There used to be more reasons to play something else, but frankly, until we have PPC's brought under control, why bring anything else?
The perfect storm of "stumbling blocks" of nearly unclimbable slopes (even with JJ's end up being hung-up on nearly every map by invisible barriers) and pin-point damage capability given to nearly any and all mechs Via PPC's has made for a very bland game experience.
If PPC's continue to be pin-point ballistic weapons that can be on nearly every mech, especially with paired with AC/5's, what is the point in using anything else?
With the ability to combine UAC/5's with PPC's on the HGN-733c, SHD-X and even 2x PPC's 40 ton cicadas, game play continues to be very one dimensional.
Six months ago things were much worse, and I like that there has been some limiting to the ability of 6 PPC stalkers to climb every high point and snipe with no real answer other than to boat PPC's too, but now it's gone just as far the other way.
You haven't stopped or limited the reward for using PPC's, and at the higher Elo's you are very lucky to ever see LRM's etc, etc.
The Gauss Rifle received a nerf to prevent syncing with PPC's and heat was adjusted, however, it doesn't take long for people to realize what weapons work, and what don't.
Now the latest adjustments have slowed the AC/20 and AC/10, I'm sure this was to discourage syncing the weaoons with the PPC too effectively, however, why hasn't the PPC (the real culprit) been more adjusted?
Gauss has an interesting feel for it, and because of the "charge cycle" has effectively retired it's self unless you have a build with 2 of them.
As I remember over the last year, the major concerns with balance always involves PPC's. but instead, it seems other than some very minor tweaks to heat and recharge time, the PPC is left as the clear winner in the Min Max game, and something else is nerfed.
Why the AC/10 which never gets used by 90% of the veteran players, and the AC/20 who is one of the few viable answers to the PPC meta now gets a nerf.
Why not do something to the common denominator here, The PPC's.
Add a charge time cycle on PPC's much like a a gauss rifle, and don't have it be a pin-point damage (one stop shopper).
No reason that an energy energy weapon made up of several energy particles shouldn't spread a bit (slight shot-gun efffect) instead of transferring all damage to ONE point.
There should be a "beam time" much like with lasers (maybe just 0.5 or .25sec long to prevent this from continuing to be PPC warrior.)
I think the best balance for this is to make the PPC's hotter again, and charge up like the Gauss before firing, and then you will see more variety in 12-man drops. The fragility of the Gauss has limited it's use considerably, why it also got such a heavy penalty for use IDK.
Do this, and you might see Brawlers come back in force.
I like a variety weapons.
Please give us something more than 2 - 3 mech variants with PPC's & (U)AC/5's
Thanks!
Edited by Falso, 18 January 2014 - 02:47 AM.