26 replies to this topic

[Quxudica]

and then allow you to pick which mech you wish to use. It's pretty ridiculous that this far in we still don't have map selection. The planned map voting mechanic is fine for private or competitive matches, but it's really gamey for general play. Map selection should have been in a very long time ago, especially given how buggy the game has been at times on certain maps.

The primary argument against map selection seems to be that it would allow people to build their mechs for a particular map. That doesn't seem like a good argument to me, since that is the way it should be. Weapon systems are designed with the environment they will be deployed in in mind. We should be able to tailor our mechs for specific scenarios, I should be able to have brawler, long range, scout and support specialized mechs in my bay and I should be able to choose the best one for the scenario I am dropping into.

People also argue that players will only do certain maps if we can pick what map we want. But that can be easily countered by having drops work just as they do now, but placing mech selection after launch instead of before it. Greater rewards can also be offered for combat on more unpopular places (Terra for instance) to insentivise fighting there (though being able to choose a mech appropriate for a map like Terra would go a long way to making it more popular to begin with imo).

The randomness of drops right now forces mech builds into a narrow focus. They need to be mid range, with decent speed and average heat or they *will* wind up on maps that they are essentially useless in. This is also one of the reasons (though perhaps a lesser one compared to simple pinpoint damage factor) fads like the 2xPPC Gauss builds get popular - they function reasonably well everywhere (or did at least), making them the safest bet when you had no idea where you would be dropping.

It doesn't even make particular sense from an in world pov, even with the limited numbers of mechs available you would not want to drop something so valuable blindly into a situation that may get it wrecked. You would not want to deploy a lance of CQC mechs into a location where the geography will dictate very little CQC actually occurs, you wouldn't want to drop hot energy builds into a giant active volcano. Given how long travel between planets takes in lore, it makes even less sense that you would not know what environment waited for you.

[Wolfways]

Choosing your mech depending on map just means less point in making balanced builds, and means that heat management is less important.

[AntiCitizenJuan]

Wolfways, on 07 September 2013 - 05:43 PM, said:

Choosing your mech depending on map just means less point in making balanced builds, and means that heat management is less important.

This. I hope we never are allowed to pick mechs after seeing the map in the current gamemodes.

[Scav3ng3r]

I believe that once CW comes out you'll be able to view the planet(map) you are going to drop on before choosing your mech (which makes sense, you want/need to be competitive) when fighting in CW. Anything outside of CW I think is fine the way it is.

[xenoglyph]

Choosing maps would be nice, but less popular maps would kind of enter a death spiral.

The small amount of people here for instance that like Terra Therma would have to wait a long time for a match, thus lowering the appeal* of the map even more. Eventually nobody would try to queue up for it at all. Hopefully we'll retain a large enough playerbase where this sort of thing couldn't happen.

* theoretical appeal, of course

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edit: A reward bonus for launching on random maps might be able to offset things though

Edited by xenoglyph, 07 September 2013 - 06:22 PM.

[Thimble]

Showing the map is like saying you want mustard on your **** burger. If/when they give this game a point (I've heard it kinda-maybe could be CW) then we can talk about tweaking.

[Xeno Phalcon]

The "See map, choose one of your four mechs" options will very likely make it in, as it would encourage people to invest time and likely money into multiple mechs beyond the common numbers. (Most people own either two, or a bazillion)

[Drasari]

Perhaps not a full on choice but a vote system of some sort.

[The Boz]

I just want to uncheck Terra Therma from the map pool...

[New Day]

Wolfways, on 07 September 2013 - 05:43 PM, said:

Choosing your mech depending on map just means less point in making balanced builds, and means that heat management is less important.

So **** to brawlers and yay to snipers and LURM boats. Since snipers and lrms can operate an almost any map with efficency and brawlers have much harder time on many of the more open maps.

Xeno Phalcon, on 07 September 2013 - 08:16 PM, said:

The "See map, choose one of your four mechs" options will very likely make it in, as it would encourage people to invest time and likely money into multiple mechs beyond the common numbers. (Most people own either two, or a bazillion)

Good thing everyone has 4 seismics, oh wait...

[k0sh]

Yes we have to be able to chose maps!
I don't really care if some maps won't get played often that others because

It's 21st Century right?

[Wolfways]

NamesAreStupid, on 08 September 2013 - 04:26 AM, said:

Since snipers and lrms can operate an almost any map with efficency and brawlers have much harder time on many of the more open maps.

I think you mean long range weapons are efficient on open maps while shorter ranged weapons are efficient on maps with more cover.

[New Day]

Wolfways, on 08 September 2013 - 04:36 AM, said:

I think you mean long range weapons are efficient on open maps while shorter ranged weapons are efficient on maps with more cover.

No I mean that brawlers are effective on maps only with cover, while long rangers are effective at both.

[Wolfways]

NamesAreStupid, on 08 September 2013 - 04:52 AM, said:

No I mean that brawlers are effective on maps only with cover, while long rangers are effective at both.

If you make your mech useful at long range you lose some usefulness at shorter ranges. If you make your mech useful at only short range then of course you'll be useless at long range.
I don't see the problem there...it makes sense.

Of course AC's break that theory...

[Troutmonkey]

Vote for map out of three random maps, then pick a mech from your 4 quick launch slots. Seems fine to me

Edited by Troutmonkey, 08 September 2013 - 06:14 AM.

[New Day]

Wolfways, on 08 September 2013 - 05:06 AM, said:

If you make your mech useful at long range you lose some usefulness at shorter ranges. If you make your mech useful at only short range then of course you'll be useless at long range.
I don't see the problem there...it makes sense.

Of course AC's break that theory...

See my point?

[Wolfways]

NamesAreStupid, on 08 September 2013 - 06:28 AM, said:

See my point?

Umm....not really. You're saying that short range weapons should be useful at long range? Or long range weapons should be useless at short range?

[New Day]

Wolfways, on 08 September 2013 - 06:54 AM, said:

Umm....not really. You're saying that short range weapons should be useful at long range? Or long range weapons should be useless at short range?

What I'm saying is that brawler weapons are useless at long range while long range weapons are useful at all ranges.

[Wolfways]

NamesAreStupid, on 08 September 2013 - 08:07 AM, said:

What I'm saying is that brawler weapons are useless at long range while long range weapons are useful at all ranges.

Yeah, so what's the problem?

[New Day]

Wolfways, on 08 September 2013 - 09:52 AM, said:

Yeah, so what's the problem?

NamesAreStupid, on 08 September 2013 - 04:26 AM, said:

So **** to brawlers and yay to snipers and LURM boats.