1089 replies to this topic

[phelanjkell]

PropWash, on 09 December 2011 - 01:56 PM, said:

You guys ever consider bringing people into the podcast who have worked 'behind the scenes' on these products in the past? They might offer a lot of great material that general forum members cant.

Just food for thought.

In the works, we hope to have something special in the near future.

Podcast #6 is live!!

[Skwisgaar Skwigelf]

Already listening

[S3dition]

I'll be playing the podcast on Hyperpulse Radio tomorrow during the Lunch break show (12pm to 1pm PST).

[Kaemon]

A small note gentlemen on the fabulous work you are doing:

Please try to keep the swearing to none, listening at work I get the manager stink eye if an F bomb drops, plus we're still an all ages show (at least for now) so it's also for the younger peeps,it's a pain but just something to think about.

Fathead wall graphics is what you were thinking about - http://www.fathead.com/ mechs or maps would be awesome.

A retail box version with game install/dev art/large map and wall sticky of mech?

Sold!

[phelanjkell]

Kaemon, on 09 December 2011 - 06:48 PM, said:

A small note gentlemen on the fabulous work you are doing:

Please try to keep the swearing to none, listening at work I get the manager stink eye if an F bomb drops, plus we're still an all ages show (at least for now) so it's also for the younger peeps,it's a pain but just something to think about.

Fathead wall graphics is what you were thinking about - http://www.fathead.com/ mechs or maps would be awesome.

A retail box version with game install/dev art/large map and wall sticky of mech?

Sold!

We will try out best about the language, but please excuse the ones that slip through.

AND YES FATHEAD art mechs... I'd buy a few!! lol

[Seth]

Sweet, a wiki plug!

[Cyttorak]

I appreciate your attempt to discuss my question, but perhaps I wasn't clear enough.
Your answer (using EVE as an example) was basically, "factions with a common enemy will ally themselves". That's true, but not really what I was talking about. And perhaps there are peculiarites to the BT universe that make it unique; namely geography. So I'll give an example using only the Inner Sphere:

From the State of the Inner Sphere survey, assuming it's a statistically valid sample, the breakdown of the major factions is:
(just to grab a round number, assume 30,000 players)
CC - 5% of "major" factional players = 1500
DC - 13% = 3900
FS - 26% = 7800
FWL - 6% = 1800
LC - 8% = 2400

Now assuming you can only attack factions that are "near" yours (1 or 2 jumps distance?), then there will be no factional battles between FWL vs FS, or LC vs FS. That leaves only DC vs FS or CC vs FS. In terms of players, that's 3900 vs 7800, and 1500 vs 7800.
Now assume that only a fraction of those are available at any time to defend against attacks, and you see the problem. FS would always be able to field more factional players, at any time of day or night, than CC...sometimes 5 times as much, or greater.

There's no reason to believe the quality of players, statistically speaking, will be better or worse between factions but that doesn't matter. FS will hit CC with a WALL of units...again and again and again. CC players will simply get worn out. That's what I was talking about.

[EDMW CSN]

Cyttorak, on 09 December 2011 - 11:04 PM, said:

I appreciate your attempt to discuss my question, but perhaps I wasn't clear enough.
Your answer (using EVE as an example) was basically, "factions with a common enemy will ally themselves". That's true, but not really what I was talking about. And perhaps there are peculiarites to the BT universe that make it unique; namely geography. So I'll give an example using only the Inner Sphere:

From the State of the Inner Sphere survey, assuming it's a statistically valid sample, the breakdown of the major factions is:
(just to grab a round number, assume 30,000 players)
CC - 5% of "major" factional players = 1500
DC - 13% = 3900
FS - 26% = 7800
FWL - 6% = 1800
LC - 8% = 2400

Now assuming you can only attack factions that are "near" yours (1 or 2 jumps distance?), then there will be no factional battles between FWL vs FS, or LC vs FS. That leaves only DC vs FS or CC vs FS. In terms of players, that's 3900 vs 7800, and 1500 vs 7800.
Now assume that only a fraction of those are available at any time to defend against attacks, and you see the problem. FS would always be able to field more factional players, at any time of day or night, than CC...sometimes 5 times as much, or greater.

There's no reason to believe the quality of players, statistically speaking, will be better or worse between factions but that doesn't matter. FS will hit CC with a WALL of units...again and again and again. CC players will simply get worn out. That's what I was talking about.

What the CC did to survive?
Blanket every damn corner of the planet with landmines.
Leg whiners need not complain

[phelanjkell]

Cyttorak, on 09 December 2011 - 11:04 PM, said:

I appreciate your attempt to discuss my question, but perhaps I wasn't clear enough.
Your answer (using EVE as an example) was basically, "factions with a common enemy will ally themselves". That's true, but not really what I was talking about. And perhaps there are peculiarites to the BT universe that make it unique; namely geography. So I'll give an example using only the Inner Sphere:

From the State of the Inner Sphere survey, assuming it's a statistically valid sample, the breakdown of the major factions is:
(just to grab a round number, assume 30,000 players)
CC - 5% of "major" factional players = 1500
DC - 13% = 3900
FS - 26% = 7800
FWL - 6% = 1800
LC - 8% = 2400

Now assuming you can only attack factions that are "near" yours (1 or 2 jumps distance?), then there will be no factional battles between FWL vs FS, or LC vs FS. That leaves only DC vs FS or CC vs FS. In terms of players, that's 3900 vs 7800, and 1500 vs 7800.
Now assume that only a fraction of those are available at any time to defend against attacks, and you see the problem. FS would always be able to field more factional players, at any time of day or night, than CC...sometimes 5 times as much, or greater.

There's no reason to believe the quality of players, statistically speaking, will be better or worse between factions but that doesn't matter. FS will hit CC with a WALL of units...again and again and again. CC players will simply get worn out. That's what I was talking about.

Understood now, yeah we totally missed that. Will make note of this and discuss next week.

[S3dition]

I'll save most of the discussion for the podcast, but this does assume the devs won't allow jumps over 1 or 2 weeks in btech lore. Also, because it is before the fedcom civil war, the fedcom is still one entity and has a front line that spans the entire innersphere, but only 1 faction. Players would have to be able to fight on any front unless the devs do subdivide it into Davion and Steiner.

I doubt the devs would severely limit who you can play against, as it reduces your overall game experience. If you're DC, and you can only fight FS, that could get bland. Especially if you KNEW there were other mechs and players you were missing out on. It also sandwiches some of the lesser houses so that they are just fighting way too much.

But, as I said, good discussion for the podcast next week.

[Cyttorak]

Technically, the FedCom wasn't formally allied until 3055 (and then split up in 3057!), though FS and LC had been working together very closely before that. So the devs could really go either way on that.
I would bet they keep them separate, since union would reduce the factions down to 4 (major factions), and the FC would have about 1/3 of all faction players!
Also, I hope they cap the factions somehow so the number of players is more even.

*edit* Oh, and I guess if LC/FS own the systems around Terra like on the map in DevBlog1, then every faction would have an avenue for attacking every other one.

Edited by Cyttorak, 10 December 2011 - 11:42 AM.

[phelanjkell]

This is actually something that will need to be talked about next time, note taken!!

[Hellman]

Love the podcasts PK. Thanks to you and the guys for all the good discussion.
heLLman aka Strudel

[Hellman]

Didn't the treaty start with the marriage to Melissa Steiner in 3028?

[Cyttorak]

Hellman, on 10 December 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:

Didn't the treaty start with the marriage to Melissa Steiner in 3028?

Informally.

Edited by Cyttorak, 11 December 2011 - 12:13 AM.

[phelanjkell]

Any questions that spark from our Podcast converstions please let us know here or Facebook!

[phalanx]

Pretty sure the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth were organized in 3042, and Katrina Steiner(the real one) retired around that time.Once Melissa inherited the Throne, she deferred to Hanse. But this does bring up an interesting point. I know it won't be something we deal with for many years, but Melissa will be assassinated and leave Victor in charge. This means that the FedCom will basically have one leader.

[phelanjkell]

Please post your questions, topics, ideas, opinions on things you want dicussed in the next NGNG Podcast coming Dec. 14, 2011!!

Questions running through my mind:

• How will the handle the real time movement of troops in one area to the next?
  
• What are the perks of being a Faction mechwarrior compared to that of a Mercenary?
  
• What type of combat system is involved when taking a planet?
  
• Are some planets more valuable than others?
  
• Can Mercenaries be hired by the Factions to do their bidding so they don't have to get their hands dirty?
  
• How large can a Mercenary unit be?
  
• How do you balance the Factions? When cannon speaking, CCC is very small compared to the others.
  
• Economy player driven or Dev?
  
• Will there be a Solaris Arena? Is there betting on said matches?

And many more. Whats yours?

[phelanjkell]

Notes taken from our Facebook page! Keep the ideas coming gents!

[Dihm]

I'll throw out a random one...

Merc unit customization for skins/insignia. How would you like to see this handled in the game? Would you like an in-game editor that allows you to go all Forza on a mech? Would you like to be able to submit pictures (unit insignia/camo/whatever) to the devs to implement? Would you like to see/should there be an approval process? Who should approve designs? Devs? Community? What are the ramifications on game rating for player added content with the various methods?

I remember the system Pirates of the Burning Sea had set up in beta, where people submitted their designs which were then voted on. After a certain period, if they had enough positive response, and enough total votes, they were approved and imported into the game.