24 replies to this topic

[Rommel]

Being the MBA student that I am, I'm intrigued by the idea of building up my own mechworks. Producing the finest quality mechs for my beloved House Steiner (Or Merc Group that strikes my fancy ).

I haven't read anything in regards to crafting/industrial base of a given House/Faction but I hope it is something that will be part of the game as it will add much. The Inner Sphere was during that time was one of scarce materials and shortages, an active market in salvage and with a base of natural resources from controlled zones would make for a very in depth community experience.

I briefly played Perpetuum, and while that game left much to be desired, the amount of teamwork required to gather the resources and salvage to bring new and improved lines of mechs to the frontlines was a very rewarding experience. I could spend all day just controlling the inflows of resources and the production of mechs as my guildmates struck out across the landscape, (often times losing my beautiful creations ) and it was some of the best times I had ever in the game even though I spent very little time in combat.

I really hope this kind of depth is added to the game where those who have a desire to fulfill a necessary support role can do so.

Edited by Rommel, 28 November 2011 - 08:15 AM.

[Cattra Kell]

I see nothing wrong with this and in fact I think it would be fun. I am actually writing a Battletech: FF (because I am cool like that!) about two merchants going to Solaris to try to make it big in both buying and selling as well as gambling.

I am also attending university for my BBA/CS joint degree (I'm currently looking to go into Management Information Systems) so maybe this is where my interest in the player driven economy they mentioned recently peaked my interests. I think people forget just how powerful the market is. I know of tales in EVE online where corps. attack other corps. controlled space with both inflation (cost more to refit and buy ammo) or deflation (too much supply at VERY low prices, resulting in the defending corp to loose income.)

The only part that has not been mentioned yet is as you said, the making of mechs from parts. I would like to see a lot, but I think that it may be more costly then profitable, but then again if you just get the parts at no cost then its 100% profit off the top, just time consuming. Its really hard to say but I think it would be fun.

In the end I think that players or corps who decide to be merchants or have a Merchant Lance that is used to focus on economy should be encouraged, and if you are into that kind of micromanagement of finances then that is a bonus. Remember he warriors depend on the merchants for supplies!


Ps.
Good Luck on your studies Rommel!

[Adridos]

Probably not. It is Mechwarrior, not Battletech. So deep systems are meant for the games like EVE and Perpetuum.

[Cattra Kell]

Adridos, on 28 November 2011 - 07:01 AM, said:

Probably not. It is Mechwarrior, not Battletech. So deep systems are meant for the games like EVE and Perpetuum.

Aye but they have mentioned player run economies. I also think that Planet conquest could feed into this idea.
Its true the game itself is Mechwarrior but the Meta game is Battletech.

Finally got to use Meta in context! Hurrah

Edited by Cattra Kell, 28 November 2011 - 07:03 AM.

[Schnuffs]

This would go great with that salvage idea also for anyone who prefers a more strategic style of ply rather than shooter.

Managing Mech storage and repair bays, working as an actual salvage team, transport ship crew, ect... I luv the idea of there being more than just combat and support this all the way.

[Rommel]

The idea that there is a finite amount of parts is appealing to me, with a lot of the scarcity being based on factions. Sure you can run a PPC boat as a House Steiner pilot, but good luck finding replacement parts unless you recently wrecked a few Drac mechs ;-).

Creating a scarcity of replacement parts and mechs will make the battles that much more important and keep the loan wolfs in check. Sure you can have insurance like Eve, but there is a chance the mech you previously had isn't available at the moment and you are stuck with a stock variant of a standard mech of your current faction unless your fellow players have their mechworks up and running.

[Rommel]

And I believe wear and tear is another important issue I think the game should take into account. You should be able to repair items but each time you do reduces its overall quality until it eventually is unrepairable and must be replaced.

They should just hire me for my internship between my 1st and 2nd year and I'd help them setup the numbers side of the economy ;-)

[Schnuffs]

Rommel, on 28 November 2011 - 07:13 AM, said:

And I believe wear and tear is another important issue I think the game should take into account. You should be able to repair items but each time you do reduces its overall quality until it eventually is unrepairable and must be replaced.

They should just hire me for my internship between my 1st and 2nd year and I'd help them setup the numbers side of the economy ;-)

You just make sure if they do that the repair/quality is a slow process that takes weeks not days.

[guardian wolf]

I actually like this idea, because the player driven economies would really, add more depth to the game, and all you guys have great ideas. I for one, would love to be to get my Summoner, and escort the salvage teams out gathering materials, and parts; or, to manage a critical mechworks, and then it would have a whole new level strategy, because now you wage, an economic war, not just a all out war. And destroying the other side's economy could tear one of the house's apart, making it that much easier to walk right like you own the place. A favorite quote of mine is "Banks are more dangerous than standing armies,". So this would be a yes for me.

Edited by guardian wolf, 28 November 2011 - 07:28 AM.

[Ghost]

Being an industrialist in the Battletech universe is a crazy proposition. You're going up against conglomerates that have existed for centuries and have more C-Bills than there are people in the Inner Sphere. If you develop a new product the Word of Blake are on your *** before you can say "Eureka!" And your best-paying customers, the MechWarriors, more often than not just raid the planets your factories are located on and steal what they need.

[Rommel]

Then I will have to hire a Merc group that appreciates a steady supply of goodies unless I get a regular Lyran unit as a garrison

Edited by Rommel, 28 November 2011 - 07:49 AM.

[Tannhauser Gate]

Mech Tycoon? Sounds great. Its another facet of immersion in the BT universe.

In MWO? No, since it would appeal to a relative few and have little to add to the direction of the action-sim objectives of the game. Maybe in a few years, when more and more content is added to MWO, they will allow sub games like this.

[Schnuffs]

Rommel, on 28 November 2011 - 07:44 AM, said:

Then I will have to hire a Merc group that appreciates a study supply of goodies unless I get a regular Lyran unit as a garrison

You misspelled "steady" but more importantly you just made a great suggestion.....hiring actual players as actual mercs, not just for your business but also for hiring to attack a rivals business.

Edited by Schnuffs, 28 November 2011 - 07:49 AM.

[Rommel]

I could also create an MBS (Mech Backed Securities) Derivative and leverage them 20 to 1 in my quest of never ending profits! (Bit of Finance humor )

Edited by Rommel, 28 November 2011 - 07:50 AM.

[Tannhauser Gate]

Finance humor.. rich..

[Rommel]

If the idea of scarcity isn't appealing then we can take an alternative route

The mass produced house PPC model comes with a quality factor of 50%
After much research and time spent in improving my Mechworks... my PPC's are of the highest quality coming out at 100%

What can that mean? Well it would will last longer, potential small benefits to overall performance or other things I haven't thought of yet, this way a person can still find replacement parts for his mech, but also if he has the C to drop he can push for some tasty upgrades

[Tannhauser Gate]

and the never ending quest for lostech, industrial espionage, sabotage, hostile take overs, banana republics, business entities with the power of East India Trading Company spanning light years, slavery of indigenous peoples, rebellions against corporate police after calls for factory working conditions are oppressed, and cutting off of funds to facilities on distant worlds to cut costs but leaving the people to fend for themselves in primitive conditions.

I hate you already.

Edited by lakedaemon, 28 November 2011 - 08:05 AM.

[Rommel]

Dance my puppets, Dance.

[Schnuffs]

*Does a Jig*

[Rommel]

Oh and can't forget about reverse engineering... placing a bounty on a cross faction mech so you can reverse engineer the tech/mech and hopefully gain the ability to produce it for your faction