58 replies to this topic

[Jake Valeck]

well since the game offers 12v12 why would you want to sacrifice a mech spot with duel couches? if you dont understand what i just wrote pls role a davion

Edited by Jake Valeck, 24 March 2012 - 04:13 PM.

[Phoenixfire]

I think it would be cool. I have heard about it in the canon so I think it is a go from there. I wouldn't mind being in the jumpseat as long as my pilot keeps me alive.

[Major Tom]

Only of the "oganic waste dispersion system" evacuates directly into the second cockpit. Only then will I suffer a backseat driver.

[Soviet Alex]

I like the idea, because managing a large amount of tactical data in a free-wheeling battle & fighting at the same time is beyond me. I'd happily back-seat for a better Kuritan pilot in one of our 2-seater Battlemasters or suchlike.

But I also like the idea of this being a rare bonus, not something that can be mech-labbed into every mech. Since MW-O is "premium free-to-play", would we pay real money for a 2-seater mech? I might.

[LordDeathStrike]

Ansel, on 04 December 2011 - 02:24 PM, said:

The title says it all. What are your thoughts on bringing an extra person to handel the strategic elements so you can concentrate on driving the mech. Also what are your thoughts on being the guy in the extra seat and dealing with the strategic elements of the game.

Of course being the extra guy should be optional in any event.

I would like to see something like this because of the information warfare they are trying to impliment, having someone to watch the drone feeds and watch the other peoples raders from C3 networks would be very handy.

there are no 2 seat mechs, check your bt readout books.

they dont even train in 2 seaters, they put you in a holo simulator.

the guy in the c3 master command mech, stops in an out of the way location in cover when he needs to concentrate on field overview stuff, he dont do it in the middle of a brawl with an atlas.

[Soviet Alex]

LordDeathStrike, on 25 March 2012 - 02:42 AM, said:

there are no 2 seat mechs, check your bt readout books.

they dont even train in 2 seaters, they put you in a holo simulator.

the guy in the c3 master command mech, stops in an out of the way location in cover when he needs to concentrate on field overview stuff, he dont do it in the middle of a brawl with an atlas.

OK, I checked my Battletech books: "Heir to the Dragon" Theodore Kurita commands a battle during the War of 3039 in a 2-seater Battlemaster BLR-1C.

"Technical Readout 3050" (original printing) Battlemaster BLR-2C, used by Draconis Combine & Com Guard "has a second cockpit for a unit commander to direct strategy while a mechwarrior handles the Battlemaster in battle".

"Record Sheets 3075 Unabridged" Battlemasters BLR-1Gbc &BLR-1Gc both have command consoles (ie: 2-seaters).

"Shadows of War" & "Sword & Fire" General Ariana Winston commands the Eridani Light Horse in battle from the brigade's ancestral 2-seater Cyclops.

Edited by Soviet Alex, 25 March 2012 - 03:00 AM.

[Kensaisama]

Firefly, on 06 December 2011 - 11:19 AM, said:

First of all we're talking about big stompy robots that don't even exist. Realism != Video Games

What works for a Bradley crew or a C130 Spectre gunship crew does not translate into video games. Not everyone wants to hop on a video game Black Hawk and be the crew chief for hours on end. Even if we did translate it into video games, Planetside featured multi-crew vehicles, and they're rethinking some of the concepts for Planetside 2.

This feature, among others in tabletop BattleTech, serves no purpose because it doesn't translate well into video game mechanics and video gamer mentality. Remember, this will not be a persistent-world MMO - so theoretically you may be looking at a 15min match. Most people want to get in a cockpit, throttle to max, and start blowing the enemy to bits. You'll invariably have a number of people who will find a niche as a support person, and as such will hang their 'Mech towards the back in a proverbial Command Lance and fulfill the function of drone-watcher and intelligence interceptor whilst the assaulters are up front. It's a waste of time, resources, memory, energy and payroll dollars to work on something that a small minority will use.

Your post Firefly from my perspective came off as very angry and negative toward the subject at hand. If you and those who do not like this idea don't want to pilot or command from such a mech, you have that option (if this gets implemented), those who think the commander should be piloting his own mech and want to, have that option as well, those who would like a command mech to either pilot or command from, should have that option available if they so desire it. There is no reason to get upset about this idea people, it has merit and should be considered.

As to the balancing issue, any team who takes this route gambles their skill on winning, I have been playing fps style games for a long time now, I have seen undermanned teams come out on top do to sheer skill and team work. I personally don't think being down one mech will be a huge disadvantage.

Kensai the wandering warrior

Edited by Kensaisama, 25 March 2012 - 05:06 AM.

[T0RC4ED]

Back seat drivers will be shot upon attempting to enter my mech.

[Lorcan Lladd]

It's completely unnecessary to have a double cockpit.
You could always use third-party software to send realtime footage and communications from the commander or command lances over to a dedicated player; someone just to handle all of the operational logistics and higher-level processing.
It's probably more than most lances will ever need, even if they're involved in competitive gaming, but it still stands as a possibility.

Maybe it's too much to ask from a 'Mech pilot, but a strategy player might prefer being assigned to this role rather than do actual fighting and operations in the field.
Just a thought.

Whether it is canon, whether it is considering cheating, it can be done, regardless.

[Seabear]

I would like to see command mechs with a second seat for he commander, but they should be very few and far betwteen as a variant purchase in game. If the role warfare develops as indicated, the commander is not just going to be along for the ride. Thr pilot shpuld be a player not an npc. According to lore the second seat had some rudimentary controls but would only be of use if the pilot were disabled. Also the Guy In the Back would not be a sensor operator, he/she would be the commander for the unit and would be very busy during the match. I don't want these to be too common, but to see one from time to time would be fun and give a new meaning to headhunting.

[Rattlehead NZ]

I do like the idea. It really has promise. Though the only thing that comes to mind is Battlefield 2

Who didn't enjoy finding the commander while he was in his tactical view and kill him?
If only we had BF3 knife kill animations then

[God of War]

First off all: what do you all mean with Double seat? a mech with Dual-Cockpit or a mech with a Command-Console???

There is no need for a Command-Console ingame ´cause things like satalite maps and Force coordination is allread available
with any mech. All the great features that provide the initiative bonus in the TT are allready there for erveryone.

And a Dual-cockpit Mech, with one Mechwarrior piloting and one shooting like aka. "Apache"-style is a little bit useless imho.
It takes a lot of game time together the build a good team (erveryone who plaed Helicopters in Battlefield know´s what i´m talking about)
and has no benifits. When i can controll my mech with mey keyboard and mouse, shoot and run and jump and all works, why should i
couple up and make everything more difficult???

[Thornn]

Major Tom, on 24 March 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

Only of the "oganic waste dispersion system" evacuates directly into the second cockpit. Only then will I suffer a backseat driver.

Now here is an idea I can get behi- I mean, in front of.

[VarietyOfCells]

It isn't necessary. If you are getting pounded by fire, you take 10 seconds to retreat and call for support. If you are the commander you aren't going to be engaging in any brawls anyway; maybe you'll fire a few shots from long range. Having 2 seats would imply that more than half of the time you will need to devote 100% of your attention to your weapons, and that just isn't the case. You have other mechs to protect you.

[Gremlich Johns]

There reaally is no need for the two-seater Battlemaster (which is really the Soltic HT128 Bigfoot from "Fang of the Sun: Dougram") The idea of having a coordinator up in the dropship is the easiest thing to implement - if the devs have some free time on their hands, of course. Why put two pilots into one mech when you could field another mech instead. (lose two pilots at once? Smaht!)

[Wolfe Ryatt]

I rather like this idea...those that don't want a second person in their cockpit simply wouldn't take that Mech or option.

Also, I'd allow the Commander to join the Mech as an additional member of the fight, not replace. So a 4v4 battle becomes a 4v4+1. The Mech with a Command Console would have to give up a slot...say a ton of ammo or a medium laser or some such.

Also, I'd only allow one such Mech per side, either 4+1, 8+1, or 12+1. Those that say it isn't necessary, don't have to use it. (but I'm guessing that conviction wouldn't hold in practice).

[Victor Morson]

S3dition, on 04 December 2011 - 02:35 PM, said:

This is from Maximum Tech. It's actually in Battletech, but command seats are extremely rare and relegated to use as training mechs at academies by 3049.

This has been said a bunch, but is contradicted by the fiction directly.

Big Willie, on 05 December 2011 - 11:34 PM, said:

What mechs even have dual cockpits?
Battlemaster is the only mech I have heard of that has two seats (and even that is probably a throwback to anime more than btech cannon).

The vast majority of 'mechs have a passenger seat. Even light 'mechs have at least one jump seat. This is different from a command console / dual cockpit, of course, because you don't have much to do but strap in and pray your 'mech doesn't get obliterated.

This is represented in a bunch of fiction, CRPGs and even the table top (rescuing ejected pilot rules). Also, the Cyclops is another 'mech that has a command console seat.

Edited by Victor Morson, 17 May 2012 - 05:20 PM.

[Joe Mallad]

Its really not all that hard to command and be a mech pilot at the same time. So while we now know there will be a commander role in the game, And that commander would have to outfit his mech with the proper internal mods to be able to be a good commander... I can see the second cockpit not to hold a second person (as this just wound not be needed) but that second cockpit (seat) could really be a MOD/component you will need to buy and install in your mech to get certain commander abilities. It would just basically represent that a commander is on board. I mean a scout has as many scouting duties as a commander has commander duties, yet that scout pilot still has the ability to be a mech pilot first and foremost. If one person can play a scout as a scout and be a mechwarrior, a commander can do both roles on his own too

Edited by Yoseful Mallad, 17 May 2012 - 05:21 PM.

[Morashtak]

Only if my co-pilot buys me dinner first followed by a movie and some dancing. I ain't easy or cheap!

Idea does not equate to fun. Gunship showed it could be done well on 8-bits and 64k so I suspect PGI can do the same here.