33 replies to this topic

[KnightStrike]

I was wondering if anyone knew if MWO was going to have alternating free mechs similar to how LOL does their champs. Or if new players start with specific mech or a set amount of c-bills to get started.

[SinnerX]

I think the devs have said you'll start with enough credits to buy a mech of your choosing out of the gate.

Dunno about free mechs, though. I doubt it, since that kind of defeats the purpose.

Edit: Yeah I dunno what I'm thinking. Read those other guys' posts, they're probably right.

Edited by SinnerX, 29 June 2012 - 07:18 PM.

[Reoh]

Currently you choose a free mech when you start your account. Each weight class (light, med, heavy, assault) has a base variant available.

Taking your question out of context though, having a rotation of "free mechs" would let people get to try things out and also let them keep playing if their private mechs were busted up (without needing to give free repair\cash compensation).

[Vilekon]

I believe that the devs said you get to choose 1 free mech at the start. I'm assuming its between jenner, hunch, cata, or atlas.

As far as rotating "free" mechs well I could see it happening but probably just stock "prime" variants.

[BenEEeees VAT GROWN BACON]

IIRC, you get to choose your first mech.

As for how PGI will market their Mechs or have them free, nobody knows. It's unlikely though, as a Mech is something you keep permanently where as in LOL you only keep your hero for the duration of the match and only the "choice" to play the hero is free or owned.

Being loyal to certain houses will provide discounts to certain mechs, that's been said and discounts may alternate but this is all speculation really.

[xxx WreckinBallRaj xxx]

Cool, this means us Legendaries will start with 5 Mechs.

[KnightStrike]

Im always down for a free mech. I do hope they start doing rotaing free to play mech so u can check them out, but i guess with the nature of the game beng able to view stats, max tonnage, and weapon slots would be enough info. There could also be problems with the limited amount of garage space :/

[redreaper]

The flea should be a free mech XD

[Risky]

As explained, it's not going to be like LoL. When you start up you can choose, if credits provided permit, your first mech and maybe even load it out.

[Argann]

Free stuff, oh the entitlement...

[Reoh]

KnightStrike, on 29 June 2012 - 07:22 PM, said:

Im always down for a free mech. I do hope they start doing rotaing free to play mech so u can check them out, but i guess with the nature of the game beng able to view stats, max tonnage, and weapon slots would be enough info. There could also be problems with the limited amount of garage space :/

There have been suggestions for a "training simulator" where you could try any mech, but there's no xp\cash rewards for training games. That might leave them rather unpopular for play though so it's not a perfect solution.

[Maxxinator]

Risky, on 29 June 2012 - 07:23 PM, said:

As explained, it's not going to be like LoL. When you start up you can choose, if credits provided permit, your first mech and maybe even load it out.

What is LoL? Lots of Lollipops?

[Tymanthius]

Reoh, on 29 June 2012 - 07:31 PM, said:

There have been suggestions for a "training simulator" where you could try any mech, but there's no xp\cash rewards for training games. That might leave them rather unpopular for play though so it's not a perfect solution.

I would love this, and it wouldn't have to be PvP, it could be PvE, with a static environment so that you wouldn't even need to write AI for it. Great for testing out new controllers/control set ups, new load outs, etc. w/o having to incur high repair bills b/c you make a silly mistake.

Maxxinator, on 29 June 2012 - 07:34 PM, said:

What is LoL? Lots of Lollipops?

League Of Legends. All tho lollipops are good too.

[Darq]

KnightStrike, on 29 June 2012 - 07:13 PM, said:

I was wondering if anyone knew if MWO was going to have alternating free mechs similar to how LOL does their champs. Or if new players start with specific mech or a set amount of c-bills to get started.

From the videos they have released (and I believe I saw a post) you start with 5MC-bills to spend as you wish. The Hunchback used in the Mechlab video cost "a little over 3MC-bills". Which would mean you then had some extra cash for customization - or you could buy a bigger Mech, or prolly 2 small ones. (This appears to line up with the Mech costs in the original Mechwarrior book where a Hunchback was 3.2 MC-Bills).

[trycksh0t]

Reoh, on 29 June 2012 - 07:31 PM, said:

There have been suggestions for a "training simulator" where you could try any mech, but there's no xp\cash rewards for training games. That might leave them rather unpopular for play though so it's not a perfect solution.

I would be all over this. Chance to try out new chassis and configs, but has no other bearing on anything, would be nice. It would also be a great area for Merc Unit scrims or competetive matches, because both teams would have equal access to tech, leaving the actual match down to pilot skills and group tactics.

Darq, on 29 June 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

From the videos they have released (and I believe I saw a post) you start with 5MC-bills to spend as you wish. The Hunchback used in the Mechlab video cost "a little over 3MC-bills". Which would mean you then had some extra cash for customization - or you could buy a bigger Mech, or prolly 2 small ones. (This appears to line up with the Mech costs in the original Mechwarrior book where a Hunchback was 3.2 MC-Bills).

Check the video again. Paul had 500 million C-bills, not 5 million.

Edited by trycksh0t, 29 June 2012 - 07:51 PM.

[KnightStrike]

Im just thinking they would have you pick a starting mech from a specific list and not purchase it so new players dont get confused. Since its free to play there is bound to be a big influx of brand new players.

[Wolfman0503]

Won't the winning team have salvage rights?

[Glythe]

Everything I've seen and heard suggests that you can't just pick any old mech when you start. The F2P model depends on people having stuff they are tempted to buy. Do you think they will make money if John Q Noob can start with an Atlas? Don't you think they would make MORE money if people said wow that Atlas is awesome... I want to save up all my CB (or maybe buy some) so I can have one too.

Imagine say if you started with 7 million CB. That's enough to buy any type of mech... even an assault (although this would limit you to the Awesome). It would also be enough to buy a Commando and one of several mechs that cost 5 million CB. If you wanted an Atlas you would have to spend some $ to get up to the 9 million CB price tag. That to me sounds like the better pricing model from a business standpoint. It also makes sense considering one dev post saying that they want you to be able to pilot any type of mech when you start playing the game.

Edited by Glythe, 29 June 2012 - 08:01 PM.

[KnightStrike]

Glythe, on 29 June 2012 - 07:59 PM, said:

Everything I've seen and heard suggests that you can't just pick any old mech when you start. The F2P model depends on people having stuff they are tempted to buy. Do you think they will make money if John Q Noob can start with an Atlas? Don't you think they would make MORE money if people said wow that Atlas is awesome... I want to save up all my CB (or maybe buy some) so I can have one too.

Imagine say if you started with 7 million CB. That's enough to buy any type of mech... even an assault (although this would limit you to the Awesome). It would also be enough to buy a Commando and one of several mechs that cost 5 million CB. If you wanted an Atlas you would have to spend some $ to get up to the 9 million CB price tag. That to me sounds like the better pricing model from a business standpoint. It also makes sense considering one dev post saying that they want you to be able to pilot any type of mech when you start playing the game.

I hope that your correct and new players start with medium or light mechs. I have a feeling newer players will want start with the beefiest mech they can get. Gonna suck if your team comp is just a bunch of assualt mechs.

[trycksh0t]

Wolfman0503, on 29 June 2012 - 07:58 PM, said:

Won't the winning team have salvage rights?

From what I've seen on the subject, my impression is there will not be any salvage.