0) Card availability
- The Common supply cache contain a level 1 card.
- The Uncommon supply cache contain a level 2 card.
- The Rare supply cache contain a level 3 card.
- The Ultra rare supply cache contain a level 4 card.
Cards cannot be purchased from the store, or won from anywhere else.
1) Slotting cards
- A level 1 card can be permanently slotted in any bolt-on.
- A level 2 card can only be permanently slotted in a bolt-on worth 500MC or more.
- A level 3 card can only be permanently slotted in a bolt-on worth 750MC or more.
- A level 4 card can only be permanently slotted in a bolt-on worth 1000MC.
Bolt-ons can be won for free from Solaris and events, or purchased from the store.
2) Card Types
The types of card are the same as some of the node types in the skill trees :
- Including types like : Range, Heat Gen, Cooldown...
- Excluding types like : Laser Duration, UAC Jam Chance, Missile Spread, Enhanced ECM...
3) Card Levels
- Level 4 is the maximum card level.
- But some type of cards have less then 4 levels available.
For example the "consumable slot" card type could be limited to level 1, which would make this type of low-level Common supply cache card very valuable, and a fine fit for a low level 250MC bolt-on.
4) Card stacking
Only the top value of any type of card equipped on the same mech applies :
- The effects of a +3 range card and +2 Cooldown card will stack.
- The effects of a +3 range card and +2 range card won't stack, and will only provide the bigger +3 range instead.
- Alternative : Cards of the same type do stack, but only up to their maximum of level 4 (or less).
5) Card duration
- The effect of a card is active, until it's bolt-on is destroyed.
- The card itself is not destroyed, when it's bolt-on is destroyed.
6) Hardcore mode
- A level 2 card can only be inserted into a bolt-on already equipped with a level 1 card of the same type.
- A level 3 card can only be inserted into a bolt-on already equipped with a level 2 card of the same type.
- A level 4 card can only be inserted into a bolt-on already equipped with a level 3 card of the same type.
This makes lower level cards more valuable, provides a smoother progression in level-ups, and makes it harder and longer to reach level 4.
7) Other Card Types
- +XP (+1% per level, ~4 levels)
- + Cbills (+1% per level, ~4 levels)
- + Supply cache progress (+1% per level, ~3 levels)
- + Loyalty (+1% per level, ~2 levels)
- +MC (+1 MC per match but only if the mech is deployed and it's bolt-on survives, only 1 level)
8) Options
- A card already inserted into a bolt-on can be manually destroyed by the player (at a cost ?), to make room for another type of card.
- As an exception you can earn a Level 1, a level 2, a level 3 and a level 4 card from the type of your choice, as part of the Annual Rewards Program (depending on which level of cards you qualify for).
For cards and supply caches to remain valuable, it's important slotted cards can never be returned to the player, but can at least be destroyed to free up the bolt-on instead.
9) And that's it
- Supply Caches become more valuable, even the Common Supply Cache for the level 1 cards needed (?) to reach level 2 (if hardcore mode is being used), and it's special level 1 card types.
- Bolt-ons become useful at something.
- Solaris supply caches become more valuable for their bolt-on content.
- End-game content is added to MWO.
Edited by Humble Dexter, 18 February 2020 - 11:35 AM.