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Jep Jorgensson, on 04 August 2017 - 05:32 PM, said:
Your math is flawed. …
The math on how to calculate the total outcome of possibilities with multiple individual iterations of multiple different (distinguishable) possibilities is sound.
E.G:
You have 3 dice. Each dice has 6 different sides. If you want to know how many different outcomes you can possibly have by throwing all 3 of them, you have to multiply each dices possibility. In that case 6x6x6=216 different possible outcomes. How many times you are actually throwing it, is within the area of statistics and in that case not applicable because you choose the Pod, it is not assigned randomly.
Nevertheless, I reckon my English is clearly flawed as I am actually a German speaking dude but I can live with it because my French is worse.
Jep Jorgensson, on 04 August 2017 - 05:32 PM, said:
… Not all omnipods are distinct. For example, you mentioned the Mad Dog. The heads, all the same. Both legs, all the same. The CT's, all the same. That makes half of the pods right off the bat. Add to that the redundant pods (pods with the same hardpoints as one or more other(s)), and the number shrinks even further.
…
…
If you look at the numbers I've used for the Black Hawk, the Vulture and Daishi (see what I did there? ;-) ) you might notice that 1) the only time I have used a HeadPod was when there actually were 2 different HeadPod variants and 2) I didn't ever mention the legs or CT in the calculations at all. Checking the OmniPod list in MWO will show you (or at least it did with my MWO) always a list of 4-6 (or more if you have paid macho variants) OmniPods, regardless if they are just ZeroPods (0-0-0-0-0) or 3 of the, let’s say 6 OmniPods are actually the same. If I would have calculated as you accuse me of having done so, it would have looked like this (And I am using my Arctic Cheetah that says I have only 4 OmniPods to choose from):
4 Head x 4 LT x 4 RT x 4 LA x 4 RA x 4 LL x 4 RL = 16384 variants (whom of which most are in fact the same, but still)
The CT can0t be selected or changed, so won’t be part of the equation ever. I took in account and only counted distinguishable OmniPods to be part of the equation. Aforementioned Mad Dog has 4 OmniPods for the left arm, but there are only 2 distinguishable variants of those (1-0-0-0-0 and 0-2-0-0-0). Hence, I used only 2 LA possibilities in the equation.
Another point: I never said anything about the value and usability of a certain variant outcome. That lies completely in the eye of the beholder. I was merely making a point about the sheer number of possibilities. And to be honest there are quite a few IS Mech variants (or even chassis) that only just work, because the hardpoint distribution is just off and you can never get to work properly. These are the IS Mechs you never see on the field. Many Kintaros seen lately?
Jep Jorgensson, on 04 August 2017 - 05:32 PM, said:
…
At any rate, one thing that cannot be disputed is the fact that while the IS is extremely well rounded in all weight classes, Clans are however starved in many areas. At 80 tons, we have only the Gargoyle and most people do not use them due to the low amount of weapon tonnage. At 70 tons, we have the Summoner and it suffers the same problem as the Gargoyle. At 60 tons, as good as the Mad Dog is, it is still all alone there. At 45 tons, we have only the Shadow Cat with its locked MASC that not everyone uses and not very many weapon hardpoints nor tonnage. At 40 tons, we have only the Viper which is also currently all alone. At 25 tons, we have only the Mist Lynx that most people cannot get to work for them for multiple reasons. At 20 tons, we have nothing. Add the fact that with the single exception of the Jenner IIC, we do not have a single mech capable of speeds past 140 kph and mostly very slow light mechs in our arsenal, well, need I say more?
At any rate, one thing that cannot be disputed is the fact that while the IS is extremely well rounded in all weight classes, Clans are however starved in many areas. At 80 tons, we have only the Gargoyle and most people do not use them due to the low amount of weapon tonnage. At 70 tons, we have the Summoner and it suffers the same problem as the Gargoyle. At 60 tons, as good as the Mad Dog is, it is still all alone there. At 45 tons, we have only the Shadow Cat with its locked MASC that not everyone uses and not very many weapon hardpoints nor tonnage. At 40 tons, we have only the Viper which is also currently all alone. At 25 tons, we have only the Mist Lynx that most people cannot get to work for them for multiple reasons. At 20 tons, we have nothing. Add the fact that with the single exception of the Jenner IIC, we do not have a single mech capable of speeds past 140 kph and mostly very slow light mechs in our arsenal, well, need I say more?
In my first post, I inserted the numbers of available Mechs to each side and the numbers show indeed quite an imbalance within those numbers if looked from a weight class standpoint. One could argue that light Mechs are not as much liked in Clan toumans because they don’t offer that much possibility to gain personal honor and the IS flood of lights is caused by the LosTech shortage and the rather cheap and disposable nature of light Mechs, but let’s stick to the numbers. And the numbers say you’re right. I’d like to see more in the light and medium Clan class added, especially medium actually, as the IS outnumbers the medium Clan Mechs 2 to 1. The Fire moth won’t come though as it’s possible speed (>200 kp/h with MASC) would be breaking the CryEngine possibilities. And PGI is already stretching thin there.
