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Tutorial And Single Player (Pve) Ideas


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#1 Dirk Le Daring

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Posted 17 January 2015 - 07:29 PM

I think there may be a quick and relativly easy solution to the tutorial (or lack thereof) issue.

This can also apply to the question of single player missions.

Mechwarrior in all of it's incarnations is owned by Microsoft. That includes this one, Mechwarrior Online.

Mechwarrior 2 had a great tutorial. So I suggest that PGI simply "lift it out" and brush it up then put it into MWO.

The dialogue is there (some changes maybe), the training facility need not be redesigned, simply use that layout and add MWO assets.

As far as copyright goes, I am no expert and may be wrong. But I fail to see how doing this could be a legal problem, as this would simply be using what PGI has a license to use, Mechwarrior.

At the end of the day Microsoft still owns Mechwarrior, so they could not be losing anything at all, and actually stand to make more if this would help to gain and retain more players.



Similarly with the single player mission idea, simply use the stories and maps from the previous games. Obviously it would be no small task, but the groundwork is there. If I am correct, it is all true to battletech history, so should be there anyway.

This would, in my opinion be the most economical way to introduce those features. They were all good stories, and even the Mercenary expansions could be woven in as well.

I remember the missions in, I think Ghost Bears' Legacy, where you were under water, and had to use torpedos instead of missiles, awesome fun. But it was not that that made me think of this, it was the awesome storyline, chasing stolen genetic material, and how the plot unfolded. And it is all Mechwarrior, so why not retell those stories, and create that atmosphere again.

Anyway, just a thought. But one I really do think would help the game. And yes, I remember from listening to the town hall, that this was not happening soon, but here is an idea as asked for by Russ. (thanks for doing those Russ)

More ideas:

For the single player, there would be a campaign, as was in the previous titles.

This could be purchased. I think reasonable. With the "campaign pack" you would perhaps get (perhaps) one hero mech. This is a mech that will carry over to the real core of PvP gameplay and Community Warfare. The mech would be House / Clan specific, and if there are multiple, perhaps a choice as to what to start with.

The mech should be locked to the single player campaign until the campaign is completed. After completion the mech and any CBills would be transferred on a one time only basis to the "live game" , thus provide a good starting point for new players.

The mech would be mastered upon completion of the campaign. (yes this violates the 3 chassis rule, but I think would be viable)

After the campaign is completed, no further mechs or CBills would be transferrable to the live game as was done for the first run through.

No mechs at all could be farmed, and as for CBills, any further run through the campaign, must be a) completed, and b)transferred at a rate similar to that of exchanging XP to GXP for MC. This, to prevent gaming the game and free farming.

The new player would have a mastered mech, experience in the game, and a few CBills to buy a couple more mechs.

For those concerned about farming CBills, no biggie, as any subsequent run after the first would effectively cost real money, thus creating revenue for PGI.

To stop people running the campaign more than once BEFORE the transfer in order to farm free CBills, simply lock out any reward beyond the first for FREE transfer. So you could run through 3 times, but only the first is free, and any CBills from the second and third are only transferrable for MC.

Edited by Dirk Le Daring, 17 January 2015 - 09:36 PM.


#2 Flying Fox 333

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Posted 17 January 2015 - 11:49 PM

Nice ideas. Although it might be a little more work map wise to build them with the appropriate layout to complement all the missions.

View PostDirk Le Daring, on 17 January 2015 - 07:29 PM, said:

To stop people running the campaign more than once BEFORE the transfer in order to farm free CBills, simply lock out any reward beyond the first for FREE transfer. So you could run through 3 times, but only the first is free, and any CBills from the second and third are only transferable for MC.

I would utilise the existing achievement system to provide the appropriate mission rewards upon completion of each campaign mission.

#3 Pahrias

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Posted 18 January 2015 - 02:37 PM

heres a thought for a pve. how about ur faction offering u contracts on differant worlds to the CW frontline, for solo/ single lance co-op players to complete for c-bills or gear, (id like to say mech salvage too but i know thatd break the system in place) it could be like mw2 mercs with repeating missions from escorts to recon, with AI controled mechs and tanks. i think this would b fun, especially for those of us who desperatley miss the singleplayer games of old.

personnally I think the currant state of MWO would be an AWESOME addition to a full campaign style game.

i am a bit biased tho, ive been a mechwarrior fan since MW2 mercs, and in all honesty what i wanted from the next installment in this franchise, was a single player campaign game with an option to play thru co-op with a lance of friends, or a few AI pilots. what i wouldve loved, and happily bought, is a remake of MW2 mercs, with this currant build and mechanics, and added co-op feature, with the currant MWO as the multiplayer. hell, id buy that game and any expasions in a heart beat! and i dont think im alone in this!

AND (little rant here) WHY DOES EVERY GAME HAVE TO BE ONLINE ONLY??? AND WHY DO WE ACCEPT THESE SHALLOW IMMATATIONS OF THE GAMES OF YESTER-YEAR??

Edited by Pahrias, 18 January 2015 - 03:30 PM.


#4 Trashhead

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Posted 19 January 2015 - 01:35 PM

I think PGI has their hands full right now, and no resources free for actual PVE-Content in for o fa Campaign.
However, having PVE-Campaigns, and being able to play them with other player would be fun stuff to have.

To get a foot into the door of PVE, i think a PVE-Tutorial would be PGi's best bet.

Things to teach could involve:

Basics:
- basic movement/controls
- Jumpjets
- weapons, how they differ
- heat management
- Vision-modes
- use of cover
- advanced tactics, like torso twisting*
- Shield arm (see: Centurion)
- etc.

Mech-lab:
- what kind of equipment do we have ?
- advantages of certain equipment over others (like Std. vs. XL-Engines - pros and cons)
- weapon-hardpoints
- Modules
- etc.


An advances training would require an actual AI, and could involve:
- stick with your team in order to win
- movement in close quarters: how to NOT block your teammates if the want to exit a tunnel, walking backwards, after they found it to be filled with enemy AC/20-Urbies :D
- scouting: why and when to do it, and how (and why you can't scout in an Awesome)
- use of terrain (in a Brawler, don't go the short way into the open, use the long way that has cover, etc.
- using UAV's and Arty-strikes
- etc.

For ideas and help in the concept,
i think Kanajashi and his team is PGI's best bet.
I play MW:O for about 2 years now, and have to admit that those video's (see http://mwomercs.com/...ideo-tutorials/) had taught me some good stuff... like torso twisting... i had done this before, but for the most time instinctively, never really on purpose.
*admits he is guilty of being stupid* :-/

This all might be the basics for most of us, but for beginners some concepts are not obvious at first glance (like torso-twisting to spread Laser-Damage, this concept is so blatantly obvious once you know it, but hard to find it out on your own).




Also:
This should be done BEFORE MW:O goes Steam, and new players should be encouraged to play through the tutorial.
(Of cause, some players are just unable to learn (or unwilling), and you can't help these people. In this case: why not have a little symbol next to the player name that serves as an indicator if that player has played through the Tutorial or not - so you know whom you are dealing with.)

You can reward them with their first own mech (only one variant tho, of cause.. hehehe), if they have finished the Tutorial.
I suggest a Centurion, as this mech is quite versatile, and the player could try out a lot of different weapons.
Plus the LACK of JumpJets means he will not start the game under the impression that all mechs have JumpJets, only specific mechs have them.





*i have a specific idea how to tech that:
let the player run towards a turret (maybe within a small corridor) in order to shoot that turret down.
The turret has an Er-Large Laser and only 1 Hitpoint.
The Player only 1 small laser.
If he runs straight towards the turret, he will be "killed" (simulated).
(let him do that and "die", before you tell him about torso twisting, after that, let him do it again -> success, tactic learned; also, if you let the player fail the first time, the lesson might be learned quicker, but that's just a guess))

#5 Dirk Le Daring

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Posted 19 January 2015 - 03:08 PM

View PostPahrias, on 18 January 2015 - 02:37 PM, said:

heres a thought for a pve. how about ur faction offering u contracts on differant worlds to the CW frontline, for solo/ single lance co-op players to complete for c-bills or gear, (id like to say mech salvage too but i know thatd break the system in place) it could be like mw2 mercs with repeating missions from escorts to recon, with AI controled mechs and tanks. i think this would b fun, especially for those of us who desperatley miss the singleplayer games of old.


There would have to be a limit on the ability to farm CBills and salvage so as to not ruin the economy of the "live" version, what we have now. I really like the idea of co-op.

#6 Dirk Le Daring

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Posted 19 January 2015 - 03:19 PM

View PostTrashhead, on 19 January 2015 - 01:35 PM, said:

I think PGI has their hands full right now, and no resources free for actual PVE-Content in for o fa Campaign.

This should be done BEFORE MW:O goes Steam, and new players should be encouraged to play through the tutorial.

You can reward them with their first own mech (only one variant tho, of cause.. hehehe), if they have finished the Tutorial.


Indeed, I listened to the Town Hall meeting, so am aware that this is not happening soon, but Russ did say we can and should make suggestions. Better sooner otherwise I will forget.

If I remember correctly, Russ said that steam would be AFTER the tutorial is in, possibly some PvE as well, but memory fuzzy on the PvE before steam.

I do not think that a mech should constitute a reward for completing a tutorial, it is far too much. Maybe some MC(small amount) or CBills, or even GXP.

Have a look at the MW2 tutorial if you can find it, I'm sure a lot of what you suggest is there, and what is not should be added.





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