2
Why: Over at the Death's Hand Brigade (DHB) forums I started a thread indicating my displeasure with what I perceived to be a lack of solid progress with the game mechanics of MWO since open beta began. Collectively the thread spanned several pages with input and reactions from 20+ active members of our organization.
I was surprised to see the thread go where it did, in that by the end it was agreed and nearly universally accepted that many of the problems I and others brought up would be solved by the implementation of drop weight limits.
Problems solved by weight limit/BV:
1. Boating. A mech SHOULD be able to be loaded up with PPCs/LRMs/AC20s. But that mech will likely be one of only two or three boats on the battlefield and can therefore be avoided.
2. No fast mechs in Conquest mode.
3. Stale gameplay. Lights and mediums on the field allow for more varied tactics. The lack of tactical maneuvers has been a major complaint for a long time.
4. Accessibility. New players who choose to stick around are all but required to save up for an assault or heavy mech and then outfit it in order to be competitive. Imposing weight limits allows the newer player to pilot a competitive mech earlier as they are not required to bring an AC40 mech, or PPC boat. They can purchase a couple of different light or medium mechs and bring them to a competitive state for fewer CBills that it would take to kit out a single Atlas or Stalker.
5. Stale meta. Rather than min/maxing a single mech, a drop commander in an 8man group will be min/maxing two full lances. This will lead to MUCH more varied tactics and drop composition.
All of these things combined will lead to a more varied, active, and healthy player base. The forums are awash with posts from former players who prefer to pilot light and medium mechs, but there is no place for a hunchback on a dropship when you could take a dragon. Because of the free for all weight system that hunchback is currently a liability, even in PUG matches.
Edited by ThePhil, 26 June 2013 - 04:14 PM.
