21 replies to this topic

[Sug]

Couldn't they just triple the amount of XP needed for each pilot skill?

[Ngamok]

There are mechs without 3 variants?

[FupDup]

Sug, on 23 July 2013 - 07:58 AM, said:

Couldn't they just triple the amount of XP needed for each pilot skill?

But Sug, that means they would have to deviate from their current copy-and-paste formula. We clearly can't have that!

Edited by FupDup, 23 July 2013 - 10:00 AM.

[Deathlike]

Sug, on 23 July 2013 - 07:58 AM, said:

Couldn't they just triple the amount of XP needed for each pilot skill?

That would take too much effort.

Ngamok, on 23 July 2013 - 09:58 AM, said:

There are mechs without 3 variants?

Yes, surprisingly.

What PGI "could do" is create their own variants for mechs that don't have the minimum 3. The issue however is that is actually requires it to be balanced... which is something that does not exist on some mechs (Ravens, Spiders, BJs, Cicada-3C etc.).

Edited by Deathlike, 23 July 2013 - 11:34 AM.

[Aurien Titus]

Deathlike, on 23 July 2013 - 11:33 AM, said:

Yes, surprisingly.

Ok, I'll bite. What 'mech doesn't have 3 variants?

[Gaan Cathal]

Aurien Titus, on 23 July 2013 - 11:36 AM, said:

Ok, I'll bite. What 'mech doesn't have 3 variants?

He's talking about Battletech mechs, not mechs currently in the game. Quite a lot don't have three in-timeline variants, and a handful lack more than two variants at all.

[General Taskeen]

They could add the prime variants for it, and simply make up their own variants.

And an example of a Mech that doesn't have 3 variants, the Hollander. The 35 ton version only has 2 versions, while the 45 ton version also only has 2 versions. MW:LL only had the 45 ton version, but made all custom versions for it.

[Warge]

Deathlike, on 23 July 2013 - 11:33 AM, said:

BJs

Blackjack variants. So you are wrong with it.

[Deathlike]

Warge, on 23 July 2013 - 11:58 AM, said:

Blackjack variants. So you are wrong with it.

I said that with respect to balance. Please reread with the context that those mechs were referenced in.

Deathlike, on 23 July 2013 - 11:33 AM, said:

What PGI "could do" is create their own variants for mechs that don't have the minimum 3. The issue however is that is actually requires it to be balanced... which is something that does not exist on some mechs (Ravens, Spiders, BJs, Cicada-3C etc.).

Gaan Cathal, on 23 July 2013 - 11:47 AM, said:

He's talking about Battletech mechs, not mechs currently in the game. Quite a lot don't have three in-timeline variants, and a handful lack more than two variants at all.

There's a bunch of variants that are already exist, but obviously cannot be in the game due to the timeline (which, I've heard they are loosening up on that aspect, due to various other factors). The other issue is that certain things would have to actually be added like the Targeting Computer (it's pretty much within the timeline AFAIK).

On the other hand, PGI isn't going to bring the VTR-9A into the game due to "balance reasons" (which was what most people were expecting to be added, but didn't happen).

Edited by Deathlike, 23 July 2013 - 12:48 PM.

[Aurien Titus]

Gaan Cathal, on 23 July 2013 - 11:47 AM, said:

He's talking about Battletech mechs, not mechs currently in the game. Quite a lot don't have three in-timeline variants, and a handful lack more than two variants at all.

Ah, OK. This isn't really an issue, they'll just do what they've done already and make their own variants. I'm almost positive their are a few variants in MWO that at least don't exist on Sarna.net. I know it's not the end all list, but it's pretty extensive.

[Gaan Cathal]

Aurien Titus, on 23 July 2013 - 01:07 PM, said:

Ah, OK. This isn't really an issue, they'll just do what they've done already and make their own variants. I'm almost positive their are a few variants in MWO that at least don't exist on Sarna.net. I know it's not the end all list, but it's pretty extensive.

Currently the only non-canon variants in MW:O are Hero variants. Not that I'd personally mind non-canon non-hero variants, but it depends if PGI want to deal with the "you're ruining my TT" backlash.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

A better question is why bother? PGI already has dozens of timeline appropriate mechs with more than three variants to choose from.

[Gaan Cathal]

Narcissistic Martyr, on 23 July 2013 - 01:17 PM, said:

A better question is why bother? PGI already has dozens of timeline appropriate mechs with more than three variants to choose from.

To avoid redundancy. The Falcon and Firebee don't have 3 timeline variants each, but they would actually add something that's not in the game (dual AMS light and missile-heavy 35 tonner respectively), which I'd prefer to any number of canon-triple-variant lights that end up being inferior clones of the Jenner or Raven.

[XANi]

General Taskeen, on 23 July 2013 - 11:52 AM, said:

They could add the prime variants for it, and simply make up their own variants.

And an example of a Mech that doesn't have 3 variants, the Hollander. The 35 ton version only has 2 versions, while the 45 ton version also only has 2 versions. MW:LL only had the 45 ton version, but made all custom versions for it.

It's kinda hard to make different (and useful) variants of mech that is walking ballistic hardpoint... especially that there are no "size" on hardpoint.

I'm wondering how new mechs will try to differentiate, there is finite amount of type/location hardpoint combinations and some mechs already play pretty similiar to eachother

[Angel of Annihilation]

Gaan Cathal, on 23 July 2013 - 01:11 PM, said:

Currently the only non-canon variants in MW:O are Hero variants. Not that I'd personally mind non-canon non-hero variants, but it depends if PGI want to deal with the "you're ruining my TT" backlash.

I actually agree with you here. They already have non-canon variants in game in the form of Hero Mechs so who cares if they have to fill in a few non-cannon variaints if the TROs don't offer an option.

[Gaan Cathal]

XANi, on 23 July 2013 - 04:07 PM, said:

It's kinda hard to make different (and useful) variants of mech that is walking ballistic hardpoint... especially that there are no "size" on hardpoint.

I'm wondering how new mechs will try to differentiate, there is finite amount of type/location hardpoint combinations and some mechs already play pretty similiar to eachother

I'll be amazed if we ever see the Hollander, it has no hardpoint variety (or minimal hardpoint variety if you introduce crit limitations) and it doesn't add anything that can't already be done. Infact the "ghetto Hollander" I used for a while when grinding out the xp on that useless P.O.S the RVN-4X is technically better by virtue of an arm mounted ballistic.

Viktor Drake, on 23 July 2013 - 04:36 PM, said:

I actually agree with you here. They already have non-canon variants in game in the form of Hero Mechs so who cares if they have to fill in a few non-cannon variaints if the TROs don't offer an option.

I'd definately be all for it if it helped round out the holes in the lineup. We're lacking ballistic-centric assaults (King Crab plox) and missile-centric lights (Firebee), as well as dual-AMS capable mechs in (I think) every weight class bar Assault (that is, mechs that load AMS on their TRO).

[General Taskeen]

XANi, on 23 July 2013 - 04:07 PM, said:

It's kinda hard to make different (and useful) variants of mech that is walking ballistic hardpoint... especially that there are no "size" on hardpoint.

Not if you make up variants. Hollander 45 ton version is awesome in MW:LL:

The variants are:

Prime - 4 SPL, 1 Gauss Rifle, JJ's
Version A - 1 Heavy Gauss, 4 SBL, MASC
Version B - 1 UAC 20, 2 SBL, 2 Flamers, JJ
Version C - 1 RAC5, 2 UAC2's, JJ's

They fudged it by spreading the other weapons around, but kept the concept of at least one huge weapon in the torso. Same can be done for any Mech with not enough canon variants. Just make it up, and make it cool.

There is now also a 'canon' Hollander III in the super far future Battle Tech (3145), which is an improved version of the 35 ton version.

Edited by General Taskeen, 23 July 2013 - 06:21 PM.

[Joseph Mallan]

1st I love David's art.
Second I still don't see how it is right to force Lyran's to have to pilot a Kurita Build to master the Steiner version when in Canon Steiner's and Kurita don't do a lot of business and definitely not in Mech sales.

[Belorion]

Axman
Baboon
BattleAxe
Blood Kite
Bombardier
Caesar
Cestus
Chameleon
Corvis
Daboku
Great Wyrm
Hornet..

etc. etc.

[Gaan Cathal]

Joseph Mallan, on 23 July 2013 - 06:08 PM, said:

1st I love David's art.
Second I still don't see how it is right to force Lyran's to have to pilot a Kurita Build to master the Steiner version when in Canon Steiner's and Kurita don't do a lot of business and definitely not in Mech sales.

What specific case is this?

And why not assume the mech's chassis is battlefield salvage? Isn't that how most of the out-of-House spread of mechs is explained? (Genuine assumption here, correct me if I'm wrong.)