313 replies to this topic

[InnerSphereNews]

Greetings MechWarriors!

We are very excited to share with you the first draft of the MechWarrior Online 2021 Roadmap! Before we jump into the details, we want to reiterate a few points.

• We have done our best to gather feedback and input from the Community as to what you want fixed, changed, and/or added to MWO, and bake that into the roadmap. That being said, we are not done sharing, discussing, and listening to the Community as we move forward and the items on the roadmap begin to get implemented.
• We are very open to implementing items, and then doing further tweaking and/or balancing in future patches, if necessary based on results and further discussions with the Community.
• Quarterly Themes and Goals may be subject to change, based on the scope of the changes, development resources, and continued Community feedback and input.
• At the end of each Quarter, we will review with the Community what we have done, and re-assess the work ahead.

So without further ado, let's ado this!

NOTE: Items marked DONE are currently slated for a February patch.

QUARTER 1 - LOW HANGING FRUIT + VALUE TUNING

New Player Experience

• Change Cadet Starting Tier to 5 - DONE
• Increase Cadet Bonus - DONE
• Update Trial ‘Mechs and Loadouts (batch 1)(regularly with appropriate consultation) - MARCH
• New Player Video Tutorials (official and community) - MARCH

Quality of Life

• Lower the volume on Intro Movies - MARCH

Maps

• Remove Time of Day Change in Matches (Performance Concern) - DONE

‘Mechs

• Update Bolt-ons (stay attached) - DONE

Weapons and Equipment

• Weapon Changes Pass 1 - MARCH
• BUG minor fix to Light Gauss Rifle (MinHeatpenaltylevel) - DONE

Gameplay

• Increase Requirement for Reconnection from 2 to 4 minutes - DONE
• Examine Match Scoring (AMS) - MARCH

Social

• Lower C-Bill Recruitment Cost for Units - DONE
• Update MW5 Discord to MechWarrior Discord incl. MWO - FEB
• Regular Dev Vlogs - TWICE A MONTH

Monetization

• New Player Packs Web and Steam - MARCH
• New Bundle Deals - FEBRUARY - MARCH

Events and Freebies

• More events Dailies/Weeklies/Streamers
• Monthly Missions for a Free Mech - MARCH
• Misc. Sales
• Lucky Charms Loot Bags

Intel Gathering (Community Feedback for next Quarter items)

• Map Spawn Points - map change proposals
• Map Design - map change proposals
• Weapon Balance - Feedback on Pass 1
• New Mech Variants - DONE
• New Mech Chassis

QUARTER 2 - IMPROVE EXISTING CONTENT + LOCALIZATION

New Player Experience

• Update Trial ‘Mechs and Loadouts (batch 2)
• More New Player Video Tutorials (official and community)
• Update Wiki / Add Wiki Contributors
• New Player Welcome Emails

Maps - Improvements

• Update Maps (Key QP Maps)
• Spawn Point Fixes Pass 1
• Improve select Unbalanced Maps - Changing Paths and Cover
• Tweak Lighting where appropriate (Hibernal Rift)

‘Mechs

• New 'Mech Variants - Release 2 new Mech Variant of existing Chassis
• Improve 'Mechs Scale (for fun and role vs volumetric)

Weapons and Equipment

• Weapon and Equipment Changes Pass 2
• Improve Jump Jets

Gameplay

• Examine Match Scoring Overall

Features

• Localization Start

Social

• Refer-A-Friend Program
• Regular Dev Vlogs - TWICE A MONTH
• Road Map Update
• Monthly Email Campaign

Events and Freebies

• More events Dailies/Weeklies/Streamers
• Monthly Missions for a Free Mech - APRIL MAY JUNE
• Misc. Sales
• Sumer Solstice Loot Bags

Intel Gathering (Community Feedback for next Quarter items)

• Community Designed Map
• Discussion Armor Balance for Arm Weapon-Only 'Mechs (Jenner, Jagermech, Rifleman)
• Discussion New Item Ideas (Metallic Patterns, Custom UI Colors, Voice Packs, Sound Packs, Laser Color Customization, Mech Lab Customization, Global Patterns, Improve Cockpit Item Bonuses added value) What is possible.

QUARTER 3 - NEW CONTENT + CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS

New Player Experience

• Update Trial ‘Mechs and Loadouts (batch 3)
• Investigate Skilling out Trial Mechs

Quality of Life

• Add GSP amount to Mech Bay UI (near CBills, MC, etc)

New Map Development

• New Quickplay Map - Community driven design

Maps - Improvements

• Update Maps (Key QP Maps)
• Spawn Point Fixes Pass 2
• Improve select Unbalanced Maps Pass 2- Changing Paths and Cover
• Tweak Lighting where appropriate

‘Mechs

• New 'Mech Variants - Release 2 new Mech Variant of existing Chassis
• Quirks / Set of 8's for Under Performers Pass 1
• Address Mech Mobility (skill tree)
• Possible New Mech Chassis

Weapons and Equipment

• Weapon and Equipment Changes Pass 3

Features

• Localization Continued
• Skill Tree Improvements
• Grind Reduction

Social

• Regular Dev Vlogs - TWICE A MONTH
• Road Map Update
• Monthly Email Campaign

Events and Freebies

• More events Dailies/Weeklies/Streamers
• Monthly Missions for a Free Mech - JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER
• Misc. Sales
• Trick Or Treat Loot Bags

Intel Gathering (Community Feedback for next Quarter items)

• Review / Update Game Modes
• Event Que Mode Systems and Variables
• Future of Faction play
• Future of Solaris
• Make Faction play maps available in QP?
• Make QP Maps Viable for Solaris?

QUARTER 4 - NEW FEATURES + CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS

New Player Experience

• Update Trial ‘Mechs and Loadouts (batch 4)
• Skilled Trials Mechs

Quality of Life

• Improve UI Heat Management Values Representation of Heat Efficiency
• Investigate Simplify Command Wheel
• Investigate UI Performance Pass / Scaling

Release New Map

• New Quickplay Map - Community driven design

‘Mechs

• New 'Mech Variants - Release 2 new Mech Variant of existing Chassis
• Possible New Mech Chassis
• Revisit and asses Mech Changes for the year

Weapons and Equipment

• Weapon and Equipment Changes Pass 4
• End of Year Weapon assessment

New Features / Game Modes

• Possibly New Event Queue
• Possibly Advance the Timeline
• Solution for Faction Play
• Solution for Solaris
• Match Maker Improvements based on new modes etc.
• 8v8 and 12v12 modes
• Separate Solo / Group Queues (could happen sooner if Population is high enough)
• Private Lobby Updates (More Options, Maps, Host Assignment, More Spectators)

Social

• Regular Dev Vlogs - TWICE A MONTH
• Road Map Update
• Monthly Email Campaign

Events and Freebies

• More events Dailies/Weeklies/Streamers
• Monthly Missions for a Free Mech - OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
• Annual Customer Rewards Program

Intel Gathering (Community Feedback)

• Year in Review

Expect a Devlog early next week with more details on the upcoming February and March patches.

We look forward to your feedback,

The MechWarrior Online Team

[F37u5 Ea73r]

first!

[Jungle Plague]

That is an awful lot of "possibly" in that map... don't get me wrong - I am ALL aboard and hopeful... but that possibly would feel a lot better if it were an "absolutely"...

[Handley Page]

I expected nothing and am pleasantly surprised, good to see the goal is for balance changes with each quarterly patch. If possible the wiki stuff should happen sooner rather than later as disinformation is pretty common among the playerbase.

Whether it actually pans out is another issue but after so much vagueness its good to have something concrete.

Edited by Handley Page, 29 January 2021 - 06:39 PM.

[John Bronco]

Cool beans.

[Brauer]

So are comp titles still coming in Q1? It doesn't look like they're on the roadmap unless I missed something.

[Magic Pain Glove]

Actually this looks pretty decent . As long as the timeline is respected and certain tweaks / things are added . Will edit this comment a bit later .

[MookieDog]

So far I like what I see.

[Heavy Money]

Looks quite good to me. I'm most interested in seeing weapon changes and quirk rebalances/tuning. Are there any particular recommendations you're working off of in this area?

[Anomalie]

More Events sounds really good! :D

[catgirl]

Quote

So without further ado, let's ado this!

*groans @ Dad joke*

Honestly, the Roadmap looks super promising. I'm excited! Thanks for being so busy over there with all of this and the fun events too.

[jimmidon]

so where is the fix for tourmaline desert group spawns?
the part where if one alpha lance group has range or speed on the other it's a slaughter?

[DAEDALOS513]

After all this waiting I gotta say i'm a bit underwhelmed myself.. feels more like glorified hot-fix for quarter 1 than an actual patch. Haven't looked beyond quarter 1.. i learned not to look too far into future. C'moooon put those newly earned millions to work!

Oh and ps: please put a rush on those comp titles for Brau.. it's important to him.

Edited by DAEDALOS513, 30 January 2021 - 09:05 AM.

[Daeron Katz]

catgirl, on 29 January 2021 - 07:23 PM, said:

*groans @ Dad joke*

Honestly, the Roadmap looks super promising. I'm excited! Thanks for being so busy over there with all of this and the fun events too.

I'm a dad three times over, I can't not make dad jokes at this point.

jimmidon, on 29 January 2021 - 07:26 PM, said:

so where is the fix for tourmaline desert group spawns?
the part where if one alpha lance group has range or speed on the other it's a slaughter?

Q1
Intel Gathering (Community Feedback for next Quarter items)

• Map Spawn Points - map change proposals
  
• Map Design - map change proposals

DAEDALOS513, on 29 January 2021 - 07:28 PM, said:

After all this waiting I gotta say i'm a bit underwhelmed myself.. feels more like glorified hot-fix for quarter 1 than an actual patch. Haven't looked beyond quarter 1.. i learned not to look to far into future. C'moooon put those newly earned millions to work!

Oh and ps: please put a rush on those comp titles for Brau.. it's important to him.

Well then you need to look past Q1.

[Chillidoge]

There's a lot to talk about change here, a lot of positives, and a few things I would tweak if possible.

Main point I think players should be taking away from this is PGI is willing to come to the table and dedicate a fair amount of time and resources to MWO. For me, this can only be a positive.

As for my personal likes and dislikes on this list, I'll probably put a video together on it so I can address each point in sufficient detail.

Anyway TLDR good work guys, positive signs here. Let's see what the community can offer in conjunction with the above and hopefully something awesome will happen as a result.

Edited by Chillidoge, 29 January 2021 - 07:50 PM.

[KrazedOmega]

I'm sure there's probably a reason for it, but I wish the performance improvements were stacked closer together and earlier in the list.

[VonBruinwald]

InnerSphereNews, on 29 January 2021 - 06:29 PM, said:

• BUG minor fix too Light Gauss Rifle (MinHeatpenaltylevel) - DONE

Grrrrrr......

All-in-all it looks achievable. I just hope you all stick to it and drop the ball again.

Wondering why I don't see any mention of removing insta-death from the IS-XL and there's no mention of revisting the MM. The MM was due for a revisit back in October, could you add this to the roadmap. Also, also, could we use a full week for sample data rather than a 24hr snapshot this time.

Edit: Might also be worth adding a 2nd, 3rd, 4th pass for quirks as well. Weapons are getting 4 passes because you know it won't be perfect first time, you're not going to get quirks right 1st time either so don't chance it.

Edit: Adding for visibility:

November11th, on 02 February 2021 - 07:27 AM, said:

Dis Plz

VonBruinwald, on 02 February 2021 - 06:43 AM, said:

REDUCE HEAVY GAUSS/LBX-20 TO 10 SLOTS

Being as we can't crit-split this is the next-best thing.

Note: Need to take the components="right_torso, left_torso" rule from IS-CASE and copy it to the Heavy Gauss as TT build rules restrict Heavy Gauss from being placed in the arms.

Edited by VonBruinwald, 04 February 2021 - 06:33 AM.

[DAEDALOS513]

Daeron Katz, on 29 January 2021 - 07:42 PM, said:

Well then you need to look past Q1.

I've been with this game from the start.. if I look beyond Q1 i feel like i will get my hopes up and i can't take any more disappointments.. i will take it one quarter at a time..

Edited by DAEDALOS513, 29 January 2021 - 10:30 PM.

[Rhialto]

InnerSphereNews, on 29 January 2021 - 06:29 PM, said:

Maps

• Remove Dynamic Time of day changes in Maps - DONE

Why?

And will classic TT be back soon? I see many classic in rotation but no classic TT. :-(

[VonBruinwald]

Rhialto, on 29 January 2021 - 08:12 PM, said:

Why?

And will classic TT be back soon? I see many classic in rotation but no classic TT. :-(

+1 for classic Terra.