39 replies to this topic

[Strattus]

Haven't seen anything like this topic yet (but, to the fair, haven't really combed through the forums, either), so if this belongs in another location, just let me know!

I can't tell you how excited I am for the new announcement of a 2018 release of Mechwarrior 5!!! I have been waiting for this ever since the original MWO trailer came out YEARs ago!

Click here to see the trailer from 7 years ago...

I wanted to ask the community if they have any topics/comments for the developers in the early stages of game and story line development. So, please post any:

• Ideas about the story timeline / available tech
  
• Thematic influences (other games or movies) that would help sweeten the campaign experience (i.e. Call of Duty level cutscences, or no?)
  
• Features / tools you think would be helpful for a mercenary unit commander
  
• Favorite moments/features from previous Mechwarrior titles
  
• Ideas for improving lance control and A.I.

My personal favorite campaign was the Mechwarrior 3. Deep in Clan territory, and separated from your unit at the start of the game made for a very immersive start to the campaign. Taught self reliance with the Mobile Field Bases, requiring protection throughout every mission (they were your life-line!)

One feature I would like to see (that is currently in Mechwarrior Online) is a separate and optional tutorial that would take away from the typical "training/calibration" at the beginning of a campaign story...... I'd be nice to get right to the action! (or at least find a very creative way to integrate the tutorial so it doesn't slow the first level down too much).

Anyways, I started this to hear from you! Post your thoughts, and maybe after we have a discussion going, I'll post a vote for the ideas! Who knows, maybe the devs will see and glean a few ideas themselves (since they have a little time)!

[Mr D One]

That is a cool idea.

I really just want a good story and an easter egg or 2 featuring Spectre.

[Heffay]

I just want modding abilities. ALL THE MODS!

[MarineTech]

Since it's a Mercs title.

I think we need a Solaris 7 segment in the game with George Ledoux as Duncan Fisher.

[Strattus]

MarineTech, on 13 December 2016 - 02:41 AM, said:

Since it's a Mercs title.

I think we need a Solaris 7 segment in the game with George Ledoux as Duncan Fisher.

Peter Wolf 359, on 11 December 2016 - 06:11 AM, said:

That is a cool idea.

I really just want a good story and an easter egg or 2 featuring Spectre.

Its too bad the story is in 3015..... Although, we could cast the E-trade baby in the role of Duncan!!
This is Duncan Fisher reporting to you live, from the crib Colosseum!

Maybe there could be some references to the parents of Merc Unit commanders from MW2 or MW4 storylines (including maybe Specter!!).... Age would prob be okay then....

My personal favorite would be some tangent to the Dragoons.... I wonder it they were active at this time in 3015.....

[Karl Streiger]

Considering what I want and what we get because of PEGI is depressing.

War in the 31st century is not clean, it s not only Mechs fighting other Mechs. Several GW Lasers would not cease to exist when they miss a target.
When Mechs fight in a city there is no city after wards.

MW5 should be dirty, it should be shocking, it should bring the player to the brink of madness. When your employer force you to fight a superior enemy and you see your band of brothers and sisters (you have build up in the last 48hours gaming time) get shredded into bloddy pieces where as reinforcements are only 10 km behind you.

Dirt & cruelty - on a SpecOps Hold the Line level. - more a kind of anti-war game but a war game.

[Vanguard319]

I just hope they don't do this pinpoint precision BS that's so prevalent in MWO. They made a big mistake when they threw out the simulation aspects of MechWarrior.

One other thing I hope they do is set it the game's time line to just before and during the clan invasion. If I'm gonna be an IS merc, I don't mind having to fight a technologically superior enemy at some point in the campaign.

Edited by Vanguard319, 13 December 2016 - 07:01 AM.

[Strattus]

Vanguard319, on 13 December 2016 - 06:49 AM, said:

I just hope they don't do this pinpoint precision BS that's so prevalent in MWO. They made a big mistake when they threw out the simulation aspects of MechWarrior.

One other thing I hope they do is set it the game's time line to just before and during the clan invasion. If I'm gonna be an IS merc, I don't mind having to fight a technologically superior enemy at some point in the campaign.

This is a great point.... it might help with the immersion to the tech level of 3015 while correcting the precision disparity for those who prefer a joystick to the mouse for fire control! Two birds with one stone on that suggestion!

[Davegt27]

Quote

I wanted to ask the community if they have any topics/comments for the developers in the early stages of game and story line development. So, please post any:

first tall order
its very very hard to make a winning game you might even say it takes luck
I been playing video games since 1980 and my opinion is the reason FPS games became the dominant game type is they are
easier to develop and have a greater chance of success for money spent


a lot of current game types play out like, you grind through the game doing all the scenarios (campaign)
then your done you never play the game again

the great games you play and play and never get tired of the game

I remember the great games but there where a ton of flops

like F15 Strike Eagle II was great but Strike Eagle III (my first $65-70 game) sucked
big reason was Strike Eagle III was to realistic to complex
real fighter pilots do a year of training just to be a beginner also the air to air combat arena is pretty dangerous
filled with bullets (missiles) with your name on it

sorry for all the bad writing
later

[Sylonce]

I have pretty steadily played MW2: Mercenaries for about 20 years. I think part of the reason why I still play it is because:
1) I feel like an autonomous badass who can own my own merc company. I actually feel like my own merc commander, as opposed to MW4: Mercs where I am forced to play as Spectre.
2) Excellent story writing (some of which ties directly into lore)
3) Decent voice acting (The voice acting was simple, but serious.)
4) Simple to play, difficult to master (some missions can be brutal if you don't know what you are doing)
5) Excellent economy and company management

The big thing for me is always story. I would prefer a timeline before the clan invasion, and a focused story that flows in a consistent manner. Campaigns and mission choices should progress logically. I'd like the stories to take a little bit from Battletech fiction, where your resources are scarce, and where you are fighting for your life to make a small buck on your campaign. There should also be more at stake than just money.

[Lily from animove]

dunno, most mechs of that time are plain boring by design, all way too " humanoid robot" like. Guess thats why I gonna skip the game.

[Karl Streiger]

Lily from animove, on 14 December 2016 - 02:47 AM, said:

dunno, most mechs of that time are plain boring by design, all way too " humanoid robot" like. Guess thats why I gonna skip the game.

Stalker?
2 x 200 MW Laser and 2 Medium LRM racks for the range
4 x 50 MW Laser and 2 Heavy SRM to finish the job

a perfect heavy cavalry Mech

Edited by Karl Streiger, 14 December 2016 - 02:58 AM.

[Lily from animove]

Karl Streiger, on 14 December 2016 - 02:56 AM, said:

Stalker?
2 x 200 MW Laser and 2 Medium LRM racks for the range
4 x 50 MW Laser and 2 Heavy SRM to finish the job

a perfect heavy cavalry Mech

there not many mechs at this time fitting, it's too few.

[Strattus]

For a full list of available mechs near 3015, click here to see a filtered list from Catalyst Game Labs Battletech Unit Database

There are a lot more available at this time than I previously thought! Quite a few from MWO, as well! I think it would be pretty neat to see one in the campaign that hasn't made it into the MWO selection yet.... just the switch things up!

There are even a few Industrial mechs.... would be pretty neat to see those once in a while in the game too (maybe even a level where you have to play in one)!

After doing this little research it looks like Raven may be a bit ahead of its time in the teaser/trailer showed at MechCon.... Ravens didn't come about until 3024 according to the Database

[roboPrancer]

I know it's a common trope with modern games, but I would really like to have just one level where you run around on foot, with an effectively useless peashooter rifle, while mechs and tanks wreak destruction all around you. That would be a cool way to establish the scope of battle and power of battletech...tech.

[XxXAbsolutZeroXxX]

OP's post being such a broad topic its really hard to respond to.

One thing that classics seem to share in common is, they typically parallel key circumstances of every day life in a way that people can relate to.

During the cold war when people faced the real threat of mutually shared destruction stories that revolved around the effects of radioactivity like those giant mutant spider and godzilla movies were very popular.

The same can be said of Invasion of the Body Snatchers which paralleled communism and the type of conformity socialism represents.

If MechWarrior 5 managed to parallel similar concerns people have in 2016 -- that could allow it to transcend the small niche genre of MW/BT/table top gaming and allow it to appeal to a wider audience. It could also piss off & estrange the existing fanbase.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, every battletech game I've ever played had a great story with high replay value. There's no dire need to change things up, imo. But maybe it is an interesting topic eh.

[Brenden]

I request we start the game off in the Chameleon for training, then move on to the Shadow Hawk, and then maybe return to the Chameleon once we've learned how to control our Mechs.

[SourGoat]

If this game is going to be a money grab. Then I'm out.
pay money to unlock stuff,
pay money to buy the rest of the game,
pay money for DLC
I hate micro transactions in games.

Expansion packs and bundles are one thing, but pay to win with unique unlocks with only money is so annoying.
I'm sick and tired of half-assed games that only ask for money.
Mechwarrior 5 Mercs >>single player story with multiplayer as well<< Thats what I want.
MWO is just a money drain.

[RenoRedgrave]

That moment when none of the iconic Clan mechs are going to be in the game (probably)

If I can't use a Timberwolf or MadDog I'm going to be sad.

Why is the next chronological MW game taking a step back in chronology? Makes no sense.

Edited by RenoRedgrave, 17 December 2016 - 03:56 AM.

[XxXAbsolutZeroXxX]

RenoRedgrave, on 17 December 2016 - 03:56 AM, said:

That moment when none of the iconic Clan mechs are going to be in the game (probably)

They confirmed no clan mechs, the game timeline is something like 3015 to 3049?

It ends before clans show up.

RenoRedgrave, on 17 December 2016 - 03:56 AM, said:

Why is the next chronological MW game taking a step back in chronology? Makes no sense.

A lot of people claim PGI should have made FW inner sphere only to allow the conflict between houses to play itself out for a time, with clans being introduced later.

I would guess that's where it comes from.