22 replies to this topic

[Victor Morson]

As we all know, the Clan invasion is set to take place several months after the launch of the game, one more reason I think 3049 was the ideal setting. However, in the original canon, FRR gets overrun and the other factions lose a huge amount of territory very quickly.

In short, since players are in control of these territories this time around, I'm very much hoping that instead of changing the star map overnight when this comes around we've given an actual chance to fight the invasion. While the Clan vs IS balance is an issue and there is a very real possibility that the IS will hold it's ground, I really think having to actually fight it would be far more interesting than simply handing territory over and reducing FRR to 2 planets.

I think this is the first major chance to really let players control the fate of the timeline. By handing the Clans the NPC/unoccupied periphery "above" the InnerSphere and then making it player run from there, this could be an event that every single person in the game will be looking forward to on both sides of the conflict.

PS: How are we going to insure that the Clans get decently populated at their launch? I'm an InnerSphere pilot hands down so it's not impacting me personally but will there be some kind of pilot-transfer mechanic so they can join without losing progress? I suspect a lot of die hard clanner players will be operating in the game awaiting their arrival to get ready for it, so it'd be nice to have an idea what to expect.

[Dihm]

Minor quibble, but we retain 7 systems, not 2 planets. And there will be NO shortage of Clan players, I'm more worried about the IS population than the Clans, if they are playable.

Edited by Dihm, 08 March 2012 - 12:03 PM.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Pretty sure somewhere they said, they would be keeping control of key planets in the timeline and change them or create problems on them as the timeline goes.
I would presume this would be the case for the Clan OZ planets.

weather you get to fight them or not..is another question.

[Petroff Northrup]

I would enjoy seeing the battles player out but the clanners would likely have a large advantage and it would not be too fun for the FRR players.

[TheRulesLawyer]

Man, if you let the clanners fight the FRR in game, you know the clan invasion will be thrown back well before tukayyid.

Edited by TheRulesLawyer, 08 March 2012 - 12:09 PM.

[IceSerpent]

Neg, if they let us slug it out with FRR to the bitter end, there will be no retaining of 7 planets...and we will do it with just a few stars

[wwiiogre]

staying IS the whole way, unless there is a mechanic to populate some battles as a stand in for a clanner, then I will help if asked to be an npc clanner, cause I did that in table top as well. Sometimes you gots to be the opposition force or opfor so others can play what they want. Knowing that they will opfor for you when needed as well.

So I am going to be part of the Northwind Highlanders for the entire game. But will play as a clanner if there is a mechanic to do so just to fill ranks if they needed it or the devs asked us to do it. Otherwise I will be staying away. But looking forward to smacking down the clan on huntress and getting clan tech thru salvage.

chris

[Silent]

I imagine the Killer Bees will be on the front line with the Free Rasalhague Republic holding back the tide regardless of how it is implemented. It would be nice if it was possible to push back the invasion, though.

Edited by Silent, 08 March 2012 - 11:59 AM.

[MaddMaxx]

The OP assumes the players will get any of the Clan OZ area to start with. Perhaps they will only get possession the final 7 and have to fight laterally or towards the center of the sphere. One could get at least 6 Billion FRR'ers on one Planet right? How many FRR players do you think will show the first month? lol

The Dev's best bet is to just let the Clans in as time dictates which will also allow the IS to gear up for the ultimate battles that will decide the final outcome. TRUCE.

[Dihm]

IceSerpent, on 08 March 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

Neg, if they let us slug it out with FRR to the bitter end, there will be no retaining of 7 planets...and we will do it with just a few stars

Corrected myself in my above post, I had a brain fart. It's 7 star systems, not 7 planets. While there may only be a single "habitable" planet in each system, I figure the semantics are important.

[TheRulesLawyer]

IceSerpent, on 08 March 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

Neg, if they let us slug it out with FRR to the bitter end, there will be no retaining of 7 planets...and we will do it with just a few stars

A few stars per FRR mechwarrior perhaps. We know all you clanners are nancy boys. No comparison for space vikings!

[El Loco]

Hmm... I think it would be best to have it kind of semi-automatic. That means, we should have the Clans advance at a moderate speed with several chances for IS players to stop them. This way, the invasion as an event will take place, the key battles should all be happening, and this crucial period of the BT universe will happen close to canon.
The Clans themselves will have to be a playable faction, otherwise the devs would have to put additional resources into an AI. The Clans could be populated using qualifying matches. A player would be given the chance to join the ranks of his/her favourite invasion Clan, but only if he succeeds in a trial.

[Thorn Hallis]

TheRulesLawyer, on 08 March 2012 - 12:12 PM, said:

A few stars per FRR mechwarrior perhaps. We know all you clanners are nancy boys. No comparison for space vikings!

Just that the FRR ain't vikings. Thats the Jarnfolks part in the Battletech universe.

[TheRulesLawyer]

Thorn Hallis, on 08 March 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

Just that the FRR ain't vikings. Thats the Jarnfolks part in the Battletech universe.

I think it'd be more correct to say that they're also vikings. They're a splinter group of what would become the FRR.

[Fox5859]

it be more interesting for me like the day the clanners invade in your in the middle of a match with anthor faction then suddenly you start to see drop ships come over your head and and clanners come up this would cause panic on both sides not knowing whats coming at them and if its human cause at the time of the invasion some of the factions dint even know if they were human. this could force example both sides to retreat to there drop ship and try to defend there drop ship there only way to escape and maybe even help the other player on the other teams side like if one had a jump ship out of the system

[Victor Morson]

Fox5859, on 08 March 2012 - 05:32 PM, said:

it be more interesting for me like the day the clanners invade in your in the middle of a match with anthor faction then suddenly you start to see drop ships come over your head and and clanners come up this would cause panic on both sides not knowing whats coming at them and if its human cause at the time of the invasion some of the factions dint even know if they were human. this could force example both sides to retreat to there drop ship and try to defend there drop ship there only way to escape and maybe even help the other player on the other teams side like if one had a jump ship out of the system

By that token, it would be kind of neat if before the Clans go live as a playable faction, balance play testing was done by having MWO's internal testers occasionally fight unsuspecting mercenary units. I think it'd stir up a lot of hype as players start reporting encountering Clan 'mechs, even if they're not publicly available yet.

[wwiiogre]

expect what Victor is saying to happen either with devs piloting clan or specific pilots offered slots as part of testing based on their experience and skill and then having the clan players actually bid down the number of mechs and weights available with devs watching so it is fair and then surprise surprise IS boys you just got clanned

chris

[FinnMcKool]

I can see it now the lone wolfs will all be Clanners.

1 there will be tons of causal players "lone wolfs"
2 those who are die hard House / Faction types will stay IS.
3 Merc ypes jjust want the salvage anyway.
4 I think it sounds great.
5 if you want to be Clanner you got to give up your stuff from IS.

[Thorn Hallis]

TheRulesLawyer, on 08 March 2012 - 01:55 PM, said:

I think it'd be more correct to say that they're also vikings. They're a splinter group of what would become the FRR.

There roots might be the same, but only the Jarnfolk follows the tradition of their ancient ancestors.

[Michael Rosario]

From what I've heard when talking to friends who play, I don't think there will be any problem finding people to play the clans. If anything, I'm worried that several factions *coughFRRcough* will actually be understaffed when the clans come around because large amount of what they think are their players will jump ship (eh, sorry about the pun) the first moment they are able to play the clans.

As for how the transition to clan will go, I believe that those who want to be clan should be allowed to be clan. However, when leaving the IS, they should leave all IS stuff behind. I have no problem with them taking their c-bills and cash shop items, but their mechs, modules and loyalty should stay behind.

As for the original suggestion of letting the clans and IS slug it out... I'm all for it... because we all know with the type of players we have DCMS is going to Smoke some Jaguars.