117 replies to this topic

[Paul Inouye]

Please leave your feedback from the Nov 5 update here.

Spoiler

As mentioned in an earlier update.. the further into development we go the less "news" there's going to be since design won't be changing much. Below I'll update you with the news/updates I can share...

Something Stirring

It seems that Thad our Level Designer has been busy working on a second Invasion Mode map. This one has 3 gates in it and will make both attackers and defenders decide early on which path they plan to take or face the consequences of thier choice.

This makes 2 new maps for Phase 2 Invasion mode.

The IS Map Looks a Lot Better

The current IS Map you see in the client has been updated both graphically and interactively. The rendering engineers have put a lot of extra hours into this and it's paying off very well. Can you have a sneak peek? That will depend on who wins an arm wrestle between Russ and myself. I'd like to keep some stuff under wraps for the big reveal when Phase 2 goes live.

Some More Clarifications

Faction Point Usage

It's been asked if Loyalty Points are a spendable currency. The answer is no. Loyalty Points are similar to XP in which players will earn LP while aligned to a Faction and those points will reward the player at certain milestones. Essentially it's a leveling system with rewards that are Faction specific. Things like titles, cosmetics and infamy.

Merc Units and Mercenaries (Lone Wolfes) along with Dagger Stars who align themselves with a Faction using the previously discussed Faction Contracts will earn LP at varying rates depending on the length of contract they take. The fastest means of earning LP is to permanently align yourself with a Faction.


Switching Units and Faction Alignment

When a Merc Unit enters CW for the first time, the Unit Leader will be selecting a Faction Contract. Once selected, all members of the unit will be automatically aligned to the Faction. At the end of the contract, the Unit Leader has the option to retake a contract with the same Faction or to switch to a contract from a different Faction. If the Unit Leader switches to a different Faction, all players within the until will automatically be aligned to the new Faction.

The basic premise is, when a player is part of a unit, they will automatically be aligned to the Faction that the Unit has aligned to. This includes switching Units. For example, if a Unit is aligned to Davion for 3 months, and 1 month into the contract a member decides to leave, that member will be switched back to a neutral alignment (Mercenary/Lone Wolf). In order to continue to participate in Community Warfare, this player must choose a contract from one of the Houses/Clans OR join a new Unit. If this player joins a Unit that is aligned to House Kurita, the player's alignment will automatically switch to Kurita.

This may bring up the question of, what if the Unit Leader wants to change Faction before the contract is up? In this case, the Unit Leader has 2 options. The first is to disband his/her Unit or to pass Unit Leader to another member and then leave the Unit and follow the same process as the above description. A Unit Leader cannot disband a Unit unless it is empty and he/she is the last person remaining.

It seems complex but it's pretty simple. I've included the following illustrations for clarity:

Spoiler

Unit Coffers and the Faction Reset on Release of Phase 2

It's been asked a couple time now... will the Unit Coffers be reset on day 1 when we reset alignments? The answer is no. We can't be that mean... ... yeah.. we can't be that mean.

[Star Wolves Admin Account]

Interesting, although it might make it more than a bit rough if different parts of the unit want to play different factions at some point. Going to make the motion in and out of units very fluid.

[Darian DelFord]

Damnit Paul you made me spit coke out my nose with the illustration...


Jenners Mount Up!!! Time for some payback! :>

Edited by Darian DelFord, 05 November 2014 - 08:54 PM.

[aniviron]

So what happens to a loyalty reward that a player is using if they become ineligible? Say that a Jade Falcon player has earned enough LP to unlock a galaxy commander rank skin for his mech but then realizes that crusader clans are dumb and defects to the Wolves; does the skin on his mech just get removed, or what?

[L Y N X]

No reason to donate to unit coffers... wait is there a reason?

[Karl Marlow]

aniviron, on 05 November 2014 - 09:01 PM, said:

So what happens to a loyalty reward that a player is using if they become ineligible? Say that a Jade Falcon player has earned enough LP to unlock a galaxy commander rank skin for his mech but then realizes that crusader clans are dumb and defects to the Wolves; does the skin on his mech just get removed, or what?

Well i na just world the game would automatically delete any mech using the Galaxy commander skin for the crime of betraying Kerensky's vision.

[Threat Doc]

Very nice. It's about time you put out some pictures concerning faction changes by contract. Paul, you honestly did a crappy job explaining about how faction changes worked prior to this last Community Warfare posting. Anyway, thank you for the clarification.

I do like the second invasion map, the cleaned up and updated IS map, and I gives two damns about the stupid loyalty points; their purpose has been corrupted so much, now, they're not worthy of my worry.

Edited by Kay Wolf, 05 November 2014 - 09:27 PM.

[Sereglach]

Very impressed with the update and I like where things are going. I really look forward to seeing this all unfold.

Russ . . . if you winning that arm-wrestling match means we get a teaser, then start pumping some iron! Likewise, Paul . . . if you winning that arm-wrestling match means we do NOT get a teaser, then start throwing in towels . . . please.

Also, if Electronic Music Party doesn't exist as a unit right now I have a feeling it will in the future, because we need a unit out there with flying cars that go Wub Wub.

[Prussian Havoc]

As per the Phoenix Program Package Loyalty point bonus of 12.5% when using a Phoenix Program Mech in conjunction with your Factions Bronze Loyalty Medalion (http://mwomercs.com/...t-phoenix-faqs/):

1. Will there be Silver and Gold "Loyalty Madalions" available for MC purchase or in combination with future Mech Packages?

2. Any chance a similar "Loyalty Point Bonus Item" might be included with the Resistance Package?

3. Will your particular Phoenix Program Mech need to be on your Faction's selection of approved Faction Mechs before you'll receive the 10% associated bonus?

4. Let's say I am in a temporarily Kurita-affiliated Merc Unit with a contract against House Steiner, but through hard grinding and Phoenix Package Loyalty Points I already have Steiner Faction items and Mech skins. If I run ops against Steiner while wearing my Steiner Loyalty Medalion, will the 2.5% "Steiner" Bonus still accrue to my benefit and help me offset the penalties inflicted on my standing Steiner Loyalty Points (because of Unit politics and my Unit temporarily inflicting on me a contract against Steiner)?

5. Will Resistance Mechs be ascribed to individual Houses? (Please, oh please!)

5. Might other iconic Mechs be retroactively ascribed House and Clan Loyalty Point Bonuses? (Kurita and Dragons, Steiner and Griffens, etc)

Edited by Prussian Havoc, 05 November 2014 - 09:39 PM.

[MightyMeatShield]

Will there be consequences (other than losing out on any built up unit coffers I'm assuming) to disbanding the unit to break a contract?

[Prussian Havoc]

MightyMeatShield, on 05 November 2014 - 09:45 PM, said:

Will there be consequences (other than losing out on any built up unit coffers I'm assuming) to disbanding the unit to break a contract?

Mercs break contracts.
House contracts ALWAYS favor the House.

These are grim realities of contracting. When a Unit Commander breaks a contract there should be prohibitive penalties for all Unit MechWarriors toward that faction/contract holder. In addition there needs to be significant across-the-board penalties in relation to the unit member's loyalty points towards other Houses/Clans. A Merc unit should NOT have to disband in order to break a contract.

Consequences.

Penalties to Loyalties points and the associated poorer prospects for lucrative future contracts should be the consequences of a Merc Unit breaking a contract. Maybe even a chance for House retribution, but not disbanding.

Degrade the name of the Unit.

Edited by Prussian Havoc, 06 November 2014 - 12:13 AM.

[VXJaeger]

You have pretty uniquely retarted way to implement things that don't have any explanation and/or functionality by the time they are released. Because of your behaviour, you should reset "faction medallions" and return CBs which are donated to unit coffers to their donators without further notice.
Will you do that, or is this again going to be another "you chose yourself, just bend over *****"-thing?

Edited by VXJaeger, 06 November 2014 - 04:48 AM.

[Darian DelFord]

VXJaeger, on 05 November 2014 - 11:24 PM, said:

You have pretty uniquely retarted way to implement things that don't have any explanation and/or functionality by the time they are released. Because of your behaviour, you should reset "faction medallions" and return CBs which are donated to unit coffers to their donators before further notice.
Will you do that, or is this again going to be another "you chose yourself, just bend over *****"-thing?

I accidently selected a Steiner Medallion instead of a Davion and was basically told, they were permanent and not allowed to be changed. I am hoping they can get reset. I really wanted 4 Davions, but the Lag beast on the forums ate me and gave me a Steiner one :<

[Harper Steel]

I might be dumb But When will Phase 2 be active...
or can we get an estimate on the month at least please...

[Elizander]

I hope that custom skins for specific mechs aligned to a faction are included in the rewards, if not custom geometry mechs of the existing variants. Maybe the mechs have a requirement that they can only be used if you are at a certain level with the faction to add propriety to them for loyalists (and to discourage faction hopping to collect them all).

[That Guy]

WM Deejay, on 06 November 2014 - 12:57 AM, said:

I might be dumb But When will Phase 2 be active...
or can we get an estimate on the month at least please...

from another post, paul mentioned that they are on schedule for mid december

[mike29tw]

Paul Inouye, on 05 November 2014 - 08:43 PM, said:

[color=orange]The IS Map Looks a Lot Better[/color]

The current IS Map you see in the client has been updated both graphically and interactively. The rendering engineers have put a lot of extra hours into this and it's paying off very well. Can you have a sneak peek? That will depend on who wins an arm wrestle between Russ and myself. I'd like to keep some stuff under wraps for the big reveal when Phase 2 goes live.

Are we finally getting some form of environmental destruction 1?!?

[Rogue Jedi]

mike29tw, on 06 November 2014 - 02:21 AM, said:

Are we finally getting some form of environmental destruction 1?!?

he was refering to the map of the Inner Sphere you see when clicking on the faction tab, this has nothing to do with any of the maps we play on

[Shredhead]

Why will we still be forced to take the ugly flags of the houses we work for?
I am a mercenary.
I don't fly their flags! I don't bow to their incestuous, pompous nobility!
All I do is take their money!
And it's a real bummer that mercs will be able to take non-permanent contracts with clammers. Sorry, but that's bullshit!

[Threat Doc]

PGI =/= listening.