9 replies to this topic

[ManDaisy]

Before you start I must warn you this is a long read. Also I must warn you that half, and exactly half of you will not like this idea, and also that half, and exactly half of you will.


Concept: Divide The Server Into Two Realms (KEEP READING PLEASE!!!)

Mode: Casual Universe.
Hardcore Universe;


Casual Universe:
Features:
* Cannot Lose mech in battle
* Items cannot be perminently destroyed
* Loss of a leg will cause the mech to hobble and not fall, disables running
* Cockpit being destroyed does not result in mech being destroyed, only targeting system being destroyed.

* Gyro being destroyed "See leg"
* Items reduced to 0 durability cannot be used until restored.
0/0 scrap 0/25 needs repair. 1/25 usable.
* Mech maintinance c-bill fees
* Early Product Advantage - Danger of becoming finished product disadvantage


Hardcore Universe:
Features:
* Mechs can be lost in battle, (also salvaged by enemies)
* Items, parts, engine, anything can be perminetly destroyed
* Loss of legs results in prone mech,with ablility to stand, but also mech greater chance to fall again and take damage, Unable to move.
* Gyro being destroyed, results in fall, and much greater chance to fall. Walking , running, jumping risk falling.
* Breaking Damage threshold, also certain weapons, have a chance of making the mech fall. Fall chance becomes greater with damaged leg or gyro.
* Items reduced to 0 durability are destroyed, or converted to "Scrap"
0/0 durability *destroyed* 0/25 durability, Also destroyed. 1/25 durability. usuable.
pay for repairs or risk losing it!
* repairing an item "ALWAYS" reduces max durability" thanks jorgen
* higher - Mech maintinance c-bill fees
* higher ammo cost
* Disadvantage of longer coding time.


Advantages of having both:

Casual mode: Caters to majority of players, who once they pay for something never want to lose it. If someones buys a mech with a direct transaction instead of c-bills then they will be sure as hell ****** if they lose it, also weapons items etc.

Hardcore mode; Caters to die hard fans. Fixes problem of C-bill eventual inflation , that occures in most mmos without and exit money plan. Also those who send money on mechs also dont mind having the risk of losing it, thus generating a higher purchase rate.

Item Quality system and market depth:

Lower quality items have less starting durability,thus they are reduced to 0 at a higher rate. Markets can be made specifically for "used parts" specializing if it breaks I buy a new one practices.

Higher quality items, will have a higher durability to start and thus last longer. Depending on durability, items may have bonus to damage or suffer a penalty.

Special items, may also have a mid range durability, but higher output.
Newbie Items may have a vastly larger durability, but lower output.

Call me a masocist. Who doesnt care to spell right.

Edited by ManDaisy, 22 November 2011 - 07:07 PM.

[Alistair Steiner]

I'm on the fence here. Guess you were right. I don't like the idea of a server split. I can see how it would be totally beneficial, but splitting a community tends to be a game-killer, as far as what I've read. My only addendum to the "hardcore" server is that whatever you purchase with real cashey money (as far as pointless items like fuzzy dice or hula girls) should be protected in the sense that if your 'Mech eats it and is captured by the enemy, you'll still have them in a sort of locker on your DropShip so they can be re-applied to whatever 'Mech you roll out next.

Having seen my friend blow $15 on a Quickdraw on Neveron, then lose it overnight makes me wary. If I spend real money, I want to have a stronger hold over whatever digital item I purchase. I'd rather grind for in-game C-bills to get a decent ride that I may/may not lose, than spend money that I may need later to eat. Guess being a poor grad student does that. That being said, I will definitely put money into this game just to support the devs. That's why I'm not playing Skyrim. That $60 is reserved for the people bringing back a huge part of my childhood.

Edited by Alistair Steiner, 22 November 2011 - 06:50 PM.

[wolf74]

If you can Buy mech from the PG-Store, I say all Mech & Equipment are Character Bound. No You can't loss the mech in battle. But you can't sell, only trash it.

The Mech can be Damage to 0 of X. But can be Repaired which cost in game C-Bills.
Got to love the Reactor going boom here NOT! Everything in the mech goes straight to 0.

On a Side note repair cost should not be cheap maybe 80% of what a New One of said Quality should cost from an NPC if at 0 of X Endurance

[Kodiak Jorgensson]

repairs tend to improve weapons durability, not the opposite way round...excessive use of the item however would dgrade said item more...

[Kudzu]

Instead of splitting them into universes I think it would work better if you split them into different modes in the same universe.

Your typical deathmatch/queue-up could be the equivalent of your casual universe-- no mech loss/salvage, all rewards and repairs are based on c-bills only, etc. Good for when you just want to hop in and beat stuff up.

The games based on land exchange could be the equivalent of the hardcore universe-- if your team loses and your mech is destroyed the winning team has a chance to salvage it, if you are in a faction mech your repairs are c-bill only but if you're riding around in a captured mech you'll need to used salvaged parts, etc.

[ManDaisy]

wolf74, on 22 November 2011 - 06:58 PM, said:

If you can Buy mech from the PG-Store, I say all Mech & Equipment are Character Bound. No You can't loss the mech in battle. But you can't sell, only trash it.

The Mech can be Damage to 0 of X. But can be Repaired which cost in game C-Bills.
Got to love the Reactor going boom here NOT! Everything in the mech goes straight to 0.

On a Side note repair cost should not be cheap maybe 80% of what a New One of said Quality should cost from an NPC if at 0 of X Endurance

Yup, but in canon reactors only go boom if you get 3 engine crits depening on your engine. Also you forgot the lovely ammo explosions

[ManDaisy]

Kudzu, on 22 November 2011 - 07:14 PM, said:

Instead of splitting them into universes I think it would work better if you split them into different modes in the same universe.

Your typical deathmatch/queue-up could be the equivalent of your casual universe-- no mech loss/salvage, all rewards and repairs are based on c-bills only, etc. Good for when you just want to hop in and beat stuff up.

The games based on land exchange could be the equivalent of the hardcore universe-- if your team loses and your mech is destroyed the winning team has a chance to salvage it, if you are in a faction mech your repairs are c-bill only but if you're riding around in a captured mech you'll need to used salvaged parts, etc.

thats an interesting idea, sorta like having two mechbays... Locked permamech for deathmatches, losable for campaign. but that still leaves the problem for the hardcore rule adherers vs everyone else who things certain things are cheap.

Edited by ManDaisy, 22 November 2011 - 07:23 PM.

[Xhaleon]

The "casual" mode can always be fluffed as people using those cutting-edge virtual reality simulators, while people in the "hardcore" mode are fighting for real.

Although, whatever it is called, splitting the community is always a bad thing. You can't make the games played in casual mode persistent with the games played in hardcore; you'd cheapen those hard-fought and costly battles for a planet when the loser "win" back the planet with a few games in casual mode against different, possibly weaker players.

[Kudzu]

ManDaisy, on 22 November 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:

thats an interesting idea, sorta like having two mechbays... Locked permamech for deathmatches, losable for campaign. but that still leaves the problem for the hardcore rule adherers vs everyone else who things certain things are cheap.

Not really, since you can bounce back and forth as much as you want-- it's not a division as much as a queue choice. You can play the non-land exchange "casual" battles for a few hours, then queue up for the land exchange mech loss "hardcore" battles for a game or three, then go right back.

[ManDaisy]

Kudzu, on 22 November 2011 - 07:59 PM, said:

Not really, since you can bounce back and forth as much as you want-- it's not a division as much as a queue choice. You can play the non-land exchange "casual" battles for a few hours, then queue up for the land exchange mech loss "hardcore" battles for a game or three, then go right back.

No I mean the problem of what the game should be, for hardcore players, and normal players, the divide still will exist. Take the leg debacle for example.