44 replies to this topic

[Copper Jockey]

Enthusiastically support this idea.

[Saren21]

Ohh man its gonna be a harsh learning curve for the poor noobs who have never played any mechwarrior games... I am afrade it might scare some people away from the game, However I think after the first few battles i think most new players will get the hang of it. (even without a "test room")

Step one:Point the lazor at the thing you want to shoot.
Step two: Press fire button.
Step three: use movement keys to move
Done.

Now given that was a very basic example and we can delve deeper in to more complex stratagiem but for the first time player the example stated above is all they really need to know to play the game. I would love to see a test base but as it stands now from what the devs have told us is that any thing we want to test will have to be done in the field underfire.

[Copper Jockey]

The biggest reason I want to see a test range is so I can see how the heat handles on my fit.

[Coolant]

yes, please add. Make it on the local computer so people don't use PGI server resources. Maybe just one small arena map with bots. Can push more features/maps down the pipe in later patches...just something very simple so we can try out mechs and weapons...some of us are number crunchers!

[BFalcon]

Saren21, on 01 July 2012 - 07:07 AM, said:

Ohh man its gonna be a harsh learning curve for the poor noobs who have never played any mechwarrior games... I am afrade it might scare some people away from the game, However I think after the first few battles i think most new players will get the hang of it. (even without a "test room")

Step one:Point the lazor at the thing you want to shoot.
Step two: Press fire button.
Step three: use movement keys to move
Done.

Now given that was a very basic example and we can delve deeper in to more complex stratagiem but for the first time player the example stated above is all they really need to know to play the game. I would love to see a test base but as it stands now from what the devs have told us is that any thing we want to test will have to be done in the field underfire.

LOL the usual one is when they try to get used to the targeting computers and pulverise their team through either not knowing that they're friendly, being surprised that someone was standing there (having played games where you spawn alone, usually) or because they press the wrong button.

That or the plaintative "How do I move this thing?" over comms... which I'm fully expecting to be the Assault pilot in this game - most likely when you're just engaging the enemy with your heavies and mediums and expecting the assault to be there helping out.

I don't think that a simple 500m square map with a high wall all round it and a mech bay opening at one end would be that hard to do - just a few static targets and then they could do a scripted "test" for the introduction and have a practice mode for the testing, both using that map. Given how busy the devs are, we may not see it, but I would ask that the devs please consider the learning curve for those new to the MW series. I know they're used to the controls by now, but not everyone will be.

[Sug]

Maybe an offline range to test your weapons and stuff sure. But training? I don't think this is going to attract the type of gamer that needs a tutorial for how to move around.

Some basic How-To videos to give a rundown of the basics (weapon groupings, mechlab, etc) should suffice.

[BFalcon]

Sug, on 01 July 2012 - 07:22 AM, said:

Maybe an offline range to test your weapons and stuff sure. But training? I don't think this is going to attract the type of gamer that needs a tutorial for how to move around.

Some basic How-To videos to give a rundown of the basics (weapon groupings, mechlab, etc) should suffice.

Disagree on that - you're going to get a lot of players who expect this to be an FPS - when they realise that they can't just move around, it might put them off. I prefer a throttle, but it's not an instinctive control method for most people - and you can't afford, as a business, to turn prospective customers away - they may decide that they like the game and stay, but most people will make up their mind in a few minutes, so a quick tutorial will quickly get the player into their controls without having them sit there and vegetate through a video. People like to be hands on.

I WOULD also like to see a briefing video to fill people in on a brief history of the Inner Sphere - mainly using the maps and game-generated mech fights (from the external point of view) - just a few minutes to help the immersion factor (5 mins tops). It would also explain (very briefly) about Kerensky's exodus from the IS in passing to prepare them for the future.

[vettie]

Many good ideas here

One thing I think of more so than just a pilot training or mech config test area is a team test area.
Back in NBT Mercs, my team would go on line the night before scheduled matches and select of mechs and our configs for those mechs and try them out on the maps we were to do battle on. We would decide on a 1st use strategy and a 2nd use strategy (basically Plan A and Plan b ). and then go 8 v8 for a little bit and see if what we selected would work the way we thought it would. If not, we would go back and work out a different set of mechs/configs or battle plan based on what we saw go wrong in practice.

And even tho we had a team of seasoned pilots, it would almost never fail that someone would have a misfire at the "go" signal shooting a teammate causing damage or blowing off an arm or something, or one of our guys would have just purchased a new joystick and would be progress of mapping keys and either NOT program the throttle or forget what button made the AC20 or heavy gauss rifle fire then of course find that button while stalking the enemy and again damage (or even destroy) a friendly.

Nothing worse than seeing this on the chat screen moments after go has been called (Team A Pilot A destroyed Team A Pilot B ). Then the other team types in chat "LOL" or "dumb - butt" (cleaned up for censors)...

A practice are is a great suggestion especially for those deeply "immersed" (As Russ wants us to be) in capturing or holding planets in this volatile universe of MWO (BT online!)

w00t!

edit is for the silly smileys, lol if you type a cap b and a parentheses you get a smiley if you want it or not!

Edited by vettie, 01 July 2012 - 08:06 AM.

[Wowbragger]

BFalcon, on 22 June 2012 - 06:44 AM, said:

This would help to prevent newer players from wasting money on slapping weapons onto a mech and forgetting about heat buildup or ammo loads.

Now now, everyone is going to see the new guy loaded down with large lasers and no armor/heatsinks. No getting around it, and we just have to politely oblige him with a quick death.

[Rolan26]

Training grounds is a good idea!

+1

[famguy1]

Wowbragger, on 01 July 2012 - 08:22 AM, said:

Now now, everyone is going to see the new guy loaded down with large lasers and no armor/heatsinks. No getting around it, and we just have to politely oblige him with a quick death.

But happens when he/she runs out of money and can't buy items for real money? That would be a problem. Also killing some inexperienced player quickly even without letting him/her get used to controls is a bit too harsh imo. Those are some few reasons for a training/tutorial. It doesen't have to be mandatory, just optional.

[BigJim]

famguy1, on 01 July 2012 - 08:34 AM, said:

Also killing some inexperienced player quickly even without letting him/her get used to controls is a bit too harsh imo.

Excellent point, well made.

Shoot their legs off instead. That way they still get to learn, in slow-mo mode.

Edited by BigJim, 01 July 2012 - 01:10 PM.

[GHQCommander]

We all start somewhere and just because some of us have done it before. Does not make us any better than a newbie, when they get the hang of it, then start whooping us.

That is exactly what is going to go down in this MMO. A generation of teenagers is going to stumble around for the first couple of weeks, then whoop hundreds of 30+ players so badly that they will be in this forum trolling like kids. You wait and see.

Edited by GHQCommander, 01 July 2012 - 06:19 PM.

[Sythiss]

This might sound really really silly......

But i DONT want a test area.
i do have a reason. Its just, the build up, the wonder and awe of that first time you pilot your mech is wonderful. Getting in it and learning how to handle it. going for looks over specs and the like. Thats what i enjoy.

I find that if i can have all the stuff and pick and choose it doesnt have the same value. I cant aford the atlas but lets try it,,,, oh thats what its like, pass.... I mean im glad i didnt buy it to find out, But people will just hop into the training room and test them all out and find one. Rather than the excperience of getting in for the first time and trying it..

Does that make sense ?

[Agent KI7KO]

Even a simple firing range where you shoot targets at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500m will suffice, complete with both stationary and moving targets, and also a mini obstacle course.

Doesn't even need a mission objective.

Edited by Afoxi, 01 July 2012 - 09:51 PM.

[Aramusha]

Wouldn't mind as long as it 'fits' the setting.

IE. Have it at a firing range that's next to a large mech hanger complete with all the clutter and trimmings of a well...mech hanger.

Would double as a place for the RP types to gather. Imagine getting promoted to Commander of your own lance in a ceremony as your unit mates look on...all in an appropriate setting.

[Skadi]

If you play'd planet side 1, yeah ide love to have that training room/rooms

[famguy1]

Sythiss, on 01 July 2012 - 09:48 PM, said:

This might sound really really silly......

But i DONT want a test area.
i do have a reason. Its just, the build up, the wonder and awe of that first time you pilot your mech is wonderful. Getting in it and learning how to handle it. going for looks over specs and the like. Thats what i enjoy.

I find that if i can have all the stuff and pick and choose it doesnt have the same value. I cant aford the atlas but lets try it,,,, oh thats what its like, pass.... I mean im glad i didnt buy it to find out, But people will just hop into the training room and test them all out and find one. Rather than the excperience of getting in for the first time and trying it..

Does that make sense ?

You've got the point, but trainingroom could have a certain mech and weapons you are able to use. Like Bushwacker in MW4. Or even some tutorial videos, like in WoT.

[Sirous]

We were all beginners once, and with this game we will pretty much all be beginners again, I for one have not really played since MW2, I would like to see a test drive area to test out the heat issues and get the general feel for the different mechs and jump jets. Two options would be Test Drive and Launch.

One would bring you into the actual game the other into a small Firing range type area, possibly with tool tips and other things that could help someone new, say almost all of us to get used to the controls and layout.

[Chip Geek]

Coolant, on 01 July 2012 - 07:12 AM, said:

yes, please add. Make it on the local computer so people don't use PGI server resources. Maybe just one small arena map with bots. Can push more features/maps down the pipe in later patches...just something very simple so we can try out mechs and weapons...some of us are number crunchers!

I'm all for this and would like to add an additional idea: What if the test arena ran only on your local computer AND could go to Open Beta right now because there would be no server support required? A whole lot of our questions about loadouts / customization etc. could be answered if we could play a local-only version.