67 replies to this topic

[Mautty the Bobcat]

Edit: Poll Options Updated - 2/27/2012 7:40am EST

Okay, I'm making a thread specifically for the discussion of the use of coolant in MW:O. I know a lot of people don't like it, and I know others want it in, so here's the place to debate it.

Rules
1. Keep it civil, no insults.
2. Provide actual reasons, not just "I want it..."
3. Read over others opinions, don't just reply blindly.
4. If you want to debate a specific person's opinion, give counter arguments.


I will be adding in a poll as well with 3 basic options. As the discussion continues, I will add other options to the poll if they are well thought out with some actual backing to them.

My opinion is for the use of a burst pod style, all the coolant is flushed at once, one time deal, if you use it and you're barely heated then you've wasted it. This provides some skill to the coolant use while not making it overly effective for laser boats since you can't slowly tap the key to release a little at the time and keep yourself running cool.

Edited by Mautty the Bobcat, 27 February 2012 - 04:40 AM.

[MaddMaxx]

If implemented like this then go for it, otherwise, Neg. Quiaff!

Quote

"
Description

Virtually a self-contained emergency Coolant Truck, the Coolant Pod contain a reserve of compressed freon which can be flushed directly into the attached 'Mechs coolant system, boosting the effectiveness of each Single heat sinks by 200% and each Double Heat Sinks by 150% for 10 seconds.
The experimental coolant pods are under development among all the Inner Sphere and Clans factions, examples produced by the NAIS "Project Power Flush" are functionally identical to prototypes developed by the Scientist Castes on the Clan Homeworlds, but all have been so far unable to overcome the disadvantages of what makes them work so well and so fast: pressurized coolant.
Coolant pods are highly susceptible to weapon fire, a fully pressurized pod will rupture and cause internal damage in the same manner of an ammunition explosion if struck. To avoid over-pressurizing and damaging the coolant systems of the equipped 'Mech, for safety reasons only one pod can be engaged at a time, though multiple pods can be carried. The violent release of coolant is damaging enough to the strained cooling systems of BattleMechs, the fragile modular coolant systems aboard OmniMechs consistently fail under the strain despite years of research by the Clans.

[Nerts]

Yeah, I'd prefer a coolant pod system, where you have to have it installed on your mech and it cools all at once, I don't think anyone wants MW4's "tap F to not explode" red-lining laser boats.

Edited by Nerts, 26 February 2012 - 11:16 AM.

[Sir Aaron]

Coolant is quite useful even for non Laserbeam weapons too if it is limited/needs longer to recharge it can be just the kick to safe you without being a powergameing tool.

[Sym]

If you are were to implement coolant pods as an add-on module much like extra ammo or an AMS, I think that would solve everyones issues.

I mean, afterall coolant pods have mass and nothing is free.

Edited by Sym, 26 February 2012 - 11:42 AM.

[FinnMcKool]

I kind of like it in MWLL where i attack some one and they wet themselves.

[Black Sunder]

My 2 cents, have coolant trucks stationed throughout the battlefield. Walk up to one, stand still for a bit and your coolant is taken out and replaced. Of course shooting a coolant truck with a mech next to it would be of tactical benefit as well because coolant goes...BOOM! It goes with lore and provides a strategic objective.

[Exilyth]

Keep it canon (no flushing), maybe add http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Coolant_Pod later.

Edited by Exilyth, 26 February 2012 - 12:20 PM.

[Durant Carlyle]

Having a reserve coolant supply in 'Mechs? No.

Coolant trucks in missions? Yes, but not in all missions (random maybe?). Trucks must be vulnerable to enemy fire or no-go.

[Pht]

MW4 style "coolant flush" is, imo, a bad thing, besides being nonsense in relation to the lore. Besides, the amount of coolant liquid you'd have to carry would be obscene; we're talking about radiators that could very well be half a ton, and when you realize that's mostly graphite, the surface area must be insane.

[Strum Wealh]

I would prefer to see coolant flushes available only through connection to a coolant truck (or (as with the canon) two coolant trucks for heavy and assault 'Mechs, with the connection(s) requiring 'Mechs to be stationary and shut-down or otherwise unable to fire to prevent becoming a "turret") or the installation and use of coolant pods (costs tonnage and space on the 'Mech, single use and vulnerable to being hit and exploding, and with the cooling effect proportional to the number and type of heat sinks installed on the 'Mech to discourage people from boating the pods).

[Mautty the Bobcat]

Alright, poll was redone. Please recasts your votes.

I've added in 2 options.

#3 The Coolant Pod you can find on Sarna and information quoted on the 2nd post in the topic.

#4 Having the Coolant Pod work like #3 but also requiring a module to be installed.

Personally I'm up for having the Coolant Pod as #3, and taking up tonnage and space. The module idea is neat, depends on how MW:O uses it, and it may not fit in right.

[Xenois Shalashaska]

I thought flushing your coolant actually would damage your heat sink efficientcy because one thing. You just lost all your coolant liquid.

[Karl Streiger]

I don't want to see coolant pods.

While coolant pods allow you to overstretch the heat buildup of your mech - you are able to deal more damage in a short periode of time. For example the Rifleman with its armament would be able to obliterate a lighter mech with a single alpha strike. With its 10 heatsinks it has to pay a horrible price to do this. With a coolant pod you avoid the risks of exploding, shuting down...

Without coolant pod you would think twice before firing all weapons - maybe only in danger - the next flight of missiles will knock you out - or with a high chance of neutralizing a heavy enemy unit. You have to watch carefully on your heatscale possible installing ammunition feed weapons. (Rifleman can fire both large laser - and keep up firing with its both ACs - till the heat is again in an acceptable region.

Edited by Karl Streiger, 27 February 2012 - 04:05 AM.

[Mautty the Bobcat]

Hm, maybe have a tradeoff that, when you use a coolant pod it increases the heatsink efficiency as listed in post #2 but after that time period your heatsink's efficiency is reduced either for the duration of the match or for a set period of time (would have to be a decent length)?

That seems like the best of both worlds to me and would bring in a new tactic as well. Yes that rifleman may destroy that light mech, but it will then run extremely hot for a period of time/the rest of the match and unable to fire as quickly/as many weapons to deal with other mechs that may have been lurking around.

I'm also in favor of the heatsink efficiency being reduced for the rest of the match, as the lore clearly states that using these pods would cause damage to the cooling system itself.

Edit: Poll updated with the latest options, please recast votes. Poll will stay that way for a while.

Edited by Mautty the Bobcat, 27 February 2012 - 04:39 AM.

[MaddMaxx]

The use of Coolant trucks would be counter productive.

At best, you should shoot any Mech standing still and getting a refill, not the Truck. If you kill the Truck you can't use it, or are these Faction based trucks and the drivers are Union members and won't fill enemy Mechs?

At worst, they become THE targets to hunt down quickly by both sides and detract from any real strategy attempted to be applied to a Map. Truck hunting as a required Map function would suck bones.

If you aren't carrying it on deploy.... it ain't happening.

[TheRulesLawyer]

God no. Might as well call it laser boats online if you introduce coolant pods.

[Outlaw2]

Coolant pods weren't around during this time period, and were rare technology even when they were FYI

Any kind of Coolant systems negates much of penalties of using high heat energy weapons and throws the balance in their favor... even if its just a one time deal. Unless we also add "ammo bursts" that replenished ammo for ballistic and missile weapons. Maybe also armor bursts to get more armor, speed bursts, jump bursts, burst bursts...

Edited by =Outlaw=, 27 February 2012 - 09:57 AM.

[TheRulesLawyer]

=Outlaw=, on 27 February 2012 - 09:54 AM, said:

Any kind of Coolant systems negates much of penalties of using high heat energy weapons and throws the balance in their favor... even if its just a one time deal. Unless we also add "ammo bursts" that replenished ammo for ballistic and missile weapons. Maybe also armor bursts to get more armor, speed bursts, jump bursts, burst bursts...

Lets just add random power-ups floating around the battlefield.

[SI The Joker]

TheRulesLawyer, on 27 February 2012 - 10:13 AM, said:

Lets just add random power-ups floating around the battlefield.

As long as I get the drive the mushroom car... I mean Mech, we're cool.

Leave the repeatable coolant flush out. Design a balanced mech that can function effectively on the battlefield. If you run hot... get to water.

As for a coolant pod... 10 seconds of +200% cooling... Hmmmm...

Cut the time in half to 5 seconds and make it 1 time use, and I could compromise on that, I think.