61 replies to this topic

[Kristov Kerensky]

Buying Mechs with cash is in..but..here's the part people missed..as soon as a Mech is put in that can be bought with real world cash, it can also be bought with ingame funds..says that right in the bit quoted by vbad from the Massively interview. Wallet warriors won't be the ONLY ones driving those brand new Atlas's when they hit the market, anyone who's saved up will be able to as well.

[Flawless]

Us with little real money will have to work for our assault mechs.

[Volume]

Please note the detail in the interview: Once available/unlocked, it can be purchased with either in-game funds or real money.

ie: It's not like someone can buy an Atlas straight away - everything still needs to be "unlocked" - not sure how, mind you, could be researched, leveled to, or whatever...I just mean that certain criteria must be met before a 'Mech can be purchased with either in-game funds or real money.

What I'm trying to say is that if I want to blow a bunch of money to get an Atlas, I can't do it on day one. I would need to work up to unlock it the same way anyone would (ie: WoT "experience") but I could spend real money to purchase it (ie: WoT gold --> credits conversion)

[Barantor]

Flawless, on 28 December 2011 - 08:37 PM, said:

Us with little real money will have to work for our assault mechs.

... and will still be able to be killed by a light marking you for a catapult's missile volley.

There is no Maus tank in MWO, everything can kill everything given time and skill.

[Volume]

Barantor, on 28 December 2011 - 09:54 PM, said:

... and will still be able to be killed by a light marking you for a catapult's missile volley.

There is no Maus tank in MWO, everything can kill everything given time and skill.

Another very good point. It's not like "Oh, he's in an Atlas, all of my weapons will just bounce off." The way health/hit-points/armor works in Battletech, it is very possible for a few lights grouped together to absolutely murder an assault 'Mech, especially if they have fast-firing weapons to knock the Assault around, making it difficult for the pilot to aim - shaking the cockpit from SRMs, circling around to their weaker rear armor, exploiting slow torso turns and movement from heavier 'Mechs, stealth attacks with ECM/BAP/Passive Radar/Stealth-Armor/whatever, I really think that a skilled light or medium pilot will be able to wreck pretty hard. Not as easily as jump-sniping Shadowcats in MW4, for example, but definitely with precision aim and skillful piloting, all enemies will be a force to be reckoned with.

If you look at MWLL for an example, the bigger, badder units cost more credits/C-Bills and are slower, more vulnerable to air support or artillery attacks or combined attacks from smaller 'Mechs. I think the medium/heavy might be where most pilots spend most of their time - with lights and assaults as more specialist forces with specific situations where they are the best, but a cheaper more versatile 'Mech might be a better choice when going into a situation blind.

[Dayuhan]

I figure 'mechs will be available to everyone, but you find a fluctuating market based upon demand and availability. So the Catapult will be commonly available to House Liao (Capellan Confederation) and will be the cheapest to buy there. The Free Worlds League, an ally to House Liao, will be able to purchase the 'mech for slightly more than House Liao. However, House Davion, an enemy of House Liao, will pay premium price for a black market version.

Depending on how the combat system handles battle losses, a topic discussed in other threads, you might be able to pick up a heavily damaged 'mech as battle salvage and then pay the price in c-bills to refurbish it - again depending on whether the replacement components are readily available to your faction.

[Elizander]

I'm quite curious about what will be available in the cash shop. I am expecting (at least) that the cash shop will provide things that will make playing the game more convenient or perhaps alternate models/designs.

I didn't mind purchasing what was needed to make a Shining Gundam in SDGO and I certainly won't mind spending if I can buy an original design Battlemaster or weapon upgrades instead of grinding for them (for example).

I expect there will be the usual FP2 staples such as EXP/Reputation boosts, reduction of penalties (if any), fashion (mech models, skins, characters, etc), and actual useful items (mechs, weapons, whatnot). Convenience as well (less downtime for whatever eats up your time, perhaps ease of travel between areas if any).

Everyone will probably have base access to certain mechs and the means to maintain them without paying (this is also standard practice for F2P games - default gun for FPS, etc) though it might not be as broad a selection or as easy compared to those who choose to support the game through purchases.

In the article on joystiq it was mentioned that you need to unlock a mech then you can buy it with either real cash or in-game currency. I'm just hoping going the cash route will give a few more benefits such as getting the rank faster or bypassing it like how some gun rank requirements are waived in FPS games when purchasing through cash.

[Robert Silverton]

Maybe thay will use cash for say variants of a machine. that would keep the balance but allow players for have a machine that can suprise someone in a fight.

[verybad]

I'm suspecting it will be you get some initial C-Bills to buy your first mech to pick form a variety (not all) mechs at the beginning, that FIRST mech is essentially free, plus maybe some equipment if you buy a cheaper mech, other ones you have to buy using either C-Bills (in game earned cash) or real dough.

[osito]

i Like the idea of f2p. I also understand their need to make money so having some things cost real currency is fine by me as long as it doesnt give unfair advantage to the people who can afford it.

If the devs really want to make some money they should have the unseen/reseen mechs cost real currency. If they are released and you have to pay for them they would make a killing off them. Do you know how many marauder fanatics there are out there.

[osito]

Just a thought here but what if the 12 or so mechs that are going to revealed are the ones that we get free with start up c-bills. What if they do have more mechs avb but those ones must be purchased to unlock? That might be interesting.

[verybad]

You're right there!

I would buy all the Marauders, nobody but me gets them!

I'd probably be willing to go hungry a few days a week in order to get UNSEEN marauders in the game. (Not Phoenix *vomits*)

edit
Hmm, speaking of this, wonder how limited quantity mechs might work? Highest bid gets the mech, only a few per week?

I know people would complain about this, but it might be kind of cool as long as they had no true advantages over other mechs.

Edited by verybad, 07 February 2012 - 02:40 PM.

[Mchawkeye]

"I want that one."

*Click*

[El Loco]

I think verybad is right about the starting situation. It could be like the start in MW2:Mercs, if you didn't join a unit. You got 1,000,000 C-Bills, I think, and could buy whatever chassis fell into the limit.

I would like the starting situation described in the OP as well... having to chose from a 'Mech usually fielded by your House (or even unit)... maybe depending on how you performed during your finals ( = tutorial)... but I guess that's going to be a lot of work on the devs side.

What I'm really looking forward though are information on the whole salvaging thing. I'd like to know if you can salvage literally everything, like in MW3. But, as with many open questions, I'll have to wait until Mechwarfare month... where this issue definitely should be discussed.

[verybad]

They've mentioned pay bonuses based on performance, so I think that may replace salvage, this is speculation however.

I don't think true salvaging (ie kill an enemy, get their mech) will happen, because if you did, logically that player (remember everyone is a real person, no AI to begin with) would LOSE their mech. As this would quickly through lots of people out the game, and make it easier to salvage a mech than to buy one (making the game hard to make money for Piranha) a pay bonus for the mission seems like the likely path they'll take

Also remember, each mission is taken for someone else (House command, most likely, so it's likely that the overall command would get that salvage rather than the mercs or house lance.

Perhaps sometimes they'll have special missions where the top players or teams might get salvage, but probably not in all games. Or if so, not whole mechs very often.

[El Loco]

Right... I wouldn't expect getting the entire salvage delivered to my 'Mechbay. But maybe for each House there'll be a set of statistics (the Houses should differ in a variety of aspects, I think) and one of these stats could be salvage (what happens to salvage, will you get extra cash and to what extent) and that merc units have the salvage rights written into their contracts (similar to MW2:Mercs).

I guess salvaging entire 'Mechs might be inappropriate and lead to inflationary amounts of 'Mechs in succesful units. Nevertheless, I'd like to see a more nuanced take on salvage during Mechwarfare month. Don't get me wrong, I can live with getting a nice bonus on my paycheck for being good at shooting down my opponents and would never complain about it... but I'm more the payment in kind guy

[verybad]

Oh I'd like it too, I just don't think it will be in the game. Maybe they'll let you hire different quality techs, and a really good tech might get you better salvage, or more salvage, but cut into your pay, making the results more random...

I do like salvage, but understand that real stuff (mechs, good weapons, etc) might cut into their making the game successful.

Edited by verybad, 07 February 2012 - 03:11 PM.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

I think verybad is right about salvage. The other reason for it not to be in is that it's something else to set up.. If you have 50.000 fighting and half die - thats bits of 25k mechs to assign as salvage. Each LW has to be assigned items individually. I can't see that fitting in with MVP can you?

[Chuckie]

I have a bad feeling this game is going to cost me a LOT of money.. and I will enjoy spending every single dollar.

[Name140704]

I'd like to see you pick an initial role and they assign you a random 'mech that fits the bill. Roll 2D6 on the table