8 replies to this topic

[Warning incoming Humble Dexterer]

Step 1 : Add "Double Escort", a new game mode where both teams have a VIP to escort to it's own dropship.

Step 2 : Compare their popularity through the player votes, when "Escort" and "Double Escort" are both up for voting.

Step 3 : After comparing their popularity, remove the least popular game mode, between "Escort" and "Double Escort".

Edited by Humble Dexter, 15 February 2018 - 10:12 AM.

[Arle Vox]

1: That's an idea that would be an entirely new game mode rather than a replacement for the current mode.
2: The Escort game mode doesn't need to be changed at all. It's challenging enough as it stands, and doesn't need the added challenge of a choice between rushing an enemy's escort rather than protecting you own.

I don't like the idea of changing or removing a game mode that, in my opinion, most players don't yet grasp how to play well.

[D V Devnull]

, consider your idea SUPPORTed by me. Escort has seemingly been too lopsided since its' release, so I think it's time to go with those suggesting it were made symmetrical.

~Mr. D. V. "Finding symmetric game modes to be better than those that are not..." Devnull

[Koniving]

I think it should be a variant of escort, where it could one way or the other without having to be an entirely separate game mode. But honestly having the escort be an Atlas that has no concept of what the trigger is....is really bad.

What if it was multiple smaller targets, say armored vehicle sized. Mobile field base? Armored personnel carrier? The players themselves, collecting a resource (VIPs for example) from various areas of the map and then rushing them to a pickup point (while the other side is trying to capture and escort them to their own extraction point)?

[Warning incoming Humble Dexterer]

Well if the results of the player votes when choosing between "Single Escort" and "Dual Escort" were even... Then "Dual Escort" could become it's own mode, instead of a replacement for "Single Escort".

But when you're on a map like "Crimson Strait", you know there's a ~50% chance that the dumb VIP will walk right over the E6/F6 saddle, and right into the arms of the 12 enemy mechs lined up behind it...

The VIP just doesn't seem to have an issue with running head first into the whole enemy team, even when there's a friendly UAV right above them to signal their position, and the dropzone happens to be in the exact opposite direction of where that whole enemy team is camping...

So short of an A.I. upgrade, at least curse both teams with such a clueless VIP.

[Yumoshiri]

I like escort for the sole reason it forces my useless team of pug snipers and lurmers to come and share armor at the front, or be stomped hard if they don't, unlike domination, assault and skirmish, which to me feel like three of the same. I always vote against those game types: variation is the biggest challenge to enjoy.

[DAEDALOS513]

I voted no. I don't think the problem is the game mode, it's people not knowing how to play it. I don't think adding a second escort will change much but rather add more confusion as to what everyone should do... if people can't handle one escort with a clear mission, can you imagine 2 escorts?

[Peace2U]

Don't be discouraged, HD, by some of the negative responses.
This was an interesting idea, albeit difficult to implement.
There seems to be much hatred for the Escort mode, and I commend you for trying a change to make it more interesting.
Keep swinging, you're bound to hit a home run eventually.
Peace Out.

[Captain Grayson Lighthorse]

A double Escort mode might be quite a challenge to the players with the current AI abilities of the VIP. I like the idea of adding another play mode, but I think some fundamental things need to be addressed in the current Escort mode first.

The VIP in the current Escort mode is just dumber than a post. He will walk right into the middle of the enemy team and bulldoze his protectors out of the way to do it.

We need a way to influence the direction/path that the VIP takes. We don't need to have a 'Mech tied up directing his every step, but we do need a way to set a way-point for him to travel to and then maybe another way-point to keep him going in the right direction. The AI would take over after setting the way-point and take him to the designated area. Then once there, it would put him on a path to get him to the pickup zone or maybe have the pickup zone adjust a little to give him a new, direct route to it.

Maybe it could work something like this:
1> A friendly 'Mech would need to get within 20 meters of the VIP in order to have the ability to direct him.

2> Once in 20 meter range, a small button on the HUD would appear/activate to allow that 'Mech to set a way-point for the VIP.

3> Once the friendly 'Mech set the way-point, the AI would take over and navigate the VIP in the new direction until he reaches the new way-point.

4> After the VIP reaches the set way-point, the AI plots a new route to the pickup zone. If he starts moving toward the enemy, then he could again be directed to yet another way-point.

5> There could be a bonus rewarded to the player directing the VIP. Might be called an "VIP Out of Harms Way" bonus.

An example:
On Crimson Strait the VIP usually starts E8/D8 and he travels either through the tunnel or over the saddle. With this feature added, a team player could get within 20 meters of the VIP and set a way-point in say C7/C8. Once he reaches this location, he could then be directed to B5/B4. Then the pickup zone could adjust to C3 or maybe he could travel on to the island at E3 and be picked up there. Having this ability would make the game mode more enjoyable and sensible. Just being able to direct him to the saddle or tunnel would be of a big help to keep him from wading into the entire enemy team. Even just being able to direct him to "hold position" would be of a big help sometimes.

I think something like this really needs to be done to help the Escort mode. Once this is in place and working, then they could add a Double Escort mode with maybe some VTOLs on each team to aid in spotting and for each team to shoot down before they spot their VIP.

Just some ideas...

Edited by Captain Grayson Lighthorse, 07 March 2018 - 03:13 PM.