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The Curious Case Of The Grand Dragon


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#1 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 02:57 PM

If, like me, you are wondering why the heck the DRG-1G was added to the game when the goal was to specifically add something new and interesting, I have done a bit of research.

Excluding those who asked for the Grand Dragon with MASC (I have no desire for it BUT it at least provides something special), I went through the mech variant intel thread and found 16 players that asked for this mech. (Obviously, I'm not going to call anyone out)

Of those 16 players:

3 of them are listed as "retired" on the Jarl's List
1 of them was not found on the Jarl's List
8 of them were below the 70th percentile (not including the retired/not found)
Only 2 of them are over the 90th percentile


Additionally, when looking for explanations on what it adds to the game, most of them said "I've wanted it forever." A couple said it trades the right arm ballistic for a PPC. Earth shattering change, I know.

So again, I thought we had to "really sell" these variants, yet it looks like it just became a popularity contest among frequent forum fighters, which makes me really sad because there was no love for the Highlander 694 or 738 which are both dramatically different than current offerings, along with many other interesting variants I saw that for whatever reason weren't named.

The bright side would be that the DWF-C got a lot of press. Much more than the -10SE, so there is hope there.

Edited by Gas Guzzler, 22 February 2021 - 03:36 PM.


#2 FupDup

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:02 PM

Speaking of popularity contests, I'm currently counting up all of the mechs requested in that thread so I can make a speculation thread about the next booster packs.

#3 My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:06 PM

Out of curiousity if you still have the info, how many people wanted the Grand Dragon including the MASC variant?

#4 The pessimistic optimist

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:07 PM

Ah the Dragon one of the oldest mechs in the game it was right there at the start.

#5 My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:13 PM

View PostFupDup, on 22 February 2021 - 03:02 PM, said:

Speaking of popularity contests, I'm currently counting up all of the mechs requested in that thread so I can make a speculation thread about the next booster packs.

Doing God's work bud, that'd be super appreciated.

#6 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:19 PM

View PostMonke-, on 22 February 2021 - 03:06 PM, said:

Out of curiousity if you still have the info, how many people wanted the Grand Dragon including the MASC variant?


I didn't include people who asked for only the MASC variant. But if they asked for the MASC variant AND the -1G or -5K (basically a 1G with an ER PPC instead of a regular PPC), they were put on the list.

#7 Heavy Money

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:22 PM

How many people asked for the Thunderbolt? I don't really remember seeing it requested, but it seems pretty interesting. (Of course, all Thunderbolts are mediocre at best rest right, so its gonna need a hell of a quirk load to be good!)

#8 Bud Crue

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:26 PM

View PostHeavy Money, on 22 February 2021 - 03:22 PM, said:

How many people asked for the Thunderbolt? I don't really remember seeing it requested, but it seems pretty interesting. (Of course, all Thunderbolts are mediocre at best rest right, so its gonna need a hell of a quirk load to be good!)


I got up to 4 when I stopped counting about half way through the thread. I was initially convinced that no one could have actually asked for that thing, but yep, they did.

The rationale for it from the few posts I looked at was mostly lore related. Sigh. I like lore as much as anyone, but I'd prefer mechs that might actually be fun and maybe even good first and foremost.

Edited by Bud Crue, 22 February 2021 - 03:28 PM.


#9 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:30 PM

View PostHeavy Money, on 22 February 2021 - 03:22 PM, said:

How many people asked for the Thunderbolt? I don't really remember seeing it requested, but it seems pretty interesting. (Of course, all Thunderbolts are mediocre at best rest right, so its gonna need a hell of a quirk load to be good!)


I saw the Thunderbolt a handful of times. Not as much as the DWF-C though, for instance. Again, AT LEAST that one has ECM, MASC, and JJs though, which does make it standout from the other variants.

Edited by Gas Guzzler, 22 February 2021 - 03:31 PM.


#10 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:37 PM

View PostFupDup, on 22 February 2021 - 03:02 PM, said:

Speaking of popularity contests, I'm currently counting up all of the mechs requested in that thread so I can make a speculation thread about the next booster packs.


That's good because it (hopefully) gives us the chance to scream at the top of our lungs and veto any other awful picks.

#11 FLG 01

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:40 PM

This is not anything new. The vast majority of the Civil War-era releases e.g. have been hilariously bad for the IS. Everytime people were warned, everytime they pushed for the bad Mechs regardless. If anything the community wants these bad Mechs.

Uziel (Pre-Release):
A: "Very bad hitboxes, mediocre hard-points and basically no strong points. You may want to rethink this."
B: "NOOOO! MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Uziel (Post-Release):
B: "This is bad! Why did nobody tell me!?"
A: "Um, you were told."


Osiris (Pre-Release):
A: "Pretty average unit, especially compared to what we have already."
B: "NOOOO! MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Osiris (Post-Release):
*completely ignored*


Thanatos (Pre-Release):
A: "Bad hitboxes, and ECM has been nerfed. There might be better choi..."
B: "NOOOO! MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Thanatos (Post-Release):
B: "This has bad hitboxes, and my ECM does not help much!"
A: "Really?"


Hellspawn (Pre-Release):
A: "Just say it."
B: "MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Hellspawn (Post-Release):
B: "What am I going to do with those hardpoints? And why those quirks? They are garbage!"
A: *sigh*


And you know which new light Mech is the popular, don't you? The Hollander.

#12 FupDup

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:45 PM

View PostFLG 01, on 22 February 2021 - 03:40 PM, said:

This is not anything new. The vast majority of the Civil War-era releases e.g. have been hilariously bad for the IS. Everytime people were warned, everytime they pushed for the bad Mechs regardless. If anything the community wants these bad Mechs.

Uziel (Pre-Release):
A: "Very bad hitboxes, mediocre hard-points and basically no strong points. You may want to rethink this."
B: "NOOOO! MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Uziel (Post-Release):
B: "This is bad! Why did nobody tell me!?"
A: "Um, you were told."


Osiris (Pre-Release):
A: "Pretty average unit, especially compared to what we have already."
B: "NOOOO! MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Osiris (Post-Release):
*completely ignored*


Thanatos (Pre-Release):
A: "Bad hitboxes, and ECM has been nerfed. There might be better choi..."
B: "NOOOO! MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Thanatos (Post-Release):
B: "This has bad hitboxes, and my ECM does not help much!"
A: "Really?"


Hellspawn (Pre-Release):
A: "Just say it."
B: "MW:4 über alles!!11 Soo iconic!11!"

Hellspawn (Post-Release):
B: "What am I going to do with those hardpoints? And why those quirks? They are garbage!"
A: *sigh*


And you know which new light Mech is the popular, don't you? The Hollander.

This post reads more like you just hating MW4 on principle rather than you criticizing individual bad mech choices.

#13 Vlad Ward

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:47 PM

The Grand Dragon is one of those things that's been etched in the community psyche from Day 1. I can't remember a day when people haven't asked for it. It's right up there with the Urbie and Mackie on the list of 'Mechs people want "just cuz."

#14 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:47 PM

View PostFupDup, on 22 February 2021 - 03:45 PM, said:

This post reads more like you just hating MW4 on principle rather than you criticizing individual bad mech choices.


Hahaha.

The Thanatos just needed a little more quirks. The Uziel and Osiris are okay and can at least be fun. The Hellspawn and Dervish both added nothing for me.

#15 FupDup

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:48 PM

View PostGas Guzzler, on 22 February 2021 - 03:47 PM, said:

Hahaha.

The Thanatos just needed a little more quirks. The Uziel and Osiris are okay and can at least be fun. The Hellspawn and Dervish both added nothing for me.

Dervish can't be blamed on MW4, that's a 3025 mech.

#16 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:49 PM

View PostFupDup, on 22 February 2021 - 03:48 PM, said:

Dervish can't be blamed on MW4, that's a 3025 mech.


I have nothing against MW4, and I don't think the Thanatos is that bad, it just can't seem to sustain enough DPS at far enough away like other options. In other words, it needs more quirks.

I was just naming the last couple worthless mechs that people wanted.

Edited by Gas Guzzler, 22 February 2021 - 03:50 PM.


#17 FupDup

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:51 PM

View PostGas Guzzler, on 22 February 2021 - 03:49 PM, said:


I have nothing against MW4, and I don't think the Thanatos is that bad, it just can't seem to sustain enough DPS at far enough away like other options. In other words, it needs more quirks.

When I try to mechlab it in MechDB I have a hard time coming up with builds because the hardpoints are laid out so weird. MW4's non-canon mechlab was way easier to build with (a large part of why a lot of these mechs performed better in MW4 than MWO). MekTek's custom "Thanatos XT" variant might help.

#18 FLG 01

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:54 PM

View PostFupDup, on 22 February 2021 - 03:45 PM, said:

This post reads more like you just hating MW4 on principle rather than you criticizing individual bad mech choices.

I don't hate MW:4, I played it, I liked it, and that's it. A vocal part of the community however put it on a pedestal, and pushed for releasing every Mech from that game. I don't think it should have that impact on Mech choices. That's really all there is to it.
It is hardly my fault that people had no other argument than "it was in MW:4".

Bottom line is the community wants bad robots, so it gets bad robots.

#19 Gas Guzzler

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:56 PM

View PostFupDup, on 22 February 2021 - 03:51 PM, said:

When I try to mechlab it in MechDB I have a hard time coming up with builds because the hardpoints are laid out so weird. MW4's non-canon mechlab was way easier to build with (a large part of why a lot of these mechs performed better in MW4 than MWO). MekTek's custom "Thanatos XT" variant might help.


Its funny, you can actually fit 2 PPCs and 2 UAC5s with ECM and JJs, and an LFE. You are a little slow, but there was a time when that loadout would be considered OP AF.

Otherwise, it has a variant that can do 2 MRM 40s in the shoulders, and another that can do two UAC10s/Gauss in the shoulders. You could even do something like two AC10s and a HPPC with hops.

View PostFLG 01, on 22 February 2021 - 03:54 PM, said:

I don't hate MW:4, I played it, I liked it, and that's it. A vocal part of the community however put it on a pedestal, and pushed for releasing every Mech from that game. I don't think it should have that impact on Mech choices. That's really all there is to it.
It is hardly my fault that people had no other argument than "it was in MW:4".

Bottom line is the community wants bad robots, so it gets bad robots.


I really want that MAD-9S that you suggested. Really really.

#20 FLG 01

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Posted 22 February 2021 - 03:59 PM

View PostGas Guzzler, on 22 February 2021 - 03:56 PM, said:

I really want that MAD-9S that you suggested. Really really.

Then go ahead, you seem to be in a thread opening mood today. Posted Image





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