19 replies to this topic

[Grifthin]

The first one being the cost of purchasing skill nodes is a little steep at 100K per node. Spending 9.1 Mil on a skill tree is a little on the steep side. Perhaps reducing the cost to half that would be a good place to start.

The second is perhaps giving different Mechs different amounts of skill points example the Kintaro is somewhat weaker than a Timberwolf. Giving the timberwolf less skillpoints will bring greater parity between it and the kintaro, helping balance.

Otherwise good job. Looking forward to playing around with it some more.

[Accused]

How about more skill points for the kintaro instead of less for the timberwolf?

[Grifthin]

The timber wolf is pretty powerful even without any skills due to it's combination of speed/hitboxes(without lrms)/firepower/jj capability. In contrast the kintaro doesn't have much going for it.

[Prof RJ Gumby]

91 nodes is already a lot. Too much if you ask me. If you boat one weapon, you can run out of meaninfull nodes to unlock.

[Champion of Khorne Lord of Blood]

Grifthin, on 09 February 2017 - 12:27 AM, said:

The timber wolf is pretty powerful even without any skills due to it's combination of speed/hitboxes(without lrms)/firepower/jj capability. In contrast the kintaro doesn't have much going for it.

This is why the Kintaro should get more boosts than it has now. It could allow it to have more than one weapon type fully upgraded along with multiple other trees.

Alternatively it should get a multiplier so that the TW stays the same but the Kintaro gets like 3 times the bonus from each thing it purchases. This lets players still customize their mech and gives even more impact for weaker mechs and allows them to get pretty powerful.

[Evengar Dragonis]

Kintaro - 55t IS
Timberwolf - 75t Clan

They should not be equal, it would be strange

[Grifthin]

Leonid, on 09 February 2017 - 12:32 AM, said:

Kintaro - 55t IS
Timberwolf - 75t Clan

They should not be equal, it would be strange

Ok replace kintaro with another heavy that's not as powerful as timberwolf (orion, dragon, quickdraw etc). The point is high tier mechs don't need as many bonuses as low tier mechs. Don't be so fixated on the example mech.

[ForceUser]

I think total skill points or node values would be perfect candidates to fine tune individual mechs. That's not what the PTS is about but the idea is sound and I'm sure PGI's new balancing guy has already thought of it.

[Tristan Winter]

I think it's dumb to use skills as a balancing tool, because you're ultimately using C-bills as a balancing tool. And people can buy C-bills straight from the store. If the only way for me to make the Kintaro as good as the Stormcrow is through a massive injection of C-bills, I won't bother.

I'm already having to spend a lot of C-bills on IS mechs due to XL engines, DHS and Endo. On top of that, I need extra skill upgrades to compete?

Prof RJ Gumby, on 09 February 2017 - 12:30 AM, said:

91 nodes is already a lot. Too much if you ask me. If you boat one weapon, you can run out of meaninfull nodes to unlock.

Agreed. Only 17 nodes to unlock all durability skills.

Leonid, on 09 February 2017 - 12:32 AM, said:

Kintaro - 55t IS
Timberwolf - 75t Clan
They should not be equal, it would be strange

Clans should not be equal to Inner Sphere, it would be strange.

Let me solo a 12-man group of Inner sphere mechs in my Dire Wolf. It's only natural. I read about it in the novels.

[naterist]

I think it equals out to cheaper than a fully moduled mech now.... so i dont get tha freak out about cbill cost. Xp cost i think should come down a bit. We have 91 slots, doing less per slot, yet costing the same xp per slot as the live versions skill system

[ForceUser]

naterist, on 09 February 2017 - 01:14 AM, said:

I think it equals out to cheaper than a fully moduled mech now.... so i dont get tha freak out about cbill cost. Xp cost i think should come down a bit. We have 91 slots, doing less per slot, yet costing the same xp per slot as the live versions skill system

The actual specifics isn't important, people just want more stuff for less. This is the *exact* same thing that happens *every single time*.

It's a combination of entitlement, resistance to change and a slight dash of 'just because'. Most people know this, they're jsut seeing what they can get away with if they cry hard enough.

[Captain Arctic]

You can compare Timber Wolf only with Black Knight, Marauder or Orion - they are pretty much equal on the battlefield or in private duels.

[Grifthin]

Captain Arctic, on 09 February 2017 - 01:29 AM, said:

You can compare Timber Wolf only with Black Knight, Marauder or Orion - they are pretty much equal on the battlefield or in private duels.

If that were true why are there so few Orions in the wild ? Because the Timby is superior.

[Captain Arctic]

Grifthin, on 09 February 2017 - 01:36 AM, said:

If that were true why are there so few Orions in the wild ? Because the Timby is superior.

Because Timber Wolf (aka Mad Cat) is an icon of the BattleTech Universe. As well as Marauder.

Edited by Captain Arctic, 09 February 2017 - 01:39 AM.

[WolvesX]

9.1 mio = cheap. Seismic + Radarderp + weaponmods = 21 mios for some mechs!

[5th Fedcom Rat]

Captain Arctic, on 09 February 2017 - 01:29 AM, said:

You can compare Timber Wolf only with Black Knight, Marauder or Orion - they are pretty much equal on the battlefield or in private duels.

lolz @ the thought of any Orion being equal to any Timber Wolf

[Grifthin]

Captain Arctic, on 09 February 2017 - 01:37 AM, said:

Because Timber Wolf (aka Mad Cat) is an icon of the BattleTech Universe. As well as Marauder.

So that's why we also see more night gyr, hellbringer, maddog's than orions ? Cause their all iconic ? lets be real, some mechs are simply better due to hard point placement and weapon load out and quirks etc. Varying amounts of points provides a excellent balancing mechanic for that.

[Captain Arctic]

Grifthin, on 09 February 2017 - 01:52 AM, said:

So that's why we also see more night gyr, hellbringer, maddog's than orions ? Cause their all iconic ? lets be real, some mechs are simply better due to hard point placement and weapon load out and quirks etc. Varying amounts of points provides a excellent balancing mechanic for that.

Yes, let's be real and stop that wishful thinking. There're a lot of Marauders and Black Knights on the battlefield too. Why? Because some mechs are better than the others, doesn't matter Clan or IS. It's supposed to be like that.

But if you wanna talk about Clan vs IS balance, simply read PTS notes more carefully. It's already implemented.

Edited by Captain Arctic, 09 February 2017 - 02:07 AM.

[Cyrilis]

Grifthin, on 08 February 2017 - 11:11 PM, said:

The first one being the cost of purchasing skill nodes is a little steep at 100K per node. Spending 9.1 Mil on a skill tree is a little on the steep side. Perhaps reducing the cost to half that would be a good place to start.

The second is perhaps giving different Mechs different amounts of skill points example the Kintaro is somewhat weaker than a Timberwolf. Giving the timberwolf less skillpoints will bring greater parity between it and the kintaro, helping balance.

Otherwise good job. Looking forward to playing around with it some more.

Yes to 1 but keep in mind that you do not nedd to biy and equip a second and third variant to level one chassi any more. IMO that makes up for the high costs.

Yes to 2 but perhaps the other way around

albsolutely yes to 3

[Grifthin]

Captain Arctic, on 09 February 2017 - 02:06 AM, said:

Yes, let's be real and stop that wishful thinking. There're a lot of Marauders and Black Knights on the battlefield too. Why? Because some mechs are better than the others, doesn't matter Clan or IS. It's supposed to be like that.

But if you wanna talk about Clan vs IS balance, simply read PTS notes more carefully. It's already implemented.

It's got nothing to do with IS vs Clan balance - something like dakka kodiak should not get the same amount of points as a gargoyle ? Why because the gargoly is hot garbage in comparison. Less points to powerful mechs, more points to weaker mechs. Clan vs IS has nothing to do with it and shouldn't even be a factor in this conversation. The reason you see Marauder 2C is because it's pretty much a better warhawk. Again points can be a balancing factor.