2 replies to this topic

[Khanublikhan]

Premise:

Give different base detection properties to small, medium, heavy and assault mechs.

Detection Properties being:

• Range to detection.
  
• Time to collection of target information.
  
• Target Decay speed on gaining cover.
  
• Thermal brightness under thermal camera view.

Light mechs have the smallest profile:

• They are detected marginally slower, at shorter ranges and decay off radar more quickly.
  
• Conversely, they have the thinnest armour / reactor shielding and therefore appear marginally brighter under thermal view and return target information more quickly.

Assault mechs have the largest profile.

• They are detected the quickest of all weight classes, at longer ranges and decay off radar more slowly.
  
• Conversely, they have the thickest armour / reactor shielding and return target information more slowly.

Aim of suggestion:

To differentiate between mech weight classes. Using this system might give opportunity to 'tweak' medium mechs for a small detection advantage, specifically so that their role as "workhorses" is possible because they are marginally more able to 'slip in under the radar' of heavier mechs.

Edited by Khanublikhan, 19 May 2013 - 01:27 PM.

[Neolisk]

Make radar a component, which you can take out. You save 1-2 tons, but cannot detect the enemy. So unless your team scouts it for you, this is a disadvantage. Then make radars bigger and better. So perhaps some 10 ton radar will allow you to see 1km in every direction. Enemy mech tonnage should not matter I think. However, their radar should. Having a powerful radar on board means you are easier to detect. Perhaps then introduce passive and active modes. In passive it works AS IS, in active, it provides a greater boost, depending on radar quality, but also makes you an easier target to detect.

[Blue Footed Booby]

I'm a big fan of realistic details that naturally provide for an added gameplay nuance in a way that doesn't frontload more complexity for new players. Making radar a module is a perfect example of this. I also really like the idea of having different mechs have different radar profiles, but I think it'd probably be best to extend detection of assaults rather than decrease detection of lights.

I'm not sure about the tradeoff between detection speed and target info acquisition speed. You still have to have the target before the timer for getting data even starts.