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Consider the current system where exp is only good for mastery and unlocking modules, which still require a huge ammount of c-bills to be invested before they can be used. It makes exp semi-useless and makes c-bills the equivalent of exp seen in other games.
How this could have worked:
What would have made more sense is a system where c-bills per match were greatly reduced(from 100,000s per match to 1,000-10,000s scaling per tier). For MWO it would have made sense if in order to reach the next tier players were required to master a mech in the previous tier(ie, unlock all of it's upgrades through combat) and earned an ammount of exp, which grows exponentionally each tier, then save enough c-bills to purchase a mech in the next tier which also would grow exponentionally with each tier.
So a player just starting would have to earn something like a 100 exp and 3,000 cbills to move from a commando to a spider. But he would have had to earn something like 5,000,000 exp and 10,000,000 cbills to go from a Raven to a Kit Fox.
How they would have made money:
By increasing the rate of progression. They already have a mastery system, buy 3 of the same mechs, master them and you unlock advanced masteries. There is your oppurtunity to monetize excess exp in the form of free exp, meaning exp that's earned could be converted to general exp to speed progression through the tiers.
Premium time could have been implemented, giving them a way to offer subscriptions to players how want to advance more quickly.
Premium mechs: This would have allowed PGI to sell a $240 clan-mech pack without a signle voice against it since every player could get one if they played long enough, but if you were impatient, you could always open a wallet to skip tiers. Having at least one premium in each tier would have given paying players an option to play one of the mech variants they wanted right away. For everyone else, it would be something to strive for.
Mechbays to increase garage size.
Beyond that, PGI would have also likely made more money on customization. Because players are likely to spend a great deal of time in mech at a higher tier, they would have more incentive to customize the appearance of their favored mech. So paint schemes and cockpit ornaments would have more appeal.
I know it's too late for PGI to put in a system like this. It's just kind of upsetting to see them take the classic 'pay for weapons no-one else can get' approach that they have, since it's one that drives players away from otherwise great games. And there's no harm in dreaming about what could have been.
| Tier | Light | Medium | Heavy | Assault |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commando, Locust | Ciccada | Dragon | Awesome |
| 2 | Spider | Black Jack | Quickdraw | Victor |
| 3 | FireStarter | Centurion | Battlemaster | |
| 4 | Jenner | Hunchback | Catapult | Stalker |
| 5 | Raven | Trebuchet | Jagermech | Highlander |
| 6 | Kit Fox | Griffin | Thunderbolt | Banshee |
| 7 | Adder | Next Heaviest Mech, ect... | Next Heaviest Mech, ect... | Next Heaviest Mech, ect... | 8 and ect... | Next Heaviest Mech, ect... | Next Heaviest Mech, ect... | Next Heaviest Mech, ect... | [/tr]
