33 replies to this topic

[sarkun]

When I first heard about this game, and when I read about it during closed beta, MWO was advertised as a 'Thinking Man's Shooter' - a concept that was very pleasing to me - I do enjoy blasting the crap of enemy mechs, but I enjoy outsmarting them even more. A tactical shooter, where skill in aiming would be as important as skill in positioning, maneuvering and making tactical decisions... wow - this would be awesome.

However, over the course of the last few months, I have to look harder and harder for the 'thinking part'.

The maps are mostly small, and combat takes place in the same places. How often do you load load Frozen City, and just go to the ridge to wait for the other guys to peek? There is very little tactics.

Weapon balance have devolved to "high-pinpoint-alpha is king". One playstyle is definitely superior to others, which leads to dumbing down mechlab too - how many of you strip armor of torsos? It's Max armor or get out. Also - when discussion starts about any mech - one buff that's always suggested is to increase engine cap - isn't it weird that speed is this much important? Shouldn't it be a fair trade - weapons or speed?

There was supposed to be role warfare - with all classes equally important. Yet mediums are stuck in 'not really great' limbo and light's roles are fast dimnishing. Scouting? "Enemy spotted! They're where they always are!" - very useful.

Weapons systems that are high risk - high reward like LRMs and SRMs (in case of LRMs - get within 180m and you die, SRMs have literally one of the lowest ranges of all weapons) are nerfed into oblivion in favour of always usefull weapons.

There are more and more "must have" systems - like BAP, ECM, modules - that are so powerful, and have so little drawbacks that equipping them is not a decision - it's mandatory.

Heat management - staple of battletech universe - is reduced to: "Fire everything until at heat cap, then cool for a bit and repeat".

Shooting at stuff is absurdly easy - just point and click for lasers, lead a little for ballistics. This is literally easier than any other shooter out there, as there is no recoil, bullet spread, penalties for running, nothing.

Oh and the modules. Overheat much? Here - takie this module and shoot some more. Enemies sneak upon you? Here, have this wallhack. Zero weight, zero criticals. Just straight improvements.

Okay, time to wrap up this little rant - I know the game is still in development. But I am starting to think that maybe the game is developing into something I don't really like. If this is just another shooter, I'll go back to playing BF3. What I'd really like, is for the devs to get out a statement on what they think about the game right now, and where they want it to go.

[FupDup]

The thinking part comes from the decision to mount either 3 ERPPC or 4 ERPPC.

[Livewyr]

FupDup, on 30 May 2013 - 01:37 PM, said:

The thinking part comes from the decision to mount either 3 ERPPC or 4 ERPPC.

You sniped my idea- but mine was going to include Gauss.

Still, credit where credit is due. Jerk.

[PeekaBoo I C Ju]

Livewyr, on 30 May 2013 - 01:56 PM, said:

You sniped my idea- but mine was going to include Gauss.

Still, credit where credit is due. Jerk.

Whining nerfed thinking lol

[armyof1]

Well I've been thinking quite often recently if the game is worth playing until they fix some critical weapon balance issues, and almost every time found that the answer is no.

[Livewyr]

Peekaboo I C JU, on 30 May 2013 - 02:01 PM, said:

Whining nerfed thinking lol

Then PGi tried to nerf whining by doing away with Gen Discussion board..

We shall overcome.

[Fate 6]

Honestly I'm not sure where the strategy is. Lights can't scout except on the large maps, but even then they can't relay information well (and the sightlines are rarely long enough to matter). Part of this is that flanking is either too limited or too risky. They either laugh and take your base or they are in a position to counter it and now your team is split.

Edited by Fate 6, 30 May 2013 - 02:05 PM.

[Multitallented]

This is exactly why my friends and I can't stand to play MWO currently.

[keith]

take away caps it might be tactics again, those map do have decent space to them. just u have to worry about this little 15m area that gets caped in 2 min with a linear cap time to it. kinda kills alot of game play u can do, wait i'm sorry it "opens" up alot of things u can do according to PGI, same ppl who can't balance the weps of this game.

[AnnoyingCat]

you need to know where the cookie jar is

[Livewyr]

keith, on 30 May 2013 - 02:07 PM, said:

take away caps it might be assault and heavy mech tactics again, those map do have decent space to them. just u have to worry about this little 15m area that gets caped in 2 min with a linear cap time to it ***hole light mech running around for shiggles prolonging the game to max time. kinda kills alot of assault and heavy mech game play u can do, wait i'm sorry it "opens" up alot of things u can do according to PGI, same ppl who can't balance the weps of this game.

Fixed.

[jakucha]

Just some people exploiting OP things before they're patched. As soon as we have better heat system and people actually use chain fire it'll be a bit better.

[Livewyr]

jakucha, on 30 May 2013 - 02:11 PM, said:

Just some people exploiting OP things before they're patched. As soon as we have better heat system and people actually use chain fire it'll be a bit better.

Hopefully they do that-
last idea they were tossing around was a penalty for shooting multiple of the same weapon within a short period of time. (Better known as macro-food.)

[FupDup]

Livewyr, on 30 May 2013 - 02:13 PM, said:

Hopefully they do that-
last idea they were tossing around was a penalty for shooting multiple of the same weapon within a short period of time. (Better known as macro-food.)

Something I don't like about that idea is that things like small/medium laser boats will get nerfed for no good reason, while still allowing boats of large weapons to be relatively unscathed (i.e. 1-2 Gauss + 1-2 ERPPC). Boating small weapons is apparently evil to PGI but large weapons aren't. :\

Edited by FupDup, 30 May 2013 - 02:19 PM.

[Jasen]

Livewyr, on 30 May 2013 - 02:13 PM, said:

Hopefully they do that-
last idea they were tossing around was a penalty for shooting multiple of the same weapon within a short period of time. (Better known as macro-food.)

I've seen that idea on the forums, but never an official statement. Link?


Also, the problem isn't boating weapons, it is the complete excrement for weapon balance.

[Livewyr]

FupDup, on 30 May 2013 - 02:19 PM, said:

Something I don't like about that idea is that things like small/medium laser boats will get nerfed for no good reason, while still allowing boats of large weapons to be relatively unscathed (i.e. 1-2 Gauss + 1-2 ERPPC). Boating small weapons is apparently evil to PGI but large weapons aren't. :\

Most people who think about the implications and work-arounds don't like that idea in it's stated form.

[jakucha]

FupDup, on 30 May 2013 - 02:19 PM, said:

Something I don't like about that idea is that things like small/medium laser boats will get nerfed for no good reason, while still allowing boats of large weapons to be relatively unscathed (i.e. 1-2 Gauss + 1-2 ERPPC). Boating small weapons is apparently evil to PGI but large weapons aren't. :\

They also mentioned they might only do it for certain weapons, like the common abused alpha weapons and not the more innocent ones. They also also said it's just an idea, so who knows.

[Jasen]

So that link?


I don't think this was ever stated by PGI tbh, and now I feel you're seriously misleading people into thinking that PGI actually thinks there is some problem. They think the game is pretty much "right" if you haven't heard...

Obviously we don't think that but screw us, we're the minorities.

[Livewyr]

Jasen, on 30 May 2013 - 02:28 PM, said:

So that link?


I don't think this was ever stated by PGI tbh, and now I feel you're seriously misleading people into thinking that PGI actually thinks there is some problem. They think the game is pretty much "right" if you haven't heard...

Obviously we don't think that but screw us, we're the minorities.

Sorry, didn't see your post- one sec, will edit this one with the link.

Most recent post in this thread:
http://mwomercs.com/...apon-balancing/

Under Investigation: It's pretty clear.

Edited by Livewyr, 30 May 2013 - 02:35 PM.

[Victor Morson]

If you're looking for the "thinking" part and want to get involved in deeper game play, try to join an organized team. While the current meta is still an issue, we put a LOT of work into movement, tactics, etc. and don't all just do the same "march at each other and fight in the same spot" that public matches do.