15 replies to this topic

[ShrapNelRP]

Just for fun, our team decided to start playing some mechs without skillpoints, and preferably, those mechs with as few quirks as possible. We termed those mechs "vanilla" builds.

We know the skilltree and quirk system is necessary to even out the playing field, as not all Battletech designs translate well to a first-person shooter PVP environment. But we just wanted to try something new, and perhaps bring back a little of the Mechwarrior standalone game experience, where you just changed the loadouts without thinking about a skilltree or quirks.

Here's episode 1 of our journey:

[Saved By The Bell]

Baradul played without armor in sweet potato past.

Edited by Saved By The Bell, 22 May 2023 - 12:02 AM.

[kalashnikity]

I ran a stock Kit Fox S for a few days, it was challenging but fun.

[kalashnikity]

Saved By The Bell, on 22 May 2023 - 12:02 AM, said:

Baradul played without armor in sweet potato past.

I saw someone play a Kit Fox 2xERPPC a few times, with no armor (they put it all in heat sinks), it did really well- they stayed in the back and kept up a high rate of fire.

I have an Arctic Cheater with ecm and 2xERPPC, almost no armor (put about 6 in each leg, for jump damage), I built it to meme but was shocked when I found out how well it did despite how hot it is.

[ShrapNelRP]

The Hatchetman 5K in Vanilla mode:

[ShrapNelRP]

Mad Dog, MDD-C in vanilla mode:

[Mechwarrior2342356]

ShrapNelRP, on 02 June 2023 - 10:38 PM, said:

Mad Dog, MDD-C in vanilla mode:

...Isn't the MDD-C kind of gigaquirked with stock pods?

E: oh not as severely as I thought. Huh.

Edited by the check engine light, 02 June 2023 - 11:05 PM.

[sycocys]

The skill tree or former pilot skills is and has always been nothing about balance in any form. The only thing it's every really accomplished is to make newly purchase mechs and put new(er) players at a disadvantage and a tiny amount of c-bill/mc sink.

[Mechwarrior2342356]

sycocys, on 03 June 2023 - 09:55 AM, said:

The skill tree or former pilot skills is and has always been nothing about balance in any form. The only thing it's every really accomplished is to make newly purchase mechs and put new(er) players at a disadvantage and a tiny amount of c-bill/mc sink.

It's very treadmill-y and most chasses are specialized not via skill tree but via whatever they can run well regardless of skill tree. Skill tree is just a "do thing you already do but moar better" mechanism that creates grind and noticeable disparity.

I'd say barring some chasses that simply haven't been poked at as much for whatever reason, the presence of strong quirks or quirks at all points to chassis deficiency, and a minimally or zero-quirked chassis is probably crazy good out of box due to hardpoints, hitboxes, etc.

Edited by the check engine light, 03 June 2023 - 10:15 AM.

[foamyesque]

the check engine light, on 03 June 2023 - 10:13 AM, said:

I'd say barring some chasses that simply haven't been poked at as much for whatever reason, the presence of strong quirks or quirks at all points to chassis deficiency, and a minimally or zero-quirked chassis is probably crazy good out of box due to hardpoints, hitboxes, etc.

Generally, although sometimes the quirks are there to facilitate a sort of 'intended to be good at this role' thing, like the Catapult or Archer missile quirks.

[ShrapNelRP]

Warhammer Black Widow in vanilla mode:

[ShrapNelRP]

Cougar, COU-H in vanilla mode:

[1Exitar1]

Juan Toomeny does a video series on using stock mechs called the Ultimate Challenge series. Check it out: https://www.youtube....aming/playlists

[Tywren]

I wouldn't mind seeing a weekend event where whatever mech you bring, you get the stock version, instead if your tricked out custom uber-meta build. It might be fun to see mechs how they were initially made to play.

[ShrapNelRP]

Crusader 6T in vanilla mode:

1Exitar1, on 18 June 2023 - 11:52 PM, said:

Juan Toomeny does a video series on using stock mechs called the Ultimate Challenge series. Check it out: https://www.youtube....aming/playlists

TTB and Baradul did something similar before. But I think most are in agreement that stock builds aren't that good. So we decided to try something different, using an "optimal build" but without being skewed by skill points.

[sq4me2]

I did this with the ambush and had a great match.
https://youtu.be/9K7tPxrqYjU