124 replies to this topic

[Shibas]

Bishop Steiner, on 05 December 2014 - 02:43 PM, said:

doesn't even have to "support" them. Logistics, availability, importance, etc. Heavier mechs cost more to use, so are more likely to be assigned to heavier importance worlds. Lighter mechs, to lower importance. So, some might be mission parameters, some planetary requirements (some worlds, for instance might require only jump capable mechs), etc.

Thematics aside, doesn't matter the reasoning. The mechanic itself of shifting the weight lighter or heavier is a good and interesting idea.

[Darlith]

If we did variable drop deck weights on a per planet basis some limits that would be nice to see.

Min - probably 140, that allows for the 4 heaviest lights to be fielded plus some heavies would be seen, maybe 150 to let the clan have a one timber drop deck with 3 mist lynxes (Note a balance problem of no 20ton clan lights, since the 140 allows a 1 assault 3 light IS drop deck and not clan, and the 150 would allow up to a 90ton assault on the IS side). Possibly 135 as that is the No assaults period number and could make for a fun challenge on some worlds if someone wished to try for them.

Median - the 240 we have now seems fine, you can bring 1 of each weight class if you wish, or a good arrangement of heavies and mediums. But if you want to top load you will have to make sacrifices somewhere, IE 2 assaults with 2 throwaway lights, or if you want that 100 ton assault and 70 ton heavy that leaves you with only 70 tons to split between two mechs.

Max - This is harder because the strange combinations come into play the higher the number is. 320 is my gut instinct for the highest max as that allows for 4 of the lightest IS assaults, and on the clan 2 warhawks and 2 timbers. Would make for either some nasty brawls or some protracted slugfests fitting with the defense of say a core world. On a lower end 300 is a nice round number, and 265 for a lowball that would allow for the highest tonnage in each class if you wished to bring a light, medium, heavy, assault mix. Or 2 75 tonners and 2 55 tonners (or IS wise if you wished 2 70 tonners and 2 60 tonners for an all heavy lance)

Now mind you ultimately this would take time to find the right numbers for, especially as more mechs get released for clans. And they would have to be considered on a planet by planet basis. After all would you garrison a periphery world with 240 tons of mechs or more likely 140 that allows some mix of mediums and lights. Would the clans early on break their honor so badly as to assault that world with 300 tons of mechs (I honestly don't know the answer to this). Likewise for inner planets you would want to defend and attack them as heavily as possible making higher drop limits make sense there. You would see multiple assault lances if you were fighting for a key factory world.

[Kilo 40]

I like the idea of PGI giving a scenario for each(some of) planet up for conquest. Something like "Due to the planets very thin and unstable crust, we can only field mechs 45 tons and below" or "After the loss of Planet XYZ our House/Clan has a shortage of assaults in the area. Only heavies and below can be fielded"

[Captain Stiffy]

Won't change anything to remove one mech most people are running 2+ variants of the same mech and will drop one of those.

[SaltBeef]

Not sure you want this as Acorrding to lore The Smoke Jags Used the Stormcrow as thier primary medium. So much so that the Draconis Combine units could expect to fight several in every engagement. Many IS forum posters QQ often about this mythical Strength of the Stormcrow and how it has Godly abilities.