11 replies to this topic

[MustrumRidcully]

TL;DR:
My suggestion is to remove the need to buy additional variants to advance your mech efficiencies, and instead provide incentive in the skill system to buy new mechs by granting temporary C-Bill or XP Bonuses and making it easier to master new mechs.

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There is always talk about how "grindy" the game is, particularly since the C-Bill earnings were reduced when we upgraded from 8v8 to 12v12.

This is a solution that could make the feel of advancement better without requiring PGI to boost C-Bill earnings and have players get new mechs faster. It focuses on the skill system.

Most MMO(RPG)s rely - at least until the mysterious "endgame" - characters advance in level and get new abilities and acquires new gear. MW:O isn't an RPG, of course, but it has some elements - XP and Mech XP allow you to advance your account so you get new abilities, and you earn C-Bills to buy new gear and new mechs.

Currently, the XP-based advancement is tied to C-Bill advancement. If you want to get the Elite efficiencies, you need two more mechs. If you want a module, you need a lot of C-Bills.

I suggest decoupling this to some extent. Make buying new mechs attractive, but not necessary, for most of the advancement.

Assuming we can't afford to change the concents of the skill tree majorly (like having mech-specific abilities, trees or modules), I keep it simple.

Efficiencies

Basic Efficiencies
Basic Efficiencies come now in two levels. The first level bonus is like now, the second level bonus is twice that. You no longer get double bonuses for completing all Elite efficiencies, however.
You can only upgrade to the 2nd level once you've completed all basic efficiencies once.
When you have taken the 2nd level of a basic efficiency, you also unlock the first level on every mech of the same weight class. If you have the first level already unlocked, you unlock the 2nd level.

Bringing all Basic Efficiencies to Level 1 allows you to also take Elite efficiencies.
Bringing all Basic Efficiencies to Level 2 grants you a +25 *% C-Bills on all other mechs weight classes that you haven't completed the basic efficiencies on yet for the next 25 matches.

=> So your second mech in the same weight class needs a bit less time to be mastered, and you also earn a bit more money if you branch out.

Elite Efficiencies
Elite Efficiencies come also in two levels. The first level bonus is half the current value, the second level bonus is the current bonus.
When you have completed all 1st level elite efficiencies, you can start upgrading them to 2nd level efficiencies.
When you upgrade an elite efficiency to level 2, you also unlock the 1st level elite efficiency on every variant of that mech.
Bringing all Basic Efficiencies to Level 2 and bringing all Elite Efficiencies to Level 1 allows you to also take the Master ability.

Bringing all elite efficiencies to Level 2 grants you a +25 % C-Bills on all other variants of this mech that you haven't completed the elite efficiencies yet for the next 25 matches.

=> So your second mech in the same variant needs a bit less time to be mastered.

Master
Mastery tier remains unchanged, except that you gain a +15 % XP Bonus on on your first 25 matches in non-mastered mechs.

Optional Changes:

Spoiler

Two additional mastery abilities:
- You can acquire a 15 % C-Bill Bonus on this mech that stacks with all other bonuses.
- You can acquire a 5 % XP Bonus on this mech that stacks with all other bonuses.

Modules
Modules can be unlocked globally with General XP or only for one mech (specific variant) with normal XP.

The price for a single mech is only 1/10th of that for the Global Unlock, but every time you take a single mech Unlock, the General XP unlock becomes 5 % cheaper. (So if you have MC; it's more economical to take the global unlock, which is good for PGI, but you don't get buyer's remorse for not taking the global unlock from the start. Which is good for you, but also for PGI, since it makes the transition from F2P to paying player cause little regret for wasted opportunities.)

Optional:
I would also suggest lowering the module C-Bill cost, but I am not sure if PGI would want to go there. Their theory seems to be that modules are endgame content, but I think they make relatively poor endgame content. Community Warfare and Faction Loyality is endgame content, if it's done well. Modules are better suited for regular advancement along your career to become Mech Romney.



*) If average mech earnings are 100,000 C-Bills per match, a 25 % bonus for 25 matches means about 625,000 C-Bills in earnings. So some of the very cheap mechs (Locust?) might actually not set you back financially.

[MustrumRidcully]

No comments?

[Nothing Whatsoever]

From my understanding of BT lore, I never did like how we needed to buy three variants to level them for efficiencies, but I was eventually able to understand why we got stuck with that system in MWO.

So I'd really like to explore something different to what we currently have certainly.

And not needing to get three variants to basic could allow for more unique and iconic mechs to be used like the Enforcer, for example, that had few variants available, to be made available in MWO.

[Diego Angelus]

What would be ideal is to unchain mech variants and spend more time getting skills on each mech so spend same time on mechs
while doing it fun way instead of pure grind for cbills and spending it on mechs we don't want at that time. Forced grinds in game like this is never good idea.

[MustrumRidcully]

One of my primary goals is to give the players a steady progression that doesn't hit on any artificial C-Bill barries where he's stuck for a long time.

There is a reason why most MMORPGs feature that "Level-Up-Ding". And MW:O seems to prefer putting barriers in your way.

Praetor Shepard, on 08 December 2013 - 02:46 AM, said:

From my understanding of BT lore, I never did like how we needed to buy three variants to level them for efficiencies, but I was eventually able to understand why we got stuck with that system in MWO.

So I'd really like to explore something different to what we currently have certainly.

And not needing to get three variants to basic could allow for more unique and iconic mechs to be used like the Enforcer, for example, that had few variants available, to be made available in MWO.

That's also an interesting aspect, true. Not being forced to come up with 3 variants of mechs that don't have them could be a benefit.

[GalaxyBluestar]

MustrumRidcully, on 08 December 2013 - 09:42 AM, said:

One of my primary goals is to give the players a steady progression that doesn't hit on any artificial C-Bill barries where he's stuck for a long time.

it's a tragidy people stuck playing a video game.

"grind" is the illusion from the mouths of the lazy princesses who want it all now now! this game has nothing to motivate you to play other than boom explosions, stat whoring, leveling up and buying mechs. many have left because they've already done the leveling up and you want to simplfy it further! so no don't suggest taking away the few motiviations this game has left. let the QQ TOO MUCH GRIND players start earning their mechs because they don't know what real work is.

[MustrumRidcully]

GalaxyBluestar, on 09 December 2013 - 12:15 AM, said:

it's a tragidy people stuck playing a video game.

"grind" is the illusion from the mouths of the lazy princesses who want it all now now! this game has nothing to motivate you to play other than boom explosions, stat whoring, leveling up and buying mechs. many have left because they've already done the leveling up and you want to simplfy it further! so no don't suggest taking away the few motiviations this game has left. let the QQ TOO MUCH GRIND players start earning their mechs because they don't know what real work is.

Thanks for the constructive contribution.

[MadcatX]

GalaxyBluestar, on 09 December 2013 - 12:15 AM, said:

it's a tragidy people stuck playing a video game.

"grind" is the illusion from the mouths of the lazy princesses who want it all now now! this game has nothing to motivate you to play other than boom explosions, stat whoring, leveling up and buying mechs. many have left because they've already done the leveling up and you want to simplfy it further! so no don't suggest taking away the few motiviations this game has left. let the QQ TOO MUCH GRIND players start earning their mechs because they don't know what real work is.

Emphasis mine.

Thank you for illustrating "grind" in the same post in which you state it doesn't exist.

[GalaxyBluestar]

MadcatX, on 09 December 2013 - 03:31 AM, said:

Emphasis mine.

Thank you for illustrating "grind" in the same post in which you state it doesn't exist.

pleasure. and keep grinding that game! because people do believe playing a game is work pffft.

[Aluminumfoiled]

GalaxyBluestar, on 09 December 2013 - 12:15 AM, said:

it's a tragidy people stuck playing a video game.

"grind" is the illusion from the mouths of the lazy princesses who want it all now now! this game has nothing to motivate you to play other than boom explosions, stat whoring, leveling up and buying mechs. many have left because they've already done the leveling up and you want to simplfy it further! so no don't suggest taking away the few motiviations this game has left. let the QQ TOO MUCH GRIND players start earning their mechs because they don't know what real work is.

This comes across as I got mine and you need to be quiet. Not saying that's what you meant.

You did get to play during Invincible 3L/Splatcat/Lurmaggeddon days, just to name a few. Talk about gravy trains with biscuit wheels. How many mechs did you buy with those, maybe none. But those days are gone. Closest thing is a Spider these days and they don't pay as well.

Just saying maybe there should be some concern on the perception of too much grind to keep new players coming in. And the answer might be to do nothing at all-leave things as they are. And don't say "mouths of the lazy princesses". It was a pretty big change. Just an idea.

[AncientRaig]

I know, old thread, necroing, all that good stuff. But I like this idea, if only because of the fact that it'll make Cool Run and Heat Containment more effective. A 7.5% boost to heat dissipation and a 10% boost to total heat buildup before shutdown(And internal component damage I'd assume)doesn't seem like a whole lot when you're running a Clan mech(Especially something like a WubCat...). 15% and 20% are much nicer numbers, even if they still feel a little small.

Edited by Sidefire, 18 July 2015 - 12:00 PM.

[oldradagast]

GalaxyBluestar, on 09 December 2013 - 12:15 AM, said:

it's a tragidy people stuck playing a video game.

"grind" is the illusion from the mouths of the lazy princesses who want it all now now! this game has nothing to motivate you to play other than boom explosions, stat whoring, leveling up and buying mechs. many have left because they've already done the leveling up and you want to simplfy it further! so no don't suggest taking away the few motiviations this game has left. let the QQ TOO MUCH GRIND players start earning their mechs because they don't know what real work is.

So, the game lacks depth, so you feel a mindless grind is a good substitute, despite that also lacking depth AND being a lame, artificial barrier is a good idea. Then, you top it off with rage and personal attacks against "whiners." Sure. Thanks for your unique point of view.