184 replies to this topic

[Void Angel]

InnerSphereNews, on 15 May 2015 - 05:25 PM, said:

Upcoming Patch - Tuesday, May 19th @ 10AM – 1PM PDT

Patch Number: 1.3.395.0



Greetings MechWarriors,
Community feedback has been a big theme since our last patch. The results of the Calling All Founders poll are in, and the Founders have decided that Forest Colony will be the next map to receive a beautification and gameplay overhaul. Now it's up to the Phoenix pilots to fill their own Kill Counter in the Phoenix Rising event and make the call on whether to re-activate the Phoenix Program.
The first run of the new MechLab Public Test Server was online from May 7th to 13th, and the Public Test sub-forum was quickly filled with excellent feedback. We expect the Public Test Server to return soon with some further tweaks and additions so you can all take another crack at what we've got in store for the MechLab overhaul.
Lastly, we put out a call for Champion 'Mech re-build suggestions on May 6th, and after a week of player-provided builds we're in the process of compiling the most-liked suggestions for each chassis. A front-page poll to determine the top choices will go up soon!


A theme of communication continues on into this final patch of May: Faction Chat, Unit Chat, and Officer Chat will now be accessible from within Community Warfare lobbies, and VoIP audio quality is receiving a boost to further strengthen communication within your team.
Two new Inner Sphere Variants have been added to the Gift Store: the Cataphract CTF-0XP (with ECM) and the BattleMaster BLR-2C! These two Variants will be available only in the Gift Store until July 17th, at which time they will be released for purchase in-game with MC and C-Bills.


The Quirk pass for this patch is geared toward encouraging better loadout diversity for a few energy-focused 'Mechs that have been burning through the battlegrounds lately. You'll also notice some slight adjustments to the current SCR-B Right Arm OmniPod Quirks to help make that Variant a little more attractive.


Rounding out the patch we have some Clan 'Mech animation beautification passes; a geometry adjustment in the Emerald Taiga terrain to prevent O-Gen destruction from outside the gates; some additional map fixes; DirectX 11 optimization; and the fix of a long-standing Thermal Vision bug under DirectX 9.



Read on for details, and we'll see you on the battlefield!





Change Log




New 'Mechs


Cataphract CTF-0XP

• Gift Store price: $10
  
• Release date for purchase with MC and C-Bills: July 17th
  
• MC price (when available): 2,585 MC
  
• C-Bill price (when available): 6,458,479 C-Bills

Loadout details

• Tonnage: 70
  
• Engine: 280 Standard
  
  • Top Speed: 64.8 kph
    
  • Max Engine Rating: 340
• Torso Movement:
  
  • 90 degrees to each side.
    
  • 20 degrees up and down.
• Arm Movement:
  
  • 20 degrees to each side.
    
  • 30 degrees up and down.
• Armor: 384 (Standard)
  
• Internal Structure: Standard
  
• Weapons & Equipment:
  
  • Head: Heat Sink
    
  • Left Arm: Medium Laser
    
  • Left Torso: Guardian ECM, Beagle Active Probe
    
  • Center Torso: Engine
    
  • Right Torso: AC/5, AC/5 Ammo x3
    
  • Right Arm: PPC, Medium Laser
• Hardpoints:
  
  • Left Arm: 2 Energy
    
  • Left Torso: 1 ECM, 1 AMS
    
  • Right Torso: 1 Ballistic
    
  • Right Arm: 2 Energy
• Heat Sinks: 16 Single
  
• Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)
  
• ECM Capable?: Yes
  
• Module Slots:
  
  • Mech: 1
    
  • Consumable: 2
    
  • Weapon: 2
• Movement Archetype: Medium
  
• Quirks:
  
  • Acceleration Rate (All Speeds) [color=#00B050]+12%[/color]
    
  • Deceleration Rate (All Speeds) [color=#00B050]+12%[/color]
    
  • Turn Rate (All Speeds) [color=#00B050]+12%[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (CT) [color=#00B050]+13[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (LT/RT) [color=#00B050]+9[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (LA/RA) [color=#00B050]+7[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (LL/RL) [color=#00B050]+9[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (CT) [color=#00B050]+7[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (LT/RT) [color=#00B050]+5[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (LA/RA) [color=#00B050]+3[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (LL/RL) [color=#00B050]+5[/color]
    
  • Torso Turn Rate (Yaw) [color=#00B050]+12%[/color]
    
  • Ballistic Range: [color=#00B050]+5%[/color]
    
  • Ballistic Velocity: [color=#00B050]+5%[/color]
    
  • Energy Range: [color=#00B050]+5%[/color]
    
  • Laser Duration: [color=#00B050]-5%[/color]

BattleMaster BLR-2C

• Gift Store price: $14
  
• Release date for purchase with MC and C-Bills: July 17th
  
• MC price (when available): 3,720 MC
  
• C-Bill price (when available): 9,292,709 C-Bills

Loadout details

• Tonnage: 85
  
• Engine: 340 Standard
  
  • Top Speed: 64.8 kph
    
  • Max Engine Rating: 400
• Torso Movement:
  
  • 80 degrees to each side.
    
  • 20 degrees up and down.
• Arm Movement:
  
  • 30 degrees to each side.
    
  • 30 degrees up and down.
• Armor: 464 (Standard)
  
• Internal Structure: Standard
  
• Weapons & Equipment:
  
  • Head: Command Console
    
  • Left Arm: AMS
    
  • Left Torso: SRM 6, Medium Laser x2, SRM Ammo, AMS Ammo, Heat Sink
    
  • Center Torso: Engine, Beagle Active Probe
    
  • Right Torso: Medium Laser x2, Heat Sink
    
  • Right Arm: ER PPC
• Hardpoints:
  
  • Left Arm: 1 AMS
    
  • Left Torso: 3 Energy, 2 Missile
    
  • Right Torso: 2 Energy, 1 AMS
    
  • Right Arm: 1 Energy
• Heat Sinks: 17 Single
  
• Jump Jets: 0 (0 Max)
  
• ECM Capable?: No
  
• Module Slots:
  
  • Mech: 1
    
  • Consumable: 2
    
  • Weapon: 2
• Movement Archetype: Huge
  
• Quirks:
  
  • Acceleration Rate (All Speeds) [color=#00B050]+16%[/color]
    
  • Deceleration Rate (All Speeds) [color=#00B050]+16%[/color]
    
  • Turn Rate (All Speeds) [color=#00B050]+16%[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (CT) [color=#00B050]+19[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (LT/RT) [color=#00B050]+13[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (LA/RA) [color=#00B050]+10[/color]
    
  • Additional Armor (LL/RL) [color=#00B050]+13[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (CT) [color=#00B050]+10[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (LT/RT) [color=#00B050]+6[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (LA/RA) [color=#00B050]+5[/color]
    
  • Additional Structure (LL/RL) [color=#00B050]+6[/color]
    
  • Torso Turn Rate (Yaw) [color=#00B050]+16%[/color]
    
  • Energy Range: [color=#00B050]+5%[/color]
    
  • Laser Duration: [color=#00B050]-5%[/color]
    
  • Missile Range: [color=#00B050]+5%[/color]
    
  • Missile Velocity: [color=#00B050]+5%[/color]
    
  • LRM 5/10/15/20 Spread: [color=#00B050]-5%[/color]
    
  • SRM 2/4/6 Spread: [color=#00B050]-5%[/color]

Gameplay

• Added the ability to communicate in Faction Chat, Unit Chat, and Officer Chat from within the Community Warfare Lobby screen.
  
• Adjusted the TeamSpeak SDK VoIP codec to improve audio quality.

• Launching a Group Match within a Public Group will place you directly into the Public queue.
  
  • Creation of Private Group matches has been moved to the Social window.

'Mech Fixes

• Dire Wolf animation tweaks
  
  • fixed knee misalignment when running
    
  • vertical translation/'bounce' has been reduced when running backwards
• Warhawk animation tweaks
  
  • fixed knee misalignment when running
    
  • vertical translation/'bounce' has been reduced when running or walking
    
  • fixed torso wobble when going uphill or downhill
    
  • fixed misaligned clavicles
• Adder animation tweaks
  
  • added foot talon animation

Map Fixes

• Vitric Forge: The blue giant will now appear correctly under Thermal Vision.
  
• Emerald Taiga: Adjusted terrain in front of the side O-Gens so that they cannot be attacked from outside the gates.
  
• Viridian Bog and Grim Portico: Slight lighting normalization between different system specs.
  
• Grim Portico: Fixed an issue that caused dead 'Mechs to fall through the ice.

Other Fixes

• Various particle effects, such as smoke and fire, will no longer show up as green under Thermal Vision when running DirectX 9.
  
• Fixed an issue where coverage buffer occlusion culling was not functioning correctly under DirectX 11. As a result, players might see performance gains under DX11.
  
• The Targeting Reticle and Target Info Box will now appear on the correct depth plane when using Advanced Zoom in NVIDIA 3D Vision.
  
• Minor bug fix and adjustment made to the Mad Dog Raider Skin.
  
• Minor bug fix and adjustment made to the Stormcrow Crusader Skin.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Fractal Camo Pattern that unintentionally changed how weapons were shaded.

Quirk Changes


The following 'Mechs are receiving Quirk changes. Details on these Quirks can be found in this dedicated post.

• Firestarter
  
  • FS9-A
    
  • FS9-H
    
  • FS8-S

• Raven
  
  • RVN-2X

• Stalker
  
  • STK-4N

• Stormcrow
  
  • SCR-Prime OmniPods
    
  • SCR-A OmniPods
    
  • SCR-B OmniPods
    
  • SCR-C OmniPods
    
  • SCR-D OmniPods

• Timber Wolf
  
  • TBR-Prime OmniPods
    
  • TBR-A OmniPods
    
  • TBR-C OmniPods
    
  • TBR-D OmniPods
    
  • TBR-S OmniPods

See you on the battlefield!
- The MechWarrior® Online™ Team

Quirk dedicated thread link is broken - just leads to news, and I don't see the thread I'm looking for.

[ICEFANG13]

Void Angel, on 15 May 2015 - 08:28 PM, said:

[/b][/b][/b]
Quirk dedicated thread link is broken - just leads to news, and I don't see the thread I'm looking for.

Probably gonna add it when the quirks are listed, also didn't need to link the OP...

[XX Sulla XX]

Great job on the early patch notes.

[Duke Nedo]

Nerfing... glad I already bought Wave 3 and Resistance 2 so that I won't be pushed into it.

[WonderSparks]

Ah, so that is what the two newcomers are going to look like, loadout-wise. I had a feeling that would be how they were put together.
Although the hardpoints look a little wonky for the BattleMaster. The 3 E 2 M left torso is totally off-balance with the right torso. (And I only say that because the right side has 2 E)
I mean, I can live with it, but the asymmetry of the energy hardpoints is going to bug me forever. XD

[ColonelProctor]

What about the new Mastery Bundles mentioned in the May Road Map?

Good job getting this news out early.

[Postumus]

Can't see the quirk changes because of the broken link, but I'm really annoyed that A ) they're nerfing Firestarters instead of making the rest of the IS lights not suck and B ) same thing with the Stalker 4N. The reason the stalker is super popular is because the rest of the IS assaults (minus the crab and one or two banshees) are walking piles of hot garbage. Highlander, Victor, Atlas, Battlemaster, all the other Stalkers, hot garbage.

Instead of nerfing the good IS mechs that can actually hold their own, make the horrible ones good.

Edited by Postumus, 15 May 2015 - 08:56 PM.

[Windscape]

wonder what people are going to be thinking after the f-starter and 4N quirks... hmm....

[Corbenik]

Let's hope the dwolf and warhawks can still shake shake shake!!

[Navid A1]

Thanks for the animation tweaks (thanks Mr.Ramos).

Link to quirk post leads to news

[Void Angel]

ICEFANG13, on 15 May 2015 - 08:30 PM, said:

Probably gonna add it when the quirks are listed, also didn't need to link the OP...

Yes I did, because I wanted it to pop up a notification, if possible.

[Triordinant]

Cion, on 15 May 2015 - 05:31 PM, said:

must be a holiday on Monday or something.

Victoria Day.

[kapusta11]

Because mechs that don't suffer from poor geometry, hardpoint starvation and useless fixed equipment (Stormcrow and Timberwolf) are clearly in desperate need of nerfing, gg wp PGI and whiny community. Same thing as with Victor and Highlander all over again.

[FupDup]

The quirk notes aren't posted yet. :\

When they do get posted, I hope that the nerfs aren't a repeat of the Victor situation about a year ago. It's not that they couldn't use some nerfs of some form, it's just that giving extreme negative agility just sucks the fun out of driving the afflicted mechs. Hopefully they did it a different way than that.

I already preferred the Hellbringer anyways.

[El Bandito]

kapusta11, on 15 May 2015 - 10:00 PM, said:

Because mechs that don't suffer from poor geometry, hardpoint starvation and useless fixed equipment (Stormcrow and Timberwolf) are clearly in desperate need of nerfing, gg wp PGI and whiny community. Same thing as with Victor and Highlander all over again.

I love it when people make premature comments. Then they get shot down.

[Insects]

Blueduck, on 15 May 2015 - 08:17 PM, said:

Ug, it seems the developers are never capable of pushing out a functioning link when they do one of these major announcements.

Probably intentional.
Let the news that they are getting nerfed sink in and be accepted before they reveal the full extent of the nerfing.

SC and TW nerfs have potential for enormous drama. There will be much screaming.

[Koniving]

FupDup, on 15 May 2015 - 10:10 PM, said:

The quirk notes aren't posted yet. :\

When they do get posted, I hope that the nerfs aren't a repeat of the Victor situation about a year ago. It's not that they couldn't use some nerfs of some form, it's just that giving extreme negative agility just sucks the fun out of driving the afflicted mechs. Hopefully they did it a different way than that.

I already preferred the Hellbringer anyways.

I don't know what the Stormcrow could use as a negative thing... but as far as the Timber Wolf, I find its Elite-level twisting abilities to be far too great. Its stock (no unlocks) twist is pretty dang good, as is the basic level. But once the bonuses double, not counting those of the mech parts, is pretty extreme.

Might even be the only nerf the TBR needs; give enemies the ability to attack it from behind... I run 2 armor on my rear torsos and rarely get less than yellow to yellowish orange rear armor colors on my damage doll in frisky fights.

Far as the stormcrow, well it stands to reason a reduced torso twist (jeebus is that extreme) would certainly hinder it. Still I'm not big on using the same bat on two different issues.

[kapusta11]

El Bandito, on 15 May 2015 - 10:34 PM, said:

I love it when people make premature comments. Then they get shot down.

Premature? PGI aren't going to buff SCR and TBR or you think otherwise? I mentioned Victor and Highlander because they were the first to be nerfed for no reason. In this particular case the quirks themselves will most likely involve negative heat gen, range, cooldown and burn duration for all energy omnipods and loss of any positive quirks they had previously. The funny part is that PGI will achieve little with these changes, people will switch to the next best option: Gauss + ERML or 6xMPL, as they always do.

If anything nerfing decent clan mechs right before more of them are about to be released is indeed premature.

Koniving, on 15 May 2015 - 11:00 PM, said:

I don't know what the Stormcrow could use as a negative thing... but as far as the Timber Wolf, I find its Elite-level twisting abilities to be far too great. Its stock (no unlocks) twist is pretty dang good, as is the basic level. But once the bonuses double, not counting those of the mech parts, is pretty extreme.

Might even be the only nerf the TBR needs; give enemies the ability to attack it from behind... I run 2 armor on my rear torsos and rarely get less than yellow to yellowish orange rear armor colors on my damage doll in frisky fights.

Far as the stormcrow, well it stands to reason a reduced torso twist (jeebus is that extreme) would certainly hinder it. Still I'm not big on using the same bat on two different issues.

Everyone has acces to skill tree and elite quirks and TBR has high torso twist rate for a reason, it carries XL375.

Edited by kapusta11, 15 May 2015 - 11:19 PM.

[grendeldog]

All I can say is that I wish PGI would *improve* the mechs that are less viable instead of doing the opposite to effective chassis.

Without a working quirks page there's no way to know what's coming down the pipe, but I highly doubt it'll be buffs. We'll see.

[Insects]

grendeldog, on 15 May 2015 - 11:10 PM, said:

All I can say is that I wish PGI would *improve* the mechs that are less viable instead of doing the opposite to effective chassis.
.

Then we just get the problems of the power creep arms race and time to kill going down.

Bringing the top bar down is sensible and should have been done long ago instead of going crazy quirking everything up to try and compete.