22 replies to this topic

[Felbombling]

I was thinking about this the other day to that point that I thought I'd float the idea here in our echo chamber. I think PGI should make a Vision Module slot and let us fill it with one of Thermal, Night or Zoom. [They could provide us with the Thermal and Night vision modules for free so we don't get our jimmies in a knot.]

I'd kind of like to see this for a few reasons...

1. I think we spend far too much time in game in the various vision modes and not enough in standard, Mark 1 eyeball mode. We're missing much of the eye candy of MechWarrior: Online. This change would make it hit or miss, depending on the map we drop on, if we are equipped with a useful module.

2. PGI can create different vision enhancements such as magnetic resonance or perhaps a smart vision which eliminates trees or smoke in the general vicinity. They could allow us to link to our UAV camera once airborne for a birds eye view with a module, perhaps. Lots of potential.

3. PGI could allow the Mastery slot to hold a Vision module, as well, so that players really keen to have both Thermal and Night vision again could eventually do so.

I know this will sound weird, but I kind of want PGI to take away one of my crutches and let me run around in the world they created instead of a black and white or bright lime green environment. Let's face it... there are maps in game where we almost instantly flip over to Thermal or Night vision. I'd like a little more forced tactics and gameplay in my gameplay!

Discuss / flame away.

[Lily from animove]

Giant mech lots of "sensors", yet needs modules for this? and oh ouch, got that nightvision equipped but randomiver gave me the wrong map.

If any giv people the opportunaty to use a sensor module extendign the range of either standard sensors, night vision or heatvision by X% that woudl have some kind of use.

[J0anna]

This is a horrible idea, it would just force everyone to use 'low' graphics and all effects off - since you see a lot better. So you'd go from missing the 'beauty' of the map because you use heat/night vision to missing the 'beauty' of the map because you turned down all the graphics....I like lily's idea much better.

[Yellonet]

More randomness makes a great game. I think we should all get random mechs as well, it's for the best!

[Mad Porthos]

I see the point of this post, but would argue more for the comment in the second post, that modules stay in line with better or added function of already existing sensors and modes. My reasoning for this is that by lore, which is at least the base line of what they are trying to depict in this cross between a sim and a shooter, mechs by default have thermographic vision, night vision, seizmic sensors and magnetic resonance vision modes, not all of which are even implemented yet. Giving a mode that someone else DOES NOT have, because they have not yet opened up the extra slot, spent the GXP and dropped the C-Bills seems a bit out of line from how it's handled so far. On the other hand, making something everyone else has BETTER, by means of optional modules I think is appropriate. This is one of the gripes I have against seizmic sensor in fact.

It is a capability completely added by a module, with no attendant tonnage or equipment, whilst many others do not have this extra "sense" because they have not ground out thier game, purchased it, etc. The dynamic is unfair to a casual. They are completely deprived of this sensor that many experienced players run by default. Yet if you can simply slot in the module and no equipment needs to be added in tonnage on the mech, then those "sensors" must already BE ON THE MECH, as part of their normal sensor arrays and packages. I would much rather that modules enhance already existing sensors, but that all the options be available even to the beginning players, so that they can learn to work with them from the start, rather than only after grinding so long that they might give up before they realize aspects of the game that can help them tactically and perceptually.

So if they finally do come up with a magres scan visual mode, I think we all should get it, rather than a module. But if it has a "range" that it highlights artificial objects that do not show up on radar due to being powered down or ecm, then that I think should be enhanced or extended by BAP and or modules. Likewise, modes like heat mode used to have a very long range showing objects that were different temps than surroundings - but that was eventually reduced. A module specifically to give heat vision at the longer range might concievably be worth while in some situations. A ranged mech accustomed to using zoom module and heat vision to see things at range, might actually spend a slot for that extra range on the heat vision, or even for a more sensitive night vision mode. As some have commented, the Thermographic Mode of old, using reds, greens, yellows and blues might be a viable additional mode rather than just the FLIR grays, blacks and whites - perhaps a module could re-enable that specific mode on the basis that it's just another way of processing the incoming heat readings and displaying it on the screen.

Again though, it would be an option enabled by a module and technically I think people should have each mode available without modules, so really maybe it should actually be again the case that having a module to improve the THERMOGRAPHIC would give better resolution or contrast. If these options were more implemented, I think you would find more people running modules other than just seismic and radar deprivation. Modules would be best MODIFYING capabilities mechs already have.

Additionally, consider modules almost NEVER used, like artillery and airstrike accuracy. They enhance a weapon system...admittedly not one on the mech, but none the less they enhance it. Perhaps it might be more in order that they be weapon modules. Perhaps then they might see a bit more use, as there are mechs utilizing only one weapon type that really may not need two weapon slots, but could use one or two slots rather improving air strike or artillery, befitting being a spotter rather than using those slots enhancing their personal weaponry. But hey, what do I know, just some thoughts...

- Madporthos

[Clint Steel]

I too hate being in the "Visions" all the time. The maps look very nice, but it is so much more effective to be in one of the Visions that I often don't get to appreciate it.

I would like to see even more of a trade off while using Visions, similar to how Splinter Cell used to do it. So it isn't good to alway be in a vision because you might miss something important. This is already somewhat of the case in Heat Vision, as you miss the Arty strikes smoke usually, but could be pushed further, like Mechs that are running under 10% heat are indistinguishable from the surroundings, or night vision being based on light, so Flashes temporarily blind your system.

Another thing that could be done, would be to make the Visions simply better looking. Staring at a green or white colored screen all the time is pretty lousy. The way you could do this is to have them overlay on top of the normal vision, rather than replacing it. This would mean you would always be using one Vision or another though, since there would be no advantage to using them over normal vision, unless a variety of different Vision choices with weaknesses or some sort of Electronic Warfare were implemented to mess with it

[Lostdragon]

Knowing which vision mode to use in each situation is one of the skills that pilots currently have to develop. Needing to use a vision module for each mode would dumb the game down, not make it better because heat vision would need to be as good as night vision in every situation for balance.

[Davegt27]

All I know is the current night vision/thermal modes went to crap for some reason and are almost unusable on some maps

So the OP Ideas seem like they would bean improvement

[Khobai]

thermal is fine how it is. theres a few situations where you want to use it, but the tradeoff is that its limited to medium range, so theres plenty of reasons not to want it on all the time.

night vision on the other hand seriously sucks. They could definitely improve night vision.

Quote

I think we spend far too much time in game in the various vision modes and not enough in standard, Mark 1 eyeball mode.

Thats just you. I spend most games in Mark1 eyeball mode because its the only way you can see enemy mechs at long range. I only use thermal on certain maps where long range visibility is poor anyway like frozen city, ugly swamp map, and the new forest colony (sometimes).

Edited by Khobai, 07 September 2015 - 08:54 AM.

[TyphonCh]

Wait, I'd have to use a slot for a sensor I may or may not use, on a map I may or may not see? You realize that playing on Frozen City in the blizzard without thermal vision is impossible right?

How about no

[mike29tw]

Didn't someone post a skill-tree of the roles initially planned by PGI? According to it NV and thermal are exclusive skills to unlock for certain mech roles. It would be nice if they can use it to further differentiate roles.

[Relek Nom]

I'd prefer a boost module for the visions not for them to be module only.

The boost module could give a 10% range increase.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Yellonet, on 07 September 2015 - 06:40 AM, said:

More randomness makes a great game. I think we should all get random mechs as well, it's for the best!

Random 3025 stock mech mode would be the best balanced and most interesting game mode in MWO. Shame we'll never get it.

[Nightmare1]

Better idea: Just make Enhanced Zoom a normal vision mode like Heat and Night and refund the C-bills to whoever bought into that sad, sad module.

[TLBFestus]

I can't say I like this idea.

At this point you can CHOOSE to use a vision augment or not on any map. Of course we all know what happens to you if you don't use heat vision on Frozen City (foggy) or no night vision on River City. You would get torn apart by the other guys who are using it can can see you clearly.

Following your suggestion the same effect is achieved, a premature and humiliating death, but you've simply exchanged "choice to be stupid" with "random chance that you are screwed".

Edited by TLBFestus, 07 September 2015 - 09:03 AM.

[Moldur]

I really only use thermal sometimes. I spend most of my time in regular vision, as do most people when I spectate. Thermal is definitely useful for the blizzard, and a few other situations.

Night vision is total trash because the only map you would realistically use it on (River City, mostly to look across the water) would require nightvision to have a longer range than it does. IMO the drop-off range for night vision should be removed altogether. It makes no sense. The disadvantages of using night vision, at night, should be, um.. nothing. Because that's literally the only thing night vision should be good for. There shouldn't be a trade-off between using regular vision and nightvision at night. It should be nightvision is better, flat out, but it's not.

You want to know how this compares to current day nightvision? You can put on some NVGs, go out into the California desert at night, and see light pollution from Vegas along with airplane lights, some 250 miles away.

[patataman]

Lily from animove, on 07 September 2015 - 05:54 AM, said:

Giant mech lots of "sensors", yet needs modules for this? and oh ouch, got that nightvision equipped but randomiver gave me the wrong map. If any giv people the opportunaty to use a sensor module extendign the range of either standard sensors, night vision or heatvision by X% that woudl have some kind of use.

Well, it's true that in some maps like frozen city, switching to thermal vision is a must, and everyone does.

But i think Lily's suggestion is better, after all, acording to lore, mechs have a wide variety of sensors. Having all 'basic' sensors (thermal, night vision, seismic, magnetic...) in all mechs and a sensor slot for the 'improved xxx sensor' makes sense. It can be used as a balancing mecanism too, by giving more than one sensor slot to certain mechs.

Edit: I forgot, if night vision is an optional module, all mechs are going to need spot lights.

Edited by patataman, 07 September 2015 - 10:50 AM.

[Felbombling]

Some great points. I didn't think about the possibility of people just dumbing down their graphics, but I still think it would be really interesting. You would have an element of randomness, for sure, but consider a drop on Frozen City in the middle of a blizzard with no thermal vision. I think it would be a blast to have to fight through that close quarters. You'd have scout Mechs darting in and out, trying to get locks for LRM boats. People with Thermal would have an advantage, but that same advantage would be non-existent on a map like Mordor. Everyone would have to pick and choose which module is right for them.

I also like the idea of all sensor types being available, and modules increasing their effectiveness, but then we're right back to where we are now... everyone [generally] popping on the appropriate vision mode at match start, rarely bothering to turn it off.

[Mechteric]

No, it should not be a module. Its bad enough there's a terrible window zoom that takes up a module slot, when instead you could be using another module that has much more utility (seismic, radar derp).

[Nathan Foxbane]

None of those should be modules. I remember when I first played MW4:V having a small fit because something so simple as night vision weighed a ton and flares were even worse. Thermal and night vision would be standard parts of a 'Mech's sensor systems and should never cost players anything.

Edited by Nathan Foxbane, 07 September 2015 - 04:16 PM.