11 replies to this topic

[Tarriss Halcyon]

I'm the complete opposite to a new user, but I have a suggestion. With the addition of private matches, we have the potential to run tournaments and such of our own. But, what if we approached this from a different line? Experienced users sign up, and then take on a group of three novices, preferably coordinating via teamspeak if possible. This allows the vet. to help teach the newer guys how to play and get a feel for their playstyle, so that they can offer tailored advice for builds.

Every now and then, one veteran can challenge another to a lance-against-lance battle, with the novices basically being put into the forefront to put their new combat style to action. Of course, there would have to be restrictions on the veteran, in order to balance out the idea of a "Command" mech. This could range from restricting them to a stock or trial mech to the bans of specific variants, I don't really know which.

I'm not offering to organize this, at least not all alone. It's just a suggestion for a player-run thing.

Besides, I made the mistake of challenging novices to fight me, so I'm looking forward to fighting a full lance, if not more, of trial mechs on my lonesome. Fun times.

[IraqiWalker]

I already do something like that, so it's pretty doqble. The problem starts when you are training rookies by yourself. You need someone with active premium time to launch anything that isn't 12v12

[Koniving]

Done this before the private matches, but it was more unleashing new players onto other people with the escort of a stock tabletop Victor.


Works well.

[TheCaptainJZ]

The main issue is that 2 players must have active premium time for anything other than 12v12. I could see this working within one of the many merc units running teamspeak. You could have 2 members training, each a team captain, and have like 3 cadets each. It would be the best way to teach the game, but getting it set up would be more difficult. However, new players do have access to 2 free hours of premium time on the website (it used to be a free day, but only 2 hrs now)

[IraqiWalker]

TheCaptainJZ, on 01 July 2014 - 12:26 AM, said:

The main issue is that 2 players must have active premium time for anything other than 12v12. I could see this working within one of the many merc units running teamspeak. You could have 2 members training, each a team captain, and have like 3 cadets each. It would be the best way to teach the game, but getting it set up would be more difficult. However, new players do have access to 2 free hours of premium time on the website (it used to be a free day, but only 2 hrs now)

Yeah. If you can get me 3 cadets, who haven't activated that time, I can get you 6 whole hours of training.

[TheCaptainJZ]

It's not much time, thus adding to the difficulty of doing it that way.

[IraqiWalker]

TheCaptainJZ, on 01 July 2014 - 06:10 PM, said:

It's not much time, thus adding to the difficulty of doing it that way.

I know, but I work with what I can get my hands on. However, if I can get three rookies in one room, I can easily find another experienced player with premium time who'd be willing to "captain" their team so we can launch un-even and I can do the course while that kind player gets coffee, or is used for target practice for the greens.

[Tarriss Halcyon]

I still have all my Clan time banked away for something like this (and my challenge match), and I could probably rustle up some novices myself. (Seriously, I know at least four guys who either play rarely or have only just downloaded. Granted, one of them was around for the free Centurion a while back, and I bought him an Ember, but still...)

If we manage to rustle up enough rookies and I manage to get Teamspeak working, I'm game.

[IraqiWalker]

Tarriss Halcyon, on 02 July 2014 - 01:08 AM, said:

I still have all my Clan time banked away for something like this (and my challenge match), and I could probably rustle up some novices myself. (Seriously, I know at least four guys who either play rarely or have only just downloaded. Granted, one of them was around for the free Centurion a while back, and I bought him an Ember, but still...)

If we manage to rustle up enough rookies and I manage to get Teamspeak working, I'm game.

Soon as you do that, PM me. I will be happy to help.

[Koniving]

You can, in theory, overcome the limitation of private matches by going into public matches and escorting the players.
Doesn't matter how high the 'ELO' of the experienced player is, it will be brought down to an average of the two or three players. If you front load 3 new players onto an experienced player, you can be brought down low enough to face mostly newer to moderate players. This makes teaching and escorting quite a bit easier. Spend a little time before the match with some prep work and a plan, then when you go into the match do your best to support the new players without doing everything for them.

Examples, give them specific things to target: their combined effort will take down an enemy quick with or without your actual firepower.
Let them know when it's okay to chase, and when they should break off from the chase.
If you weaken an enemy, try and let them finish it off.
Bring single heatsinks, it makes things a little more difficult for you and gives the new players a sense of importance; when you have to cool off they will want to stick around and defend you, empowering them. It also makes the game more dynamic and team oriented than typical pug play, enriching the experience.

Just some thoughts.

[Tarriss Halcyon]

Kon, I've been doing that recently, and I plan to keep doing it. My private match suggestion was more for if we get enough rookies to stage a micro-tournament. Hell, every time one of my friends, or my Battletech Mentor let me know they are getting on (all of whom are rookies, since my mentor has lacked a proper internet connection for eons, and as such has barely played), I get on Skype and join them.

For example, I've played close-quarters bodyguard for a trial Atlas in a Summoner Prime (LB20, SRM6, ER Large - I'd set it up to bodyguard). I've hunted alongside another rookie in his Stalker with a Dragon. I've run Centurions with the guy I bought an Ember! And I can't forget the moment when my mentor got his Jager blown apart by an Atlas, eons ago. I was nearby in an SRM20 Stalker, and I slagged that Atlas before commenting: "That was for my trainee!"

I've got two or three new users getting on post-patch tomorrow (I think), including one who only just downloaded so if I'm home when they get on, I'll do what I can to help 'em out.

[Koniving]

Since I'm here and it's a very similar concept, sometime next week Zhizhu is going to be filming Solaris arena style combat in private matches with two camera men which will be filmed and overcast after the fact with announcers (Not "Duncan Fisher" -- at first anyway). Players, new and experienced, are welcome to attend as contestants or witnesses.

Obvious rules apply:

Spoiler

• Act like a mature adult.
  
• Have fun.
  
• Do not shoot the camera mechs.
  
• Wait for the "OK" or "go" to fight.
  
• Fights will be 1 on 1, 2 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 3, etc. Only participating fighters may be targeted and fired upon.
  
• If not fighting, please watch from the side lines; the cameras should be the only other mechs in the field.
  
• Chain fire only (we want it to look like the battletech books, not the overly flashy fire everything series of games).
  
• No pure boats (using only one type of weapon).
  
• Disable armlock.
  
• Matches will be held in first person or third person, however all participants in the fight must choose and play that way til the end.
  
• Stock mechs encouraged if possible.
  
• ECM only permitted when stock (i.e. only the Raven 3-L would have it).
  
• We will be using approximate armor matching instead of tonnage matching for stock mechs. (Example stock Locust versus stock Jenner D or K = approximately an even match; I'm dead serious. Dragon 1C and a certain Thunderbolt are nearly identical in armor stock). Alternatively we might use battle value.
  
• For trial mechs we'll use identical mechs.
  
• For non-stock match ups we'll use some other system.
  
• If there are enough players a mock tournament might be made. It may or may not allow 'repairs' (so after players fight in 'pristine condition', the two damaged winners might be pit against one another).

If interested, please do not spam this thread with responses to this post. Instead, just drop a like on the post and when we can schedule a few days and times (will likely know by Saturday), word will be spread through the forum's message system with a teamspeak address and you can show up on the days/times that are best for you.