12 replies to this topic

[Goose Igaly]

I'm curious how many other units are experiencing this concern.

I have several members who purchased clan packs and are thoroughly enjoying their new toys. However, the news that Merc units would not be allowed to use clan 'Mechs in CW has really boiled some blood. I am aware that there are some threads linking to a podcast where PGI may have alluded to this, but, to be honest, the concept that Merc units would not be able to use clan 'Mechs comes as a complete surprise to me.

My hope is this is a statement that applies to the front-end of the clan invasion and that in the future they will open it up for all units to utilize these 'Mechs. Even from a canon point of view, any Merc would scavenge a battlefield for parts and usable 'Mech chassis. In the long-run, it doesn't make much sense that a Merc unit would not utilize the clan 'Mechs on the battlefield.

There was a time when discussions of purchasing 'Mechs from factions and utilizing the Black Market would be a way to obtain 'Mechs. Has this been removed from the table?

And how are units that are experiencing these concerns encouraging their members? I am currently at a point of having to tell my members to 'wait and see' as far as the use of clan 'Mechs in CW. However, I fear that a move not to allow our units to use these 'Mechs could tare units apart as members who have purchased these 'Mechs exercise their right to utilize their purchase. I could be looking at having to form a branch of my unit that exists to handle the clan 'Mech players separate from the main unit that does not have clan 'Mechs.

I'm not as up to date on the news as I used to be, and as a unit leader this concerns me. I'm curious to hear the thoughts of other unit leaders out there as this is a concern that can impact us all.

[Night Fury76]

Just have a sub-unit that is Clan.
Job Done

[Lukoi Banacek]

Unfortunately for pure CW matches, it looks like we will all be limited to one tech or another. I will miss my IS lights and BNC. But for money producing general play the mixed queue will obviously remain.

Until we see just how CW matches will be conducted, what they accomplish etc, we are not sweating it. Tbh, while there are eight Clan mechs available there are really not enough at enough tonnage points for Clans to have needed flexibility in dropdec building anyway imo.....so I see CW being further off than simply when all clan mechs are available for cbills.

[Glory in the Highest]

And remember, long-distant-future-CW is not the only venue for play. There are more and more community run leagues all the time, of all shapes and sizes. With private lobbies, certainly some if not most of them will permit Clan tech once it's c-bill available.

[Nightmare1]

It does bother me a good bit. I represent Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. We're an Inner Sphere Mercenary Unit with intentions of running both IS and Clan Tech.

Now I'm not so sure.

I did read originally that certain Loyalist and Merc Units, depending on what House they serve or what region they call home, would be limited to tech and Mechs from said regions. Capturing/liberating planets was supposed to enable additional resources, with the Black Market providing illicit goods at expensive prices. For example, this was to enable Davion Units to run Kurita specific Tech and Mechs.

As for disabling Clan Mechs for the IS, that is Non Sequitor. If PGI chooses to do this briefly for the initial invasion period, then fine, but they need to re-enable it shortly after the invasion begins. In the Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, Merc Units such as the Kell Hounds very quickly acquired Clan Tech, as did all of the Houses of the Inner Sphere. Wolf's Dragoons, a Merc Unit that was actually a sub-Unit of the Wolf Clan, actually gave the IS antiquated Clan Tech that brought them up to within a decade or two of the Mechs and tech used by the Clan Invaders.

PGI, for all their faults and missteps, has done good so far. This makes me want to believe in them and the notion that they will get it right. However, the thought of not being able to run Clan Mechs, when so many people have spent so much on them, is troubling.

[Grey Black]

While not the unit leader, I share this concern, but also see a solution. While community warfare will likely be restricted Clan v IS, merc corps combat may be less restricted, leading to the ability to drop unrestricted for merc corps but CW is restricted.

[Morgana]

Another concern on this matter, is what pilots are doing with their Mechs, not having any inclination as to what CW will bring us. As a CO of a Mercenary Unit myself, I have heard disturbing statements in our TS. Now that they have had a chance to experience the Clan Mechs in all their goodness, I've heard "I just sold all my IS Mechs." I fear that they have made a rather rash decision to do so without thinking about CW and the restrictions that will be placed upon us by whatever House or region we will be involved with. These pilots have given up ALL of their hard earned Mastered IS Mechs, and will now find themselves either left out, or having to repurchase AND regrind their Skill Trees all over again. I really feel that PGI needs to make a definitive statement on what is to be expected, otherwise, I fear it will be another bombshell that will hit here. Personally, I'm holding on to ALL my Mechs, IS AND CLAN, so I will be prepared come what may.

A Note to ALL MERCENARY UNITS: Please pass this on, and tell your members not to give up ANY mechs, until we are fully versed in what is to be.

[Nightmare1]

Morgana, on 22 June 2014 - 10:20 AM, said:

Another concern on this matter, is what pilots are doing with their Mechs, not having any inclination as to what CW will bring us. As a CO of a Mercenary Unit myself, I have heard disturbing statements in our TS. Now that they have had a chance to experience the Clan Mechs in all their goodness, I've heard "I just sold all my IS Mechs." I fear that they have made a rather rash decision to do so without thinking about CW and the restrictions that will be placed upon us by whatever House or region we will be involved with. These pilots have given up ALL of their hard earned Mastered IS Mechs, and will now find themselves either left out, or having to repurchase AND regrind their Skill Trees all over again. I really feel that PGI needs to make a definitive statement on what is to be expected, otherwise, I fear it will be another bombshell that will hit here. Personally, I'm holding on to ALL my Mechs, IS AND CLAN, so I will be prepared come what may.

A Note to ALL MERCENARY UNITS: Please pass this on, and tell your members not to give up ANY mechs, until we are fully versed in what is to be.

You don't have to re-skill sold Mechs. Once sold, you maintain whatever skills you have unlocked. If they buy them back later, then the Mechs automatically come with whatever skills they had previously unlocked.

At worst, your pilots will be out a lot of C-bills when they buy-back and re-outfit all their Mechs.

[Morgana]

Nightmare1, on 22 June 2014 - 10:34 AM, said:

You don't have to re-skill sold Mechs. Once sold, you maintain whatever skills you have unlocked. If they buy them back later, then the Mechs automatically come with whatever skills they had previously unlocked.

At worst, your pilots will be out a lot of C-bills when they buy-back and re-outfit all their Mechs.

That is good to know, as I have not tried to repurchase any of my sold mechs (non-viable mechs).
As far as the C-bill lost through buy-backs and refitting, this will affect the communal C-Bill coffer for your Unit. (I knew I was hoarding C-bills for a reason....).

[Nightmare1]

Morgana, on 22 June 2014 - 10:45 AM, said:

That is good to know, as I have not tried to repurchase any of my sold mechs (non-viable mechs).
As far as the C-bill lost through buy-backs and refitting, this will affect the communal C-Bill coffer for your Unit. (I knew I was hoarding C-bills for a reason....).

Yep, sold Mechs retain their skill unlocks.

Yep again - C-bills spent on re-purchasing and re-outfitting can't be spent on Dropships.

[DaddyP1G]

I can definately see this being a problem, but like said before, that is just for CW.

There are plenty of other opportunities like http://www.nbt-mwo.com/forum/index.php

[Goose Igaly]

I completely understand the "for CW" statement; however, I see no reason that we should be limited to IS or Clan only for more than a month or two. A lot of people spent money on these 'Mechs just to find out that they will not be able to use them in a huge part of the game (if they stay in the Merc units). I'm working through ideas and plans so my unit can adapt to whatever comes, but in the long-run I don't agree with what they've said.

There's been more than once that PGI has had to turn back on a previously made statement, and I'm hoping/expecting this to either be overturned or be a limited-time restriction.

Truth be told, I was iffy when I bought my Phoenix packs (no info on hardpoints of variants), and I thought about buying a clan pack but didn't. Seeing what's happened with these Clan Packs (yes, just looking at the CW aspect) I'm not sure I'll ever preorder another pack. I think PGI's want to keep their ways and means secret and only give us information on a need to know basis is slowly hurting them.

[Lukoi Banacek]

They have said before that there will remain open matches (so gain c-bills, run up your kills, have some fun playing in mixed matches) in lieu of simple faction CW, so I think it is safe to hold on to both mech types.

PGI screwed up when it went the route it did and now it would crush their remaining playerbase to try and force delineate things among the players who spent copious amounts of time and/or money building up both IS and Clan mechs.