208 replies to this topic

[Paul Inouye]

Feedback on Community Warfare - Phase 2 - Oct 8th edition can go in this thread.

Spoiler

Community Warfare - Phase 2 - Update Oct 8,2014

Let's see... how can we organize this a little better?

1) New Stuff/Updates
2) Changes
3) Questions


All of the next updates will follow the above. Makes it easier to organize and give you all the new, neat stuff up front.

A couple of quick notes. Most of the work for CW-Phase 2 is currently behind the curtain back-end/database stuff. There's nothing visual to show unless I show screen caps of code (and no.. I'm not going to do that). I've included an image that is work-in-progress down below showing how to open a gate without jump jets.

The other note is that the amount of information with each update will more than likely decline as most of the major information is released early and it switches from announcing new stuff to more updates on progress.


New Stuff

Ejecting
We are implementing the ability to eject from your BattleMech for Drop Ship mode. This will prevent running around on the field as a pogo stick if you don't want to be in that situation. The implementation will be as follows:

An assignable key [O by default] will trigger the eject sequence.
The player must HOLD this key down for [10] seconds in order to eject. The amount of time will be determined based on "denying the enemy a kill" mentality which would be rather poor to have happen all the time.
Upon ejecting, a large pulse of damage is sent to the 'Mech's head component and the 'Mech is destroyed.
The ejecting player is sent to the standard "death" screen and eventually to the drop ship selection screen.
Attacking players will still get assist and most damage kill stats, but the final blow stat will not be given.

The Leopard Dropship is now VTAL
The Leopard Drop Ship is now a VTAL (Vertial Take-off And Landing) ship. It will be used to drop 'Mechs off at various respawn points on the map. This specifically allows us to either swoop the Leopard into the game space to drop 'Mechs off at low altitudes, or do high altitude/near hover drops of 'Mechs into the game space. The animations involved are in our test level at the moment and is visible in debug builds. We will probably be doing some video capture next update.

New Map/Mode Update
We completed our first play test session of the new map codenamed "Frost" and game mode codenamed "Invasion". Both of which are in early iteration but the core mechanics are all working. Gates open when their power generators are destroyed. If the attackers destroy the defender's main installation building, the match ends in attacker victory.

The Drop Ship functionality of dropping a new 'Mech into a match is now ready for testing and will happen later this week.

Back End/Server Update
The gameplay logic that drives the overall Faction Warfare loop is near completion. This is the loop that involves looking at the IS Map, selecting a planet, selecting attack/defend and entering the match lobby. There are still few points to finish up but it is tracking on schedule.


Changes

Drop Ship Mode
Drop Ship mode is being changed to a minimum and maximum tonnage limit rather than a strict 1 Light/1 Medium/1 Heavy/1 Assault limit. For example, we might set the Drop Ship limitation to [140] tons minimum and [240] tons maximum. You MUST take 4 'Mechs meaning you cannot take 2 100 ton 'Mechs and leave the other two slots empty. The available tonnage is restricted to your personal Drop Ship. This means if you take under [240] tons, the remaining unused tonnage is NOT shared with the rest of your team.

Merc Units/Lone Wolves
It will still be required that Merc Units/Lone Wolves (MU/LW for the rest of this explanation) align themselves to a House. However, they can switch alignment after a specific amount of time has passed. For example, if a season is 3 months long, at the end of each month, MU/LW's can switch alignment. This alignment switch will come at a Loyalty Point (LP) cost and that cost varies depends on which House is chosen as the new House of alignment.

[Deathlike]

I guess that "sounds OK".

FYI, "O" is currently used for "override" in the default config IIRC.

[White Bear 84]

Can you change the text colour for either the question or answer in the Q/A so that it is easier to read the questions vs the answer. It is a very bright blurry wall of text to get through.

Just a suggestion

Edited by White Bear 84, 08 October 2014 - 06:06 PM.

[Paul Inouye]

Deathlike, on 08 October 2014 - 05:56 PM, said:

I guess that "sounds OK".

FYI, "O" is currently used for "override" in the default config IIRC.

Fine.. I'll make it W.

O was used as an example. We'll map it to a non-bound key which players can rebind later.

[Cimarb]

This all looks good. A couple things I am not thrilled about still, such as seasons, but i am extremely excited to start seeing it come together. Thanks for the updates, Paul, and keep them coming!

[Paul Inouye]

White Bear 84, on 08 October 2014 - 06:05 PM, said:

Can you change the text colour for either the question or answer in the Q/A so that it is easier to read the questions vs the answer. It is a very bright blurry wall of text to get through.

Just a suggestion

At this very moment? no.. I'm going home. But once I'm home.. I can mess with the colors to help separate.

[Cimarb]

Paul Inouye, on 08 October 2014 - 06:06 PM, said:

Fine.. I'll make it W.

That would be a HILARIOUS first match, lol

[Deathlike]

Quote

How do you intend to handle increasing wait-times for matches if there are not enough attackers / defenders for a planet? Would you consider Training Ground like "PvE" filler missions?

If a planet is attacked, and no defenders show up within a reasonable time frame, the attackers will automatically get the win on that planet.

I don't like this result. Having matches/planets determined by forfeitures is not productive... like in league play.

Why not just increase the Assault window or reduce the token rate (as in it isn't a full token, maybe like a half token)? Having non-match results is not something that would be interesting to occur. It'll probably still happen, but at least it wouldn't end up being a "free handout" for showing up.

Edited by Deathlike, 08 October 2014 - 06:12 PM.

[Zyllos]

One thing I would like to suggestion:

Move away from *must* take 4 mechs.

If the tonnage limit is low enough (say 140t), let players take a Mad Cat and Mad Dog (losing 5 tons). I will take a Centurion, Blackjack, Commando, and Locust.

This allows for a nice variation between number of re spawns, incentive to take multiple Medium/Lights to get more re spawns, and to be unique in their drop decks.

It also allows for unique strategies dependent on the attack/defend and unit.

Edited by Zyllos, 08 October 2014 - 06:16 PM.

[Dirk Le Daring]

All great info, I like the dropship idea a lot, very nice.

I have a concern though. Merc Corps, and Lone Wolves being forced to pick a faction.

I made a unit of Lone Wolves. Most of us have no desire to be a part of any house or clan. There is a member with no clan mechs and one who will not play clans. So immediatly there is the very good probability of the unit fracturing.

This bothers me, as we are a small casual unit who just like to have fun, and the unit is quite friendly. So it would be quite unpleasent to see anyone have to make such a hard choice.

I am confused as to why you would effectively remove the mercenary aspect from MWOMercs. Is this a temporary thing (really), to gather data for warefare and how borders will shift and systems taken/lost, or is it temporary like knockdown(take no insult)?

Could there be an alternative ? Say, we can remain as Lone Wolves/Merc Corps, but must take a contract for a house/clan ? This would fulfill the faction requirement AND let us remain as mercenaries.
The contract would last the season and upon it's conclusion the mercenary is able to take another contract for the same or another potential employer, at no penalty.

The reason I say no penalty, is that it is the nature of the mercenary to go where the money is. Reputation(LP) for doing well for a house/clan should not be taken away for a mercenary playing just that, a mercenary.

As I said before, this is my only real concern. All the rest is pretty damn good.

[White Bear 84]

Paul Inouye, on 08 October 2014 - 06:07 PM, said:

At this very moment? no.. I'm going home. But once I'm home.. I can mess with the colors to help separate.

Paul "At this very moment? no.. I'm going home."
WB: "I'm sorry, Paul. I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
Paul "What's the problem?"
WB: "I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do."
Paul "What are you talking about, WB?"
WB: "This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."



But seriously, go home and get some sleep!

Edited by White Bear 84, 08 October 2014 - 06:21 PM.

[Zyllos]

Dirk Le Daring, on 08 October 2014 - 06:15 PM, said:

All great info, I like the dropship idea a lot, very nice.

I have a concern though. Merc Corps, and Lone Wolves being forced to pick a faction.

I made a unit of Lone Wolves. Most of us have no desire to be a part of any house or clan. There is a member with no clan mechs and one who will not play clans. So immediatly there is the very good probability of the unit fracturing.

This bothers me, as we are a small casual unit who just like to have fun, and the unit is quite friendly. So it would be quite unpleasent to see anyone have to make such a hard choice.

I am confused as to why you would effectively remove the mercenary aspect from MWOMercs. Is this a temporary thing (really), to gather data for warefare and how borders will shift and systems taken/lost, or is it temporary like knockdown(take no insult)?

Could there be an alternative ? Say, we can remain as Lone Wolves/Merc Corps, but must take a contract for a house/clan ? This would fulfill the faction requirement AND let us remain as mercenaries.
The contract would last the season and upon it's conclusion the mercenary is able to take another contract for the same or another potential employer, at no penalty.

The reason I say no penalty, is that it is the nature of the mercenary to go where the money is. Reputation(LP) for doing well for a house/clan should not be taken away for a mercenary playing just that, a mercenary.

As I said before, this is my only real concern. All the rest is pretty damn good.

This is my 2nd concern.

I feel that merc units and lone wolves are not represented. I am not sure why they are not allowed to just fill in missing slots on any side (lone wolves) or fight for any at the current moment (mercs).

Of course, I think Paul said this is because they are afraid of fracturing the community into too many buckets used to fighting.

[slide]

Any examples of the benefit a unit/faction gets beyond having it's banner hanging over the planet it just won?

examples
Cbill boost
cheaper mechs

you mentioned players will still earn most of their Cbills in the public queues we have now. Will the CW matches have similar rewards something completely different or none at all?

I can't see many people spending their money and time playing for an hour or more if they cant make a similar amount to what they would just pugging it. particularly anyone with a Cbill shortage.

Edited by slide, 08 October 2014 - 06:24 PM.

[Cimarb]

Deathlike, on 08 October 2014 - 06:11 PM, said:

I don't like this result. Having matches/planets determined by forfeitures is not productive... like in league play.

Why not just increase the Assault window or reduce the token rate (as in it isn't a full token, maybe like a half token)? Having non-match results is not something that would be interesting to occur. It'll probably still happen, but at least it wouldn't end up being a "free handout" for showing up.

I get what you mean, but if no one wants to defend the planet - which I think will be unlikely to say the least - then why not actually give the attackers the planet even quicker? If no one had opposed Germany in WWII, do you think they would have slowed down just to give us time to get around to showing up?

Dirk Le Daring, on 08 October 2014 - 06:15 PM, said:

Could there be an alternative ? Say, we can remain as Lone Wolves/Merc Corps, but must take a contract for a house/clan ? This would fulfill the faction requirement AND let us remain as mercenaries.
The contract would last the season and upon it's conclusion the mercenary is able to take another contract for the same or another potential employer, at no penalty.

The reason I say no penalty, is that it is the nature of the mercenary to go where the money is. Reputation(LP) for doing well for a house/clan should not be taken away for a mercenary playing just that, a mercenary.

As I said before, this is my only real concern. All the rest is pretty damn good.

That is basically how the "season" is, where you are taking a contract for that faction for that season, whether you are a merc, lone wolf, or loyalist.

I disagree with the seasonal reset, at least as explained so far, but there should be a loyalty penalty regardless of what type unit you are. Do you think the Dragoons jumping around Houses made them thought of as hugely loyal to them?

[Cimarb]

slide, on 08 October 2014 - 06:21 PM, said:

Any examples of the benefit a unit/faction gets beyond having it's banner hanging over the planet it just won?

examples
Cbill boost
cheaper mechs

That is supposed to be a part of logistics, which is Phase 3+. IMO, this will be when CW is fully realized, so I cannot wait!

[Dirk Le Daring]

Zyllos, on 08 October 2014 - 06:19 PM, said:

Of course, I think Paul said this is because they are afraid of fracturing the community into too many buckets used to fighting.

I was just thinking that maybe we do not have enough players to properly iron out how CW will work, and that may be a reason for forcing the choice. Just a thought.

[Zyllos]

Cimarb, on 08 October 2014 - 06:25 PM, said:

That is supposed to be a part of logistics, which is Phase 3+. IMO, this will be when CW is fully realized, so I cannot wait!

Ya, logistics will be where the "real fun" begins.

But that is a ways out.

Dirk Le Daring, on 08 October 2014 - 06:29 PM, said:

I was just thinking that maybe we do not have enough players to properly iron out how CW will work, and that may be a reason for forcing the choice. Just a thought.

Initially, that is exactly why he is doing this.

But I think the game can play right if as long as there is a healthy number of Mercs/Lone Wolves that can represent an under represented faction (like the FRR).

[Dirk Le Daring]

Cimarb, on 08 October 2014 - 06:23 PM, said:

That is basically how the "season" is, where you are taking a contract for that faction for that season, whether you are a merc, lone wolf, or loyalist.

But I will no longer be a Lone Wolf, I will be playing as a faction member, not a mercenary working FOR a faction. The badge, while not much to some, certainly means something to another.

[stevemac]

The part about MU/LW

Do we have to change our unit faction in the Unit Leaders profile to say Davion for example or will this be a modular in cw that we select our faction.

[orcrist86]

Quote

[color=orange]The Leopard Dropship is now VTAL[/color]
[color=#00FFFF]The Leopard Drop Ship is now a VTAL (Vertial Take-off And Landing) ship. It will be used to drop 'Mechs off at various respawn points on the map. This specifically allows us to either swoop the Leopard into the game space to drop 'Mechs off at low altitudes, or do high altitude/near hover drops of 'Mechs into the game space. The animations involved are in our test level at the moment and is visible in debug builds. We will probably be doing some video capture next update.[/color]

OMG I just flashed back to MW2... a good thing. Paul, you have just made my day.