Mechs support one another and aren't all just big brawlers that get in close.

[Damien Matashy]

I give you the CPLT-C1
your support mech of support mechs.

[McCaffrey]

It seems to me that if you are going to make a proper lance, you are going to balance your composition with light, medium, heavy, and assault depending upon the map. I think that WOULD BE your supporting mechs / equipment.

[Barantor]

I think it depends on if you only have one lance on a 'map' or if there are multiple lances. If we can pick mechs as a group and there are multiple lances then I can see pure support/assault/scout lances to make up the sides.

[Damien Matashy]

I think that the matches will be of more company level and not so much lance level. but support mechs, I think will be important to winning games.

[wanderer]

Right now, everyone's in 'Mechs of one kind or another- but how much of that'll be "support" depends on the situation.

Take me. I've always loved my Archers, who are commonly in-canon used as command or fire support 'Mechs. A pair of the biggest long-range missile launchers available, heavy armor, one of the classics. Catapults are more mobile, lighter armored and slightly less missile throw weight than Archers, but a lot of people look at one and just think the LRM's are something to fire until you can close and bring the laser battery to bear. IMHO, they're right. Fire support can also mean lighter machines armed with a single heavy weapon and not much else- like the Panther or later, the Hollander. They can't take it, but they can dish it out respectably vs. bigger 'Mechs.

But "support" in Battletech isn't just firepower, depending on how much they add in to MWO. 'Mechs with Beagle probes will have advantages finding hidden units and the like. Guardian ECM equipment can scramble guidance and targeting systems that go through their "bubble" around a 'Mech- not as important in 3049, but if we see the later introduction of what's called the C3 system, people will appreciate it. TAG systems are a laser designator used to guide in artillery and some LRM systems. Pure combat 'Mechs often lack many or all of these systems, but having the right bit of electronics at the right time can turn a disaster into a win. It's also the guy with the light 'Mech that'd fold like a cheap seat if you shot it up much, but who can get himself to the right places to feed info back to his unit so that whatever the other guys are doing, you know about it.

[Damien Matashy]

There are alot of EWS in battletech, that might be an issue that they will have issues with. I am not sure how they are going to incorporatethat into the game.

[gilliam]

wanderer, on 03 November 2011 - 08:24 AM, said:

Take me. I've always loved my Archers,

Lyran Archer?


I am hoping theres nothing like a skill tree that makes you a rupport pilot or an attack pilot or whatever. I think your role should depend wholly on the mech you are driving. Anyways, there are plenty of fire support mechs designed to drop DPS from afar, but I am guessing OP will like a Raven. ECM to jam enemy electronics (hopefully it will affect the radar as well restricting enemies to seismic and heat sensors or the Mk. I eyeball) and a NARC beacon to cause friendly missiles to home in on what you hit.

Edited by gilliam, 03 November 2011 - 09:26 AM.

[Creel]

gilliam, on 03 November 2011 - 09:25 AM, said:

Lyran Archer?


I am hoping theres nothing like a skill tree that makes you a rupport pilot or an attack pilot or whatever. I think your role should depend wholly on the mech you are driving. Anyways, there are plenty of fire support mechs designed to drop DPS from afar, but I am guessing OP will like a Raven. ECM to jam enemy electronics (hopefully it will affect the radar as well restricting enemies to seismic and heat sensors or the Mk. I eyeball) and a NARC beacon to cause friendly missiles to home in on what you hit.

The devs have said that there will be pilot level skill trees, and you'll bring your pilot's strengths and weaknesses to whatever mech you pilot.

[reinhardt steiner]

I think support or not will be up to how people play. An AS7-K Atlas has a gauss rifle and a LRM-20 so it can play long range support or assault. That same Atlas has hand actuators that can be used to clear rubble or rescue damaged mechs. The mechs are nuanced enough without forcing support "classes" on people.