49 replies to this topic

[Bombast]

So, with new potential technologies around the corner, what is everyone looking forward to the most? As per usual, we'll set some rules.

• List includes all weapons that were released between 'now' and 3068, exempting weapons labeled as experimental in this time period. If one faction has made the equipment by 3068, but the other didn't manage it until 3069-70, it has been added and it's year of introduction noted.
  
• Due to the specific nature of MMLs, they have been excluded. ATMs have been included as they use their own ammo, switch related though they may be.
  
• New construction options (Internal Structure, Engines, and so on) and special equipment (TAG variants, additional probe types) have been excluded for the sake of reducing poll bloat. They may be featured at a later date.
  
• Specific weapons have been grouped when possible.
  
• Completion of the IS ER, LB-X, Ultra, and SSRM lines has been assumed, and thus excluded.

So, with that in mind, what weapons are you all looking forward to most? For the sake of the poll, I'm limiting everyone to one vote per Faction and weapon type, but feel free to make more extensive lists, and share your rationale.

POLL LINK

Also, yes, I know, Mech Mortars sound like a ballistic weapon. Don't blame me for it.

Here are your weapons, with a short description and links to Sarna, as usual.

Inner Sphere

Ballistic

Spoiler

Light Autocannon - Available in -2 and -5 ratings, Light Autocannons trade range for reduced tonnage. Theoretically still capable of using special munitions.
Rotary Autocannon - Available in -2 and -5 ratings, Rotary Autocannons are heavier than their equally rated brethren, but capable of a tremendous rate of fire. Ultra Autocannons on steroids.
Gauss Rifle (Heavy/Light) - Introduces the Gauss series to the autocannon damage scheme. Heavy Gauss Rifles trade weight/crits and range for damage, while Light Gauss Rifles trade damage for increased range and reduced weight/crit.
Machine Gun (Heavy/Light) - Introduces the Machine Gun series to the autocannon damage scheme. Heavy Machine Guns trade weight and range for damage, while Light Machine Guns trade damage for increased range.
Machine Gun Array - Allows for several Machine Guns to be linked together, potentially increasing the amount of machine guns per hard point.

Energy

Spoiler

PPC (Heavy/Light/Snub-Nose) - Heavy PPCs weigh more than PPCs and do more damage, while Light PPCs weight less and do less damage. Both have the same range profile. Snub-Nose PPCs weight less than standard PPCs, but have reduced range, and damage potential decays much sooner than usual.
Plasma Rifle - A rarity, the Plasma Rifle is a ranged weapon that uses ammunition. Weighting 6 tons, it fires a ball of heated plasma that does both damage, and increases the heat of the unit struck.
Flamer (Heavy, ER) (ER 3070) - Heavy Flamers weight more than the standard Flamer, while doing more heat damage. ER Flamers trade heat damage for range.

Missile

Spoiler

Medium Range Missiles - Medium Range Missiles have a range profile that falls between SRMs and LRMs. Lacking a guidance system, they are unable to make use of Artemis, but are capable of firing exceedingly large volleys.
Mech Mortar - Mech Mortars fire large projectiles in high arcs, simulating LRM fire. They are immune to AMS fire, and cannot benefit from Artemis, but are capable of using semi-guided munitions.
iNARC - iNARC works just like NARC, only the launcher is heavier, and the ammunition can be fired further. Ammunition per ton is also reduced.

Clan

Ballistic

Spoiler

Rotary Autocannon (3069) - Available in -2 and -5 ratings, Rotary Autocannons are heavier than their equally rated brethren, but capable of a tremendous rate of fire. Ultra Autocannons on steroids.
Hyper-Assault Gauss - Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle fire a stream of magnetic rounds at the target, effectively functioning as an Ultra Autocannon that cannot jam. The rifle comes in -20, -30, and -40 ratings. In all other respects, they function as a normal Gauss Rifle would.
Machine Gun (Heavy/Light) - Introduces the Machine Gun series to the autocannon damage scheme. Heavy Machine Guns trade weight and range for damage, while Light Machine Guns trade damage for increased range.
Machine Gun Array - Allows for several Machine Guns to be linked together, potentially increasing the amount of machine guns per hard point.

Energy

Spoiler

Micro Laser (ER, Pulse) - Micro Lasers function as another laser type from their family, ranked below their respective smalls and with predictable stats to match.
Heavy Laser - Heavy Lasers share the same range profile as Inner Sphere standard lasers, but cause considerably more damage while incurring large heat penalties.
Flamer (Heavy, ER) - Heavy Flamers weight more than the standard Flamer, while doing more heat damage. ER Flamers trade heat damage for range.

Missile

Spoiler

Advanced Tactical Missiles - ATMs are capable of firing a variety of munitions, each of which have their own range profile. The longer the range, the lower the damage, and vice versa.
Mech Mortar - Mech Mortars fire large projectiles in high arcs, simulating LRM fire. They are immune to AMS fire, and cannot benefit from Artemis, but are capable of using semi-guided munitions.

Edited by Bombast, 16 January 2017 - 08:20 PM.

[Requiemking]

I would say yes to MG arrays, if only to experience the beautiful rain of tears that would result from the 32 MG Direwolf, among other things. The stream of bullets would be glorious, both in the grand noise and the golden light of the projectiles.

[Y E O N N E]

I presume you left out ER lasers for the IS because they are foregone conclusion, yes?

[Bombast]

Yeonne Greene, on 16 January 2017 - 08:19 PM, said:

I presume you left out ER lasers for the IS because they are foregone conclusion, yes?

Whoops, forgot to put that in the rules. Thanks.

[Kasumi Sumika]

...and done the vote!

Also no for LBX, Ultra, and Streaks for IS?

[Bombast]

Kasumi Sumika, on 16 January 2017 - 08:22 PM, said:

...and done the vote!

Also no for LBX, Ultra, and Streaks for IS?

I forgot a rule.

Bombast, on 16 January 2017 - 08:11 PM, said:

Completion of the IS ER, LB-X, Ultra, and SSRM lines has been assumed, and thus excluded.

It's been rectified for future voters.

[Johnny Z]

Inner Sphere needs lasers that are more powerful to make the most out of having less hard points. I think the Blazer is like this but not sure about any others.

If new weapons are added I hope there is an audio pass because I wont use an AC 5 or AC 2 they are so loud.

Edited by Johnny Z, 16 January 2017 - 08:27 PM.

[Y E O N N E]

IS Energy: Plasma rifles; 6-ton AC/10 that not only deals real damage but also spikes the heat of whoever you are shooting at. Cost is that they don't really play nice with other weapons, requiring a significant investment in DHS for yourself as well as requiring ammo. I love it.

IS Ballistic: Light ACs. Has to be. Then we can finally make use of those copious ballistic hard-points on lighter 'Mechs like the Blackjack, the JagerMech, the Shadowhawk, etc.

IS Missile: Mech Mortars! Indirect fire that can be aimed over hills without requiring a lock? Yes please, finally something to properly discourage static fighting lines.

Clan Energy: Heavy laser. Give my MLX some real punch! Also, the other options stink, so...kind of pigeon-holed here.

Clan Ballistic: Hyper Assault Gauss. Don't tell me you don't like the idea of ripping out 40 damage from dual HAG/20s on a Hunchback IIC.

Clan Missile: Mech Mortar. Fair is fair is fair.

[Snazzy Dragon]

WHY CAN I ONLY VOTE FOR ONE THING IN EACH CATEGORY AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

You're mean.

[Bombast]

Snazzy Dragon, on 16 January 2017 - 08:35 PM, said:

WHY CAN I ONLY VOTE FOR ONE THING IN EACH CATEGORY AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

You're mean.

By limiting it to one, I was hoping to get people to dig deep and really pick what they wanted, and not just carpet bomb the whole thing with votes.

Though, to be fair, I suppose some of the categories are stuffed with good stuff, while others are... not.

Anyway, my picks...

IS Ballistic: Light Autocannon. I was really torn over this one. Just torn to my core. Because I love Rotary Autocannons. I really, really, really love RACs, as any true Son of the Sun would. But when it comes down to it... RACs are a super weight weapon in this game. While they allow lighter mechs in the table top to occasional punch above their weight, in MWO their heavy ammo hogs that require significant investment. It's makes the weapon really limited.

The Light Autocannon is the exact opposite. It brings dakka to all, allowing light mechs to finally utilize their ballistic hard points without sacrificing armor, and heavier mechs to give their Clan brethren a run for their money in the boating department. It helps everyone, unlike the RAC, and it's already sparked some light, medium, and heavy builds in my mind.

IS Energy: Don't Care. Plasma Rifles and Flamers aren't my speed, and I never could dial my eye in for PPC fire, so there's nothing here for me I'm afraid.


IS Missile: Medium Range Missiles.

Clan Ballistic: Hyper-Assault Gauss. Super-Ultras with a charge mechanic. Need I say more?

Clan Energy: Don't Care. Again, nothing really for me. I dislike Wub Wub builds with a few exceptions, and I strain to see how new Flamers are really going to change anything.

Clan Missile: Don't Care. I am intrigued by Mech Mortars, but I felt strange asking for clan versions of low tech stuff, but not Inner Sphere models. It's definitely an intriguing idea which I think would be fun to explore (Though unlikely, if I'm honest).

[Y E O N N E]

How can you not like Plasma Rifles? They are the ultimate troll weapon!

[a gaijin]

Where's the Arrow IV?

[Hawk819]

You failed to add the Anti-Personnel Gauss Rifle for the Clans. Clan Jade Falcon produced the weapon in 3067.

[Y E O N N E]

Hawk819, on 16 January 2017 - 09:01 PM, said:

You failed to add the Anti-Personnel Gauss Rifle for the Clans. Clan Jade Falcon produced the weapon in 3067.

Good thing, too, because it would be broken if the IS didn't have their 3072 MagShot response available.

[RestosIII]

IS Ballistics: Light Autocannons.

Because low tonnage mechs deserve the ability to run AC's too.

IS Energy Weapons: PPC's

Never really cared for those, but some people have been really eager for them, so why not?

IS Missile Weapons: MRM's

Dear lord I want to see MRM 80 builds. Plus, it helps buff mechs with low hardpoint counts.

Clan Ballistics: HAG's

I have a feeling this one probably won't get added, but they could be interesting, plus one of the Mad Cat MK II variants runs dual HAG/30's, so I'm biased there.

Clan Energy Weapons: Heavy Lasers

This one feels like a no brainer IMO. Incredibly high heat for large amounts of damage, again, helping mechs with low hardpoint counts.

Clan Missile Weapons: ATM's

I've been wanting these babies ever since the Clans dropped. It would allow for a good deal of lore builds to come out of the woodwork, while being a more interesting to use option than LRMs or splat.

[Tarogato]

Checkboxes instead of radio buttons would have been better.

Also not including some things like ER lasers? Meh.

Also what's the point? PGI is going to include what they want to include, we can't really sway them at this point. All we can do is recommend methods of implementation.

Edited by Tarogato, 16 January 2017 - 09:11 PM.

[Bombast]

Yeonne Greene, on 16 January 2017 - 09:00 PM, said:

How can you not like Plasma Rifles? They are the ultimate troll weapon!

I don't know why. I think for some reason, I've linked Plasma Rifles solidly to the Jihad era, even though it strictly speaking shouldn't be, since it's not WoB specific gear.

Maybe I should get to know it better.

Hawk819, on 16 January 2017 - 09:01 PM, said:

You failed to add the Anti-Personnel Gauss Rifle for the Clans. Clan Jade Falcon produced the weapon in 3067.

Yeonne Greene, on 16 January 2017 - 09:02 PM, said:

Good thing, too, because it would be broken if the IS didn't have their 3072 MagShot response available.

Sarna and Skunk Werks put the AP Gauss in 3069.

Star Commander Horse, on 16 January 2017 - 09:00 PM, said:

Where's the Arrow IV?

The Arrow IV is technically available to us now. It's not 'new' tech.

Tarogato, on 16 January 2017 - 09:11 PM, said:

Also not including some things like ER lasers? Meh.

Also what's the point? PGI is going to include what they want to include, we can't really sway them at this point. All we can do is recommend methods of implementation.

ER, SSRM, LB-X, and Ultras have been assumed and excluded.

And I just thought it would be a fun discussion. You're free not to participate.

[Requiemking]

My choices are:

IS Ballistic- RAC- Why? Because then they could(Hopefully) function like LMGs and just be MGs on steroids.

IS Energy- Don't care- The one IS energy weapon I want isn't on the list.

IS Missile- MRMs- MRM 20 stacking on an Atlas? YES PLEASE, GIMME NAOW.

Clan Ballistic- MG array- What, don't you want to see the 32 MG Direwolf become a thing?

Clan Energy- Heavy Lasers- FOR THE MIST LYNX.

Clan Missile- Don't care- nothing interesting here.

[Stefan the Usurper Amaris]

I voted, make the RWR great again!

[Felbombling]

Thunderbolt Missile Launcher... I do not see an option for it in the poll. Please fix so I can vote!!1!2!!