20 replies to this topic

[Aderas Keegan]

So, I had a thought. Given the nature of battlefield information in MWO, a lot of the fight is going to be understanding where your opponent is through use of your scouts, and coordinating that information to your team-mates. While most of that is done automatically, such as through the targeting interface, there's still the matter of more direct locations.

In most MechWarrior games there's a Tactical Communications officer giving you an overwatch, providing nav points and alerting the rest of the team to new information when applicable. I've thought, wouldn't it be interesting to be that person?

Basically the idea was to have, in a Merc Corp or a House unit, a person or persons who could be designated as TacCom officer. Said person wouldn't participate in any of the three Lances per battle, but would have an observation of the battlefield, provided by radar readings that the 'Mechs on the ground give them. Or, remember the original Reveal from 2009 where the guy launches a drone? Something like that would be nice.

The issue here is that such a position would be optional and completely reliant on the rest of the team giving the operator the necessary information to be effective on the whole. Plus, most folks would rather be on the ground than giving intel. All the same, what are your thoughts?

Also! I've posted this here for those of you following this topic, it'd probably get more attention there!

Edited by Aderas Keegan, 20 July 2012 - 01:12 PM.

[johnyocum]

That would be an interesting concept to add to the game, and it sure would fit in with engagements that are larger than a company-sized element usually handles.

However, in a lance- or company-sized engagement, you're usually close enough that a tactical communications officer being seperate isn't all that effective.

[Reported for Inappropriate Name]

this game needs voip for random battles, or at the very least a robust hotkeyed communications system that covers all the core functions of gameplay. I'm sure serious corps will have their own voip but coordination in random games will be a mess

Edited by Battlecruiser, 11 July 2012 - 02:41 AM.

[Silversteel]

http://www.sarna.net...Command_Console


using this for merc or big house battles would be great

Edited by Silversteel, 11 July 2012 - 02:48 AM.

[DeathDealer 6]

Actually Adam Steiner and Rachel Specter created a Tactical Operations Center for use with a company sized force, that was actually the pre-cursor of the modern C3 networks.

They accomplished it by installing a command console and guardian ECM package in a Awesome Battlemech. It only works with heavy or assault mechs though and doesn't gives as good a bonus as the C3 but did work efficiently.

[Graives]

DeathDealer 6, on 17 July 2012 - 10:15 AM, said:

Actually Adam Steiner and Rachel Specter created a Tactical Operations Center for use with a company sized force, that was actually the pre-cursor of the modern C3 networks.

They accomplished it by installing a command console and guardian ECM package in a Awesome Battlemech. It only works with heavy or assault mechs though and doesn't gives as good a bonus as the C3 but did work efficiently.

I'm no expert, but I can see how this could potentially be a very valuable concept for MW:O to incorporate, and probably not very difficult either. Create the interface for the option of having two people in one properly equipped mech, and then add an option for two players to agree to it, similar to a party invite. And it could even work well with the pilot skill trees, giving people another direction/venue for their spec/build.

I think this would also work in MW:O's favor in that it would continue to encourage social structure in their MMO, which is the life-blood of all lasting MMO's. Not everyone will agree that it's something a lot of people will want to do, but making it advantageous to have one will make it a necessity for the serious players/groups. They in turn will be looking to fill those roles and that will make it vital, and even popular. It will also provide a competitive and viable form of game play for the player that is less skilled at FPS type game play, keeping those kinds of players in the game, and giving this game more universal appeal, which can only be good for business.

Ingenious idea.

P.S. Thumbs up on the OP and especially the thread title!

Edited by Graives, 17 July 2012 - 10:55 AM.

[Pika]

I do believe what you're describing has been done in another Mech Game recently released!

Armored Core 5 added a 5th person to the online play called The Operator who is essentially _EXACTLY_ as you described, and you can see it in action here:
I would love something like this in MWO. I loved playing the role honestly and it adds a bizzare level of intense game play. It's like playing your favourite RTS at 400 miles an hour and your own ability to give instructions and orders will be tested. Of course, I only recommend doing this with friends who understand what your job is and that they MUST obey you without question because they have to understand you can see so much more than them.

When you get a team together who listen and obey, and then lead them to victory... it's such a good feeling.

Edited by Pika, 18 July 2012 - 07:26 PM.

[Graives]

Well in the BWC we have exactly that, but like I said earlier it should be optional so it's not required people have one for general game play.

Also... Why is this thread in this forum and not somewhere where it will be more visible? I think the idea could probably use a bit more hammering out especially after reading everything they've already done regarding IT Warfare, but it still merits exploration IMO.

[GoldenArbiter]

Graives, on 19 July 2012 - 02:13 PM, said:

Also... Why is this thread in this forum and not somewhere where it will be more visible? I think the idea could probably use a bit more hammering out especially after reading everything they've already done regarding IT Warfare, but it still merits exploration IMO.

Agreed. This should definitely be copy pasted to a relevant forum.

Other than that, Holy balls I love this idea.

[Tal Kath Naabal]

GoldenArbiter, on 19 July 2012 - 11:38 PM, said:

Agreed. This should definitely be copy pasted to a relevant forum.

Other than that, Holy balls I love this idea.

Same.

[zudukai]

played ACV, and never played the as the command, offered, just never taken.

i might check it out again just for this! any chromehounds players? i heard they have a similar system.

[Banditman]

I'm just sayin . . .

[GoldenArbiter]

Banditman, on 20 July 2012 - 09:35 AM, said:

I'm just sayin . . .

Never played MechCommander.... played #2, but not number 1.

[Aderas Keegan]

Criminy, I forgot I posted this!

Banditman, I realized after I made the OP that I was basically describing Mech Commander, haha. Either way, I DO still think it'd be a good thing.

Zudukai, Chromehounds (May it rest in peace) didn't have anything like that, to my knowledge, but I dropped out of it a few months before it was slated to go offline, so... maybe they had it between now and then.

Pika, that looks, yeah, more or less exactly like what I was describing.
I know the game's got the Command set up where you have the Command tree, allowing you to call in air support, artillery strikes, etc. in battle. I like that! But in other games where you have that sort of thing, such as Battlefield, you usually have to sit back and handle all that leaving the rest of the team to fight. Given the fact that we're operating in 12 man teams, that's a pretty big loss of potential firepower, all things considered.

I also agree with you gents in that the role of a TacCom officer shouldn't be mandatory, but a great boon to a serious player group- and even a hearty benefit for a PUG, because even if the player isn't dishing out (useful) orders, they still have access to other support abilities like artillery, and that sort of thing.

If I'd known what sort of reception this idea was going to get I'd have paid more attention to it. =] Where do you folks think I should stick it? I was really just looking to see what folks thought of it, but I'd love if something like this actually got implemented into the game.

[HepatitisTK]

I like the idea of having or becoming a TacCom officer in game however I can just see how bad things would go if we were to get someone... say a troll... in such a position. The trolling would be... on nightmarish levels.

Note: Every "..." stands for me shuttering at the thought of a troll in such a high place. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

[Aderas Keegan]

Well, I went ahead and pasted this onto the Suggestions forum.

I agree that the potential for a 'troll' would be there, but then, if they add this sort of feature I'm sure they'd have a Mutiny button for all the MechWarriors to push, jettisoning the fellow into the void. Yeah?

This kind of functionality (being TacCom) would also be nice for the people who want to participate, say with their friends, but either can't handle the in-game graphics, or aren't as skilled with ground combat yet.

Edited by Aderas Keegan, 20 July 2012 - 01:12 PM.

[Banditman]

GoldenArbiter, on 20 July 2012 - 12:06 PM, said:

Never played MechCommander.... played #2, but not number 1.

1 was a far, far better experience than 2 for me. I nearly went to the trouble of mailing the MC2 beta CD's back to Microsoft.

[The Outlaw Kazzen]

I've played ACV and have been in the role of operator. Do your job right and it can give your team a huge tactical advantage over the enemy. It's pretty nifty when your enemies simply cannot hide from you...

[Arthur Griffin]

I would love to see something like this. I was actully just thinking about that the other day, I mean not more than 2 days ago. I'm glad someone made a post like this and maybe someone upstairs will notice.

[GoldenArbiter]

Banditman, on 20 July 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

1 was a far, far better experience than 2 for me. I nearly went to the trouble of mailing the MC2 beta CD's back to Microsoft.

lol