96 replies to this topic

[Felicitatem Parco]

The Q&A 2 posting describes the bidding system as having a "minimum bid" acting as a reserve, and that Merc corps will have to bid *above* this minimum reserve value in order to get a contract, and all of this is performed in a silent auction-type atmosphere...


Does that mean Merc Corps will be PAYING money to accept contracts? I don't get it! I thought contract-bidding is supposed to be where multiple Corps place bids on how much money they will charge for accomplishing the goals outlined in the contract, and the Corps that "charges" the lowest price will get the contract. Why, then, is there a "minimum bid" that Corps have to exceed in order to get a contact? You'd think that if Merc Corps are vying for a contract, and the cheapest labor gets the contract, then we should see a *maximum* value for the contract that cannot be exceeded because only so much money is being offered for this job!

How is this supposed to work? Are Merc Corps supposed to bid on the rights to "purchase" a mystery contract, and then only the winning Corps will learn how much they will get paid for the job outlined in the contract? Or will the pay-out value of the contract be made public before the bidding is over, so that everyone knows how much the contract is worth before shelling out money to buy the contract?

I don't get it...

Edited by Prosperity Park, 21 December 2011 - 12:18 PM.

[Saurok]

I think it is maximum bid which house military places for contract. And then Merc Commands place their bids. And lowest bid
takes the contract.

[Dihm]

So... how does this stop the problem of a merc corp bidding the reserve every time in order to win the contract? Seems like it just moves the goal post instead of preventing doesn't it? Unless we don't know what the reserve actually is when we bid?

[CaveMan]

I understand *why* they added the minimum bid thing. The real problem I see is that everyone will always bid the minimum amount for the contract and no more. So it does no good unless the minimum bid is so low that it wont pay your expenses.

Which is to say, if the minimum bid is so low that a merc corps bidding at the reserve is actually taking a loss on the mission, then people will bid what they actually need to bid in order to break even, and no less.

Edited by CaveMan, 21 December 2011 - 12:20 PM.

[Ghost]

Dihm, on 21 December 2011 - 12:16 PM, said:

So... how does this stop the problem of a merc corp bidding the reserve every time in order to win the contract? Seems like it just moves the goal post instead of preventing doesn't it? Unless we don't know what the reserve actually is when we bid?

I imagine the bidding system, much like in real life, exists to cover your costs and add a slice of profit on top. If you're bidding the reserve, you've either got incredibly deep pockets (and are willing to accept the loss) or you're getting something extra on the side...

[Felicitatem Parco]

The "reserve" minimum will be kept secret, according to the Devs, but this won't stop you from re-bidding over and over again until you discover the actual reserve (by observing that the number of accepted bids gets bumped). And then you may have 3 or 4 Corps that all "discovered" the reserve and bid exactly that.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 21 December 2011 - 12:23 PM.

[TheRulesLawyer]

I imagine the minimum bid will cover average losses just to prevent smaller merc corps getting locked out. I wonder how they'll handle having constant equal bids? I'd assuming a RNG selection?

[Felicitatem Parco]

Ghost, on 21 December 2011 - 12:19 PM, said:

I imagine the bidding system, much like in real life, exists to cover your costs and add a slice of profit on top. If you're bidding the reserve, you've either got incredibly deep pockets (and are willing to accept the loss) or you're getting something extra on the side...

Yup. People with deep pockets will accept low-ball contracts if it's politically or strategically advantageous. It looks like what the Devs said is that you cannot offer cheaper-than-dirt labor.

I'm sorry, but that's how Mercenaries work! They will perform underhanded bids.

[Orzorn]

See, the way I imagined it should be is like how bidding on contracts is done in real life for construction companies. You bid DOWN. The company that bids the lowest wins, as that means that they will do the job for less money than any other competitor.

The way this system is described, you bid UP, above a minimum bid. Its really odd. Where does that money go, and why would you be spending MORE? Are you supposed to bid down towards the Reserve, but still keep above the Reserve bid?

Edited by Orzorn, 21 December 2011 - 12:28 PM.

[Felicitatem Parco]

Orzorn, you're exactly right... it makes no sense...

Edited by Prosperity Park, 21 December 2011 - 12:28 PM.

[CaveMan]

Prosperity Park, on 21 December 2011 - 12:19 PM, said:

The "reserve" minimum will be kept secret, according to the Devs, but this won't stop you from re-bidding over and over again until you discover the actual reserve (by observing that the number of accepted bids gets bumped). And then you may have 3 or 4 Corps that all "discovered" the reserve and bid exactly that.

I sort of imagined they'd do it like a reverse E-Bay: you enter a starting bid, plus the minimum amount you're willing to take, and the game compares bids from each party until it reaches the minimum bid or the reserve, whichever comes first.

Now I have no idea how they'd handle it when you have 4 different parties each bidding the same minimum amount. Maybe some sort of MRBC quality rating that determines who gets in after the minimum is reached?

[Orzorn]

CaveMan, on 21 December 2011 - 12:28 PM, said:

I sort of imagined they'd do it like a reverse E-Bay: you enter a starting bid, plus the minimum amount you're willing to take, and the game compares bids from each party until it reaches the minimum bid or the reserve, whichever comes first.

Now I have no idea how they'd handle it when you have 4 different parties each bidding the same minimum amount. Maybe some sort of MRBC quality rating that determines who gets in after the minimum is reached?

They could base it on faction loyalty points. Why take Merc Corp A that you've never worked with, when you could use Merc Corp 1 with 20 missions for your house under their belt?

[Felicitatem Parco]

Good point. But then how do green Merc corps get any jobs to gain loyalty if the rich, loyal Corps get all the work?

Green Corps have lesser equipment so they can't charge as low as a well-outfitted Corps. The only way I can see to get around this is if the rich, loyal Corps willingly cede work to other Corps because the rich, loyal guys get offers for more lucrative contracts elsewhere.

But none of that explains the *minimum* bid system in place.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 21 December 2011 - 12:33 PM.

[CaveMan]

Orzorn, on 21 December 2011 - 12:30 PM, said:

They could base it on faction loyalty points. Why take Merc Corp A that you've never worked with, when you could use Merc Corp 1 with 20 missions for your house under their belt?

I was just thinking that. Although doing it that way means that it may be difficult if not impossible for new units to get contracts.

TheRulesLawyer, on 21 December 2011 - 12:25 PM, said:

I imagine the minimum bid will cover average losses just to prevent smaller merc corps getting locked out. I wonder how they'll handle having constant equal bids? I'd assuming a RNG selection?

If it covers losses, then there is NEVER a reason to bid above the reserve, and contract distribution would be effectively random.

Actually, smaller units have an advantage there, because they have lower operating expenses than big units. It costs a lot less to repair 4 basic 'Mechs than 12 advanced ones.

Edited by CaveMan, 21 December 2011 - 12:35 PM.

[Felicitatem Parco]

4 advanced Mechs will destroy 4 basic Mechs, though, because advanced Mechs are most often in the hands of experienced pilots...


...unless newbies can pay real-life cash to get advanced equipment from the get-go.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 21 December 2011 - 12:37 PM.

[CaveMan]

Prosperity Park, on 21 December 2011 - 12:36 PM, said:

4 advanced Mechs will destroy 4 basic Mechs, though, because advanced Mechs are most often in the hands of experienced pilots...

So? That's true no matter what the bidding system looks like. The unit with the inferior tech is making a bigger gamble than the well-equipped unit, but they also will make a bigger profit on the same bid.

[TheRulesLawyer]

Lets just hope there are enough contracts out there or limits on the number of bids you make that the big merc corps can't take everything. There have to be scraps for the little players.

[Raeven]

There is a minimum bid. You may now know what that is, but it prevents Merc teams from just bidding 1 to get every contract. Once the min bid is surpassed, those teams over that bid will participate in the auction.

No idea if it's just a CBill number, or if you can bid for salvage or 'Mechs or weapons or discounts.

[Skarr]

You are bidding for the rights to control a planet and all it's income? Basically you should know how much income you will get for a certain period of time of control but the enemy will try to take it away once you have it. So obviously you want to pay as little for the rights because that saves you money but if you bid to little someone else will get the rights and you won't have the income.

[Cyote13]

The thing to remember is that even the big Corps can not low ball the bid on every match or they will go broke also.

Counting the close periphery worlds there are nearly 2000 systems..if only 10% ever have contracts out for them it is still a lot of terrain and each side will have a contract for mercs I think we are all going to be employed.

And at some point I will want to shoot up some Drac house units for their treachery.