7 replies to this topic

[Kanatta Jing]

Sometime last year as I was compiling lists of hundreds of Mechs I came across a realization. Eventually Mech chassis become redundant. They start to bleed uniqeness as other mechs with similar movement types start doing their jobs in the same way.

Now long after with near twenty mechs in the game and oh so very many varriants running around it is time to throw this idea out there once more.

What if every mech had a bonus? An easily understood + 10% reduction to weapon cycle time for missles to tell people that this mech is one of the best missle boats. A clear -1 to heat for PPC's because this is one the few mechs that is supposed to boat PPC's. A 20% longer fall off for Lasers because this mech is supposed to carry some llas.

Something special to make sure that every mech stays different.

[armyof1]

It sounds interesting, but it would require a competent balance team to handle this. That's why my answer is heck no.

[Deathlike]

armyof1, on 05 July 2013 - 05:24 PM, said:

It sounds interesting, but it would require a competent balance team to handle this.

QFT

Edited by Deathlike, 05 July 2013 - 05:28 PM.

[Pinselborste]

The idea is good, but it lacks devs that actually can do it without breaking the game.

[General Taskeen]

Here is a list of "Mech quirks" that apply to some Mech canon variants that they could think of ways to translate into a game:

List of Positive Design Quirks

• Accurate Weapon
  
• Anti-Aircraft Targeting
  
• Battle Computer
  
• Combat Computer
  
• Command BattleMech
  
• Cowl
  
• Distracting
  
• Docking Arms
  
• Easy to Maintain
  
• Easy to Pilot
  
• Extended Torso Twist
  
• Fast Reload
  
• Hyper-Extending Actuators
  
• Improved Cooling Jacket
  
• Improved Communications
  
• Improved Life Support
  
• Improved Sensors
  
• Improved Targeting
  
• Improved Targeting, Short
  
• Improved Targeting, Medium
  
• Improved Targeting, Long
  
• Internal Bomb Bay
  
• Jettison-Capable Weapon
  
• Modular Weapons
  
• Multi-Trac
  
• Narrow/Low Profile
  
• Protected Actuators
  
• Reinforced Legs
  
• Rumble Seat
  
• Searchlight
  
• Stable
  
• Variable Range Targeting

List of Negative Design Quirks

• Ammunition Feed Problem
  
• Atmospheric Flight Instability
  
• Bad Reputation
  
• Cooling System Flaws
  
• Cramped Cockpit
  
• Difficult Ejection
  
• Difficult to Maintain
  
• EM Interference
  
• Exposed Actuators
  
• Exposed Weapon Linkage
  
• Fragile Fuel Tank
  
• Gas Hog
  
• Hard to Pilot
  
• Illegal
  
• Inaccurate Weapon
  
• No/Minimal Arms
  
• No Cooling Jacket
  
• No Ejection Mechanism
  
• Nonfunctional
  
• Non-Standard Parts
  
• No Torso Twist
  
• Obsolete
  
• Poor Cooling Jacket
  
• Poor Life Support
  
• Poor Performance
  
• Poor Sealing
  
• Poor Targeting
  
• Poor Targeting, Short
  
• Poor Targeting, Medium
  
• Poor Targeting, Long
  
• Poor Workmanship
  
• Prototype
  
• Sensor Ghosts
  
• Unbalanced
  
• Weak Head Armor
  
• Weak Legs

[Dexion]

Lol I just typed up a huge post about exactly this. Take a look.

http://mwomercs.com/...uirks-expanded/

[Kanatta Jing]

armyof1, on 05 July 2013 - 05:24 PM, said:

It sounds interesting, but it would require a competent balance team to handle this. That's why my answer is heck no.

Weapons being not being as good on random mechs makes balance easier, not harder.

[armyof1]

Kanatta Jing, on 05 July 2013 - 09:35 PM, said:

Weapons being not being as good on random mechs makes balance easier, not harder.

I have to disagree with that, to make some weapons better or worse depending on mech they're used in would make weapon balance more complex and in no way easier to balance. I'm not against the idea really, I just have too little faith in MWO:s weapon and balancing team being able to pull this off without breaking things. And seeing how they can break things and then leave them unfixed for months, it's simply asking for trouble.