23 replies to this topic

[Agent CraZy DiP]

This was brought up in another thread, but I thought it really should get its own. I think this could really bring extra elements into the game. Not just the obvious heat releated things.

Planets should have more than just hot or cold, weather effects could play a major role in the game. Imagine CHOOSING (Information Warfare) to make an assault during a hurricane. The moisture would make lasers less effective, the wind would make ACs difficult to aim, lightning would/could impeed radar. Now instead of taking a standard assortment of mech you use lights and mediums only that are designed specifically to avoid detection and get in close. Your Lance is able to get in close, real close. You have the backsides of your enemies and you lay waste with a well timed AC fireline.

Not only weather effects, but what about something that would leave satellites useless? Imagine, again "Choosing", launching during a sandstorm. This would effectively weaken lasers and again accuracy of AC's. Not only that, but the Thermal satellite shows nothing but blurs from the heat reflecting off the blaring sand whirling through the air. It shows large patches where mechs maybe, but not an exact location. Switching the satellite to magnetic scans you pick up nothing but the heavy Iron deposites under the hillsides. Watching the scans closely, you keep your eyes observant for any changes in the Iron "deposites". Using your commander module you're able to pull up old scans for comparision. This allows you to find the roving enemy lance. Not able to pin down the exact location of the enemy, you change the artillery from a narrow focused field of fire to much wider spread. Knowing it wouldn't do the damage you'd like, but knowing it'd keep the enemy at bay. This was exactly what your pilots needed, a chance to regroup and reform.

Sorry for the colorful description... I'm a writer by trade and this just seemed the best way for me to "explain" how I envisioned what I was talking about. I'd love to know what the community thinks about it and if it would be possible to do half of these things using the games engine.

[KJ Crow]

I think I may have made a similar suggestion, without the detail, when I got carried away on the Map size thread. I really like the idea of different envronmental effects that could be used tactically to alter the play on any map, especially with the different options available through information warfare. I was just thinking also about terrain features... Swamps that could have dramatic effects on the weight classes able to move through them....frozen lakes that can only take a certain tonnage.... imagine an Assault falling through the ice and then having to blast their way out to continue moving or risk becoming trapped.... at night a lance flaming woodland to disrupt heat sensors and cover their movement or launching flares to blind those using low light vision.

If done right, anything that adds tactical variety and immersion to the game could only be a plus point... unless all you want out of it is a homogenized and sterile arena style of combat... I just hope that at least a few of these ideas are taken on board and are viable with the game engine.

[autogyro]

I definitely think varied environments is a good idea. It also forces players to be more tactical about the modules they adopt for the given map, as well as the lance make up and actions during a game.

[chill1ray]

I remember reading one of the mechwarrior books were one of the pilots of a meelee weapon mech hid in a dense forest and tied aluminum

streamers to trees he was like a venus fly trap! when they came to investigate and their radar went all crazy from the ribbons in the trees

was one of the nastiest traps I remember reading!

[Liam]

I would like to see some
atmospheric dependence of the Laser and PPC (the higher humidity should have an impact on damage at maximum range),
and wind considerations for ballistic weapons.
As for terrain, I hope each map would allow different tactics, not only long range or short range ... (Frostbite was my fav. map in MW4 )

[Nik Van Rhijn]

@Liam - with regard for wind considerations for ballistic weapons. How would you let the pilot have the wind etc displayed so that they could take it into account when firing. Bearing in mind all the other things that a pilot will have to be doing while fighting? Nice though this might be I think that in most situations the effect will be negligable given the muzzle velocities (as outlined in numerous threads) and distances involved.
Personally I think it should be included when they take into account thermal shear/bloom/dispersion for lasers.

Edited by Nik Van Rhijn, 27 January 2012 - 08:01 AM.

[MaddMaxx]

Full atmospherics would be the bomb. As long as there is a Toggle On/Off switch. Nothing kills video cards, and Online matches, like a good ole rainstorm, Duststorm etc etc etc.

[Maverick Howell]

weather should be random and effect the player in many different ways on many different maps.

[Liam]

Nik Van Rhijn, on 27 January 2012 - 08:00 AM, said:

@Liam - with regard for wind considerations for ballistic weapons. How would you let the pilot have the wind etc displayed so that they could take it into account when firing. Bearing in mind all the other things that a pilot will have to be doing while fighting? Nice though this might be I think that in most situations the effect will be negligable given the muzzle velocities (as outlined in numerous threads) and distances involved.
Personally I think it should be included when they take into account thermal shear/bloom/dispersion for lasers.

I don't know, but I think basic stuff as:
Wind direction and speed + calculated wind speed 90° to shooting direction.
(both information could be very important; the first one would allow to get in better position by using more energy weapons so that enemy would need to fire with increased lead fire, the second one will leave some space for skill )
I think at ~ 800 m, aim lead due to running target will prevail compared to wind consideration (depending on targets speed and range)
Targeting computer as module could calculate lead aim automatically.

I agree shear/bloom/dispersion of lasers (and also of PPC; considering PPC works on LIPC principle ) will be mandatory then (balance).

Edited by Liam, 27 January 2012 - 03:28 PM.

[Razed]

Maverick Howell, on 27 January 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

weather should be random and effect the player in many different ways on many different maps.

I disagree, I think if they just randomized the weather it makes it seem like the people commanding each drop aren't paying any attention to the forecast.

[SovietKoshka]

enviro-choices sound good ta me.

[Morashtak]

MaddMaxx, on 27 January 2012 - 08:19 AM, said:

Full atmospherics would be the bomb. As long as there is a Toggle On/Off switch. Nothing kills video cards, and Online matches, like a good ole rainstorm, Duststorm etc etc etc.

An interesting mod in Skyrim is one where the rain, snow and leaves are toned down to 512x512. It really helps on lower end machines and you have to be very **** retentive to notice the difference. Since these are such small objects they could be made even smaller (ex. 256x256) for MW:O with little to no adverse effect on immersion. Those with high end machines can toggle more details in their storms.

Caveat: Of course no one should be able to disable so much of the weather that they can see through dense rain. "Chunky fog" could replace any graphic intensive weather for low end machine users.

[chill1ray]

Yeah would so suck to get ready for a drop landing and find the sever rainstorm that was supposed to be happenning was

in fact one of the record hot days of the year! immediatly effecting heat sinks before you even turned em on!!

I would so kill the information technicion if I made it back!

Edited by chill1ray, 29 January 2012 - 11:07 PM.

[Deathjester]

More than anything I'd like to see rain, dust, fog and the like fouling up sensors and radar. Possibly even limiting the ammount of info that can be sent from one mech in a lance to the next as signal strength gets cut.

[ENDMYSUFFERING]

I think this would be nice. Like on volcanic planets making flamethrowers more powerful, but with more heat generation for all weapons, or maybe something like your 'mech falling over in a muddy swamp with deep water making it harder to get up. And (Something I always love...) Natural telekenisis! Like having hurricanes blow your 'mech over when near the eye, so it's also alot harder to get up, and you can get smashed by flying chunks of vehicles/buildings while knocked down.
Might take some extra programming, but it will certainly make it feel like a sim.

[Agent CraZy DiP]

This could bring a whole new game mechanic. Lets say, if you fire a large balistic weapon in a hurricane you risk falling. But perhaps maybe you can choose to dig into the ground before you fire. Similar to modern artillery.

[Tatius Pryde]

We all agree that weather should play a factor within the game. we all agree of some dynamic effects / weather events to occour.

But theres two schools of thought involved with weather.

Is it predetermined or completely random.

will we be notifed of the match to come having rain then hail, or be at the mercy of dynamic weather and potentially have fourum user rant that they only lost due to weather.

what if we could be notified the the weather might change, allowing us to have loadouts prepared. but not have it set in stone that it gonna rain all match and not go all blizzard half way through.

[Tatius Pryde]

Also cockpit effects. rain drizzling down the canopy, frost in the corners, dust on the glass. heat shimmer.

[Elizander]

chill1ray, on 28 January 2012 - 11:53 PM, said:

Yeah would so suck to get ready for a drop land and fing the sever rainstorm that was supposed to be happenning was in facton of the record

hot days of the year! immediatly effecting heat sinks before you even turned em on!!

I would so kill the information technicion if I made it back!

But the weather guys make mistakes all the time.

[Agent CraZy DiP]

I think the attack should have the abillity to determine when they attack. Maybe just make it so there's only a chance for the desired weather.