10 replies to this topic

[Firewing2]

I just started playing recently and was thinking about buying my first mech pack, more for the premium time and mech bays than anything. I was thinking the Marauder IIC pack both for the MW2 nostalgia and the fact that I love me some free swag vis-a-vis the early adopter bonus.

My questions on this:
1) Do you find the mech packs to be worth it? I.E. do they stack up well vs buying MCs, premium time, etc?
2) I know the mech doesn't come out until December. Do I not get the mech bays and premium time until December as well? Or will I be able to use them immediately, and just have to wait for my mechs to come later?

Thank you

[Koniving]

Welcome.
1). Yes. Unless the pack is about something 30 tons or less, (and even then), they will always far outweigh MC values. (Recently shared I'm sitting on 302 days of premium time which I have been activating 30 days at a time every other month since December 2015 when my 480+ days was accidentally activated in had expired, and I have never bought premium time.
2) FAQ sheet says it is all delivered on the same day.
Other ones already released like the Marauder will give them now.

Why not consider the Marauder for now, and if happy with it plug a 20 in for the IIC before the early buyer thingy ends?

[Rogue Jedi]

I agree with Koniving,
the preorder packs always better value than buying the items with MC separately at a later date.

the early adopter bonus seriously increases the value if you can get it.

everything is usually delivered on the date the Mechs are unless the FAQ says otherwise.

[Firewing2]

Thanks for the advice. I'm actually looking at the Steam DLC add ons... and they look pretty good as well. Getting a couple of Medium mechs plus:
[color=#ACB2B8]• 2 'Mech Bays [/color]
[color=#ACB2B8]• Phranken pattern and colors applied and unlocked [/color]
[color=#ACB2B8]• 30 days Premium Time (activates upon next log in) [/color]
[color=#ACB2B8]• 2000 MC [/color]
[color=#ACB2B8]• 3.5 million C-Bills[/color]

Seems like a good deal for 40$?

[Koniving]

Well lets see.

Quick note: The (S) tidbit just means Steam/Sarah's Mech/Special, depending on which mech it is on. Basically "cash only version, gives 30% cbills... but otherwise identical to the regular variant without the (S)

It appears you get a Hunchback 4P(S) (I like these, you can see me using one here from build to combat. Mine is the regular cbills one.)
You also get a Stormcrow (I don't have many Stormcrow vids, but everyone loves Stormcrows, they're among the 'top dogs' of all the 'Mechs. Omnimechs can have their hardpoints changed to suit your whims.)

2000 MC is as good as you make it; I'm always big on sales. Good news is this automatically qualifies you for the Blackjack 2 loyalty variant (since you're getting MC).

Quote

Condition: You must have purchased any amount of MC1 OR You must have purchased any Steam Performance Bundle2 (Light, Medium, Heavy, or Assault) between October 6th 2015 at 10:01 AM PDT (5:01 PM UTC) and October 18th 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT (5:00 PM UTC).
Reward: Blackjack BJ-2 Loyalty Variant (featuring a unique Loyalty Pattern and 30% C-Bill Boost) + 1 MechBay.

So some awesomesauce there. Then again a simple 6.95 purchase of MC can get it, too.

3.5 million cbills, always handy. 30 days premium time, nice. Pattern unlocked for Hunchbacks and Stormcrows, sweet (not cheap unless sales). Colors... While versions of the colors can be easily acquired, those specific tints would be ungodly expensive without a sale. Like I wouldn't touch them expensive. Then again I got similar colors and hey, men can't tell too much difference between tan, beige and bone.

We'll call that option 1.


Some 40 dollar alternatives include... (Sending post early to reserve my spot while researching).
....All mechs mentioned below automatically come with mechbays...
Option 2.
Marauder: 20 bucks.
3 mechs (none with cbill bonus).
30 days premium time.
Title, badge,
1x each: Warhorn, Standing cockpit item, Hanging cockpit item.
+ Marauder IIC: 20 bucks.
3 mechs (none with cbill bonus) + early bird fourth variant.
30 days premium time
Title, badge, (+ early bird bonus title, badge)
1x each: Warhorn, Standing cockpit item, Hanging cockpit item. + 3x each bonus warhorn, standing item, hanging item.
Bonus decal.

Qualifications for that 40 bucks:

Quote

IS Any Tier
You must have purchased any tier of any Inner Sphere Collection3 (or any Inner Sphere a la carte 'Mech) between October 6th 2015 at 10:01 AM PDT (5:01 PM UTC) and October 18th 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT (5:00 PM UTC).

Cataphract CTF-3L Loyalty Variant (featuring a unique Loyalty Pattern and 30% C-Bill Boost)

You must have purchased any tier of any Clan Collection4 (or any Clan a la carte 'Mech) between DATES thrown out because always the same.

Hellbringer HBR-F Loyalty Variant (featuring a unique Loyalty Pattern and 30% C-Bill Boost) + 1 MechBay.

Option 1:
Alright. So Medium pack, 40 bucks.
Gives 2 mechs, each with 30% cbill bonus. + unlocks 1 bonus loyalty mech with cbill bonus. (3 mechs total, all 3 with bonus earnings when used).
3.5 mil Cbills.
30 days premium time.
2000 MC.

Option 2:
7 mechs (with early bird on Marauder IIC) and 2 additional Loyalty mechs with 30% cbill boosts. (9 mechs total, 2 with bonus earnings when used).
60 days premium time
useless clutter in your cockpit...
6.5 million cbills (from IIC early rewards).

Option 3: Marauder Collector. (Throw 40 at Marauder instead of 20).
60 days premium time.
4 mechs, 1 of which has cbill bonus. + 1 bonus Loyalty mechs with bonus (details under option one for IS reward). (Total 5 mechs.)

Then there's the Resistance or Origins packs or "Option 4".
Resistance packs can get you 6 mechs, 2 with cbill bonuses (6 total...) and 7 days premium time for 40 bucks.
Origins can do the same.
Note either of these qualifies for one additional Loyalty variant... Or if you're big into lights you can get 20 in Resistance I or II and 20 in Origins, and get two loyalty mechs (the IS reward and Clan reward). So 8 mechs total with 4 of them having cbill bonuses
------------------
So. Opinions.

Option 4 kinda sucks if the goal is to net up premium time too. Option 4 does get the most mechs, mostly being lights and mediums however.
Options 2 and 3 get double the premium time and more mechs, Option 2 gets better cbill rewards. Option 1 has the only MC reward.

Anyway, there's your options for 40 bucks.

Of them... Options 3, 4 and 1 would get you everything "Now."
Option 2 will deliver half the goods now and half in December.

Edited by Koniving, 22 August 2016 - 02:15 PM.

[Koniving]

Also:
https://mwomercs.com/profile/content
This is where you would choose faction patterns if they apply to some preorder package you get. (Won't show until you have some).
It also, more importantly, has a list of "Qualifications" for the loyalty rewards program in October. Getting as many 'reasonable' yeses as you can would net a lot of awesome in your box come delivery day.

Edited by Koniving, 22 August 2016 - 02:48 PM.

[Firewing2]

Wow! I appreciate you taking the time to break it down so far for me. It sounds like Option 2 really is the most bang for my buck, especially with the dual loyalty rewards.

In your opinion, is springing the extra $15 for the Hero mech as part of the package worth it? I know that it's only one mech compared to the options you lay out that give way more for $20 (especially with future reward packages) so I guess I'm just asking how good/cool/worth it are Hero Mechs vs regulars?

[Koniving]

Firewing2, on 22 August 2016 - 02:51 PM, said:

Wow! I appreciate you taking the time to break it down so far for me. It sounds like Option 2 really is the most bang for my buck, especially with the dual loyalty rewards.

In your opinion, is springing the extra $15 for the Hero mech as part of the package worth it? I know that it's only one mech compared to the options you lay out that give way more for $20 (especially with future reward packages) so I guess I'm just asking how good/cool/worth it are Hero Mechs vs regulars?

Depends on the hero mech and how compatible the mech is with your playstyle. I always think hero mechs are worth it, one of 75 tons or greater, I'd wager them to be worth about 15 dollars. If less than 75 tons, I'd wait for the heroes to release for MC and then maybe a sale... (if above 75 tons, I'd rather go straight for the 15 dollar hero option and if I can't, wait for a sale 'cause I couldn't afford it otherwise.)

Edit:

This said...
I "kinda" like the Marauder hero... but not enough to want to get it.

The Marauder IIC hero... ****. Yeah. That's an "I'm gonna get." It works very well with the way I like to play.
(This said I would barely even call the layout of the IIC Hero design a 'Marauder' at all; it reminds me of a Cataphract 4X packed with some missile hardpoints, but who cares I'd love a CTF 4X packed with 4 hardpoints for shoulder missile launchers.)
Edit 2:
(Evidently the IIC hero combines the arms of the Marauder IIC D with the left shoulder of the Marauder IIC B duplicated for both left/right shoulders; so it does follow the PGI-made rule and 'usually' followed rule that hero mechs combine traits of two existing variants [and when all variants exclude a weapon type, 'include' a small number of it])

Edited by Koniving, 22 August 2016 - 03:05 PM.

[Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kerensky]

Mech packs (purchased through the mwo website) are great deals.
Early adaptor rewards are extremelly good incentives added ontop of those great deals.

If your going to spend money on something more expensive then just buying mech bays, then mech packs with early adopter rewards is the way to go!

[Leone]

Something to consider.

Basic 20$ mechpack preorder, comes with all the bonuses an the early adopter deals. Hero mech addon comes with a hero mech.

The classic approach is to buy the basic, get all nifties and bonuses therein, and then once the mech has dropped, if you love it, grab the hero addon. No need to get that part now since there is no other benefit, save the extra mech.

~Leone.

Edited by Leone, 22 August 2016 - 06:36 PM.

[Keltan]

Sometimes the Steam packs go on sale. Probably won't be until Christmas time, but it tends to bug me to buy something full price when I could get it on sale if I waited. YMMV. And you do have better options currently.

One thing to note is the Steam pack mechs are locked to your account. You can never sell them to free up the mech bay. Most pilots probably wouldn't, I mean 30% c-bill bonus, but still something to take note of.