83 replies to this topic

[Glare]

Looks like someone has read "The Thessalonica Legacy"

[ethnic minority]

Having personal names for mechs would be a great mechanic that might promote sentimentalism and incentivize pilots to appreciate and stick with what mechs they spend the most time piloting, instead of racing to get the best mech in the game. Definitely support this.

What would even be cooler, is if especially long-lived or infamous mechs eventually get special mechanics applied to them. One idea is that they eventually become referred to primarily by their nickname and not their chassis. For example, in the HUD or in a marketplace listing, a particularly long-lived Hunchback named Stella will not appear in the marketplace or HUD as 'HBK-4 Hunchback' but instead as 'Stella'.

Another possible game mechanic for such mechs may also include becoming either degrading in monetary value in the marketplace (because people don't want an extensively personalized mech) or becoming ridiculously valuable (everyone wants that mech). Players can be offered to sell their mech to their faction or some random 'museum' at a special rate, or be offered to have their name/mech mentioned in some to-be-canonized text in the game universe.

Just food for thought.

[TheVengeant]

Now this is the kind of feature that is a must have, but I implore Pirahna to use wisdom here -- as someone has pointed out, there is potential for sophomoric abuse. I am not sure that making it a payable feature is sufficient armor, nor do I think that trying to centrally police it will work. I think that building the player experience around having to struggle just to make ends meet, around sticking with their 'Mechs for a long time, will support the rest. If a player has marched through the mud for a long time with an old beater, they'll love it and name it however they want.

I would suggest that in the same vein, fully customizable paint schemes are likewise a must have, with a large number of options for moving decals around, too, for additional effect.

Aaaaand... while I'm at it, I think custom graphics for unit crests (think the prancing horse badge for the Eridani Light Horse on the chest, arm, etc) is a great idea too.

Edited by Jaren Ward, 07 November 2011 - 03:22 PM.

[Tweaks]

+1

I want this too!

[Hayden]

Yeah I like this notion as well.

EDIT: Back in MW2 Mercs I called my Commando "Lucky #7"

Edited by hayden, 07 November 2011 - 02:38 PM.

[Alistair Steiner]

I approve of this idea. No ideas yet on the names, though. Guess I'll have to see what 'Mechs and weapon configurations I end up sticking with.

[Joachim Viltry]

Victor - "Diplomatic Solution"

[Halflight]

Ya know, it's almost a given that someone is going to name their Archer xXxLegolasxXx. Won't be me though -- promise.

[The Chief]

I like this idea but I worry about people who don't put enough energy into coming up with original names.

Just imagine how boring it would be if we had Firestarters in this game and twenty people go around piloting units with the name Zippo.

[Glare]

It'd be less boring than twenty people going around piloting units with the name Firestarter.

[Amechwarrior]

The Chief, on 07 November 2011 - 09:47 PM, said:

I like this idea but I worry about people who don't put enough energy into coming up with original names.

Just imagine how boring it would be if we had Firestarters in this game and twenty people go around piloting units with the name Zippo.

I would have some sort of "name check" if they did include a nickname function. If you put in "Zippo" it would show you a list of 'mechs that already have that name, or something like it. This might work better then just saying "This name is already taken" because you might get 10 or 15 "Colossus" nicks on an Atlas, but what about the guy who wants to name his Urbie that, much more memorable and he should be allowed to do it.

[The Chief]

I like that idea. I don't want to stop people from using a name they really want, even if several other people are already using the same name. I just like to stand out by being original with customizations like this and getting a heads up that someone else had the same idea as I did would be really helpful.

[Mechteric]

I like the idea, though it would need some kind of creative placement to ensure the "name" of the mech doesn't get confused with the model of the mech or name of the player

[Cake Bandit]

The Chief, on 07 November 2011 - 09:47 PM, said:

I like this idea but I worry about people who don't put enough energy into coming up with original names.

Just imagine how boring it would be if we had Firestarters in this game and twenty people go around piloting units with the name Zippo.

This is already more creative than most of the names you'll get. I would think a bunch of Firestarters would probably be named "Herpes" or something of that ilk.

[Nakir]

i approve it.... a logo with your "battle name" painted in the chassis.....but too many logos are bad....regiment logo....clan logo...IS logo...and more else.....a mech all logos lol ^^

[Mechwarrior Of Rock]

I always name my Mad Cat Raptor`s Claw.

[Cake Bandit]

I want to name my Catapult "CATCH!"

[trycksh0t]

I completely endorse this. I want a Com-2D so I can call it "The Postman".

[Rayah]

I shall name my Atlas Porch...

[Vox_Darkstar]

I wholeheartedly agree that this should be a featured, but there should be some moderation of name to avoid innapproriate or duplicate names.

I have yet to pick a role to fill, but names I would consider would be: " The Other Woman" "Dirtnap" or "Daisy"

Also if i end up in an urban it shall be named "Oscar" out of priciple

Edited by Nightbringer, 08 November 2011 - 04:26 PM.