Xarian, on 08 October 2014 - 05:22 PM, said:
Interesting idea, but you need to think of a way to deal with Artemis on mechs that don't have it stock.
Artemis would be a trade-off -- 'Mechs that do not come with it stock will have to sacrifice tube size for tracking ability and grouping consistency.
EgoSlayer, on 08 October 2014 - 06:56 PM, said:
Then why have them?
And why do people always cherry pick "easy" configs to show how "well" sized hard points work. Try doing the builds that will *still* be broken even with sized hard points and then explain how they are fine without some other esoteric solution like ghost heat. - I'll save you time time: They won't, you still need some other system to fix "problem" builds.
Some examples to start with:
Hunchback 4p
Firestarter 9s
Warhawk Prime
WarHawk Prime with "B" RA
Direwolf Prime
Direwolf Prime with "A" RA and "B" LA
And so on. Without a mechanic like ghost heat, even with sized hard points they *STILL* need some other system to balance them. Net result is revamping all the mechs, plus building a new ghost heat replacement is COMPLETELY WASTED development time that could be better spent elsewhere.
...why have them? Because not every 'Mech is a light 'Mech restricted by weight, and some 'Mechs are considered sub-tier specifically because of the lack of individuality between current hard points. I am not cherry picking configurations, I am going through each chassis completely, and each will be posted as time permits.
A lot of the current meta builds would still be impossible to be created in the examples you provided (which I will get to as I get to them, will post the remaining light IS 'Mechs tonight then post the mediums tomorrow) -- for instance, a Dire Wolf with a B right arm and A left arm would only be able to carry a single gauss rifle as the B arm's LB-10X is too small to replace with a gauss rifle.
And I did not say that this proposal would mean the end of ghost heat, or be the end all for balance -- I am simply providing a response to Russ Bullock's post where he wanted someone to go into detail a proposal and what effects said proposal would have in the game -- any changes to the hard point system would come after Community Warfare -- these changes, however, would help add depth to community warfare, giving specific faction 'Mechs different feels and capabilities.
That said, I now continue with the Raven.
The RVN-2X Raven can carry two large lasers, or four single slot energy weapons. The missile slot size restriction with a single hard point limits it to at most an SRM-6 (or SRM-4 with Artemis) or an LRM-10.
The RVN-3L Raven's size restriction limits it to a single large laser -- which would break the sniper build with two ER large lasers -- though a similar configuration would be available to the 2X Raven, albeit without the ability to carry ECM (a tradeoff for sensor immunity perhaps). The RVN-3L Raven can carry two SRM-6 packs or two SRM-4's with artemis, or up to 20 LRM's by the way of two LRM-10 packs.
The RVN-4X Raven can carry two single slot energy weapons, or combine them for a single large class laser system. The size restriction to the missile pack limits it to a single SRM-6 or LRM-10. The ballistic slot size restrictions means that the RVN-4X can no longer carry a Gauss rifle, AC/20, or other large autocannon; machine guns and AC/2's would be the only ballistic weapons available to it.
The Huginn would lose the ability to carry 12 SRM tubes, with hardpoint restrictions limiting it to an SRM-6 and SRM-4. The Huginn could carry a maximum of 15 LRM tubes by way of an LRM-10 and LRM-5 Ballistic hardpoint sizes would restrict its builds to machine guns or AC/2's for the arm mounted ballistic slots.
Edited by Gerhardt Jorgensson, 08 October 2014 - 07:48 PM.