7 replies to this topic

[Graives]

In Dev Blog 1 and Developer Q&A 2 we hear about LP. Mercs/Loners start with initial LP in each house, and as we complete contracts we gain LP with the Houses/Factions we work for and lose LP with Houses/Factions that are in opposition or some such.

My question is in regards to Merc's, Loners, and Friends. If you are running together, but have different factions, are you unable to run the same contracts? Or say, can you join up as a "party" (whatever it will be called here) and the Commander or Leader selects the contract and everyone goes or something? Or will you simply be unable to run together if you do not have the same Faction/House Loyalty? Lastly, if you -have- to have the same faction in order to run the same contracts, will there be a way for a Merc Corp to ensure their members can only select contracts from the designated faction(s)?

[Bodha]

I think we are still a good ways out from LP and faction warfare so I wouldn't stress too much. Can't see them making it harder for ppl to play together who want too. Would be bad since most ppl play games with their friends and if they feel they can't play with their friends they leave or voice a great deal of frustration.

[Dimestore]

I would presume your Loyalty Points would be tracked independantly for each house/faction. Most 'missions' would add to one faction and subtract from another. There will likely be multiple 'entry-level' scenarios without LP requirements that you can use to get started building LP with each house/faction. Once you've built up enough LP with a house you could then work more 'sensitive missions' such as escort or base defense.

As for Merc units having LP cohesion, that seems like a problem that Merc units will have to resolve on their own...just like a real Merc unit would have to do. "What do you mean you were moonlighting for Khadafi! Our primary contract is with Britain; they won't let you work anything sensitive for months now! I'm going to be understaffed on the next diplomat bodyguard detail thanks to you! That's it, you're escorting freighters through Somali waters until they green-light you again and I don't want to hear a word of complaint!"

Edited by Hax DB Header, 20 July 2012 - 08:45 AM.

[Graives]

Still adding and compiling data for proposed dialog for the Dev's here. Between this forum and the BWC forums this is where we're at:
Courtesy of 13lackRain:

13lackRain said:

Mercenary Corp Players

As a Mercenary Corporation, all members’ earned loyalty points go to the Merc Corp. The Merc Corp must have a minimum amount of loyalty points with a faction before they are able to engage in planetary combat on behalf of that faction. Loyalty points also determine the type and level of contract a Merc Corp is permitted to bid on. These loyalty point restrictions mean that a Merc Corp’s membership, must remain active in order to maintain the required level of LPs.
Ranks are created within a Merc Corp by the Merc Corp leader. The naming of the ranks is entirely up to the Merc Corp leader who can assign Merc Corp level permissions to each rank.

Found here: http://mwomercs.com/...mmunity-warfare


Additionally:

In the Dev Blog 1 it was mentioned "The Merc Corp must have a minimum amount of loyalty points with a faction before they are able to engage in planetary combat on behalf of that faction." How will they gather that minimum amount of LP before being able to fight for that faction, if they are not allowed to fight for them? –Amechwarrior

[PAUL] Every Merc Corp will start with a small amount of LP in each House. This would be considered the “neutral” amount of LP required for small contracts issued by the Houses. From that point on, any actions taken by the Merc Corp will result in LP gains with one House and LP losses with another. LP is exactly what it sounds like… loyalty to a House.

Found here: http://mwomercs.com/...__1%5DDeveloper

Latest Update:

Graives said:

Awesome, thanks for that info 13lackRain! So the real question will have to be about how Merc contracts are handled. Obviously Corps can bid on them. Once we win a contract is it just available for our Mercs to engage in? Is a contract a series of payed engagements or is it a single mission, or both? And is there anything in place to keep our Mercs from all going in separate directions with their LP and screwing over the Corp's LP? Granted I don't expect any of us to cause any problems, but what of the tons of members that may not be keeping up with this info as they should?


Am I missing anything there? Or even asking more questions that already have answers?

*EDIT: Oh, and what about other Corps that win contracts we want and fail? Losing their fights, failure to complete the mission objectives, however you lose. There's always bound to be someone losing if it's all PVP right? And it was my understanding they weren't going to have PVE or Solo play until after launch?

Adittionally:

Yuba Frank, on 20 July 2012 - 10:20 AM, said:

I hope there will be the ability to run 12 v 12 trainings in MWO. Maybe they will eventually enable the ability to to buy server space for units or something like that. I'd kick in to the pot for that. There's a good question for you to add to your list Graives.

This is something we as a Merc Corp are extremely interested in actually and there is some discussion about it privately in our own forums. At the very least, the ability to test things out between members or stage fights is something I think all of the hardcore gamers are going to be interested in. Not only that, but I personally would love to have the chance to get all of our lances out into 1 battle, not just 3.

Still compiling data for the dailog, feel free to add any idea's, questions, or comments!

Edited by Graives, 20 July 2012 - 12:10 PM.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

@ OP - from what they have said if your friends are in different houses then they can't drop together. Doing otherwise doesn't make sense in BTU terms.

[Firefly]

Nik Van Rhijn, on 20 July 2012 - 11:19 AM, said:

@ OP - from what they have said if your friends are in different houses then they can't drop together. Doing otherwise doesn't make sense in BTU terms.

It makes sense if you're a merc unit. Which, theoretically, is an independent unit separate from faction stuff. It doesn't make sense for a Lyran to be in a DCMS unit. It makes sense for a merc unit to have members from various houses.

[Graives]

@Eximar: Please read further down for where the links were already requested and posted.

Also, continued updates from the BWC's forum discussion on the topic.

13lackRain said:

Here's my interpretation of what I have found: The merc belongs to the merc unit, so any actions that merc takes on behalf of the faction then results in faction standings and LP that belong to the merc outfit.


I don't think that individual mercs will be authorized to accept contracts on behalf of the merc outfit. That will be done by ranking officers (whatever ranks/structure the merc commander sets up). Individual mercs will fight only in combat situations (within community warfare) that are accepted and authorized by the merc unit chain of command. This should effectively eliminate the possibility of mercs from a unit doing side-jobs that conflict with the merc outfits loyalties and existing contracts.

In addition, because the LP earned as a part of a merc unit belongs to the unit, there will not be any "loss" of LP when individual mercs leave the unit and go someplace else. They simply leave their Outfit LP behind as it is part of the outfits combined total of LP. The good side of this is that if you are in a unit that is fighting on behalf of Davion (or anyone else) and you decide to leave to join friends fight for the enemies of Davion, it likely won't be held against you, as your personal LP and the Outfit LP are not the same. You could effectively go Lone Wolf and your outfit history shouldn't be a factor in taking on jobs.

This is the clarification I would ask for from the developers. Personally, I will earn LP for the outfit and the entire outfit will prosper as a result of our combined efforts. If I leave, I leave with the same LP I came into the family with. That's how it should work.

Going to spend some time and compile a less excessive dialog to to present the Dev's with. Feel free to add any arguments or insights still!

[Graives]

Alrighty, question posted, crossing fingers!