71 replies to this topic

[Terran123rd]

I've seen arguments for and against having the Clans as playble factions and mechs. I've seen long eloquent posts about how, either, they are so over-powered that they would break the game or how they can be so over powered but still be balanced.

Here's the thing. Everyone assumes that the Clans will be OP because they're OP. Because that's canon.

I'm all for following canon to the letter, but there are times when things like, say, realism or , in this case, canon, must step aside in favor of gameplay.

Do away with the problem.

Get rid of the OP Clantech weapons and gear, but keep the chassis. Let us pilot our Timber Wolves and Mad Dogs and Stone Rhinos, but make us use Inner Sphere weapons and gear. If Clan weapons are used, make them look different but function exactly, or nearly exactly, like the Inner Sphere tech; in other words, make them vanity and role play items.

I know the munchkins and purists are going to crucify me for this, but what do you guys think?

[Garthak]

who wants to see a timberwolf beaten half to death and given pitiful freebirth weaponry? thats no fun for the poor timberwolf. Imagine how a direwolf would feel, would commit suicide before it got on the battlefield.

[The Outlaw Kazzen]

I could almost imagine a Timberwolf commiting sepuku with a rusty spork...

[Terran123rd]

Garthak, on 26 July 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

who wants to see a timberwolf beaten half to death and given pitiful freebirth weaponry? thats no fun for the poor timberwolf. Imagine how a direwolf would feel, would commit suicide before it got on the battlefield.

Those of us who recognize that Clantech is utterly overpowered and are willing to compromise so that we can pilot our favorite mechs without killing the game in the process. That's who.

[Uncle Totty]

Terran123rd, on 26 July 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

Those of us who recognize that Clantech is utterly overpowered and are willing to compromise so that we can pilot our favorite mechs without killing the game in the process. That's who.

I'm a big fan of the Timber Wolf, love it with all my hart. And that is why I will have to say no to this. Sorry, but I love my Timber Wolf far too much to have to make it something it's not.

Edited by Nathan K, 27 July 2012 - 12:39 AM.

[Scytale]

Nathan K, on 27 July 2012 - 12:32 AM, said:

I'm a big fan of the Timber Wolf, love it with all my hart. And that is why I will have to say no to this. Sorry, but I love my Timber Wolf far too much to have to make it something it's not.

Much though the OP is actually making a very sensible point, I agree. I like the Timber Wolf heaps too, and because I know it can back up its awesome look with even more awesome firepower (obviously this goes for other clan mechs as well)... I think canon is just too strong here!!

[Patrick Wolf]

why dont they just keep the clan equipment and mechs to canon but instead make the clan vs IS battles a bit different, give the IS a edge. say 2 stars of clan vs 4 lances of IS with balanced Exp and rewards for each kill. that would be 10 clan vs 16 IS, or even more of an edge to IS would be say 5 lances vs 2 stars. 1:2 odds for IS. you could even go farther

[SakuranoSenshi]

Patrick Wolfe, on 27 July 2012 - 12:49 AM, said:

why dont they just keep the clan equipment and mechs to canon but instead make the clan vs IS battles a bit different, give the IS a edge. say 2 stars of clan vs 4 lances of IS with balanced Exp and rewards for each kill. that would be 10 clan vs 16 IS, or even more of an edge to IS would be say 5 lances vs 2 stars. 1:2 odds for IS. you could even go farther

And maybe they will. Point is moot, though because to all intents and purposes, there are no such things as 'Clans'. It's 3049 and all is well with the world; the last war is over, the Federated Commonwealth has been formed and we're all getting on famously. People are dancing in the streets and nonbody cares about a few Periphery worlds and their piracy problems aside from those paid to care.

[Patrick Wolf]

I wouldnt say its moot, considering they should be invading in a year or so. I imagine there is a few people already working on integrating them in, and theyll have too many players demanding their clan mechs (me included) to just leave them out

[KreepyKrawly]

Easy way to do this is "limit" the availability of clan tech.

Like in the books, when the clans invaded, IS was pretty much handed it's ***, but in some cases they were defeated and the IS salvaged some of the tech, but wasn't immediately OP. due to sourcing spare parts etc. Like in The BT Black Thorn Novels "Main Event" and "D.R.T."

Make it if you want clan tech, you have to go out and defeat some clanners, salvage and repair it. i.e. Make you work for it.

But until it becames common enough for everyone to use, it would be hideously expensive to maintain. Possibly make it available once a "day" or so.

Yeah, maybe it'll be OP but they weren't invincible, Depending on gameplay as well, If you defeated an Omnimech with a lesser powered IS mech, you get to keep the 'mech.

There'll be ways to keep it even, but I don't see this becoming a problem for at least a year or so after release. may be in the next version perhaps. I know we'd all love to pilot those Omnis, but I cant see it happening until the subscription rates start to fall off....

[Thorn Hallis]

From a "balance" point of view its probably one of the better working ideas.

[Epoksi]

I'd love to have some sort of bidding used to determine match setup. You know I bid Star of mechs against company etc and whoever wins get to be the clans.

I can dream

[Anuri]

I think clan mechs will be widely available. But look at the cost of them for tabletop game: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page

Now look at the atlas.

Now imagine how much it would cost to repair and rearm a clan mech in comparison with IS mech. At least as I see it a normal pilot would be able to use 1 clan mech in 5-10 games because of the need to farm c-bills for maintenance

Seams balanced to me

[Epoksi]

Maintenance seems balanced that way, but the problem would be IS vs Clan matches if only numbers of mechs would be counted for making sides.

[th3 fr4gil3]

you know what WOULD be funny, if the devs don't have the clans invade at all.

[TANTE EMMA]

th3 fr4gil3, on 27 July 2012 - 04:41 AM, said:

you know what WOULD be funny, if the devs don't have the clans invade at all.

ehm.... NO?

[SakuranoSenshi]

Umm, yes. :-)

Also, despite people claiming the clans invade within a few months... they *did* in another timeline. Doesn't mean they will do so here.

Quote: "A. MechWarrior® Online™ is running an offset timeline of the BattleTech® Universe. As of this writing it is 2011 and the year is 3048 within the game. In 2012, when the game is launched, it will be 3049."

[Joanna Conners]

I think it's not something to worry about until the Clans invade. However the devs choose to implement things is fine with me.

[CCC Dober]

OP: To date no MW game did the Clans any justice at all. Partially maybe, but not as a whole. We are looking at a reboot of the whole franchise here, starting in 3049 when the Clans make their first aggressive moves. As such it is imperative to get them done right, hopefully once and for all. It's one thing to give up on balance and give in to the haters, but it takes actual effort to work on a satisfactory solution and steer clear of the hatemongers.

There are solutions to bring the IS up to speed, which will close the technological gap sufficiently. Comstar hoards SLDF tech, so it's technically available. Wolf's Dragoons can trump that with access to both SLDF and Clan tech. There is no excuse for technological imbalance if you look at it this way.

What's more, we have so many people currently that can't or won't identify with any of the IS factions and it's no coincidence. I for one don't identify with any of the current choices because I'm down with the Clans no matter what (that's why I'm here). Lone Wolf at a stretch, but only for a while, and grudgingly at that.

[Thorn Hallis]

CCC Dober, on 28 July 2012 - 12:29 AM, said:

There are solutions to bring the IS up to speed, which will close the technological gap sufficiently. Comstar hoards SLDF tech, so it's technically available. Wolf's Dragoons can trump that with access to both SLDF and Clan tech. There is no excuse for technological imbalance if you look at it this way.

Err...Clan Tech Level 2 =/= IS Tech Level 2. The technological imbalance is always there.

And for whatever reasons the Dragoons never gave the IS any blueprints for Clantech.