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[Radiant Mass]

With the news about PGI looking at a possible massive game re-balance, I decided to re analyse a previous balance assessment to the game I made a long while back. If I missed something, I will add it later. This is a very lengthy post containing a lot of data.

This feedback arose from hours of game play experience in MW:O since closed beta, current and past user feedback and the hope to fix the problems on the only modern Mech Warrior game.

-Convergence-

Spoiler

Arm Lock must be removed entirely. If not possible, the mechanics must be changed so the arms on a Mech are not totally fixated dead center to the Center Torso's cross hairs. This means that the arm cross hair would stray a small distance from CT's cross hair. Basically having a more restricted arm movement. The point to this it to maintain damage spread between the arms and CT.

Another issue is the cross hairs them selves. As a Mech moves, the cross hairs remain dead center in the HUD. This must be changed so that the cross hairs follows the Mech's every bob and weave as it moves. This in turn will spread the damage across a targeted Mech 's chassis. This is what we have now when we enter third-person view but not as elaborated.

-Sized Hard Points-

Spoiler

To maintain a balanced game and promote mech rolls, this must be implemented. Not only will it bring balance to Mech builds, but it will open up opportunities for un-used Mech chassis, a key to make role warfare viable.

Sized Hard Points will allow and disallow the instalment of certain weapons for a Mech depending on it's Chassis.

This also must result in the removal of the current heat penalty system since cramming many large weapons together will be non existent for all Mechs and only those who were built around such weapons will be allowed to do so. Having the penalties will make those specific Mechs unviable.

(NOTE: The Heat system must also be re evaluated. More on this later.)

The Sized Hard Point System:

Class 1- Used only for small weapon systems.

-IS-
Class 1 Weapon Systems:
Energy: TAG, Flamer, Small Laser Family, Medium Laser Family.
Ballistic: Machine Gun, AC 2.
Missile: NARC, SSRM 2, SRM 2, SRM 4, LRM 5

-CLAN-
Class 1 Weapon Systems:
Energy: TAG, Flamer, Small Laser Family, Medium Laser Family.
Ballistic: Machine Gun, AC 2 Family.
Missile: NARC, SSRM 2, SRM 2, SSRM 4, SRM 4, LRM 5


Class 2- Used only for average sized weapons. Can accommodate Class 1 weapons of its respective type.
-IS-
Class 2 Weapon Systems:
Energy: Large laser Family.
Ballistic: AC 5, UAC 5.
Missile: SRM 6, LRM 10

-CLAN-
Class 2 Weapon Systems:
Energy: Large laser Family.
Ballistic: AC 5 Family
Missile: SSRM 6, SRM 6, LRM 10


Class 3- Used only for large and heavy weapon systems. Can accommodate any Class 1 and 2 weapons systems of their respective type.

-IS-
Class 3 Weapon Systems:
Energy: PPC, ER PPC.
Ballistic: AC 10, LB 10-X AC.
Missile: LRM 15

-CLAN-
Class 3 Weapon Systems:
Energy: ER PPC.
Ballistic: AC 10 Family
Missile: LRM 15


Class 4- Reserved for the largest and heaviest weapon systems and can accommodate all other Class sizes.

-IS-
Class 4 Weapon Systems:
Ballistic: Gauss Rifle, AC 20
Missile: LRM 20

-CLAN-
Class 4 Weapon Systems:
Ballistic: Gauss Rifle, AC 20 Family
Missile: LRM 20

-Hardpoint Numbers-

The number of hard points should follow the mech´s stock load out as closely as possible. Example of this: The King Cab, whose stock load out includes a Large Laser, a class 2 energy point can be swaped out for a class 1 energy point. But this shouldn't mean that the umber of energy points is equal to One. The total should be two energy points, One Class 2 and one class 1. This method should be taken lightly tho so as to not over inflate hard points. However, certain chassis with similar/equal load outs and locations should have some increments to keep them different.

Using the KGC again as an example, all three variants, the 000, 0000, and 000B, share the same basic loadout and locations. Using the current in game system, one can differentiate what each variant can load using the sized HP system:

The KGC-000:

2 Class 4 ballistic, 2 Class 2 ballistic, and 2 class 1 ballistic.
1 Class 2 Energy, 1 class 1 energy.
1 Class 3 Missile, 1 class 1 Missile

KGC-000B:

2 Class 4 ballistic, and 2 Class 3 ballistic.

2 class 2 Energy, 1 class 1 Energy.

1 class 3 Missile, 2 class 1 missile.

KGC-0000:

2 class 4 Ballistic.

2 class 2 Energy, 2 class 1 energy.

1 class 4 missile, 1 class 3 missile, 1 class 2 missile, 1 class 1 missile.

-ECM Changes-

Spoiler

ECM must be changed from a radar stealth field, information and guided missile denial system to an information denial system and guided missile counter measure.

This means ECM should no longer make the user and those around them incapable of being targeted. Instead ECM will deny those who are targeting the user and those within the 180m bubble from transmitting their location information as well as an increased time to gather Target Information(Paper Doll data as well as missile lock on times.

The systems that denied or bypassed ECM are to be changed back. UAV, NARC, TAG, and Beagle Active Probe will no longer disable and or bypass ECM. The user with that equipment will be the only one benefiting from the increased data reception, but will be unable to transmit it.

BAP will instead allow the user who has it installed to detect if there is an ECM user near by. This means those who do not have BAP installed will not receive the "Low Signal" warning.

PPCs and another ECM however will still be capable to disrupting an enemy ECM.

ECM should also change how missiles behave. Instead of denying a lock on to LRMs and SSRMs, ECM will disable LRM and SRM ARTERMIS IV equipped enhancements turning them in to standard LRMS and SRMs. Standard LRMs and SSRMs will remain the same, but the moment they enter the ECM field their flight pattern will be scrambled and become erratic,similarly to how they behaved in Beta, leading to an increase to missile spread or even a possible miss on some missiles.

-Balance to Weapons-

Spoiler

All weapons must have an increase to their duration and reload times. In turn most if not all of the weapons values must change in order to achieve balance and a proper role.

-The problem with "Pinpoint Frontloaded Damage"-

This flawed weapon mechanic that defines both Clan and IS Gauss Rifles, and IS PPCs is something that must be dealt with. This feature not only invalidated Lights and Medium mechs when pitted against larger mechs, but also reduces the kill times for larger mechs considerably.

A recent mechanic found only on the Clan ER-PPC makes it's damage spread across three sections of a targeted enemy mech. While it indeed reduced the total front loaded damage it is still quite considerable, and this feature is not found on the IS PPC. One way to remove the "FLD" property of the PPC family is by converting the weapon to function similarly to a laser, this will allow the pilot who is being fired upon to have a chance to spread the damage across other sections.

Gauss Rifles are a different story. Even with the proposed Sized Hard Point system, there would still be mechs capable of loading up to two of these. The latest limitation of having a mech fire only two at a time was a step in the right direction, yet it would still mean that a targeted opponent would receive a whopping 30 points of damage.

An increase to the cool down of these weapons to seven seconds should make it less of a hassle in addition to limiting a mech to firing only one of each (PPC/Gauss Rifle) at a time instead of two.

This should translate them to be used more as sniper weaponry rather than seeing them in a "Brawl".

Autocannons:

The addition of Clan weapons introduced a much needed balance feature of burst fire auto cannons. While it was a step in the right direction, the Inner Sphere Autocannons must have this feature implemented to them.

As to make both factions AC weaponry feel different, the general rule of having Clan weapons having extended damage over time should be in effect.

Standard Burst Fire mode models for Inner Sphere:

AC 2: Fires a burst of four rounds dealing 0.5 damage in 0.25 seconds each.
AC 5: Fires a burst of four rounds dealing 1.5 damage in 0.25 seconds each.
AC 10: Fires a burst of four rounds dealing 2.5 damage in 0.25 seconds each.
AC 20: Fires a burst of four rounds dealing 5 damage in 0.25 seconds each.

Standard Burst Fire mode models for Clans:

AC 2: Fires a burst of eight rounds dealing 0.25 damage in 0.125 seconds each.
AC 5: Fires a burst of eight rounds dealing 0.625 damage in 0.125 seconds each.
AC 10: Fires a burst of eight rounds dealing 1.25 damage in 0.125 seconds each.
AC 20: Fires a burst of eight rounds dealing 2.5 damage in 0.125 seconds each.

Ballistic Recoil:

A recoil mechanic should be added to further spread the damage. This recoil would be the same as the impulse movement taken from impacts from solid enemy fire. The difference will be in that only the location where the Autocannon is located will receive this recoil.

-Missile Weapons-

New launching mechanic:

With the addition of Clan LRMs, staggered fire is now possible. Although only the C-LRMS have this feature, it should be a feature on all missile based weapons (SRM and SSRM).

To maintain a difference between both IS and Clans, Inner Sphere launchers should fire in salvos:

IS LRMs should fire in salvos of 5 every 0.2 seconds while C-LRMs should becoming out at 1 missile every 0.04 seconds.

IS SRM and SSRMs will fire in salvos of Two every 0.2 seconds, Clan versions will fire in a stream of 1 missile every 0.04 seconds.

Further LRM changes:

The way the LRMs pick their targets must change to the same way SSRMs pick their target but not as randomized. Meaning each missile will have a designated target upon successful lock on.

This should apply to both Clan and IS.

LRM Damage Spread:

Standard:
LRM 5: 1 L. Arm, 1 R. Arm, 1 L. Torso, 1 R. Torso, 1 C. Torso.

LRM 10: 1 L. Arm, 1 R. Arm, 1 L. Leg, 1 R leg, 2 L. Torso, 2 R. Torso, 2 C. Torso.

LRM 15: 2 L. Arm, 2 R. Arm, 1 L. Leg, 1 R leg, 3 L. Torso, 3 R. Torso, 3 C. Torso.

LRM 20: 3 L. Arm, 3 R. Arm, 2 L. Leg, 2 R leg, 3 L. Torso, 3 R. Torso, 4 C. Torso.


With ARTERMIS IV FCS:
LRM 5: 2 L. Torso, 2 R. Torso, 1 C. Torso.

LRM 10: 1 L. Arm, 1 R. Arm, 3 L. Torso, 3 R. Torso, 2 C. Torso.

LRM 15: 2 L. Arm, 2 R. Arm, 4 L. Torso, 4 R. Torso, 3 C. Torso.

LRM 20: 3 L. Arm, 3 R. Arm, 5 L. Torso, 5 R. Torso, 4 C. Torso.

Dumb fired LRMs will follow their arcing and straight flight pattern corresponding to their launcher.

Damage must be kept at 1 per missile.

-V.S. ECM-

Once an LRM enters an ECM field the stats would change. ART-LRM will revert to standard LRM targets, and standard LRM fight patterns will be erratic.

These changes mean LRMs could be less effective at long range meaning that a speed boost must be added. Both IS-LRMs and C-LRMs should travel at speeds of 170 meters per second, changed from the current IS=120 and C=160.

To counter the possible more effective speeds, AMS range should be increased to a base of 250m.

-Quirks and Modules-

Spoiler

With the Syzed HP System the current quirks and modules should be eliminated. A different breed of quirks and modules should be added instead.

Quirks:

-Autocannon Models-

Ability to use different Auto Cannon models: Depending on what mech you pilot, this Quirk will allow it to use the different Autocannon models that are know to exist in Batletech.

These models will be made available once you unlock it from your pilot tree, a way to representing a rank.

These models are:

"Crusher": Fires 10 rounds at 0.1 seconds that acumulate to the max damage. 2,5,10,20. Reload of 4 seconds

Dual Shot/Clan Quad Shot (Chemjet): Fires 2 salvos at .25 seconds that accumulate to the max damage. Reload of 4 seconds

Single Shot: Fires One round dealing full damage. Reload 5 seconds.

Each of these variants will have different degrees of recoil from the least recoil enducing "Crusher", followed by standard, Dual "Chemjet" and the heavy Single Shot.

Not all mechs will be allowed to use all variants however, with the exception of the "Crusher" variant which is available for all, just as the standard Autocannons. Dual Shot will be availale to some Mediums (Hunchback) and all Heavy and Assault mechs. The Single shot should be reserved to mechs which represent a more stable gun platform. An Atlas would be knocked on its back when firing the single shot, while a KGC or a Dire Wolf would be more suitable examples.

- More Design Quirks-
The next quirks that would replace the current ones would define the Mech chasis even further. These could include from the original BT:

Cowl: Aditional armor strength on X Location of the mech. As seen on the Centurion and other mechs with shields, padding

Extended Torso Twist: As seen on CPLT-C1.

Improved Cooling Jacket: Ideal form mechs designed to carry large energy weapons like AWS-8Q.

Improved Sensors: For dedicated fast light mechs and heavyer command mechs.

Protected Actuators: Simmilar to Cowling, but more protection to the arms/legs.

Stable: Can climb hills more efficiently. Less recoil from weapons.

Negative Quirks should be chosen and added to mechs that would logically have them.

-Modules-

Most modules must be removed in order to maintain a leveled playing field.

These include:

Radar Deprivation: Moved to the ECM Equipment. Instead of instant target loss, Target Decay is modified.

Seismic Sensor: Moved to beagle Active Probe´s sensor suite.

All Weapon Cooldown Modules are to be removed. Replaced with Duration Modules. Fire duration is decreased while reload is increased.

Example: Med Laser Duration 1 to 0.5 Seconds (removes 0.5 seconds)

Recharge from 4 to 5 seconds. Adds 1 second.

Weapon Range modules removed from all minus laser weapons with the change that Range is increased, heat is increased, and duration is increased.

Example: Medium Laser Range 270-550 to 297-605 (keeping base 10%)

Duration 1 to 1.5 seconds (adds .5 seconds.)

Heat 4 to 5 (adds 1 Heat)

-New Weapon Values based on the proposed changes-

Spoiler

-INNER SPHERE-

Energy Weapon Values:

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN	DURATION
SMALL LASER	3	1	100	200	3	1
SMALL PULSE LASER	3.5	2	100	200	3	0.5
MEDIUM LASER	5	4	270	550	4	1
MEDIUM PULSE LASER	6	5	200	400	4	0.5
LARGE LASER	8	8	450	900	4	1
ER LARGE LASER	8	12	675	1,350	4	1.5
LARGE PULSE LASER	10	10	350	700	4	0.5
PPC	10	10	90-540	1,080	7	1.5
ER PPC	10	15	810	1,500	7	1.75
FLAMER*	0.70	3*	90	90	-	∞

*Flamer's lack of reload keeps it where it stands now with the exception that it will produce 1 heat units per 0.5 seconds on the target and 3 heat units per 0.5 seconds on the user

(regardless if the weapon is hitting a target or not). This should prevent stun locks.

Standard Burst Fire Auto Cannons:

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN	DURATION
AC/2	0.5	1	720	1,440	3	1
AC/5	1.5	1	620	1,240	4	1
ULTRA AC/5	1.5	1	600	1,200	4	1
AC/10	2.5	3	450	900	4	1
AC/20	5	7	270	540	4	1

LB-X (Damage per pellet):

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN
LB10-X	1 X 10	2	540	1,620	4

Missile Weapon Values:

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN
SSRM 2	2 PER MISSILE	2	270	270	3
SRM 2	2 PER MISSILE	2	270	270	3
SRM 4	2 PER MISSILE	3	270	270	3
SRM 6	2 PER MISSILE	6	270	270	4
LRM 5	1 PER MISSILE	2	180-1,000	1,000	3
LRM 10	1 PER MISSILE	4	180-1,000	1,000	4
LRM 15	1 PER MISSILE	5	180-1,000	1,000	4
LRM 20	1 PER MISSILE	6	180-1,000	1,000	4

-CLANS-

Energy Weapon Values:

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN	DURATION
ER-SMALL LASER	5	2	180	360	3	2
SMALL PULSE LASER	4	2	180	360	3	1
ER-MEDIUM LASER	7	5	450	900	4	2
MEDIUM PULSE LASER	7	5	400	800	4	1
ER-LARGE LASER	10	12	890	1,780	5	2.25
LARGE PULSE LASER	10	12	600	1,200	4	1
ER-PPC	15	15	810	1,620	7	2.75
FLAMER*	0.70	3*	90	90	-	∞

Standard Burst Fire Auto Cannons:

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN	DURATION
AC/2	0.25	1	900	1,800	3	1
ULTRA AC/2	0.25	1	810	1,620	3	1.
AC/5	0.625	1	720	1,440	4	1
ULTRA AC/5	0.625	1	630	1,260	4	1
AC/10	1.25	3	540	1,080	4	1
ULTRA AC/10	1.25	3	540	1,080	4	1
AC/20	2.5	7	360	720	4	1
ULTRA AC/20	2.5	7	360	720	4	1

LB-X (damage per pellet. LB-2 will fire 4 pellets, LB-5 will fire 5 pellets, LB-10 will fire 10 pellets. LB20 will fire 20 pellets):

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN
LB-2X	0.5 x 4	1	900	1,800	3
LB-5X	0.2 x 5	1	720	1,440	3
LB-10X	1 x 10	2	540	1,080	3
LB-20X	1 x 20	6	360	720	4

Missile Weapon Values:

WEAPON	DAMAGE	HEAT	RANGE	MAXIMUM RANGE	COOLDOWN
SSRM 2	2 PER MISSILE	2	360	360	3.5
SSRM 4	2 PER MISSILE	3	360	360	5.25
SSRM 6	2 PER MISSILE	4	360	360	7
SRM 2	2 PER MISSILE	2	270	270	3
SRM 4	2 PER MISSILE	3	270	270	3
SRM 6	2 PER MISSILE	4	270	270	4
LRM 5	1 PER MISSILE	2	180-1,000	1,000	3
LRM 10	1 PER MISSILE	4	180-1,000	1,000	4
LRM 15	1 PER MISSILE	5	180-1,000	1,000	4
LRM 20	1 PER MISSILE	6	180-1,000	1,000	5

-THE HEAT SYSTEM-

Spoiler

- Heat Management-

Currently, the only penalties to heat is an instant shutdown when going beyond the, some what forgiving, heat threshold and damage over to the internal structure of a mech when shut down due to overheating. This needs to be addressed. As it apparently stands, the heat threshold increases with every added heat sink. This has to be changed so that the threshold is set to a static 30 points of heat.

Heat penalties are key in avoiding constant alpha striking currently plaguing the game. Following the BT Heat Scale chart (

Spoiler

, one can take in to account the following penalties for MW:O:

0-10 Heat: Safe

11-20 Heat: Fixed increments to modifiers on speed, modifiers on torso and arm movement/convergence.

21-25 Heat: Continued negative effects to Mech movements. Fixed increments to modifiers on sensors (Longer lock on times, longer target info gathering times, messed up monitor readings/sensors). 2% chance of one round of ammunition exploding every second when reaching and sustaining 24-25 heat.

26-29 Heat: Continued increments to negative effects from 11-25 heat. 4% chance of one round of ammunition exploding from various ammunition containers every second when reaching and sustaining 27-29 heat. 5% chance for all containers, 15% for half of your containers, 25% for two containers, 45% from one container.

30 Heat and beyond: Immediate shut down. Unless in Override, continued increments to negative effects from 11-29 heat. Beyond 30 heat, 100% chance for two rounds of ammunition exploding from all containers every second this heat is sustained. 100% chance to receive 10 damage to a random internal structure every second at 31-34 heat and 100% to receive 10 damage to three locations every second at 35 heat. Instant pilot death occurs at 50 if your mech hasn't been totally destroyed by this point.

-Heat Measurement Representation-

The way heat is represented in game should change from the current percentage system to use more solid numbers (0-50). This would help new players visualize with ease and help them understand how and when their heat is being generated and dissipated.

-Comments-

These changes were made to complement one another. One can't work without the other. So in order for this to work, most, if not all of these changes must come out together.

If PGI is going to take the gameplay balance announcement seriously, beter to post in one thread all the stuff that matters to make sure everything is visible in one place.

Edited by Marcs Birger, 05 August 2015 - 07:51 PM.

[MechWarrior5152251]

LOL, Pinpoint damage? How many PPCs do you see in this game? All I see is laser vomit.

[Mcgral18]

MechWarrior5152251, on 05 August 2015 - 07:46 PM, said:

LOL, Pinpoint damage? How many PPCs do you see in this game? All I see is laser vomit.

Lasers are still pinpoint; just not pinpoint frontloaded.


Pinpoint meaning that they hit the same pixel, where you aim. Frontloaded that they deal all their damage on that pixel.

[Gas Guzzler]

I completely disagree with what you want for this game.

[Mcgral18]

Gas Guzzler, on 05 August 2015 - 07:50 PM, said:

I completely disagree with what you want for this game.

Against 1x armour with slightly different values, his might work. Game's far too gone for it now.


With doubled armour, 2 second durations just won't work. 2 second SMALL LASER, I might add. Against 1x armour, you'd get a similar effect to what you have now (but fewer alpha's to kill) because it's the same damage distribution, allowing for very easy twisting.


6 seconds, I could see for PPCs, if they got fast travel speed boost. 7 seconds for a 15 damage PP FLD cERPPC? Maybe...maybe not. It would be pretty nasty.



I don't expect the coming balance pass will change anything this significant. I expect it will be very Meh. Game is too set in it's ways to change significantly, especially with how reluctant PGI is to change a simple .XML more than once every two months.

[InspectorG]

Mcgral18, on 05 August 2015 - 07:57 PM, said:

I don't expect the coming balance pass will change anything this significant. I expect it will be very Meh. Game is too set in it's ways to change significantly, especially with how reluctant PGI is to change a simple .XML more than once every two months.

And besides, wasnt the last townhall about the upcoming 'Recon' and 4v4?

Problem was i dont think PGI understood BT from the outset and how to port it to a FPS. Go by the intended 'pillars' and we are missing...2 of them?...no need for Info/recon-warfare. Holding planets in CW is pointless.

Dont get me wrong, im optimistic but, i agree. Too late to re-build the game.

[Radiant Mass]

Mcgral18, on 05 August 2015 - 07:57 PM, said:

With doubled armour, 2 second durations just won't work. 2 second SMALL LASER, I might add. Against 1x armour, you'd get a similar effect to what you have now (but fewer alpha's to kill) because it's the same damage distribution, allowing for very easy twisting.

The duration time for the Clan Er-lasers are evaluated to counteract the longer range and damage compared to IS. They will still be technologically superior.

Mcgral18, on 05 August 2015 - 07:57 PM, said:

6 seconds, I could see for PPCs, if they got fast travel speed boost. 7 seconds for a 15 damage PP FLD cERPPC? Maybe...maybe not. It would be pretty nasty.

The speed boost for all PPCs is there in the analysis. Changed from energy bullet to a beam. Reason behind the 7 seconds for a sniper weapon.

InspectorG, on 05 August 2015 - 08:07 PM, said:

Dont get me wrong, im optimistic but, i agree. Too late to re-build the game.

May be may be not. If the supposed "Massive re balance" is true, better to post ideas early than late.

[KraftySOT]

Good luck with your ideas from 2013.

[InspectorG]

Marcs Birger, on 05 August 2015 - 08:13 PM, said:

May be may be not. If the supposed "Massive re balance" is true, better to post ideas early than late.

Yeah, but 'massive' may mean different things to PGI than it does to the player base.

There are years-worth of good ideas from some good players who can really pick the game apart. But you also have to look at the business side of it.
PGI is a small company. Small resources.
I guess im saying dont get your hopes up.

[Dingo Battler]

Gas Guzzler, on 05 August 2015 - 07:50 PM, said:

I completely disagree with what you want for this game.

This. You want to make an already complicated and slow game even slower and more complicated? So now we need to deal not only with pod space, tonnage and heat, we need to consider the hardpoint sizing? You want to stop gauss/laser vom, and yet have a heat scale which heavily punishes carrying ammunition? The rest, with the exception of ECM needlessly complicates the game, makes it harder for newbies to get into the game, and all it'll do is make the game even more meta as people gravitate to the most efficient sub-systems.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

hmm... interesting thoughts, I need more time to process all of what you posted.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

You try and take my ac20 raven away with your damn dirty sized hard points and I'll make you regret it.

[SaltBeef]

I am sorry to disagree but a Battlemech without fire control does not appeal to me. Here in 2015 a M1 tank will track a ballistic solution to a moving target that the main gun and coax can engage at the gunners grip after lasing. I feel if Battlemechs existed today all facing weapons would track within their firing arcs after lased and the ballistic computers would constantly adjust firing solutions.
I will also add modern tanks have gyrostabalized weapon platforms that as long as the gunner hold in his grip controls his weapons will track no matter if his hull or the enemy hull are moving. In 3052 would be a whole lot better.

Edited by SaltBeef, 05 August 2015 - 10:37 PM.

[Night Thastus]

Some of this, I agree with. Some of this, I do not.

Most of this is too damn long so I decided not to read it all.

I'm all for changes, I have suggestions myself, but this shear amount of stuff would basically be re-writing the entire game from scratch mechanic-wise. It would take years to get it all to work properly.

[Kjudoon]

Allow me to address Convergence, for this one key component will solve many problems or at least increase the quality of the gaming experience by removing directly controllable factors for gamer abuse.

Yes, right now the major problem in this game is damage stacking on one component because all grouped weapons are perfectly precise and synced.

Don't hand me this lore/realism argument. That not only has missed the train, it got run over by the train behind it while whining on the tracks too long. This is a game, and this is a problem with the game.

If, you use the prefered (and originally designed) concept of dynamic convergence where movement caused each individual weapon to have to resync with the others, and could (eventually) given time and standing still, that would be best. So you want that precise longshot, say byebye to moving quickly... no more darting quickly, snapshooting, and ducking back inside a single second. Nope. You're hanging out there like a LRMboat trying to get a lock. THAT would be preferred.

In lieu of the lack of technical aptitude to pull that off (which apparently was the reason dynamic convergence was scrapped in the FIRST PLACE!.... is cone of fire. Every grouped weapon or weapon that fires within the same fraction of a second is included in an LBX or LRM like spread. The size of this cone would change based on movement and targetting computer.

Now, the esportos will scream in freakish rage over this and give all sorts of manufactured examples of how it will wreck their lives. Unfortunately, those same people have been wrecking other people's lives for their entertainment for over 2 years now. Sorry, the gravy train needs to end and equalize people with superior twitch (or cheats) and 72 hours a week to play with the rest of reality, or banish them to their own elo club n'ere to see anyone outside it. Let's face it, the game needs to be fun for the majority, not the elite/tryhard sliver, the same way it should not be built for the underhive.

Sized hardpoints. Unfortunately, this does not solve the problem it should because it will not stop 8SPL Firestarters and the like. That is power-creep and is something that unfortunately, has left old chassis obsolete. You either have to go back in, and limit hardpoint numbers to say 4 for lights, 6 for mediums 8 for heavies and 10+ for assaults and lock it. There are lights out there right now with more hardpoints than a VICTOR! That is wrong. Redesigning all the hardpoints for every mech to a single class limit would solve so many problems as well. Why pilot a panther? It's only half a Firestarter. Why pilot a Commando if it doesn't have ECM? Quirks are not the answer for this problem though they do add a lot more variety and reason for some mechs to exist if no other mech in that class has the exact same hardpoints or quirks.

[Weeny Machine]

I would add something to...
-Balance to Weapons-

Extreme Range
Some weapons have it, some don't, creating even a further gap. In case of lasers it is even worse because it is a hitscan weapon. Which means you can also spam it on extreme range and (some of it) it will hit. It gets even better: the weapon as no ammo.

A velocity weapon will most likely miss if the target is moving. Ballistics won't be fired at huge distance simply because of the ammo factor and the likeliness to miss.

That's one of the main factors why there is the laser spam age. The game needs diversity and brawling should be revived - which it isn't simply because of the points mentioned above


Summa summarum:
Doubling the extreme range is simply too much.

[ChewBaka]

If they implemented everything you wanted, it won't be a Battletech game anymore.

Might as well just call it "Generic Robot Shooter Online"

[Johnny Z]

Charlie Pohr, on 05 August 2015 - 11:49 PM, said:

If they implemented everything you wanted, it won't be a Battletech game anymore.

Might as well just call it "Generic Robot Shooter Online"

I didnt read the comprehensive balance thing, because it was to comprehensive for me but I will say this, again, Original Battletech was a balanced game with all mechs using equal power equipment. Power creep via the Omni mechs along with other changes in the entertainment atmosphere signalled the end of the Battletech board game golden age. I think Monopoly suffered some of the same fate minus the power creep. Although that Hat may need some nerfing come to think of it.

Edited by Johnny Z, 06 August 2015 - 12:32 AM.

[Widowmaker1981]

I really hope they dont follow your suggestions.

Your weapon values are generally abysmal (C-ERPPC with a 2.75s DURATION?. Yeah. No one will ever use that, when an ERLL has less duration, less heat, is half the size and 2/3 of the weight. PPCs need to stay FLD or they lose their place)

Sized hardpoints are a crap mechanic because they basically kill customization, unless you inflate hard points a lot, and then the mechs that come with big weapons get a fkin huge advantage over those that do not).
It would also force clans even further down the 'boat all the lasers' road because about 70% of the ballistic slots that are used come from MGs. Oh, and it also does nothing to curb clans strongest meta, because ERMLs are small weapons.

Forcing unlocked arms just makes mechs with spread out hardpoints undesirable. You either go with all arm mounted, or all torso mounted.

Edited by Widowmaker1981, 06 August 2015 - 12:42 AM.

[Duke Nedo]

Most of these things I can't agree with.

Perhaps forced unlocked arms would be nice. Perhaps a gentle swag on torso weapons but not on arm weapons with actuators to buff them abit contra high shoulder mounts.