41 replies to this topic

[Jack Gallows]

I was considering today how people would feel about a server split concerning the Clans and the Pre-Clan server environment.

Would people like a server down the road that had the advanced Clan tech/Clans disabled so it's only the Inner Sphere fighting the Inner Sphere? This wouldn't be the main server, but people could go there if they'd like to fight more traditional battles or act out pre clan wars/etc.

I'm wondering the pros and cons of this idea, such as splitting the community or at least diluting it at times when we aren't all playing on the main timeline server, but figured I'd ask the question to gauge community thoughts on it and to show the developers if it's a desired addition (regardless if it's going to happen or not.)

[MaddMaxx]

Just Balance the new Clan Tech. Community splits are never helpful. (imho)

[Aidan]

Has PGI said they would offer a dedicated server package to the MWO community? To the best of my understanding, they have not. So if they do not, then PGI will control the server backend and the MWO community will play within their server contraints.

[Threat Doc]

Yes, Aidan, that's true... however, I'm with Jack on this one... I would love to be able to play what used to be called Level I (pre-3050, up to War of '39 tech) and Level II (minor Star League, pre-Clan tech available) fights against others who feel there was not enough time dedicated to the Succession Wars. After all, BattleTech set off in 3022, I believe, and finished up the last three years of the 3rd Succession War, then played through the 4th and the 20-Year Update to the War of '39, so seventeen years all done between November 1984 and August 1992 (8 years), while the beginning of the Clans, in August or September of '49 through 3055, or six years, took the next 11 years. So, there wasn't enough time at all.

[Amarus Cameron]

I understand not wanting to play with the clans but what cost would this incur for the dev team, how much of a population would they have how much infrastructure support does each universe need, also they would need another dev team to work on this separate game. Because that is essentially what it is, same engine, different game.

[Silent]

I don't like the idea of a split, because inevitably most players will gravitate towards the better tech. Even if there was a decent sized group of dedicated Inner Sphere players I'd rather have everyone on the same page when it comes to what is going on in the game world.

I'd rather there be occasional world resets where the years/tech/territories dial back and everyone starts over, so people that may have missed the Inner Sphere battles can get in on them.

[Threat Doc]

Amarus Cameron, on 21 November 2011 - 09:13 AM, said:

I understand not wanting to play with the clans but what cost would this incur for the dev team, how much of a population would they have how much infrastructure support does each universe need, also they would need another dev team to work on this separate game. Because that is essentially what it is, same engine, different game.

Well, not really. For the game itself, you program everything into it, then flip the binary switch from 1 to 0 on the elements that don't belong in that game. As you update one game, you update the other, ensuring that the appropriate switches are compartmentalized to be switched off for the IS only game.

Is this game IS only? Then switch off post-3049 elements. (shrug)

Edited by Kay Wolf, 21 November 2011 - 09:34 AM.

[Threat Doc]

Silent, on 21 November 2011 - 09:19 AM, said:

I don't like the idea of a split, because inevitably most players will gravitate towards the better tech. Even if there was a decent sized group of dedicated Inner Sphere players I'd rather have everyone on the same page when it comes to what is going on in the game world.

I'd rather there be occasional world resets where the years/tech/territories dial back and everyone starts over, so people that may have missed the Inner Sphere battles can get in on them.

I missed this one while I was writing, but I have to thoroughly disagree here, most especially with this last part. People are going to come and go, there's no two ways about that, and I most assuredly disagree with dialing anything back once it's begun. If anything, having a separate server for those of us who would like to play pre-3049 tech would be the best idea, and would eliminate a bunch of problems we're going to have to deal with that, if possible, we shouldn't have to, IMHO.

[Cyttorak]

Not sure if this is the same category, but the "microtransactions" video we saw warned against splitting the community.

[Amarus Cameron]

Kay Wolf, on 21 November 2011 - 09:33 AM, said:

Well, not really. For the game itself, you program everything into it, then flip the binary switch from 1 to 0 on the elements that don't belong in that game. As you update one game, you update the other, ensuring that the appropriate switches are compartmentalized to be switched off for the IS only game.

Is this game IS only? Then switch off post-3049 elements. (shrug)

But then you are arguing for a static playing environment which many people will not like. You were talking about the war of 3039, well that already happened, if you want them to go back and do that as well that takes dev time.

[CeeKay Boques]

This comes down to whether or not MWO will allow you to also be free, to run leagues in the timeline/era of your choice. If that was true, they could simply date the mechs and weapons by era, and have a drop down "3025" "3049" and such, and only mechs of that era, or prior eras could come. My feeling is that we will all live in 3049 whether we like it or not.

Because BT players are a finicky bunch, it will be interesting to see what they do. Splitting the community is obviously bad, so you wouldn't want any "buy this or go play in the corner". But also I would imagine that they would allow some sort of fan league play, since thats what kept MW4 alive long after the zone shut down, and if that's true, then all possibilities are open, from Stock/Tro only leagues to NHUA gibfests.

Edited by Technoviking, 21 November 2011 - 09:49 AM.

[Jack Gallows]

Aidan, on 21 November 2011 - 08:49 AM, said:

Has PGI said they would offer a dedicated server package to the MWO community? To the best of my understanding, they have not. So if they do not, then PGI will control the server backend and the MWO community will play within their server contraints.

I wasn't really talking about dedicated servers, as this game would be hosted by the developers and not us, and that's how it's going to be.

Amarus Cameron, on 21 November 2011 - 09:13 AM, said:

I understand not wanting to play with the clans but what cost would this incur for the dev team, how much of a population would they have how much infrastructure support does each universe need, also they would need another dev team to work on this separate game. Because that is essentially what it is, same engine, different game.

It's not a different game. They don't have to continuously add updates, just have a place for us to slug it out with a galaxy map to see how we'll we're doing and we'll make our own wars. It doesn't have to progress time wise like the main server does, it'd basically be a server to allow players to fight out as IS troops before the Clans started meddling in the IS affairs.

It gives the community a way to enjoy both of the main era's of the Inner Sphere's history, with clans and without them.


Now, here's another idea that helps avoid the community split but still allows for what this extra server would entail. It may not be as ideal as having a separate galaxy map devoid of the Clanners (seriously, no hate on the Clans, I love them too,) that would be fun to run around trying to conquer other IS states, would be to have an ability to run non "ranked" or valid fights that let the participants set the technology level/restrictions if they'd like to go at it as IS vs IS etc.

That's assuming we aren't allowed to still attack other Great Houses after the clans hit...dog pile on the Capellan Confederation?

Edited by Jack Gallows, 21 November 2011 - 10:04 AM.

[CoffiNail]

So, what you are effectivly asking, is for them to just set this in like 3015, with Clan Homeworlds for the Clans and Inner Sphere for the Inner Sphere? Because how many players do you really think are going to want to play IS against Clans, and how many would want to JUST play IS, aside from the few hundred old men who just want battletech like it was in the 80s? Would it really be worth their time ti split the player base? Not really. It is a semi neat idea but there is so much more strain on the DEV team. Just let them do what they are doing. You do not like the clans, well get good and blow the hell out of them in your tech 1 mechs. 2 or 3 IS players can take out a Clan mech no problems. Clan mechs are not the un stoppable force they are in table top. Remember half of it is due to the Clans pilots having better stats, here it is all real players shooting real things. You could have a bunch of Clan players who end up sucking horribly when it comes to shooting something and IS players who do really damn well

It will be balance by not having even teams, it is the only logical way, it is how it got balanced in the table top, you all love table top. You have a 4 lances vs a Binary. sounds fair.

[Jack Gallows]

I hope people don't think I suggested this to disparage the Clans or show that I don't like them. I like them just fine, and I'm excited about the time period PGI picked, it's fantastic!

The main idea of this post is to put the idea forward since it was going to happen eventually, and have people share their ideas about it (which you all are doing, thanks!) and a lot less about not liking the Clans. It's merely for diversity in play type, since some may like just IS fighting, while some may prefer having the Clans around.

Much like melee combat for mechs it's something that, if there was sufficient desire for, would be implemented at a time they felt comfortable doing it, and ONLY then.

I will say that I don't want them to do anything that would detract from the main goal of MWO, and if this never comes to pass, it will not matter to me as I'll most likely be to happy playing around in whatever point of the timeline we're at down the line.

[Kyll Long]

CoffiNail, on 21 November 2011 - 10:07 AM, said:

So, what you are effectivly asking, is for them to just set this in like 3015, with Clan Homeworlds for the Clans and Inner Sphere for the Inner Sphere? Because how many players do you really think are going to want to play IS against Clans, and how many would want to JUST play IS, aside from the few hundred old men who just want battletech like it was in the 80s? Would it really be worth their time ti split the player base? Not really. It is a semi neat idea but there is so much more strain on the DEV team. Just let them do what they are doing. You do not like the clans, well get good and blow the hell out of them in your tech 1 mechs. 2 or 3 IS players can take out a Clan mech no problems. Clan mechs are not the un stoppable force they are in table top. Remember half of it is due to the Clans pilots having better stats, here it is all real players shooting real things. You could have a bunch of Clan players who end up sucking horribly when it comes to shooting something and IS players who do really damn well

It will be balance by not having even teams, it is the only logical way, it is how it got balanced in the table top, you all love table top. You have a 4 lances vs a Binary. sounds fair.

Bah I'll ignore that cheapshot at us oldtimers cause I generally like yer other posts Coff

[CoffiNail]

Kyll Long, on 21 November 2011 - 10:16 AM, said:

Bah I'll ignore that cheapshot at us oldtimers cause I generally like yer other posts Coff

hehe, Well from what I have noticed it is mainly of course no where near all, but the 80s TT players tend to make up the brunt of the anti-clan forces as most of the players of anything past MW2 are use to them. What better then to band together to take out us youngins? I mean the IS forces who play on a IS Tech level 1 only server will be leaving the 3050 IS definitely under gunned... wait, this is not a problem... makes Terra much more easily ours!

[Dlardrageth]

There would be always the option to set up a seperate game/match mode to incorporate early clan tech along the way for PGI. Maybe as an expansion pack or something even. Does not necessarily warrant an extra server.

[Jack Gallows]

CoffiNail, on 21 November 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

hehe, Well from what I have noticed it is mainly of course no where near all, but the 80s TT players tend to make up the brunt of the anti-clan forces as most of the players of anything past MW2 are use to them. What better then to band together to take out us youngins? I mean the IS forces who play on a IS Tech level 1 only server will be leaving the 3050 IS definitely under gunned... wait, this is not a problem... makes Terra much more easily ours!

Haha, here's hoping that MWO becomes popular enough that you'd never notice the missing players on a side!

And we all know that even with less units, we'll still bring you silly Clanners to a halt! (when I'm not on my clan character at times <.<)

[Kyll Long]

CoffiNail, on 21 November 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

hehe, Well from what I have noticed it is mainly of course no where near all, but the 80s TT players tend to make up the brunt of the anti-clan forces as most of the players of anything past MW2 are use to them. What better then to band together to take out us youngins? I mean the IS forces who play on a IS Tech level 1 only server will be leaving the 3050 IS definitely under gunned... wait, this is not a problem... makes Terra much more easily ours!

For what it's worth Im a one server one universe proponent. I hate the idea of shards. I WANT there to be 50k players on at one time to make for a variety of opponent possibilities and to allow for MASS House organized attacks (Course we ALL know I belong to the best organized House so we'll have the advantage )

[Jack Gallows]

Kyll Long, on 21 November 2011 - 10:28 AM, said:

For what it's worth Im a one server one universe proponent. I hate the idea of shards. I WANT there to be 50k players on at one time to make for a variety of opponent possibilities and to allow for MASS House organized attacks (Course we ALL know I belong to the best organized House so we'll have the advantage )

You know what would be really funny, even if it will never happen?

The bulk of players joins the FRR and the manage to repulse the Clan Invasion, lol