8 replies to this topic

[Karl Marlow]

With the announcement of the tech advance I started looking at what all tech is available in the new window. One such piece of equipment is the C3 Master and Slave systems which is something unique to Inner Sphere mechs. It is actually a really useful tool in tabletop but doesn't translate well into MWO. That said I think I know of a way to modify the piece of equipment so that it fits in the world of MWO and still keeps its unique flavor.

First lets look at how it works in Tabletop. What this system does is connect 4 mechs together in a C3 network. One mech has to have a large Master module equipped and the other three has to have a lighter slave module equipped. This system is one of the few things that can be disrupted by ECM in the game and should the mech with the master be eliminated the network goes down..

The benefit of the system is it lets you have shoot at enemy mechs as though you were at a range equal to the closest mech in the system. So for example If I am firing a medium laser and am 9 hexes away but a buddy of mine in the same C3 network is only 2 hexes away I would remove the long range penalty of +4 because I would count as being only 2 hexes away. However if I was 10 hexes away and my buddy was still 2 hexes away I could no fire because while I'm considered only two hexes away for targeting purposes my Laser just can fire that far.

Obviously as we turn to MWO this system has no point. We don't have Target numbers. We do, however, have a concept of optimal and maximum range. and so I propose we modify the C3 system so that it will adjust your weapons fire in relation to the optimal range of your weapons. Thus, for example, Let's say you have an optimal range of 300 and a max range of 600 and are 500 meters away. Your buddy in a functioning C3 network is standing 100 meters away. Your weapons damage to that target would be the same as though you were 100 meters away or full strength.

This new system would be useless for any missile system as they have no falloff range. This system would also still be limited to a lance as defined in game by having peoiple grouped together in the same lance. One mech must have a master and connected mechs must have a slave, ECM would obviously shut it down and I think you should need a lock in order for your friend to benefit from the network.

It would be an awesome tool in the hands of a small team of players. It might not have much use in PUG play as it would require luck for people to just happen to have the needed equipment. In group and Faction warfare it might see wider use. In Faction play ijn particular it would ease the problem of clans out ranging the Inner Sphere without the need for quirks and provide a new game play element both sides will want to account for.

[Bombast]

An interesting idea, but personally, I'd just ditch it and take any canon mech that has a C3 and give it a targeting computer.

[Metus regem]

Not a bad idea Bombast, but another option would be dance over C3 master / slave (and don't forget C3 network problems...), and go right to C3i... 2.5t and 2 crits, max C3 network of 6 units, no master to disable through ECM.... granted it does lose the built in TAG of the master C3, but that's a small price to pay.

[Lily from animove]

how would it work in random generated groups? it woudl work in rogansied teams which already enjoy enough advantages.

we could have a system of just C3 computer module, and the lanceleader automatically gets the master role, and the others the slave role. But then will pugs be able to utilise it? a nicer way would be a c3 network where every locked on mech gets the big red dorito on the screen when someone in the lance has locked on it, and then traget information are instantly shared if another member of the lance does lock on the mech another lancemate has locked onto. That may at least be something even pugs can utilize easily.

Edited by Lily from animove, 18 January 2017 - 03:33 PM.

[LordNothing]

i like the mwll implementation, based on c3i. but i dont think that would work without a major overhaul to electronic warfare in mwo, its just too simplified to work.

i figure you could implement it as kind of an infotech system. speed up sharing of targeting data on all mechs within its sensor range. other mechs can lock anything on its scope faster, as well as info gather time. specific mechs that are locked by the c3 carrier may allow for instant lock and gather. you might limit its effects to 300m if it turns out to be too powerful. it is enhanced by bap and can be countered with ecm.

[Bombast]

Metus regem, on 18 January 2017 - 03:22 PM, said:

Not a bad idea Bombast, but another option would be dance over C3 master / slave (and don't forget C3 network problems...), and go right to C3i... 2.5t and 2 crits, max C3 network of 6 units, no master to disable through ECM.... granted it does lose the built in TAG of the master C3, but that's a small price to pay.

And...

Lily from animove, on 18 January 2017 - 03:32 PM, said:

how would it work in random generated groups? it woudl work in rogansied teams which already enjoy enough advantages.

There's the problem. C3s don't work so well when you consider that they'd be absolutely worthless in solo queue (Even BAP and TAG find their uses in Solo), and in group it's wasted tonnage because the already present ingame target sharing, plus VOIP, largely make it redundant.

Which isn't to say they couldn't find a way to make C3 worth it, I guess. But it would be an uphill battle, and I'm not sure it would be worth the effort.

[Acehilator]

I am pretty sure any implementation of C3 is above the possibilities of PGIs coding department. Be it skill-wise or menpower-wise... or both.

[Karl Marlow]

Acehilator, on 18 January 2017 - 04:22 PM, said:

I am pretty sure any implementation of C3 is above the possibilities of PGIs coding department. Be it skill-wise or menpower-wise... or both.

I wouldn't be that pessimistic but I would agree it might be challenging.

Lily from animove, on 18 January 2017 - 03:32 PM, said:

how would it work in random generated groups? it woudl work in rogansied teams which already enjoy enough advantages.

we could have a system of just C3 computer module, and the lanceleader automatically gets the master role, and the others the slave role. But then will pugs be able to utilise it? a nicer way would be a c3 network where every locked on mech gets the big red dorito on the screen when someone in the lance has locked on it, and then traget information are instantly shared if another member of the lance does lock on the mech another lancemate has locked onto. That may at least be something even pugs can utilize easily.

PUGS probably won't be able to utilise it very well. Which I mentioned. It would just have to be luck. I suppose the community might be able to.come up with something but c3, even in tabletop, takes some prep. In fact any tabletop random assignment table that has c3 mechs ends up being a crap shoot. You have to intentionally being those specific mechs. Mounting the c3 is also a trade-off particularly the master. Can masters be slaved together?

Bombast, on 18 January 2017 - 03:13 PM, said:

An interesting idea, but personally, I'd just ditch it and take any canon mech that has a C3 and give it a targeting computer.

Do IS mechs ever get the targeting computer? I thought that was always exclusive to clan mech.

[Bombast]

Karl Marlow, on 18 January 2017 - 05:41 PM, said:

Do IS mechs ever get the targeting computer? I thought that was always exclusive to clan mech.

The Inner Sphere gets Targeting Computer in 3062. They are less efficient tonnage wise in the TT (1 ton of TC per 4 tons of weaponry, compared to 1 ton of TC per 5 tons of weaponry Clan side), but MWO doesn't use that system, so it's easier to swap for a C3, or just in general.

http://www.sarna.net...geting_Computer

Edited by Bombast, 18 January 2017 - 05:44 PM.