30 replies to this topic

[Lostdragon]

Many, many moons ago there was talk of a salvage system for MWO. Now we have loot crates coming to the game. I can't figure out how the very Mechwarrior/Battletech idea of salvage gets replaced with loot crates that are basically the antithesis of the sim genre where MWO has its roots.

I know things must evolve with the times, but I personally feel loot crates are a step in the wrong direction. One of the things I enjoy about MWO is how it is not arcadey and loot crates fly in the face of that.

If it was necessary to come up with additional monetization for the game, why not monetize a true salvage system? For example, every piece of undestroyed equipment from dead enemies has a chance to end up as salvage for the winning team, including mechs that are not completely wrecked. At the end of the round the winners receive some percentage of available salvage that they split 12 ways. Salvaged equipment goes into a special inventory tab and from there can be sold for cbils or kept by the player and moved into normal inventory for a bit of MC. A salvaged mech, engine, module, or weapon might cost 10% of the normal MC cost as figured when pricing items in the store and possibly a cbill cost for repairing a mech.

I feel a scheme such as this would be much more palatable to Mechwarrior fans as it is truer to the source material and original vision for the game. This could also open up future "blackmarket" type possibilities with the ability to buy, sell, and trade salvaged items in an auction house type system which could also be a source of income for the game.

[Khobai]

you seem to have missed the whole point of why PGI is doing it the way they are.

the whole point of the crates is the random element

because the loot tables are random people will keep buying keys and opening crates

similar to how people compulsively keep putting money into slot machines at casinos

Edited by Khobai, 10 May 2016 - 08:04 PM.

[Johnny Z]

Khobai, on 10 May 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

you seem to have missed the whole point of why PGI is doing it the way they are.

the whole point of the crates is the random element

because the loot tables are random people will keep buying keys and opening crates

similar to how people compulsively keep putting money into slot machines at casinos

It isn't even remotely like that. The similarities are a reality twisting stretch. I thinking searching for and finding loot on the field is more similar to going fishing or brushing my teeth. No I don't have dentures, but this would be even funnier if I did. You guys give me such a laugh. ROFL

Edited by Johnny Z, 10 May 2016 - 08:30 PM.

[MechaBattler]

You could still have salvage and make some F2P money off it. Just have it be that your tech team has to pick apart the salvage to get at the goods. So it goes on a 3 hour timer process it. OR people can just pay MC to have a tech firm instantly restore the salvage. Or have the option to sell the salvage on the market.

[Agent 0 Fortune]

Khobai, on 10 May 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

you seem to have missed the whole point of why PGI is doing it the way they are.
the whole point of the crates is the random element
because the loot tables are random people will keep buying keys and opening crates
similar to how people compulsively keep putting money into slot machines at casinos

No. if it were random they would just randomly award someone. this targets (entices) light mechs, because they are completely broken.
This is simply a way to attempt to give them something to do besides slaughter assaults.

EDIT: correction, reward is random.

Edited by Agent 0 Fortune, 10 May 2016 - 09:52 PM.

[SkyHammyr]

On many occasions on these forums, we've asked for some kind of salvage reward mechanism.
How does PGI react to that feedback? Crates.

Pretty much the same way Ghost Damage was PGI's attempt to address player feedback regarding Laser Alphas.
Pretty much the same way Tagless Freelancing was PGI's attempt to address the plight of the solo player in CW.

It's almost as if these guys are going out of their way to troll us. LOL

Edited by SkyHammyr, 10 May 2016 - 08:53 PM.

[Lostdragon]

Khobai, on 10 May 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

you seem to have missed the whole point of why PGI is doing it the way they are.

the whole point of the crates is the random element

because the loot tables are random people will keep buying keys and opening crates

similar to how people compulsively keep putting money into slot machines at casinos

I think there is more to it than that, but a salvage mechanic could have the same type of random elements and, if done correctly, people would feel really lucky to get a mech or maybe a module they need.

Edited by Lostdragon, 10 May 2016 - 08:50 PM.

[STEF_]

Lostdragon, on 10 May 2016 - 07:35 PM, said:

I can't figure out how the very Mechwarrior/Battletech idea of salvage gets replaced with loot crates that are basically the antithesis of the sim genre where MWO has its roots.

I can help you to understand with only one word.

PGI.

[Aresye]

I'm 99% certain that if PGI had simply used the word "salvage" instead of "crate," in the road map, the amount of butthurt would be almost non-existent.

[Johnny Z]

Aresye, on 10 May 2016 - 09:17 PM, said:

I'm 99% certain that if PGI had simply used the word "salvage" instead of "crate," in the road map, the amount of butthurt would be almost non-existent.

Smartest reply yet. But maybe some would still flip out.

[Khobai]

Quote

No. if it were random they would just randomly award someone. this targets (entices) light mechs, because they are completely broken.
This is simply a way to attempt to give them something to do besides slaughter assaults.

um no because whoever picks up the supply crate doesnt necessarily get it. its given to a random player on their team.

so you get no benefit whatsoever picking up the crate as a light mech

[Alistair Winter]

Players have been asking for a good salvage mechanic since 2012. Heh, remember when some of us actually thought that salvage would be a good way for IS players to get their hands on Clan tech? Like in the video games? Ah, memories.

But yeah, PGI has already committed to the supply crates. At this point, I'm kind of getting the sense they didn't like our ideas about salvage.

Spoiler

[El Bandito]

Instead of casino crates, I much rather have casino convergence when doing stuff other than standing still.

[Lostdragon]

Aresye, on 10 May 2016 - 09:17 PM, said:

I'm 99% certain that if PGI had simply used the word "salvage" instead of "crate," in the road map, the amount of butthurt would be almost non-existent.

Salvage meanslooting your enemies' equipment, it has nothing to do with finding a random container. If they had called this system salvage I think it would have been even more laughable. People who want a real Salvage system are only looking for something PGI already said would be in the game anyway.

[Davers]

Aresye, on 10 May 2016 - 09:17 PM, said:

I'm 99% certain that if PGI had simply used the word "salvage" instead of "crate," in the road map, the amount of butthurt would be almost non-existent.

Of course. But the fact that they didn't think to do that just demonstrates how out of touch they are, at least with the forum community.

[Kaeb Odellas]

Khobai, on 10 May 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

you seem to have missed the whole point of why PGI is doing it the way they are.

the whole point of the crates is the random element

because the loot tables are random people will keep buying keys and opening crates

similar to how people compulsively keep putting money into slot machines at casinos

I don't see why they couldn't randomize the salvage too. Right now all we get for "salvage" is a small C-bill bonus. Why couldn't we get other stuff instead?

For instance, they could offer players with a variety of mech components from dead enemies in the field. They could offer stuff like weapons, engines, cheaper modules, cockpit items, omnipods, etc. All components would come in a damaged state that they must spend MC to repair. They could also scrap the items for a relatively small amount of C-bills. The player who gets KMDD gets access to the choicest bits of salvage.

Every so often you get something cool, like a part from a "special" variant that gets a Cbill boost and special cosmetics. Perhaps if you collect all pieces of that variant, you can spend an additional sum to put it together to form a whole mech, complete with a booster and the special cosmetics. Perhaps give this mech a special designation and "battle-damaged" look, to signifiy that its owner managed to salvage it out of scrap. Wouldn't that be interesting?

[El Bandito]

Kaeb Odellas, on 10 May 2016 - 10:10 PM, said:

Wouldn't that be interesting?

Too much work for PGI.

Edited by El Bandito, 10 May 2016 - 10:18 PM.

[Kaeb Odellas]

El Bandito, on 10 May 2016 - 10:18 PM, said:

Too much work for PGI.

I can't really be mad at them about this. It's intended to be a quick and dirty way to add an additional revenue stream, and it will work towards that purpose. Relatively simple, and probably not hard to implement considering a lot of the systems it needs already seem to exist in the game.

One thing I'd change is that the supply cache should only be awarded to the team that actually wins, and it should reward every member of the team that meaningfully contributes to the win with a crate from the cache. I'm talking minimum match score kind of stuff. If someone doesn't qualify, the top scorer gets a second crate, and so on. The finder of the cache should automatically qualify, for obvious reasons. If a team wins but doesn't find the cache, then tough luck I guess.

[Satan n stuff]

Johnny Z, on 10 May 2016 - 08:16 PM, said:

It isn't even remotely like that. The similarities are a reality twisting stretch. I thinking searching for and finding loot on the field is more similar to going fishing or brushing my teeth. No I don't have dentures, but this would be even funnier if I did. You guys give me such a laugh. ROFL

You haven't played many F2P games have you?

[Coolant]

I totally agree, supply crates (AKA chests), really have no place in MWO. They fit better in an RPG. Makes it seem like we kill a boss and we get to loot the chest. It's wierd. But, they are in other games like a lottery system. I don't think much resources would've been diverted for something this minor, and we are getting free stuff. We don't have to buy a key for MC cause we can sell them for CBills. PGI gets more money which should help with development. I just think it's kinda wierd.

Edited by Coolant, 11 May 2016 - 06:39 AM.