33 replies to this topic

[stjobe]

As of launch day, we have 21 'mech variants:
4 lights
6 mediums
6 heavies
5 assaults

We seem to be missing three 'mechs; two lights and one assault. Where are they? And, perhaps as important: What are they?

We know one of the lights is the Flea; it was announced way back in early 2013 but has so far failed to materialize (due to problems with the netcode and how to implement MASC), but where and what are the other two? The unknown light and assault?

The Phoenix project will give us six more 'mechs, skewing the balance further - this time in favour of mediums:
5 lights
9 mediums
7 heavies
6 assaults

Seems a bum deal for assault pilots - but especially for light pilots like me - to not have as many variants to choose from as those more inclined towards mediums and heavies.

To fuel some speculation, possible lights include the Panther, the Firestarter, and of course the iconic UrbanMech; possible assaults include the ever-popular King Crab, the Charger, and the Banshee (which at 95 tons would also nicely fill out the last missing weight category).

[Redshift2k5]

Why do they have to have exactly even number? If anything there ought to be more mediums available and fewer assaults.

[IridiumFox]

The Urbanmech would be a great addition but somewhat situational. But get this in a map that the fights are under 200 meters this thing is going to ruin someones day!

As to why even number of mech types? Variety. At the moment this game favors the heaver side of things. and it would be nice to not to run into a wall of assaults all the time.

That's been my experience as a new player to MW:O

Edited by Xotor, 20 September 2013 - 03:18 AM.

[Applejack]

King Crab please. Or just the regular Crab.

**** it, just give me the Crab.

[Clit Beastwood]

well lights and assaults are the extremes, so it makes sense for there to be more available in the "middle"

like an auto manufacturer - you've got your uber cheap ones, not too many models, but they're cheap so they sell... in the middle, well, theres more competition so you need more variety, and at the top, well, not as many sold so don't oversaturate the market.

[Methuselah Honeysuckle]

The unreleased Flea makes 22 mechs. I don't know what else they could add for lights, but I'd like to see the King Crab or the Pillager for assaults.

Edited by uckfred, 19 September 2013 - 09:18 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

whilst I would love more, at what point did PGI EVER announce all weight classes would be implemented equally?

Heck, I wish they would intentionally go unbalanced, as Mediums and Lights are supposed to outnumber the rest in volume and variety.

[Finestaut]

Since early beta, the general pattern for releases has been light->medium->heavy->assault. We got a heavy this month, which means the "missing" assault" is due next month.

Technical and game design issues related to the speed cap, netcode, and MASC have basically hard-stopped the light queue. They've missed their last two turns, and when we'll get more (not counting the locust) is anyone's guess.

The phoenix package is lopsided because its made up of mechs licensed from Dougram and Crusher Joe, which just happens to include mostly mediums.

[Shadey99]

Finestaut, on 19 September 2013 - 09:25 AM, said:

Since early beta, the general pattern for releases has been light->medium->heavy->assault. We got a heavy this month, which means the "missing" assault" is due next month.

Next month is the phoenix release and I believe is the launch of the locust as it is listed as releasing the 15th for cbills when the phoenix package goes live. That also lists several other releases:
"Q: When will the Standard Variants be purchasable with C-bills or MC?
A: For those who do not Buy a Project Phoenix Package - The Standard Variants release schedule is currently set as:
Oct 15, 2013: Locust
Nov 20, 2013: Shadowhawk
Dec 18, 2013: Thunderbolt
Jan 22, 2014: Battlemaster"

So unless they move to 2 releases a month we know the plan up through the Wolverine/Griffin releases...

[stjobe]

Redshift2k5, on 19 September 2013 - 07:29 AM, said:

Why do they have to have exactly even number? If anything there ought to be more mediums available and fewer assaults.

Bishop Steiner, on 19 September 2013 - 09:21 AM, said:

Heck, I wish they would intentionally go unbalanced, as Mediums and Lights are supposed to outnumber the rest in volume and variety.

The distribution of weight classes reflect on the weight classes seen in-game; if there's more mediums and heavies available, that's going to mean there's more mediums and heavies in the game. Assaults will always be popular since they're the heaviest weight class, but lights? If there's less of them than the other classes, you'll see less of them in-game as well, and they're already the least played weight-class (by quite a margin).

As I prefer piloting light 'mechs, I naturally see this as a problem. I simply have less to choose from than someone preferring the other weight classes.

It's been eight months since we saw a new light 'mech (the Spider arrived on Jan. 15th). Yes, I know we'll get the Locust in a month's time, but nine months between light 'mechs is a very long time.

[DarkDevilDancer]

Yeah when we get the urbie that'll make everything all right you'll see....its coming any day now....any day.

[Shazarad]

I believe PGI is waiting for the right moment to release the Urbanmech. Once it is released, all forum complaints will stop forever.

I think they want to make it worth it.

[Spheroid]

The missing light will certainly be the Firestarter. Its fully articulated arms with jump jets makes it quite different from the other lights.

[Shadey99]

Shazarad, on 19 September 2013 - 11:25 AM, said:

I believe PGI is waiting for the right moment to release the Urbanmech. Once it is released, all forum complaints will stop forever.

I think they want to make it worth it.

But this SDR-5K wants to be an Urbanmech already... Or a Hollander SDR-5K he is not so sure...

[John Buford]

stjobe, on 19 September 2013 - 10:36 AM, said:

The distribution of weight classes reflect on the weight classes seen in-game; if there's more mediums and heavies available, that's going to mean there's more mediums and heavies in the game. Assaults will always be popular since they're the heaviest weight class, but lights? If there's less of them than the other classes, you'll see less of them in-game as well, and they're already the least played weight-class (by quite a margin).

As I prefer piloting light 'mechs, I naturally see this as a problem. I simply have less to choose from than someone preferring the other weight classes.

It's been eight months since we saw a new light 'mech (the Spider arrived on Jan. 15th). Yes, I know we'll get the Locust in a month's time, but nine months between light 'mechs is a very long time.

Light pilot here also so what light Mech would you like to see introduced to the game?

[Risko Vinsheen]

John Buford, on 19 September 2013 - 02:52 PM, said:

Light pilot here also so what light Mech would you like to see introduced to the game?

Of the lights that are within the current timeline I want to see the Mongoose released.

[Lefty Lucy]

Xotor, on 19 September 2013 - 07:37 AM, said:

The Urbanmech would be a great addition but somewhat situational. But get this in a map that the fights are under 200 meters this thing is going to ruin someones day!

Not really. The urbanmech would be just as useless as the bevy of slow lights we already have. I've seen someone play an urbanmech loadout with a spider 5K, and it's terrible. It's a drag on the team. Considering that I don't see any way to give an actual urbanmech even the advantage of the spider's doll-size hit boxes, I just don't see it being even situationally useful.

[Devil Fox]

Lefty Lucy, on 19 September 2013 - 04:02 PM, said:

Not really. The urbanmech would be just as useless as the bevy of slow lights we already have. I've seen someone play an urbanmech loadout with a spider 5K, and it's terrible. It's a drag on the team. Considering that I don't see any way to give an actual urbanmech even the advantage of the spider's doll-size hit boxes, I just don't see it being even situationally useful.

Depends, if they scewed the teams when Urbanmechs come in to make it a lance of 4 against 16 of the trashcans... then it could become very interesting. But I agree whilst I would like to see it for ***** & giggles, it won't have any purpose in the current iteration of MWO.

[Alpha087]

Don't forget on the 15th in October we'll have Locust (standard variants) for those who didn't get Phoenix, purchasable with C-Bills. Or so the phoenix page tells us.

[Escef]

Lights I'd like to see:
Firestarter
Javelin

Mediums:
Clint
Assassin
Chameleon (makes a good substitute for the Phoenix Hawk)

Heavy:
Grasshopper (70 ton jumping energy boat? Yes, please!)

Assault:
Banshee
Thug or Hatamoto-Chi (not much point in both)
King Crab (maybe)