48 replies to this topic

[Federick Steiner]

Kodiak Steiner, on 30 June 2012 - 09:22 PM, said:

Bah lore aside, Im saying in TT I rarely if ever used a variant or stock mech. It was always busting out a clean sheet, naming my mech and building it from the ground up exactly as I wanted it. Why? Cuz for our group that was the most fun.

Same with MW2 & 3, they allowed the same thing - so I was happy and it felt normal

Mw4... Hardpoint system... angry Kodiak....

Same thing here in MWO... After ten years of waiting I'll take what I can get and shut my mouth!!

I too remember breaking out a sheet and building from the ground up and loved it, as well as tinkering in the mech labs in the computer games. That being said I appreciate the direction being taken for this game in directing towards the standard variants with limited options for changes. I think this is the best approach to take for a more balanced game play experience.

It would be sweet to have a fully unrestricted mechlab and some form of instant action combat or perhaps arena such as on Outreach to let us scratch the modification itch...

[Ranek Blackstone]

The problem with how MW2 and 3 (and the TT is some intances) handled modification violates the canon of BT.

A battlemech is noted as being a total pain in the bum to modify once it leaves the factory. You can drop in new electronics and an engine, and maybe swap out that AC/20 for a guass, but being able to mount a pair of PPCs in that big open socket wasn't something you could do.

In MW2 and MW3, the only difference between 100 ton mechs was the look, since both could hold the same load out.

Using the current system, a mech has a role that it fits, and while you can modify it to a certain extent it's always going to lend itself better to the purpose it's variant was designed for.

[Diomed]

MWo's hardpoint system is more restrictive than previous Mechwarrior titles, that much is clear. A given mech will have a limited number of 'hardpoints' distributed around the mech that are classified by weapon type (energy, missle, ballistic). The videos I have watched are clear that you are not restricted by size or tonage (if you already have the space) its simply one energy weapon goes here...period. So a space that holds a medium laser can just as easily hold a PPC (if you have the crit slots and tonnage available).

I think one reason they have chosen this model is to preserve variant character. They want the stock Catapult to be different from the 2k variant and they don't want you to be able to create the 2k from the stock. This is because leveling up to the 2k variant is the large part of the game and a large part of their monetization model. Some players will put up with the slow grind from stock to 2k but they are betting that others will pay for Premium Account status (I know I will) to speed up the process and even some pilots will simply purchase the 2k with money (I think that;s going to be possible, not sure).

[Z0MBIE Y0SHI]

I'm liking the feed back here.

[bikerbass77]

Going by what I have seen and read in the official information, developer interviews and videos online, it looks to be MW2/3 style customisation which means that any weapon can go to any point of the mech so long as there is space and weight allowance for it and ammo. I think this is really good as while I enjoyed customising mechs in mw4 it was a bit too limiting.
I do understand why Microsoft did it that way. It was so that customisation reflected the difference between standard mechs and omnimechs. Unfortunately, I don't think they got it quite right.

[Bombast]

Hans Davion, on 02 July 2012 - 05:41 AM, said:

Going by what I have seen and read in the official information, developer interviews and videos online, it looks to be MW2/3 style customisation which means that any weapon can go to any point of the mech so long as there is space and weight allowance for it and ammo. I think this is really good as while I enjoyed customising mechs in mw4 it was a bit too limiting.
I do understand why Microsoft did it that way. It was so that customisation reflected the difference between standard mechs and omnimechs. Unfortunately, I don't think they got it quite right.

The only video of MechLab so far clearly shows a MW4 style of loading equipment. Which I, for one thing, am glad for.

I got tired of LRM and PPC boats a long time ago. I also remember, in MW3, when one could load his mech entirely with machine guns, site on one side of a hill, and kill heavy mechs with 5 seconds of sustained fire.

Plus, it makes the game look better. There's nothing weirder then seeing PPC bolts sprout magically out of flat, closed up armor space.

That being said, I wish the slots weren't based on weapon type, but weapon style. I don't see why an AC/5 canb't be replaced with a PPC.

http://youtu.be/dPoqjslGcO0

[Damion Sparhawk]

Bombast, on 02 July 2012 - 06:18 AM, said:

The only video of MechLab so far clearly shows a MW4 style of loading equipment. Which I, for one thing, am glad for.

I got tired of LRM and PPC boats a long time ago. I also remember, in MW3, when one could load his mech entirely with machine guns, site on one side of a hill, and kill heavy mechs with 5 seconds of sustained fire.

Plus, it makes the game look better. There's nothing weirder then seeing PPC bolts sprout magically out of flat, closed up armor space.

That being said, I wish the slots weren't based on weapon type, but weapon style. I don't see why an AC/5 canb't be replaced with a PPC.

http://youtu.be/dPoqjslGcO0

because while they're both technically using projectiles an AC uses actual ammunition where a PPC uses energy to excite existing particles, thus making it an energy weapon, not a ballistics weapon.

[Damion Sparhawk]

Hans Davion, on 02 July 2012 - 05:41 AM, said:

Going by what I have seen and read in the official information, developer interviews and videos online, it looks to be MW2/3 style customisation which means that any weapon can go to any point of the mech so long as there is space and weight allowance for it and ammo. I think this is really good as while I enjoyed customising mechs in mw4 it was a bit too limiting.
I do understand why Microsoft did it that way. It was so that customisation reflected the difference between standard mechs and omnimechs. Unfortunately, I don't think they got it quite right.

I believe you misinterpreted something, it has been well stated that there will be hard points etc... similar to that in MW4, however the -clan- mechs have omni mechs, which made some weapons mounts pod based and interchangeable unlike the IS counterparts. Unfortunately we got a while before the clans arrive with their lostech >.>

[Steve Varayis]

Can't wait to kill me a Clanner in a Thor, and ride that beast into battle.

But seriously. I liked the MW4 customisation. It gave every Mech a unique loadout (I.E Templars had entirely different combos than a Warhammer) I also support the idea of an Instant Action, Or even the other MW4Mercs MechLab where you can pick a 'Mech, and just go to town on it, regardless of cost (So you can work out builds before implementing them.)

Also, the actual limited to X weapons is a nice balancing measure (I can picture OmniMech versions of starter 'Mechs coming out) till we all get stomped by Freaking Mad Cats