71 replies to this topic

[Hit the Deck]

I think folks at HBS (players and devs) want these 'Mechs in their game because they are some of the most numerous 'Mechs in existence. Of course, some of our Whales (the players, not the Clan 100 tonner) also have expressed interest in owning these precious 'Mechs.

The problem is, that they are not really viable in our current state of the game. A massive hardpoint inflation is needed for a start. Beside giving them the ability to turn into an airplane aerotech and fly, what can PGI do to make them viable and desirable for the masses? Not to mention that it's time for a "Light Mechpack"!

[Davers]

As you said, they are not viable without massive quirks and hardpoint inflation. But players are more willing to see that quirks, even on 20 ton mechs, can be removed. The demand for tonnage starved light mechs is pretty much limited to people who want to play HBS' game.

[Hit the Deck]

Well, I think it will help PGI because they will get some revenue from both people buying the pack and HBS.

If we don't have them, I guess the upcoming Battletech game will resort to Locust and Commando for cannon fodder (just like in the MechCommander series, maybe with some Urbies sprinkeld in). But IMO Wasp/Stinger looks much cooler!

Edited by Hit the Deck, 25 July 2016 - 10:26 PM.

[jss78]

Of the two, I can see that the Stinger in particular might struggle in this game. You can give it quirks and hardpoint inflation, but it'd still only have arm hardpoints, right? The Phoenix Hawk already struggles with being easy to disarm, with much sturdier arms.

The Wasp though... We have a 6E variant (of which 4 in side torsos), the WSP-1W, even before hardpoint inflation. 1D similar but with only 4E before inflation. Judging based on the Phoenix Hawk, hitboxes will be excellent. It'll be a little slower than a Locust (max engine 170?), but will jump.

I'm no meta-overlord, but if people are doing fine with the all-energy Locusts, I'd see some hope for the Wasp. PGI would have to live a little with the quirks though, unlike their approach with the Phoenix Hawk.

Maybe a Wasp pack with a Stinger variant capable of small-scale MG boating thrown in? The other Stingers might be a bit redundant alongside the Wasp energy boats.

[Navid A1]

unless they are 5$ packs... i'm not interested.

[Kubernetes]

Not going to see much build diversity with those mechs even with hardpoint inflation. ML Boat! SPL Boat! MGs for lulz! 'No, man, why you wasting tonnage on MGs? Moar JJs and DHS!' Okay, SPL Boat!

[Hit the Deck]

Kubernetes, on 25 July 2016 - 11:36 PM, said:

Not going to see much build diversity with those mechs even with hardpoint inflation. ML Boat! SPL Boat! MGs for lulz! 'No, man, why you wasting tonnage on MGs? Moar JJs and DHS!' Okay, SPL Boat!

Well, what else can you do in a Light?

The Raven-3L is one successful story of a Light which has a niche as a scout/spotter 'Mech, though sadly that role is neither useful nor rewarded currently. The Adder is a heavy weapon Light, but that role can only be done by a Clan Light. The Panther is an IS jumping (ER)PPC 'Light. Other unique Lights would be the Hollander or Piranha.

[El Bandito]

Hollander is the only IS Light I am interested in.

[Karl Streiger]

El Bandito, on 26 July 2016 - 12:21 AM, said:

Hollander is the only IS Light I am interested in.

Oh I love this design but like the UrbanMech the reason to field it is not given in MWO. (cheap but a killer gun to knock down clan lights)
Last not least the design would suffer to an extreme by the lego tech Gauss

[Elizander]

Just give them the Artict Cheetoh treatment:

1) Inflated energy hard points, some high.
2) Specific quirks to increase Small Laser or Medium Laser range.
3) Quirks to reduce energy heat.
4) Put ECM on 1-3 variants.
5) Structure/Armor quirks.

Or they can be as small or annoying as a locust.

[Lynx7725]

I look at the Stinger and Wasp and I sigh.

In the Battletech world, as the tech progresses, 20 tonners were increasingly obsoleted; 20 ton Mechs were viable in the technological and economic backdrop of the Third Succession War, but once that was changed, their vulnerability and lack of options basically made them too ineffective after a certain time period.

That's in the Battletech world. In MWO, it's even worse due to the extreme levels of customization any mech can have, and the straight-up combat nature of the games we have now. With limited space and tonnage, 20 tonners just doesn't quite have appeal -- especially "mass production" models that didn't really have a niche.

I'm thinking, instead of separate mech packs, maybe for the Stinger and Wasp they can be combined as one mech pack, with a common skill tree. Considering how similar they are in model (since they had the same base design...), might be an easier way to churn up enough variations to satisfy the current requirements.

[EvilCow]

I would give them serious JJ duration and JJ thrust quirks, that would make them unique for sure.

Ability of side/forward thrusting could be added too. A "transformation" animation during jump would be spectacular.

Not a LAM but conceptually very close.

[kf envy]

Hit the Deck, on 25 July 2016 - 09:33 PM, said:

I think folks at HBS (players and devs) want these 'Mechs in their game because they are some of the most numerous 'Mechs in existence. Of course, some of our Whales (the players, not the Clan 100 tonner) also have expressed interest in owning these precious 'Mechs.

The problem is, that they are not really viable in our current state of the game. A massive hardpoint inflation is needed for a start. Beside giving them the ability to turn into an airplane aerotech and fly, what can PGI do to make them viable and desirable for the masses? Not to mention that it's time for a "Light Mechpack"!

ya...... i dont see pgi neing able to pull off adding lam mechs to the game.

[Vervuel]

Hit the Deck, on 25 July 2016 - 10:25 PM, said:

If we don't have them, I guess the upcoming Battletech game will resort to Locust and Commando for cannon fodder (just like in the MechCommander series, maybe with some Urbies sprinkeld in). But IMO Wasp/Stinger looks much cooler!

Stinger was in MechCommander Gold! Although it was fairly useless except for durable UAV basically

[Hit the Deck]

Vervuel, on 26 July 2016 - 01:17 AM, said:

Stinger was in MechCommander Gold! Although it was fairly useless except for durable UAV basically

I never knew this although I had MC Gold (didn't finish it maybe that's why)!

[MeiSooHaityu]

El Bandito, on 26 July 2016 - 12:21 AM, said:

Hollander is the only IS Light I am interested in.

That would be great...I hope lol.

I would also totally be ok with the Hollander II as well (45 tons). Just saying

[Satan n stuff]

Hit the Deck, on 25 July 2016 - 09:33 PM, said:

I once played against a bot with a Wasp in Megamek, it managed to plow into a building before it actually made contact, then it retreated straight though another building and wrecked itself. Megamek bots aren't very smart.

[Stone Wall]

I looked up the Wasp earlier and it really will suck in this game.

[martian]

Vervuel, on 26 July 2016 - 01:17 AM, said:

Stinger was in MechCommander Gold! Although it was fairly useless except for durable UAV basically

I don't think so.

Are you sure you are not confusing the Stinger with the Stiletto?

[GreyNovember]

As long as you don't ask for buffs for the mech you know is going to be subpar, but wanted in the game anyway.