12 replies to this topic

[RaginCajun]

Love the game, used to play it circa 2000, can't wait for the new installment. Got a question about houses: I'm not terribly familiar with the story and history, but do people who affiliate with a certain house tend to have a certain style of play? I don't want to pick a house and then see that all the people fighting with tactics I like are in some other house, especially with the emphasis on team play that is being foretold.

Thanks a bunch!!!

[BabyHewey]

good question, its been so long since I played I really don't remember, but I am hoping that work off of a faction system so we can freelance between a couple before we setteldown.

[Atlas3060]

From the board game PoV there have been countless breakdowns of how certain factions fought in universe at the Battletech Forums: http://bg.battletech.com/forums/

Since the video game will be different due to players doing their own things some of what I say might be moot.

Overall here's what I discovered during my time playing the board game at least:

Federated Suns: Davions were one of the first few houses to really get into combined arms, but since this video game won't have that for some time we can rely on the next item of discussion which is designs. FedSun 'Mech designs love Autocannons, the more dakka dakka the better. They've typically fielded decent and maneuverable Medium class 'Mechs as well.

Draconis Combine: Kurita enriches their soldiers with the spirit of bushido and as such one-on-one fighting wasn't that strange to encounter. Expect designs from the glorious Dragon to be mostly Lights, Heavies, and some Assaults; they never really took to the Medium weights because it didn't have the speed nor firepower. Expect PPCs and plenty of energy based weapons but watch out because their designs were not heat efficient.

Lyran Commonwealth: Steiner loves big 'Mechs and cannot lie. The more metal they can wrap around them the better! Notorious for the "Wall of Steel" approach, their glacier pace of doom will play great for defensive players. Aside from the Free Worlds League this faction was a monetary and industrial powerhouse.

Capellan Confederation: Long live glorious House Liao, the Celestial Wisdom! Sure they've been raided, attacked, and mocked to the point where they practically aren't powerful but they are tenacious.
Light 'Mechs, mines, hidden rules, and basically being sneaky little guy will win you respect within the halls of Liao. Remember that the people serve the State and the State cares for the people.

Free Worlds League: House Marik oversees a vast confederation and a powerful industrial realm. The arm merchants to the stars. They've got missiles, they've got Heavies and Mediums, they've got plenty to shoot and shoot at all for the right price. Where the other realms are ruled with iron fists the League is a Parliament and civil war is sometimes commonplace. So yes they'll fight each other, they'll fight you, and they'll sell their weapons for a decent deal!


Once again this isn't a know-all-be-all to how each House plays but rather a nice little summary. Exceptions are possible. If anyone else has stuff to add please contribute.

Edited by atlas3060, 01 November 2011 - 09:23 AM.

[Paladin1]

Each House practices a different form of warfare, but how it could be modeled in MWO is going to be a big question. House Davion, for example, practices Combined Arms Mobile Warfare tactics during the 3048 timeframe, while House Steiner practices Combined Arms Steel Wall tactics. Same basic idea in that both use Combined Arms, but each House uses their `Mechs differently. Davion uses them as a maneuver unit while Steiner uses them as an anvil unit.

[Paladin1]

And Atlas3060 comes along and steals my thunder! Nice breakdown, btw, and lots of information back at the link.

[CoffiNail]

Great write up Atlas3060 I would like the post but I have apparently met my quota today,

[AlekKerensky]

RaginCajun, did you used to play NBT4 with the FedSuns?

[DamoclesGuard]

Atlas3060 basically hit the nail on the head.

As for me I'm a Fed. Rat(as the drac's call us) all the way. I love my autocannons and i love my combined arms tactics.

[Jack Gallows]

There's also a great full thread by Atlas as well over here,

http://mwomercs.com/...e-universe-out/

[Amechwarrior]

However, will the impending clan invasion affect anybodies choice in house? Would being in the DC,FRR or the Steiner half of the FedCom make you lose a ton of territory but give you a chance to fight the clans. Or would you go FWL and roll in the cash and IS lvl2 tech while the DC and FC are getting their butts handed to them?

[Jack Gallows]

I think they'll make it so you can fight along the boarders as houses that don't directly but up against the Clanners, especially once the IS reestablishes the Star League. Gotta be able to get into the fight....oooor they can keep on fighting other Great Houses. Yay?

[Amechwarrior]

Yes, but if one game day is one real day then once the clans start to invade there will be two real years before Tukayyid. Waiting for the reborn Star League in 3058 (2021 in real years) is not really an option.

[Jack Gallows]

amechwarrior, on 01 November 2011 - 10:44 PM, said:

Yes, but if one game day is one real day then once the clans start to invade there will be two real years before Tukayyid. Waiting for the reborn Star League in 3058 (2021 in real years) is not really an option.

We don't really know how they're going to handle "expansions" and the like.