54 replies to this topic

[Alistair Steiner]

Opus, on 11 February 2012 - 04:51 PM, said:

Or Maybe they are sick of House snobs?

Be careful when you say somebody like myself, who hasn't picked a side - claiming we don't care.

That is an extremely arrogant statement

Sheesh. Defensive much? I didn't mean to make a general statement (arrogant or otherwise). But for the players who click a MWO banner months after release who know nothing about the series would probably go for the Lone Wolf route. That, or they'd pick a House or Merc unit due to the pretty insignia. I was there once. Had no idea about the universe, and just wanted to blow stuff up. They already said that the Lone units would be put into empty slots in games and have no real control over who they fought for/against/etc. For me, I want more control, and more stability as far as who I'm fighting and where.

So let me rephrase my statement: Players who don't care (or don't know) about the BT universe will probably go the way of Lone Wolf, though not all the Lone Wolves will be in that category of player.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Lorcan Lladd]

Alistair Steiner, on 12 February 2012 - 01:04 PM, said:

So let me rephrase my statement: Players who don't care (or don't know) about the BT universe will probably go the way of Lone Wolf, though not all the Lone Wolves will be in that category of player.

Or Clan, though, of course, that hardly applies to all clanners.
If they're even implemented as a player faction.

Edit.
I suppose what we're all expecting the developers to announce is some unique feature of the lone wolf gameplay style which would compensate for our being excluded from most aspects of faction warfare; some benefits to being one, like there may be for being a House player.

Well, there's my thoughts on the issue, if you'll bear with me.
As we're not part of House military or mercenary companies, it would make more sense for us to have inherited our 'Mechs, or earned them in some way other than serving in the military, so our 'Mechs should probably be venerable Star League units, rather than the models being produced by 'Mech factories as of now and which House military and mercenary companies most commonly employ.

Our advantage, with regards to gameplay, then, would be early and easy access to some of the more powerful and rare 'Mechs; some of them equipped with Double Heat Sinks, for example.

I know, wild speculation, but what can you do about it?

Edited by Lorcan Lladd, 12 February 2012 - 07:33 PM.

[horsearcherwannabe]

Having seen what happens in real life when little minded people get a little power, I fail to see my place in some one elses chain of command. I am going to have a real life off line. The people who live this game 10, 12, 14 hours a day will end up running the show. I have a job, a life and a wife all of whom are more important than this ever will be. So I will come in play awhile and leave.

In character I think the line would be <Chain of COMMAND. Frack that. I will have no chains on me. LIve Free Die Free. Eat the RICH>.

[CobraFive]

People are really hung up on lone wolves from a fluff/lore perspective... but it isn't a lore thing.

I just don't have the time and energy to find and get involved in an in-depth gaming community.

I doubt lone wolfs will have any meaningful penalty. We just won't have a group of people we know to play with, and we can't meaningfully impact the territory control meta-game. Pretty much all the shooter MMOs are like that at this point.

Edited by cobrafive, 13 February 2012 - 12:08 AM.

[Xenois Shalashaska]

Im under the impression from the developers blogs that lone wolf players earn LP with no significants to positive or negative influence to any faction. This must mean to me that joining a house/ clan or merc corp grants you access to weapons for purchases or mechs. I hope that salvage is available for lone wolf players in acquiring advance tech for new players spreading their wings. I must really say who knows that if we are even allowed to have more than 1 mech because we dont have dropships to store it. Im really interested in the detail of realism from owning a planet, customizing dropships, organizing lance tactics & weaponary. Will be sweet !! i can taste it & it taste like liquid gold.

[Jack Gallows]

Personally I'm fine with Lone Wolf's not getting anything really. It really shouldn't be hard to align with a faction or a merc corp, and if you don't want to...well it's a team based game. You aren't going to go rambo all over the enemy teams 12 'mechs by yourself, so you're a weak link. This will get emphasized heavily when the clans hit. Not hating on people who'll be a lone wolf, but a rank would technically be meaningless, and so would it be to control a world as you're just one person.

Lone wolf is skirmish mode.

Edited by Jack Gallows, 13 February 2012 - 05:43 AM.

[Sorbio]

I am pretty sure that there will be many different kinds of players choosing to go Lone Wolf, even if it is only temporary to get an idea of how the game is going to play out. That doesn't mean they won't be team players, or scrubs, or what have you.

I am surprised at the number of assumptions that are being made, both about Lone Wolf players (in this thread), and even the Faction and Merc side of things. No one knows anything about the meta game, or even much about the game itself and whatever matchmaking system is being designed to work with the meta game.

I have a feeling that the 'player' is not going to represent an actual pilot in the game. While a good idea, what happens when a Merc company decides to take a contract six months away. Are they expected to not play for six months while their pilot spends time in a dropship? I don't think so. I think there is going to be a degree of seperation between the player, and the Mechwarrior that he(or she) is in control of in a given match.

I also get a kick out of the idea that House Units and Merc Corps are salivating at the prospect of defending 'their' worlds. Again, I just can't see it.

But, of course, this is all just speculation. I've selected Lone Wolf for the simple reason that I don't know anything yet about how the game will play out and for that reason I am declining to make a decision. The canon of Battletech is full of units and allegiances that I am quite fond of, and I can't see myself committing to something that is, thus far, quite unknown. There's not much point in my joining with a group that turns out to play after I'm done for the evening, or before I am able to get online. I'll play the game, and see who/what is around during the times I am online.

[MaddMaxx]

Quote

"I have a feeling that the 'player' is not going to represent an actual pilot in the game."

OK, you got me. What will the player represent in the game upon Launch?

[Bluey]

[EDMW]CSN, on 11 February 2012 - 06:59 PM, said:

Lone Wolves are essentially one man merc corps. While they do not gave bonus LP for working for a House unit or Merc unit (that is under a house), they are free to join any faction battle they wish. This would help because if any specific House has a lower player count at certain time zones, Lone Wolves would be the first to be shipped to the front lines.

So essentially they can play pub games a lot faster without waiting for their House or host merc company to attack a certain planet. Of course while they can magically teleport across the IS to aid anyone, their downside is no LP and no benefits other than raw experience.

Of course, if the game gets huge, there will definitely be multiple battles at every front per House thus there will be no lack of fights. So there would be no point being a Lone Wolf and join a House instead and get some LP.

This

[Sorbio]

Did I not word that correctly? No, upon rereading it I didn't.

I think I meant that the player will not be represented by a single, persistent Mech pilot in the game upon Launch. Again, I am assuming a level of separation between the player on the keyboard, and the Mech pilot in the cockpit.

Now that I'm done chuckling at others assumptions and speculations, I now do the same for mine.

[metalwolf2900]

if ur for house/merc unit, great. but the lone wolfs will have a apart in alot of battles where house/merc warriors may not have the time/people for. oh and word to the wise, dont mess with a lone wolf, he may fight with u now, but make him mad, then he may just take the nice paint job on that mech of urs and burn it.

[Fiachdubh]

Brakkyn, on 11 February 2012 - 08:43 PM, said:

Then again, there's always Galatea.

Ah Galatea.. probably my favorite planet.

[KuruptU4Fun]

Ok, I guess I'm not getting something right in terms of lore here. I understand there are Houses, then Merc Corps. But can I be a directly dedicated soldier to that house and not be to a Merc Corps? How is that going to play out? can I play with a group of house loyalists but not be attatched to the Merc group they are loyal to?

I really want to play with a specific group of people but haven't found them here yet, I'm a member of a website called 2Old2Play.com. A group of gamers over the age of 25, I haven't found a lot of interest with them yet (but who knows until release time). But I've grown acustom to playing with more mature gamers, nothing against timmys. But I don't care to hear someone voice a sentence where 9 words out of 10 are cusswords, and older players tend to appreciate tactical group gaming anyways.

[Opus]

Alistair Steiner, on 12 February 2012 - 01:04 PM, said:

Sheesh. Defensive much? I didn't mean to make a general statement (arrogant or otherwise). But for the players who click a MWO banner months after release who know nothing about the series would probably go for the Lone Wolf route. That, or they'd pick a House or Merc unit due to the pretty insignia. I was there once. Had no idea about the universe, and just wanted to blow stuff up. They already said that the Lone units would be put into empty slots in games and have no real control over who they fought for/against/etc. For me, I want more control, and more stability as far as who I'm fighting and where.

So let me rephrase my statement: Players who don't care (or don't know) about the BT universe will probably go the way of Lone Wolf, though not all the Lone Wolves will be in that category of player.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Neg, not reason to apologize on your part . . .

Comments I made are not personal, and I apologize for any misunderstanding as well...It was a warning to others, perhaps...

I don't want to get tangled up with "as some call them" one weekend wonders you mention, but I also don't want freebies given to house, and MercCorps pilots for just signing on the dotted line. I think you should earn what you kill...

That's what bothers me about the Lone Wolf thing.. not Lore, or Canonized Pilot rules, but rather "Why the hell should I sign on the Line?" and get the free tattoo on my Backside...

But all your points are spot on about one weekend wonders, and I wish to avoid them at all costs....

Any rate, some great points are being made here, thank you all.,.,

I see some purpose in remaining a Lone Wolf for now...


TO ALL ""declared"" LW's:

I am wondering if somebody could create a website for us Lone Wolfs if one is not already running

so we can compare notes on contracts, pugs, and in a sense warn each other about working with certain groups

I see value in sharing information as this game gets going....

[Opus]

Sorbio, on 13 February 2012 - 10:07 AM, said:

I am pretty sure that there will be many different kinds of players choosing to go Lone Wolf, even if it is only temporary to get an idea of how the game is going to play out. That doesn't mean they won't be team players, or scrubs, or what have you.

I am surprised at the number of assumptions that are being made, both about Lone Wolf players (in this thread), and even the Faction and Merc side of things. No one knows anything about the meta game, or even much about the game itself and whatever matchmaking system is being designed to work with the meta game.

I have a feeling that the 'player' is not going to represent an actual pilot in the game. While a good idea, what happens when a Merc company decides to take a contract six months away. Are they expected to not play for six months while their pilot spends time in a dropship? I don't think so. I think there is going to be a degree of seperation between the player, and the Mechwarrior that he(or she) is in control of in a given match.

I also get a kick out of the idea that House Units and Merc Corps are salivating at the prospect of defending 'their' worlds. Again, I just can't see it.

But, of course, this is all just speculation. I've selected Lone Wolf for the simple reason that I don't know anything yet about how the game will play out and for that reason I am declining to make a decision. The canon of Battletech is full of units and allegiances that I am quite fond of, and I can't see myself committing to something that is, thus far, quite unknown. There's not much point in my joining with a group that turns out to play after I'm done for the evening, or before I am able to get online. I'll play the game, and see who/what is around during the times I am online.

Good post, and yes many are choosing LW till rational decisions are made