20 replies to this topic

[Felicitatem Parco]

"Energy" as we all know it it the potential to perform work. It can manifest itself in kinetic forms (energy of mass motion), potential forms (movement primed and waiting to be allowed), and such.

So, I ask you, what pool of energy does your Mech draw from when determining if it's feasible to fire your autocannons, missiles, and lasers without I curring a heat penalty?

Is it the electrical energy from the reactor? No, because autocannons require very little electrical energy compared to lasers and PPCs, and missiles just need a small spark to ignite the propellant. There is no electrical correlation between weapon damage output and the E.D. demands of a weapon. We ALL know that twin PPCs require much more electricity than a ballistic AC/20.

Is it based on Recoil Energy? No, lasers produce no noticeable firing recoil.

Is it based on Heat Output? No, we already know that Gauss Rifles are assigned 1 heat, but have the same E.D. value as one-and-a-half PPCs.

Is it based on... The Force?
YES! The only "energy" pool that our Mechs are drawing against is The Force: the unifying energy field that binds all living things together. You may have heard of it from Star Wars movies (don't ask me why PGI is borrowing IP from another SciFi franchise).

The Force is the only "energy" pool that would be drawn against when measuring someone's ability to project force and damage upon someone *regardless of the nature of the attack* because The Force is based on bioemotional factors. This means if you want to hurt someone for 20 damage then you'll tap The Force for 20-damage worth of bioemotional power.

This is the only explanation for how the Energy Draw system can tax your projected damage output simultaneously across energy, ballistic, and missile weapons since there is no physical principle to abide by


So, MW:O is now an offshoot of the StarWars universe.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 24 October 2016 - 10:25 AM.

[Gas Guzzler]

Can we just stop calling it anything and pretend it never existed?

[Scout Derek]

To put it short; Park doesn't like to call it Energy Draw because it is illogi-

Wait, isn't this based on a sci-fi universe where we still use fax machines? and yet we have bulbous dropships and big walking tanks that shoot lasers Missiles big guns and even nukes? .-.

[Dr Wubs]

How about Energy Suck?

[Mcgral18]

It is, and always has been, Ghost Heat Mk2

[Scout Derek]

Dr Wubs, on 24 October 2016 - 10:26 AM, said:

How about Energy Succ?

FTFY

[Karl Streiger]

Well if we have lowend capacitors and autocannons use a plasmaburner to ignite the propellant then they should need energy.

But the force seem to fit better

[Felicitatem Parco]

Scout Derek, on 24 October 2016 - 10:25 AM, said:

To put it short; Park doesn't like to call it Energy Draw because it is illogi-

Wait, isn't this based on a sci-fi universe where we still use fax machines? and yet we have bulbous dropships and big walking tanks that shoot lasers Missiles big guns and even nukes? .-.

No, SciFi universes use Science to explain phenomena. Energy Draw does not have any attempt at a scientific explanation behind it, so that's my qualm. They didn't even make something up to explain it.

So I found an explanation from a SciFi universe that matches PGI's design.

We should call it: Force Draw

[Scout Derek]

Prosperity Park, on 24 October 2016 - 10:34 AM, said:

No, SciFi universes use Science to explain phenomena. Energy Draw does not have any attempt at a scientific explanation behind it, so that's my qualm. They didn't even make something up to explain it.

So I found an explanation from a SciFi universe that matches PGI's design.

We should call it: Force Draw

exactly, like I said, to put it short, you find it illogical.

Also, people keep calling it energy draw. I like to call it power draw.

Edited by Scout Derek, 24 October 2016 - 10:37 AM.

[Felicitatem Parco]

Scout Derek, on 24 October 2016 - 10:36 AM, said:

exactly, like I said, to put it short, you find it illogical.

Also, people keep calling it energy draw. I like to call it power draw.

There is no power source they are drawing against. That's the same as calling it Energy Draw.

Use The Force, Scout. It is the only way.

[process]

Energy Reserve.

Editorial: IF there has to be a alpha limiting mechanic, I hope it can happen behind the scenes. I'd rather skip the energy bar, which I find more of a distraction, and to not have to do the math in my head before firing my weapons. At least you can account for ghost heat while you're designing your mech, and not something that varies depending on in-game conditions.

If it's possible, I'd rather have a system that does the math behind the scenes. For instance, if certain loadouts are discouraged, like 2 Gauss 2 ER PPC, then maybe there's a predetermined penalty, like -30 heat capacity. This amount can then be directly represented on the cockpit heat bar:

Edited by process, 24 October 2016 - 11:00 AM.

[Bud Crue]

Hmm...pulling form other IP to identify a made up game mechanic designed to replace a previous made up game mechanic, both of which are designed to meet an abstract requirement of how the developers would like the game to behave.
Hmm...

Well it seems to me there is no reason to go to Star Wars or any established IP for the designation of this new mechanic.
This is MWO.
Now we've pretty much beaten to death the idea that it is or ever really was "A BattleTech Game", so no reason to look there for a proper designation.
Hmm...

Ah! But what makes MWO unique? Well I'll tell ya: It is the dev's continued and constant attempts to Force Balance that is Uncharacteristic of this IP. Their effort to do this is often as convoluted as possible and often seemingly Against Reason.

Thus I believe Energy Draw should simply be known as FUBAR.
Forcing Uncharacteristic Balance Against Reason.

Now certainly this FUBAR system may have other historical meanings, but I for one thinks that it works just as well here...and as a bonus its historical application is simultaneously apropos as well; so its doubly appropriate.

Edited by Bud Crue, 24 October 2016 - 11:14 AM.

[Jerry Beard]

Um I get your point but ummm The engine is a reactor and everything in the mech including the myomer muscles use electricity to function. So the reactor produces electricity which is limited so even an autocannon or missle, which while it may not use much energy to fire uses way more to run the reload system. Lasers require tremendous amounts of energy as well as gauss rifles since they use electricity to create a magnet field to propel the slug....There ya go science!!!

[GrimRiver]

I think "ED" is just capacitors waiting to be discharged on a moments notice and drawing from the near limitless fusion reactor energy supply.

But yeah ballistics and missiles would draw next to nothing while Energy weapons and gauss rifle would be massive hogs.

[SmithMPBT]

The Cables drawing energy from your fusion reactor can only draw a limited amount per second into capacitors before deploying the energy from the weapon and needing to "recharge". So maximum energy drain from your fusion engine to weapons has occured. Sci-fi universe remains intact.

[Steve Pryde]

Dr Wubs, on 24 October 2016 - 10:26 AM, said:

How about Energy Suck?

Jaa

[Mechteric]

I vote "The Force"


Make it so number one!

[roboPrancer]

Each weapon actually draws from a pool of cool/badass-ness. So obviously firing too many weapons at once would cause a badass overload and the mech would have to just sit there looking kinda lame afterwards to compensate for it.

[kuma8877]

GrimRiver, on 24 October 2016 - 11:48 AM, said:

I think "ED" is just capacitors waiting to be discharged on a moments notice and drawing from the near limitless fusion reactor energy supply.

But yeah ballistics and missiles would draw next to nothing while Energy weapons and gauss rifle would be massive hogs.

The feed mechanism for both would be where the draw would come from. I would guess not trivial amounts either considering how complex the systems for re-racking missiles might need to be or feeding those milunitions up from the legs. Just a thought from a former ordnanceman.

Edited by kuma8877, 24 October 2016 - 12:16 PM.

[Shiroi Tsuki]

I'd personally like to call it