54 replies to this topic

[TheArisen]

Stated by Russ here on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/...093919737028609

Microsoft invented mechs like the Uziel & Mad Cat MkII however are at least popular or have a notable number of fans. I suppose there's a chance in some hypothetical future BTech game the Roughneck may become as popular as others.

[Mar-X-maN]

The Roughneck Hero is on my list because its called REAVER

[FupDup]

IMO the Roughneck has a boring hardpoint layout on most variants and it doesn't help that 65-ton heavies are a severely bloated weight bracket.

[Deathlike]

Well, I approve of this:


"Source": https://www.reddit.c..._pgis_timeline/

Too bad it wasn't about the MKII's walking animation!

Edited by Deathlike, 17 July 2017 - 06:24 PM.

[FLG 01]

Something to keep in mind is that the MW:4 Mechs were immediately made canon and given a book: RS:U. (MW:4 and RS:U were released the same year; can't remember which one was first). It's not like they were hugely involved - in fact, they mostly remained on the sidelines - but they were there.

The Roughneck does not have the luxury of a CBT publication. And with the current schedule of coming books being what it is, the Roughneck probably will have to wait for a long time until it gets a book publication. It also cannot rely on nostalgia. And it is a very, very conventional aka boring Mech when it comes to gameplay, trying to compete in a very well saturated field. So why would it sell well?

The irony is that I feel about the Roughneck exactly the same way I feel about the Uziel. It is a video game addition, nothing more. I always found it strange that the Uziel e.g. was called "iconic" for the FCCW when it was completely absent in the FCCW. Even when I played MW:4 back then a simple cover image was not enough to make me drool. Perhaps it was because I was already reading books and the FCCW narration in the novels was in full swing - with no Uziel anywhere near. Same with the source books. Even FM:U, which was published after the MW:4-series made no mention of it.

So why would I care? Roughneck and Uziel are really in the same boat here. It would be yet another ironic twist of fate if the Roughneck turned out to be "iconic" in 17 years from now...

Edited by FLG 01, 17 July 2017 - 06:38 PM.

[MechaBattler]

I honestly felt like it didn't look enough like an industrial mech.

But bad sales probably had more to do with people stroking out that PGI dared to create their own mech. : /

I hope they add it to HBS's Battletech. Cement it in the universe just to stick to the haters.

[Brain Cancer]

Honestly, it'd do better if it got canonized elsewhere. Otherwise, it'll be a forgotten footnote to the fanbase.

If they got Alex to draw up the Industrialmech it's based on as well and tucked the whole thing into a Catalyst book as a two-page tech entry, you'd get more attention for it.

[FLG 01]

MechaBattler, on 17 July 2017 - 06:38 PM, said:

I honestly felt like it didn't look enough like an industrial mech.

But bad sales probably had more to do with people stroking out that PGI dared to create their own mech. : /

I hope they add it to HBS's Battletech. Cement it in the universe just to stick to the haters.

Let's be fair: not caring (thus not buying) is not the same as hating. I don't hate the Roughneck (or the Uziel for that matter), but if you ask me to pay for it I have to decline. If you want me to buy a Mech, "not hating" is not enough.
And I think that was the position of most people out there. I would not assume a few angry nutjobs, who probably still dislike the introduction of SL-tech in 1989, were representative in any way.

[MechaBattler]

FLG 01, on 17 July 2017 - 06:48 PM, said:

Let's be fair: not caring (thus not buying) is not the same as hating. I don't hate the Roughneck (or the Uziel for that matter), but if you ask me to pay for it I have to decline. If you want me to buy a Mech, "not hating" is not enough.
And I think that was the position of most people out there. I would not assume a few angry nutjobs, who probably still dislike the introduction of SL-tech in 1989, were representative in any way.

Well there was a lot of vocalized hatred on the forums over it. That's why I say that.

[Alex Morgaine]

Eh, downgraded shs and droping case for 1extra shs would be a goodish anti light asset Mech in CBT and probs HBS.

[kf envy]

it may be EZer to add a new mech to a full pay game with lots of other mechs like MW4 but in a mech pack no way. PGI only has them self to blam

[El Bandito]

Ill buy the variant with 5 energy points up high. That one seems to be decent. As with most IS mechs, the Roughneck relies too much on quirks. Quirks that could be nerfed on any future patches now that it will be available for C-Bills. The upcoming Hellbringer-P is so much superior in comparison, even with zero quirks.

[TheArisen]

MechaBattler, on 17 July 2017 - 06:49 PM, said:

Well there was a lot of vocalized hatred on the forums over it. That's why I say that.

Initially I was put off by it but when I found out it was a sort of reward/props to Alex I was much more okay with it, didn't buy it though.

[FLG 01]

MechaBattler, on 17 July 2017 - 06:49 PM, said:

Well there was a lot of vocalized hatred on the forums over it. That's why I say that.

Yes, there was some hate. So what? There are always some malcontents. I think they were a minority and I certainly would not blame them for bad sales. That's an excuse, and a convenient one, because instead of searching for the actual reasons you can just blame a minority. Unfortunately that works too well.

[Cementi]

That's to bad. I really like the idea and look of the mech. Only reason I have not picked it up is I have had a few other priorities at the time of release. Even now it still is likely a mechpack that I will pick up.

[Tarl Cabot]

El Bandito, on 17 July 2017 - 06:54 PM, said:

Ill buy the variant with 5 energy points up high. That one seems to be decent. As with most IS mechs, the Roughneck relies too much on quirks. Quirks that could be nerfed on any future patches now that it will be available for C-Bills. The upcoming Hellbringer-P is so much superior in comparison, even with zero quirks.

^^ imho the only viable mech was the energy built that does not depend on an isXL. I had received a refund on the two Roughneck packages and some other packages once the Civil War stuff was announced with no indication of the isXL receiving cXL benefits, since LFE would not provide enough weight savings to make adequate use of any of the incoming UAC/etc or even with the current weaponry without being a liability. If all we had was QP, it may not have mattered as much but FP is a different story, especially when a large percentage are as a pug vs group settings. In an actual unit/group setting the shortcomings can be partially overcome but in a PUG setting, no thank you.

Edited by Tarl Cabot, 17 July 2017 - 07:07 PM.

[Scratx]

I was in semi-hiatus from MWO so it never even crossed my mind to get it. Doesn't surprise me it wasn't a big seller.

Still props to Alex, it looked good and I might get one for c-bills later. I wonder if I can put a RAC on it...

[DAYLEET]

Which IS mech sold a lot since the Marauder and Warhamer? Maybe the Cyclop. The clan pack seems to be doing fine.

[Bishop Steiner]

TheArisen, on 17 July 2017 - 06:18 PM, said:

Stated by Russ here on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/...093919737028609

Microsoft invented mechs like the Uziel & Mad Cat MkII however are at least popular or have a notable number of fans. I suppose there's a chance in some hypothetical future BTech game the Roughneck may become as popular as others.

That's a real shame.

I feel it's one of Alex's absolute best pieces of work. It's pretty solid in the game. And while new/original it's still true to lore.

And this is from an old school lore grognard.

[visionGT4]

Being that I'm here for the mechs (as opposed to anything else) I found it pretty hard to get excited about a machine who's primary intention in life was to move pallets/cut trees/whatever vs a purpose built war machine.