Noesis, on 15 February 2014 - 07:21 AM, said:
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Roll on tonnage limits and pilots considering having to pilot something that doesn't need to consider the biggest and baddest options to play this game.
I'm not so sure that TL are the final solution to this problem. People are still going to max out their available tonnage. But instead of 1200 tons per team, it'll be something like I dunno 720 tons per team. People will still max out their firepower and alpha-strike for the available weight. TL don't make players want to drop with less weight than the enemy team, because TL don't solve the underlying issue that the best way to win this game is with brute force. You might reduce the level of brute force, and reduce the health pool of both teams, but alphas will still win the day like they always have.
Victors will rule the assault roost with an iron first because they pack the firepower of a Highlander with more speed, similar durability, and with TL they will also take up the least weight. 60 tons heavies will be even more inferior to the 55 ton Shawk because they have worse performance and they take up more of the team's weight. The same goes for Cicadas versus Jenners (and maybe Firestarters?). And mechs like the Locust will still suck, because they waste a team slot that could be used on a mech that is effective. Shadow Hawks will undoubtably proliferate if not become a new FoTM, and can actually pack an alpha comparable to many larger mechs (ERPPC + AC/20).
What we need is the fabled Role Warfare. The maps and game modes need to be set up in a way such that the strengths of mechs under 65 tons can truly shine, and that a mech can be valuable to its team without packing a super-high alpha. A modest little Commando, for example, should be just as valuable to its team as a Highlander, but obviously with different strengths and weaknesses brought to the table. You should be able to say "Hmmm, in this situation some mechs with mobility would benefit our team more than a bunch of fatties, let's take some mediums and lights."
Edited by FupDup, 15 February 2014 - 07:32 AM.