In the most recent Townhall, it was noted that they are going to be re-balancing everything, and then went on to talk about mech hardpoints and such. Now, maybe the hardpoints won't change - or maybe they will - but if such changes are on the table, I am concerned.
What I'd like to see:
1) Minor balancing based on video game reality: For example, high-mounted hardpoints are better than low ones, and multiple hardpoints of the same type in the same location are better than scattered hardpoints. Mechs that lack these types of hardpoints are generally weaker than others, so this could be fixed.
2) An end to missile-tube madness: This system (I think only on IS mechs) where missile tube limits can force larger missile launchers to fire in volleys needs to end. It is documented almost nowhere - last I checked, it wasn't even in the game, and it produces nutty situations like having to worry about the order in which one adds missile launchers to a location to get the tubes to pair up right with the launchers. It also produces useless hardpoints, like missile tubes on assault mechs that can only fire 2 missiles at a time (Awesome 9M.)
A perfect example of a mech hamstrung by the above limits is the Pretty Baby. It has a scattered mess of singular, low-mounted hardpoint locations, and the one location with more than one hardpoint (left arm) is limited by under-sized missile launchers. This mech could benefit greatly from hardpoint improvements following the above rules.
What I don't want to see:
1) Vast changes to mechs: I don't care if the changes are "Lore-based" or not, people bought they mechs they have for a reason. Changing them into something else will render those purchases useless and kill any trust remaining that future mechs won't morph into something else after time and money is spent on them.
2) Ever-changing hardpoints - monthly meta: I could easily see shifting hardpoints replacing shifting Quirks as a way of keeping people off-balance and spending money. Except what'll really happen is that people will get ticked off because everything keeps changing - by the time 3 variants are leveled, the mech might be something else - and will instead just stop spending money on it at all. People buy mechs for a reason - don't keep changing those reasons unless you want them to stop buying.
Edited by oldradagast, 26 June 2015 - 01:54 PM.