18 replies to this topic

[BillyM]

This patch was the first time PGI has made all the trial mechs the "Champion" versions, preloaded with good engine choices and double-heatsinks.

I just want to say that having trial mechs that aren't terrible goes a long way to helping people enjoy them. That said, ran 12v12 trials-only, (3Jen, 3Cent, 3Drg, 3Atl) and had some of the most fun I've seen in this game since early closed beta. I highly suggest all teams try this out with another group and see how much fun you have.

...anyhow, just wanted to say thanks for making all the trials at-least decent.
...please don't change them back to garbage-mechs next patch, champs for ever!

Anyone else appreciate them taking out the trash trials? Shout out, let them know!

(In the interest of fairness, I think they should keep the c-bills bought mechs as crummy as they would like to promote purchasing and upgrading, which I find to be half the fun. That said, the trials should be moderately good so new players don't hate the game and also have some builds to aspire to once they buy their own.)

--billyM

Edited by BillyM, 17 September 2013 - 07:30 PM.

[Monky]

This is a huge duh. Trials are way better for new players and the all champions wasn't exactly a hard call for launch.

[DocBach]

I think they need to give you a starting stipend of C-bills so you can buy a 'Mech to start with, and make EVERY stock 'Mech available to use instead of one of each class like we currently have. However I would make it so you don't earn XP in the stock 'Mechs you don't own.

[Deathlike]

The problem with this is I think this is only temporary for launch IMO.

They could easily pull off another month of rotating new champions in, but they need a new light+assault mech in the mix (they already have the Catapult-A1 and Hunchback-4P champs).

Either way, this feels very temporary.

Edited by Deathlike, 17 September 2013 - 07:40 PM.

[DegeneratePervert]

They should keep it this way. Having the newbies in something other than death traps is good.

[DocBach]

Deathlike, on 17 September 2013 - 07:40 PM, said:

Either way, this feels very temporary.

"Here new players, try our game out with semi-optimized builds instead of gray vendor trash 'Mechs!"

I still wish PGI's system allowed for stock 'Mechs to be at least OKAY rather than completely terrible and outclassed.

[Deathlike]

DocBach, on 17 September 2013 - 07:42 PM, said:

I still wish PGI's system allowed for stock 'Mechs to be at least OKAY rather than completely terrible and outclassed.

Maybe it's just me, but most stock mechs do not even fall into the category of "somewhat usable", and I'm not factoring in the fubared heat system that was implemented in this game.

[FupDup]

Deathlike, on 17 September 2013 - 07:53 PM, said:

Maybe it's just me, but most stock mechs do not even fall into the category of "somewhat usable", and I'm not factoring in the fubared heat system that was implemented in this game.

You mean to say that mechs that go really slow, carry ammo in their torsos, don't equip full armor, use XL engines with large side torsos and STD engines on lights, use CASE with XL engines, don't equip enough ammo or heatsinks, and/or use 5+ different weapon groups aren't very effective?

Edited by FupDup, 17 September 2013 - 07:56 PM.

[YueFei]

Having Champion Trial Mechs for all the Trial Mechs is definitely the way to go.

[IrrelevantFish]

All the newer players I've talked to have said that non-champion trial mechs work just fine at the start. Almost everyone is in a trial at noob-level Elo brackets, so the playing field is level, and even if it weren't, most noobs lack the skill necessary to expose stock loadouts' weaknesses (eg, they don't have good enough aim to shoot out a side-torso with an XL engine). I suspect the tightened matchmaking restrictions have made this even more true.

This opinion was echoed by three vets I drop with who recently created new accounts to check out how things work in lower Elo brackets. All were astonished at how little new players suffered from using stock loadouts and agreed that the trial-mech system wasn't much of a problem.

IMO, the current system is a great way to encourage noobs to make grind-reducing MC-purchases, and it sounds like it's relatively painless. I think a few of the more horrible variants should be cut from the lineup (I can't imagine even the most noob-ish of noobs tolerating that flamer-heavy Blackjack, for example), but I think the system should stay roughly as is.

[BillyM]

"Doesn't hurt new players." does not equal "Helps new players."

The main difference between non-champion mechs is that they have been in no way optimized. People need to realize that the goal of the game is not running 6 weapon groups and they should focus on piloting rather than weapon loadouts.

Current:
Jenner 3ml 3sl
Centurion 2asrm4 2mpl
Dragon 2ll 1gauss

Nice simple builds that can produce good results.

PGI, Champion mechs from here forward please. Don't punish new players, give them something of a chance.

--billyM

Edited by BillyM, 18 September 2013 - 02:58 AM.

[Joseph Mallan]

In almost 30 years of TT I can count the number of games I played with unmodified Mechs on...3 hands. Those matches were played at GenCon or under the guidance of my FNGS Commando/Agent.

I totally support the ability to play in decent builds.

OR

Set it up like we had in Closed Beta when I first got to play. My (F)Atlas had a small stockpile of equipment I could use to mod the build. It wasn't that I had access to everything, but the ability to play around was appreciated.

[Vassago Rain]

It's so reviewers and new players don't hurt themselves too much.

[Joseph Mallan]

Deathlike, on 17 September 2013 - 07:53 PM, said:

Maybe it's just me, but most stock mechs do not even fall into the category of "somewhat usable", and I'm not factoring in the fubared heat system that was implemented in this game.

It is actually the heat system that render the Stock chassis FUBARed. Well that and most of the chassis we got to start with were not "the best". Thanks to the silly 3 chassis requirement some of the better Mechs will not make it into the game. I would love to see what these artists could do with say a Grasshopper or a Devastator! They are working wonders with the Reseen for MWO and keep reinforcing that they are good Mech designers! Heck they made the Jager look kinda sexy!

[Pale Jackal]

DocBach, on 17 September 2013 - 07:37 PM, said:

I think they need to give you a starting stipend of C-bills so you can buy a 'Mech to start with, and make EVERY stock 'Mech available to use instead of one of each class like we currently have. However I would make it so you don't earn XP in the stock 'Mechs you don't own.

Problem is that if you give players a starting stipend, it'd kind of encourage players to make new accounts just to buy a new 'mech, unless the starting stipend was too small to matter. So, the current way of giving new players money might be better.

That being said, all champion trial 'mechs, all the time. New players shouldn't be at a mechanical disadvantage, they should only be hindered by their inexperience. The way PGI has set up their trial 'mechs, it's like they don't want new players. I got a friend to play it but he didn't play that much because, let's face it, who wants to pilot trash for hours before they can be competitive? I'm not going to defend PGI's moronic design decisions by suggesting that a friend grind for hours.

The only reason I'm playing this half-baked game is because it's Mechwarrior. Don't get me wrong, I have fun, but PGI actively sabotages itself. It's absurd.

Edited by Pale Jackal, 18 September 2013 - 05:41 AM.

[B1zmark]

The community should vote on setups for trial mechs. I'm assuming PGI would love this game to be as big a money maker as LoL so maybe they should follow that example: The latest non-cosmetic release is 'free to play' the week after its release. Also, all 'champions' are roughly equal in power - a sub optimal mech fitting is as good as handing someone a broken keyboard by comparison.

I've sucessfully introduced 1 friend to MWO - i've had 3 more get bored within 2/3 hours due to how useless they are with trial mechs. They can't even buy a full sized mech because they have no idea what they want to pilot, the trial mechs don't even touch on roles that real pilots use them for. It was the love of the IP that made the 1 who stuck actually brave out until he could afford his first fully fitted mech... even then he's spent millions retro-fitting different modules to try and understand the options available to him.

Perhaps spending time developing the new player experience would have been a better endeavour than alienating thier hardcore players with third person?

[Franchi]

They have champion mechs for the reviewers to conceal the new player experience.

Once the reviews roll in it will be back to normal

[General Taskeen]

You know why "trials" were and are garbage? Because of PGI's stupid heat system. Plain and simple.

Now they can cover it up with some min/max Mechs and discourage players from ever learning more about stock designs.

[Alcom Isst]

If we don't keep the celebratory 4-champion trial system, perhaps a hybrid system?

• 1 New Champion Mech.
  
• 1 Old Champion Mech.
  
• 2 Standard variant Mechs.
  
• A big shiny sign telling new players that the grand and shiny Champion Mechs are far superior to the lowly peasant Standard Variant Mechs.