Gas Guzzler, on 25 August 2016 - 12:09 PM, said:
My ED feedback was lower the draw values of non PPFLD weapons (lasers, LB, SRMs, LRMs) to balance them against the ability to fire 3 PPCs with no penalty. But PGI listened to the loud whining and Kanajashi's review/feedback video about RAISING PPFLD weapon draw values instead. You have only those people blame.
That's awesome.
B-b-b-but what about all those people who say alphas weren't the primary firing mode for mechs in Battletech?
They weren't. Only ahandful of mechs were built to do so, though many people really don't understand that since "alpha strike" simply meant firing your whole weapon compliment, a LCV-1V firing it's Medium laser and 2 MGs counted as an "alpha". Part of the confusion, from what I gathered arguing with Koniving and a couple others is MegaMek apparently has some optional and frankly, ridiculous "Alpha Strike" rule.
But the majority of mechs packing MWO levels of firepower actually couldn't alpha, without risking shutdown, etc. Look at the Warhawk, it's alpha was 4x C-ERPPC and 1x LRM10. That's a 64-65 or so, heat alpha. With only 20 DHS, that's almost instant shutdown. And probably going to detonate the LRM ammo.
The difference is the Alpha didn't put every single weapon on the same component (unless using a TC and taking a serious to hit penalty). Which also meant the alpha was often simply not worth the heat to damage trade off. And in a game where the average hit rate was 50% for elite warriors, on average, you willing to lower your probability to 20-25% chance of hitting, when that means 75-80% chance of completely missing? (and still shutting down, ammo exploding, either way)
Simply put, in my experience most people talking about alpha strikes from either side of the aisle really are kind of short on facts.