89 replies to this topic

[AeusDeif]

The community campaign to get the urbanmech in game was a success. Now that we've shown PGI that we will fund fan-requested mechs, what's next?

From the recent town hall:

Zeece, on 16 April 2015 - 04:23 PM, said:

#Psychosmurf96 1. The Urbanmech was a fan request mech that seemed to go well. Any chance that there will be more fan demanded mechs in the future?

* Would probably only happen if its a mech that wouldn't fall into a mech pack. Would have to be something in the same category as the Urbie.

So, a mech in the same category as the Urbie... I assume this means, a mech that isn't as easy to play, or generic to the roles that most mechs fit in. A niche mech that makes it into the game 'against the odds' due to, well, whatever makes BT fans devoted to it. Nostalgia, charm, character... humor... or just being too sexy.

I'm interested to see what mechs others would like to see in game even though they're a bit off the beaten path. Including a pic/link is appreciated, as well as what feature it might require to make it half-viable, like the urbie's torso twist and engine sizes.

my submission:

Spoiler

the Hollander 35t Light Mech (http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Hollander)

why? well it brings back memories of playing the mech commander games. I think the legs are graceful, the main gun is unique and visually interesting, and I like the distinctness of light mechs in general.

Now what would it need to work in MWO? Probably a shorter barrel to be less easy to hit. The stated 20 rounds of gauss is not enough, so it could benefit from either a smaller weapon (light gauss please?) or ammo expansion quirks/modules. It could use some ballistics quirks of course; range quirks for the AC 10, cooldown for LBX or AC5, combined with a better engine for speed could make this a decent mid-range peeker. This would give it a distinct play style outside the usual light role, yet still usable, if it's fast enough.

There was a variant that was 10 tons heavier (Hollander II), but having 5 more tons than the urbie, plus the right quirks, should make it able to mount lbx or ac10 effectively.


I even have an image prepared to celebrate its arrival.

edit: a lot of people are bringing up mechs which probably will be included in packs or implemented normally. these are great mechs and I look forward to them, but when I say 'niche' mechs I'm talking about the ones that are unusual and unlikely to get in without fan support.

Edited by AeusDeif, 29 April 2015 - 07:24 PM.

[Joseph Mallan]

I really enjoy Dave's work. But the Hollander is literally a one trick Pony. There is a Ballistic Hard point. and up to 2 energy hard points.

I don't see it fitting PGIs leveling plan.

[Ovion]

I would love to see the Hollander in game.

Sadly, it gets its first variant 3054, third variant 3058.

For a mech to get in game, it needs to have 3 Variants as of 3050 (pos. 3052 now, but best to assume 3050) that use no tech that isn't already in the game (this excludes primitive tech, light tech, small cockpits, any variant with rocket launchers, stealth armour, etc) and are not Unseen.

The main references you'll need for this are: Sarna, the list of Unseen Mechs and the Master Unit List.

Edited by Ovion, 29 April 2015 - 03:48 AM.

[SgtMagor]

I'm guessing the first Clan battlemech to be released, "Kodiak"

http://www.sarna.net...7/7d/Kodiak.jpg

[NextGame]

Mackie

[Madcat3]

I'll put my vote in for the Kodiak.

[Brody319]

I want The Piranha, but I can't have it because everyone would be like

[Molossian Dog]

The Awesome.

It is about time we get the Awesome.

Then the Catapult. Long overdue, although some of the bittervets claim to have seen it back then, in times of yore. (sp?)

[Gagis]

Marauder.

Special because lawsuit magnets are too risky to put into a mech pack.

[AeusDeif]

Joseph Mallan, on 29 April 2015 - 03:34 AM, said:

I don't see it fitting PGIs leveling plan.

Actually there were variants of the hollander with 4 energy weapons. But they probably would have to take some liberties.

Ovion, on 29 April 2015 - 03:35 AM, said:

For a mech to get in game, it needs to have 3 Variants as of 3050 (pos. 3052 now, but best to assume 3050) that use no tech that isn't already in the game (this excludes primitive tech, light tech, small cockpits, any variant with rocket launchers, stealth armour, etc) and are not Unseen.

PGI has stated they are flexible on timeline issues. There is a lot of content we will never see if they are scrupulous about never moving ahead in the timeline.

Edited by AeusDeif, 29 April 2015 - 04:24 AM.

[Paigan]

Please don't occupy any more PGI development time with more trashcan wishes (pun intended).

Contrary to popular belief, resources are not infinite. Every BS wish made come true costs dearly on other, proper things.
The majority of people can't fathom that, but it is true nontheless.

Edited by Paigan, 29 April 2015 - 04:30 AM.

[Ovion]

AeusDeif, on 29 April 2015 - 04:23 AM, said:

Actually there were variants of the hollander with 4 energy weapons. But they probably would have to take some liberties.



PGI has stated they are flexible on timeline issues. There is a lot of content we will never see if they are scrupulous about never moving ahead in the timeline.

To a degree, but I don't think they'll go past Tukayyid in 3052 atm.

[Alistair Winter]

I'd love to see the Hollander, but after seeing what happened to the Urbanmech, I'm not so sure. Basically, PGI made no effort to make the Urbie a good platform for large ballistics, so everyone turned it into a laserboat with MGs. It would be really sad to see the same thing happen to the Hollander. Which would happen, unless it had some kind of ammo quirk in addition to ballistic quirks.

On top of that, they'd probably turn that beautiful gauss rifle into a tiny snub-nosed thing. Have you seen what the gauss rifle looks like when it's equipped on a light mech in MWO? It looks like a short and wide exhaust vent.

Just give me this guy.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Alistair Winter, on 29 April 2015 - 05:11 AM, said:

Just give me this guy.

Yes! Axman FTW! Can't forget the Adam Steiner Hero

As for what I'm currently seeing on the forums, people seem to want the Flea. People just can't seem to let it go. I could see a petition for that mech.

Also there is a new interest in the Mackie.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Paigan, on 29 April 2015 - 04:29 AM, said:

Please don't occupy any more PGI development time with more trashcan wishes (pun intended).

Contrary to popular belief, resources are not infinite. Every BS wish made come true costs dearly on other, proper things.
The majority of people can't fathom that, but it is true nontheless.

If the players wanted it and funded it, it clearly wasn't a waste of time or resources. That is the exact opposite actually. It is using resources to supply a demand and make money. Just because you dislike the Urbanmech, doesn't mean it is trash...a waste (pun intended).

[CDLord HHGD]

Wolfhound and Hatchetman top my list at this time.

[Poisoner]

Reseen Marauder!!!

[Juodas Varnas]

The mech i'd want the most FOR MYSELF, would be the 40 ton Vulcan (i'm a sucker for weird looking mechs).

The mech i'd want for the whole community is the Marauder or Warhammer and i'd be perfectly fine with their reseen designs (even if they're not exactly stellar, they're decent enough for me). Can't say the same about a lot of people though, there are a lot of people who won't take anything than an 1:1 unseen design.

[Paigan]

MeiSooHaityu, on 29 April 2015 - 05:25 AM, said:

If the players wanted it and funded it, it clearly wasn't a waste of time or resources. That is the exact opposite actually. It is using resources to supply a demand and make money. Just because you dislike the Urbanmech, doesn't mean it is trash...a waste (pun intended).

Wrong. Think in the bigger picture.
As far as I followed it, the urban mech had putinto it extra careful design to catch the funny impression, a ton of promotional videos, cockpit items and what not.
I bet for the same effort 2 actually useful mechs (or something else) could have been made.

So yay, we have the urban mech, but for it other things have been delayed.
And then shortsighted funny-fanboys are the first to complain about the game not progressing fast enough, I bet.

If PGI spends a whole year implementing crazy fun stuff that creates some laughs for a few days but puts everything else on hold, do you think the game would be better in the end? It would surely be not. It would be a circus run by little children.

As I said: most people don't get that fulfilling childish customer wishes costs at other places.
And you just proved that.

The world of adults is a little more complex than "Yay, wouldn't it be cool to have an funny Urbanmech? Please can we have one? Please please!"


There is a tech talk from a google CI who says: NEVER do what customers demand. Customers can point you to problems, yes. But good solutions for those problems must be engineered by the people who have an overview of all the complex dependencies. Customers don't have that.

Edited by Paigan, 29 April 2015 - 05:58 AM.

[CDLord HHGD]

Paigan, on 29 April 2015 - 05:54 AM, said:

Wrong. Think in the bigger picture.
As far as I followed it, the urban mech had putinto it extra careful design to catch the funny impression, a ton of promotional videos, cockpit items and what not.
I bet for the same effort 2 mechs (or something else) could have been made.

So yay, we have the urban mech, but for it other things have been delayed.
And then shortsighted funny-fanboys are the first to complain about the game not progressing fast enough, I bet.

If PGI spends a whole year implementing crazy fun stuff that creates some laughs for a few days but puts everything else on hold, do you think the game would be better in the end? It would surely be not. It would be a circus run by little children.

As I said: most people don't get that fulfilling childish customer wishes costs at other places.
And you just proved that.

Totally, how dare a game be filled with crazy fun stuff?? The very idea!

/sarascm