I don't like the current state of jump jets. I really don't. They feel too slow and too cumbersome. People take only one jet still, and use it only to get over "small obstacles like rocks". I rarely see jump jets in use, and it makes me sad, especially when I see Highlanders who never leave the ground. I remember when I used to see Lights jumping around corners and into the sky. When I would see Assaults in tight, urban environments use jump jets to to a "Heavy Corner Jump", which is similar to the tactic in Team Fortress 2, where they use the jets to keep foreward moment while turning, so that they can jump around a corner and be immediately ready to face the enemy. Moreover, I remember when I saw people using jump jets intelligently and with thought, rather than "Jump rock? Jump wall?".
I had an idea, recently, regarding jump jets. I was wandering the libraries of Sarna, looking for the next 'Mech that might be added after the Vindicator, when I noticed most jump jets values on 'Mechs exceed either ninety (90) or one-hundred and twenty (120) meters. I pondered for a bit after I noticed this, and then I went to sleep because it was like four in the morning. And then I thought some more, and after seven days of thinking, I believe I have an idea that I can present.
My suggestion here is that jump jets take a new method to their function. When you jump, you take a rapid motion into the air, and then gravity sets in. You do not slowly rise into the air, whereupon you need to willingly slow yourself down. To that logic, I propose the following:
- Jump Jets, when activated, accelerate the 'Mech rapidly into the air so long as the button is held down, to a maximum number (Determined by factors such as the number of jets, engine size, and 'Mech weight category).
- By some method, jump jets can be used for both vertical (High) and horizontal (Long) jumps. This allows for jump jets to be used much more intelligently, and with greater variety. As an example, a high jump would allow you to climb a cliff in Canyon Network, while a long jump would allow you to cross one of the valleys of the same map.
- Jump Jets do not use jet fuel, but energy from the engine. As such, jump jet height is much less a fuel meter more than it is something along the lines of the jump jets reaching their own heat limit, or something similar.
- Once a 'Mech is in the air, secondary jets kick in to drastically slow the 'Mech a safe descent speed. These jets are passive, and as such are built to only be used to slow the fall of the 'Mech. They use a separate energy pool to the manual jump jets, and create their own background heat.
- When in the air, a 'Mech can disable the passive jets to rapidly descend, at the cost suffering from falling damage. This could possibly be used in the future to help towards the fan-favorite DFA (Death From Above) move.
I do not claim to be a game designer myself, and I do not claim to be the smartest person on the subject of jump jets. I am merely trying to push out with my opinion, and see if other people share my thoughts on the subject.
If you have any thoughts, criticisms, see any flaws, or have anything to say, please comment below.