27 replies to this topic

[Kanatta Jing]

Pretty sure a variant can be seen as a convenient way to sell the same model 4 times with a minor change to the skin.

And I genuinely think you need to master all the variants of a mech to get the full set of bonus's for it.

So if you want to be the best Atlas pilot, you will have all 4 variants of the Atlas in your hanger at some time.

[JokerACE]

Well no. It wouldn't defeat the point of variants. As it would probably be more costly to upgrade a CAT-C1 to a CAT-PPC, if you did it piece by piece.

Usually prime variants are the first model out. Then as they are successful or economically viable, other variants are concieved. The crucible of war (great phrase there) accelerates the modification. And.. While my techs don't have the facilities of Kong Interstellar, I do believe they can fab up a PPC arm for a CAT-C1 in the field. Yeah, it'll cost me. But it's do-able. And it might be cheaper for me to upgrade the CAT I have, slapping on some surplus Hellstars I have in the depot, and run my upgraded CAT-Cr as opposed to buying a brand new one out of the factory.

Just something to consider, as far as metagame.

And on another related note.. Say I want to put an ER PPC in the arm of my Atlas. Do the power feeds and shielding that mounts a medium laser adequitely feed a PPC? The arm would support the tonnage, but I have to believe a PPC has much different power requirements and puts out a heck of a lot more heat than a medium laser. Yeah, the feeds are there, but I'm betting they're not sufficient to warm up my parti-kill cannon.

Yes, this adds a layer of complexity. And yes it could be a pain in the *** for designers and developers. But it also could add a very interesting flavor. Make model/chassis X more valuable because it has the capacity for a Gauss cannon or a AC/20 or dual PPC's or a gang of missles, from the factory. As opposed to C-bills to mod the hardpoints to put in the weaponry you want for your upgrade.

[Woodstock]

i'm sure they said in a dev blog that you can sell a mech but you dont loose the xp you have spent on it.

[Seabear]

Prime models are more properly called "standard" version as they are the most common, and usually the first , of the chasis to roll off the assembly lines. The variants are the chasis modifications, usually at the factory, which allow for differences in combat style. Often these are driven by the existing conditions or preferrences of the various houses. For example, Marick has a cronic shortages of PPC's (probably due to their production of the Awesome) and a liking for Laser weapons. Davion is known for its love affair with autocannons. Thus the standard Centurion model would be more likely to be found in units supporting Davion and the 9AL, or Laser version, of the same chasis, with Marick units.
The BT lore is full of many common mechs that became more ineffective as different weapons were tried to remedy known problems. A chasis is optimized for a particular loadout that makes too many changes problematic.

[zencynic]

Noth, on 27 June 2012 - 01:13 AM, said:

No variant will be able to mount all type of hardpoints.

I'm sure there are other example, but the quickest one that comes to mind is the Atlas AT7-D. It's a confirmed variant, included in the game, shown in many Dev videos, named by devs as one of the founders mechs, etc.

It has Energy, Ballistic and Missile hardpoints.

Noth, on 27 June 2012 - 01:13 AM, said:

We know that the Prime variants of the Founder's Mechs are the the same ones listed on sarna in teh side bar on the mech page.

I don't know that. I do not recall any Dev released info stating that. It's a reasonable assumption in many cases, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did something odd with the Raven, Trebuchet and/or Cataphract.

Remember that MWO is not affiliated with Sarna.net (as far as I know)

[Morrey]

zencynic, on 27 June 2012 - 06:59 AM, said:

We know that the Prime variants of the Founder's Mechs are the same ones listed on sarna in the side bar on the mech page.

I don't know that. I do not recall any Dev released info stating that. It's a reasonable assumption in many cases, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did something odd with the Raven, Trebuchet and/or Cataphract.

Actually I remember at least one time in a Q&A that the Dev referred to the prime variant as the base Sarna discipt to save time and typing.

[Morrey]

So from what everyone remembers it looks like.

1. We can sell back our mechs with exception of the Founders.
2. The Prime Variant is the Base Sarna Description
3. Hard Points vary from variant to variant but the load outs can change within the hard point parameters.
4. Pilots need to devote XP to unlock skills in each variant.
5. If you want to keep your variants you have to expand your mech bay (rent more space?).

What we believe is:
1. The Prime Variant "Does Not" modify into the needed variants.
2. Pilots will have to buy each variant to satisfy the requirements.

I think that's it, thanks for your help.

[Feindfeuer]

zencynic, on 27 June 2012 - 06:59 AM, said:

I'm sure there are other example, but the quickest one that comes to mind is the Atlas AT7-D. It's a confirmed variant, included in the game, shown in many Dev videos, named by devs as one of the founders mechs, etc.

It has Energy, Ballistic and Missile hardpoints.

IIRC, the AS-7D is even the prime variant. In this case meaning the basic Version of the techtree and the Version you'll get if you chose it as your Founder mech. It's true that it can carry all kinds of weaponry, but what the other poster meant was probably that you can't mix them up every way you want. So you'll have the basic missile hardpoints normaly used for the SRM-6 and LRM-20 that you can change out for other missiles, , and your single ballistic hardpoint normaly equipped with an AC/20, etc... but you will not be able to convert the AS-7D into any kind of boat, as it's hardpoints are spread over all kind of weapon systems.

Edit:
This is just how i understand the information available on the forum and in public (and leaked) information, as i'm not a beta-tester myself. So don't take this info for hard facts.

Edited by Feindfeuer, 27 June 2012 - 09:39 PM.