Aerei, on 29 July 2016 - 10:16 AM, said:
Okay, first of all, cost doesn't mean **** in terms of game balance. Let's just get that out of the way, right now.
As for questions of actual balance, one advantage clan mechs do enjoy is much less reliance on quirks. With all the knee jerk quirk nerfs, good IS mechs can become garbage in a patch or two, while mechs like the Timberwolf, Ebon Jag, and Hunchback IIC largely keep their competitive viability thanks to low weight, good engines, clan XL, superior range on any pokey deck, and the ability to boat on omni mechs. I'll use the range as an example. If an IS mech had medium lasers with the same range as clan lasers, it would need something like a 50% range quirk--something PGI on record doesn't like doing with any kind of quirk. Clan mechs, essentially, enjoy that as a natural state of their weapons.
TL;DR, quirks are not what makes good clan mechs good, the base strengths that these mechs have make them good, and those get nerfed far, far less often than IS.
I'm not saying that needs to change, either, but if that is the case, IS quirks need to be handled more carefully than the monthly nerf fest we see right now.
I think people want some other mechs to be just as viable as the the Timberwolf, Cauldron Born, Hunchie IIC-A, Stormcrow, and Kodiak(Their some other clan mechs to in the top teir list). The Clan arsenal don't have a lot options just because most Clans mechs don't carry a lot firepower( yes their are some that can but have some serious drawbacks), or have a **** ton of lock equipment.
And peek and poke deck not really that good with all that range when your opponent can just laugh and spread the damage like butter, also true IS mechs do lose their top tier status in the quirk department, but another mech will take it spot and it usually one that can carry a boatload of weapons(usually the same weapon type).
Balance is nice atm but I still believe that top tier mechs( or variant) both IS and Clan should have little to no quirks, and mechs ( or variants) that is doing terrible should get compensation to help them be viable, also last time we had quirks that offer 50% range boost their was a shitton erll boats that range goes to 900+ m and I know because I did abuse thoses mechs.
TL:DR Clans need more viable mechs than the usual goto group, IS top tier mechs get basiclly the same quirks that the last one had,quirks need to be use for only low performing mech and or variants that can barely compete