20 replies to this topic

[Dalton Dakota]

Okay, I did a search regarding trial 'Mechs and didn't find what I was looking for, or a definitive answer concerning them.

From what I've read trial 'Mechs are always present, they change month to month and we use them to figure which 'Mechs we want to purchase? Is this a correct summation of their purpose? Thanks!

[Koniving]

Dalton Dakota, on 08 July 2014 - 08:10 AM, said:

Okay, I did a search regarding trial 'Mechs and didn't find what I was looking for, or a definitive answer concerning them.

From what I've read trial 'Mechs are always present, they change month to month and we use them to figure which 'Mechs we want to purchase? Is this a correct summation of their purpose? Thanks!

Used to be the case when there was 4 at a time.

Although you don't use them to figure out what to purchase (you can but not the original purpose), but as a means to make money before you own mechs and to make money in case if you did something really, really dumb (like sell the only engine you have but not have enough to get another engine).

Some do it just for fun or to try out other mechs. I personally do it to mine (dig up, generate) experience faster in some mech variants.

It seems that right now, MWO will have all of its champion mechs available as trial mechs at all times, though we're desperately seeking an option to hide them if we're not interested.

Expect a new trial (champion) mech every month.

[Zelumbras]

Yes, pretty much that but they have one additional purpose: grind up enough CB to be able to purchase your first mech(s). You will get a lot of extra CB (about 8-9 mil if i remember correctly) over your first 25 matches called the cadet bonus.
Therefore i would highly suggest to do these matches in trial mechs and buy your first own mech afterwards instead of getting it as soon as you can afford your desired mech. This way you will not only be able to afford the mech itself but also much of the equipment that you need to make it work well (like in most cases: EndoSteel, Doube Heat Sinks and maybe additional weapons/armor/ammunition).


edit: ninja'd by Koniving

Edited by Vulcan888, 08 July 2014 - 08:22 AM.

[Jody Von Jedi]

Spend those C-Bills wisely you earn with the trial mechs, they are hare to come by after your Cadet bonus after the 1st 25 matches. I average around 100k per match, so to make that 9 mil back in C-Bills, it will take me on average 90 matches. With premium time running and a Hero mech, I can do about 200k average, but it's still not as good as the cadet bonus. You'll make that 9 mil after your 1st 25 matches, so spend it wisely.

[Pastor Priest]

It also gives you a feel for how the different mech classes handle in action, and determine what type of mech suits your style to begin with. Really take note of what you like and don't like about each trial mech.

And as others ha e said, spend the cadet c-bills wisely. You'll never earn this much in such a short period again.

[Dalton Dakota]

Thanks for the replies. I earned just under 10 million C-Bills after my 25 battles. I've not spent a dime yet. I did; however, spend some hard currency ($) for MC but my purchase was denied by the game, not my money source. I wanted to purchase a few 'Mechs but was unable to. That's what prompted my question about the trial 'Mechs.

The other question is this. We can purchase 'Mechs with C-Bills? All I saw from the trial 'Mechs were MC bills. So I'm kind of confused on this issue. Yeah I know, I'm a newbie...but you don't know if you don't ask!

[Pastor Priest]

That part is a bit confusing. The trial mechs, as they are equipped, can be purchased with MC only. They are known as Champions (denoted with a C next to the variant name). These champions offer a slight bonus to XP earned while driving the mech, but otherwise, you can make the exact same build using a standard variant (which can be bought with C-bills) and customising it. All kchs except champions and unique hero variants, can be purchased with C-bills. When in the Mechlab, there is a dropdown at the top left, which can be set from "owned" to mechs you can purchase. Change that, and you will see all variants available for sale.

[Modo44]

You can buy the chassis that trial mechs are build on for Cbills or MC. The specific builds are available as so called champion mechs -- MC-only items with a permanent XP boost. They are generally not worth the money. Mechbays and hero mechs (permanent Cbill bonus, unique loadouts) are the most useful real-money purchases in MWO.

[Rogue Jedi]

Modo44, on 08 July 2014 - 10:00 AM, said:

You can buy the chassis that trial mechs are build on for Cbills or MC. The specific builds are available as so called champion mechs -- MC-only items with a permanent XP boost. They are generally not worth the money. Mechbays and hero mechs (permanent Cbill bonus, unique loadouts) are the most useful real-money purchases in MWO.

the major reason to buy a Champion is the installed equipment and upgrades, e.g. the Champion spider has Endo, Fero and Double Heat Sinks installed, as well as an XL255 engine, building this Mech would cost almost 9 million c-bills, or about 80 games at my average rate of cbill earnings, in this case the real money may be considered worthwhile

[Modo44]

The value is pretty horrible with any item that you can get for free with enough playtime.

[Redshift2k5]

I would not recommend buying Champions with MC, but there are certainly times when it is more profitable for me to go to work and then buy MC than it is to grind the old fashioned way

[Koniving]

Dalton Dakota, on 08 July 2014 - 09:37 AM, said:

The other question is this. We can purchase 'Mechs with C-Bills? All I saw from the trial 'Mechs were MC bills. So I'm kind of confused on this issue. Yeah I know, I'm a newbie...but you don't know if you don't ask!

Yes you can. This is dated but related.

Koniving, on 02 October 2013 - 10:25 AM, said:

Updated: Tuesday December 31st, 2013.

I usually don't have questions that I can't answer myself, but I can think of a few good ones that are commonly asked.

Q: "Why does it look like mechs can only be bought with real money?"
A: "When you first select Buy Mech, they list the 'premium' mechs which are regular mechs with experience bonuses or hero mechs with cbill bonuses and unique looks and hardpoints available for also known as 'Real Money'.



On the right hand are 5 mech icons. The star means premium. L is light, M is medium, H is heavy, and A is assault. The price is the in-game price.

At some point PGI decided that having players use stock mechs was completely unfair due to the way the game had been balanced to virtually alienate anything using single heatsinks. If they had equal thresholds (max heat limits) it'd be fine, (as you'd fire then hide; an ideal behavior for new players) but DHS will always have not only faster cooling (as they should) but greater heat limits before shutdown (as they should NOT). So they chose instead to replace the stock mechs with the "Champion" builds that people on the No Guts No Galaxy forums will design and submit ideas for.

Champions are pre-upgraded regular mechs with an experience bonus, nothing more. PGI likes to flash the mechs first so scroll down to the mechs. One sec, let me ask the manager.



Okay! Sorry I had to confirm something with Dog. In MWO, click Mechlab. Then near the top is Filter.

Change it to Purchasable.
Now scroll down as heroes and champions are listed first, followed by the normal mechs.

Edited by Koniving, 08 July 2014 - 10:57 AM.

[Damiler]

Koniving, on 08 July 2014 - 10:56 AM, said:

Now scroll down as heroes and champions are listed first, followed by the normal mechs.

Since the last patch champion and hero mechs are not listed first anymore, now they're listed as normal mechs.

[Dalton Dakota]

You know, after playing these "champion" 'Mechs, I've come to the conclusion that most of them are left wanting and severely lacking. I do not know who dreamed up these things, but in my opinion and experience, they fail miserably.

What they truly need to do is open up all the 'Mechs, Hero included, so new players can try them all of they want, to have an idea of what they want to start with that fits their playing style. Currently, I'm not impressed with these. They are as bad as some of those original designs from 3025 that made no sense.

I'd love to buy a few for myself; however, I've still not had any resolution on the one I purchased. Until that point, I cannot buy a new one with C-Bills or spend my hard cash on MC until this is resolved.

As to the topic of the Grasshopper, I'm of the opinion that until they find a way to institute Zellbriggen into this game, IS 'Mechs will soon be irrelevant. Everyone will have Clan OmniMechs. No one will want to play an IS 'Mech while they are forced to face a full company of OmniMechs where you have 2+ clanners target you and end your day in the battle. Especially when you're in a 3025/3040 designed 'Mech that has standard 3025 tech weapons and crappy upgrade tech. I had 5 OmniMechs firing on my in my Highlander 733. That's a 3025 tech 'Mech. That's absurd.

What we have now is players playing at clan with their new shiny toys that do not have any idea what Honor Rules are for. It's just IS pilots fighting in Clan OmniMechs in a free-for-all. It is not fun, that's for sure. If PGI doesn't find a way to implement something to contain this problem, this will end up as Clan Wars and not Inner Sphere vs Clan.

[Thorn Hallis]

Dalton Dakota, on 11 July 2014 - 02:23 AM, said:

I had 5 OmniMechs firing on my in my Highlander 733. That's a 3025 tech 'Mech. That's absurd.

It's a 3025 'Mech upgraded to 3050 standard.

[PANZERKAT]

I don't see the purpose of the Champ mechs. Best to splurge a little extra and throw down on a hero.

[Dalton Dakota]

Thorn Hallis, on 11 July 2014 - 02:58 AM, said:

It's a 3025 'Mech upgraded to 3050 standard.

Armed with 3025 weapons. Facing 5 Omni's in an old tech armed 'Mech. The point is, 5 (five) Omni's against 1 lone IS 'Mech? You find that fair and balanced? Unless they find a way to fix this, the Clan tech is going rule the game, period.

They need to add a selection for players in pugs like this:

A. IS vs IS (standard IS companies)
B. Clan vs Clan (standard Clan trinaries)
C. IS vs Clan (IS Company vs 8 points)

C would best represent a more balanced field of Clan tech vs IS (old or advanced tech as Clan tech is still superior, with IS having the numbers.)

This way, players that want to face IS or Clan only can do so. More choices, better play, more fun. As it is, the fun factor is waning.

[Modo44]

IGP could not resist some temporary pay to win. It does not look like it will change, so pay up, shut up, or leave. Not trying to be mean, that is simply the reality right now. Maybe trial mechs with Clan tech will be introduced, but I would not expect any mention of that before November.

[JC Daxion]

Redshift2k5, on 08 July 2014 - 10:36 AM, said:

I would not recommend buying Champions with MC, but there are certainly times when it is more profitable for me to go to work and then buy MC than it is to grind the old fashioned way

well there is that.... BUT.... Just look at how long it takes to grind mechs, and engines and such.. Not everyone wants to just grind, grind, grind, and would rather pay a few bucks and pick up a mech or two, and get a jump on the next trio of XP mechs. the boost does help ya get to master quicker, and buying a mech lets ya spend more of those C-bills on more modules if you so desire..

Another part, Many of the champion mechs have better engines in them, so take in the instance of the Cicada CDA-2A (C) the mech costs ya 6 bucks.. But if it lands on sale, you can get it for just over 3.. and ya got yourself a XL-340 engine on top of it. The only other mech ya can get that engine in is the battle master, but that thing you would have to grind almost 12m.. (many weekends of grinding for most people) Paying a few bucks to me is worth it, There are others that i think the same thing would apply too.

besides, nothing wrong with spending a few bucks, supporting the company, and getting a mech or two outta the deal.. You can pay MC for um all, so if it is worth it to ya why not? Especially for those that instead of buying premium time.. You could really just about buy a mech a month, for the same as premium time costs.. and for those that don't have endless hours to grind, it can be more worth while.

[Denolven]

Dalton Dakota, on 08 July 2014 - 09:37 AM, said:

I wanted to purchase a few 'Mechs but was unable to. That's what prompted my question about the trial 'Mechs.

This is not the only thing that the game hides from you or tries to confuse you with. In its current state, the game isn't exactly user friendly. So if anything looks fishy, ask here before commiting to it: Short Question - Short Answer