21 replies to this topic

[palebear]

I thought about posting this in the Merc Corp area, but since it pertains to leveling, I think it belongs in General Discussion. I've been thinking about this for quite a while but was not sure how to approach a post in regard to it, so here's what I've been thinking about.

Is it going to be advantageous for prospective mercenaries to declare allegiance to an Inner Sphere faction and get mech XP and player points prior to forming their mercenary corp?

I understand that it's impossible at this point to tell, but I would think that when the game first drops it's going to have much more faction-directed content (contracts, game modes etc.) than the open-ended type content more merc would be dealing with.

For that matter, it may behoove the aspiring merc to become skilled within a faction simply because it may be untenable from a cost-effectiveness perspective to do all one's learning without the resources of an Inner Sphere house. Any Loyalty points or rank perks would just be cream for such a player because they plan on cutting ties with that house eventually anyway - but that said, who wouldn't rather train on someone else's dime?

This also raises the question, how hard/painful is it going to be to switch factions?

I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions on this.

[Naughtyboy]

well...guess it depends ...not every house would love to hire a mercenary unit thats been fighting against it..but then look at the wolf dragoons they swapped houses every fifth year..

cool thing with other mercenary units like MAC or GDL and many others is that they are very house faithful..
I think many merc units beeing created for this game will test the waters so to speak..find a place where eventually they settle down .house hoppin does not make you get enough loyalty points to get up to the "good" gear with discount..so my guess is most merc units will try out employers in the begining, then find one they like to work with.

[Hawkeye 72]

Well suppose you are the Federated Commonwealth and a mercenary group hired by the Draconis Combine (yes I know DC hates mercs, bear with me) has been turning several of your regiments into scrap. Now this obviously upsets you, but if they are causing you this much pain, imagine how miserable they will make the DC if you hire them instead.

However if you are the mercenary you need to be wary. While the Fed's may be paying you a nice hunk of C-bills, you need to remember you have killed a great number of their warriors, so they may not like you and could even lure you into an ambush as payback. And if the mission goes south don't be surprised if they aren't so willing to send you backup or cut you an extra deal on repairs or ammo. Ah the life of a merc. MW2: Mercs touched upon these issues slightly. MW4 not so much, because everyone started playing nice during the Civil war and the Clan years.

These elements should definitely be incorporated into the game if possible. This kind of betrayal and trust issues were rampant during the Succession Wars and will add a great dynamic to keep players invested. Everyone loves revenge. Loyalty should likewise be rewarded with bigger bonuses and preferential treatment. If I constantly run ops for the FedCom, they should give me first choice of mercenary contracts. Merc units lived contract to contract and were always strapped for resources. The backing of a Great House is almost always needed to sustain operations

At the end of the day you are still a Merc, and if you get it done on the battlefield, you are going to get paid one way or another.

As for switching Houses, it should be allowed IMO, but it needs to carry a penalty so factions don't see a massive turnover in committed players

Spoiler

the dev team has commitment issues...

Edited by Hawkeye 72, 09 April 2012 - 06:58 AM.

[Cyote13]

They have said that switching factions, or switching from Faction to Merc or lone-wolf or any other way is going to painful. I don't think it will ruin any account, but it will be severe enough that people aren't jumping all over the place, just to chase the current "winners."

As for starting in a faction and then joining a Merc corp, that wont help much either. Each drop you are in will earn you loyalty points for your Corp, and xp for you. There are going to be just as many drops for everyone that wants them. Yes, Contracts are going to be limited and "bid on" by the Mercs, but I am sure there will always be pub drops always available when a Merc pilot is on and no one else is available from his unit to drop with him.

And we don't yet know what Faction benefits there will be by xp and LP for faction players vs the benefits Mech Corps will get for occupying planets, and fulfilling contracts.

[FinnMcKool]

wait a minute , we really dont know anything about how drops will be made

to how a merc or merc group will make (or even if you can get contracts)

nothing has been confirmed as far as In writing or stone so to speak.

everything is speculation, thats all.

that being said I like Hawkeye 72 s Idea a lot.

It would seem to me that if you take contracts from 1 house it would

add to that factions points and to any faction that is freindly , also

if you take a job from those who are adversary's you lose points ,

kind of a balance from faction to faction , it would behoove one to

Either keep neutral with as many factions as possible at the same time

gaining favor with one or another .

Of course if you continue to do a good job then any faction would of course

want your services, so in an odd way you could gain favor with adversary's

at the same time (if you have a good rep as an honest, winning group)

[Nik Van Rhijn]

Finn - we do know about contracts.

Quote

• Border Worlds – Are fought over via a contract bidding system by player run Mercenary Corporations. These planets change hands on a regular basis, and have no impact on historical events. Rewards for controlling a boarder world are significant and go directly to the occupying Merc Corp.
  

and

Quote

Mercenary Corporations can bid and fight for occupation rights of border worlds throughout the Inner Sphere. Merc Corps must bid on a planet’s occupation rights via a system of contracts generated by the game.
A match or series of matches are set up between the defending Merc Corp and the challenger. The victor is determined from the results of each match, and takes control of the planet. They are rewarded with an immediate contract payout, and will continue to earn rewards while they occupy the planet. and

Quote

Since a contract system is being used for merc corps. What prevents a merc corp from bidding 1 c-bill for every world they want to fight on if they have sufficient money saved up from previous operations? –Black Sunder

[PAUL] The bidding on a contract involves a minimum bid (i.e. reserve). The bidding is done in a silent auction format where you will not be able to see bids made by other Merc Corps. You will only know that there have been X number of bids placed which all exceed the minimum bid amount. If this reserve is not met, the contract expires.

[Rayge]

We do also now how drops work. Drop mode and TDM are the only two game modes that will be playable at launch. TDM mode is where when you die, you die. Drop mode lets you pick 3-4 mechs beforehand, and when you die you get to 'hot drop' back into the battle, until you run out.

[FinnMcKool]

these are all great info , thanks

but I still dont know much ,face it

they been teasing us with just

enough info to keep us here,

without really telling us anything.

like : how do you join a match?
how will match making work?
will there be a core or center where everyone meets?
who gets to do the bidding?
Whos the boss?and who decides that?
will there be a tag or some label for merc. corp.
how do you drop with your friends?
how do you know who is in what role?
who is in what Mech?
how do you organize? is it in game or out ?
is it the same for houses?
what if you lose the bidding?
do you pool cash with group?
who is commander?
how should teammates divide the salvage?
will there be salvage?
who gets to start a Merc corp. ?
how will the merc corp be organized?
is there a game mechanics for all or any of this? ect, ect, ect,,,,,,,,,,

[LordDeathStrike]

House hoppin mercs are the scum of the bt universe. Real men pick a side and fight for it to the death! Free Worlds League forever!

[FinnMcKool]

LordDeathStrike, on 17 March 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

House hoppin mercs are the scum of the bt universe. Real men pick a side and fight for it to the death! Free Worlds League forever!

But how does that work?

you have a purple bird but are you really in that house?

dont get me wrong I cant wait for this game to come out , maybe thats whats driven me crazy , I needs to know.

[LordDeathStrike]

FinnMcKool, on 17 March 2012 - 08:42 PM, said:

But how does that work?

you have a purple bird but are you really in that house?

dont get me wrong I cant wait for this game to come out , maybe thats whats driven me crazy , I needs to know.

ya im picking house marik, the free worlds league as my faction when the game comes out. they are the only house in the inner sphere were freedom exists. the other houses basically enslave their worlds and populations, you have few to no rights among them. freedom or death!

[Dras Black]

I don't know if I wana work with a house hopper, mainly because I prefer my Mercs to be true, hardcore, cold blooded mercs. People that have a similar credo to mine:

__Removed, See Signature__

If you see a problem with this you're crazy, were just contractors, we just "Craft" death.

Edited by Dras Black, 17 March 2012 - 10:26 PM.

[Hawkeye 72]

LordDeathStrike, on 17 March 2012 - 08:50 PM, said:

ya im picking house marik, the free worlds league as my faction when the game comes out. they are the only house in the inner sphere were freedom exists. the other houses basically enslave their worlds and populations, you have few to no rights among them. freedom or death!

I will crush your freedom under an assault lance!! House Marik is the bench warmer of the IS

[palebear]

When did I start viewing the fanboi role-play forum?

[Dras Black]

palebear, on 17 March 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

When did I start viewing the fanboi role-play forum?

Heh sorry, that was kinda Rp-ish wasn't it.. >.>
I suppose I could sum it up with:
"If you're resume includes all the houses, and 4 Merc groups" I should start asking the question:
"sooooo what is goin on with that? You going to stick around for longer then a month?"

[trycksh0t]

LordDeathStrike, on 17 March 2012 - 08:50 PM, said:

ya im picking house marik, the free worlds league as my faction when the game comes out. they are the only house in the inner sphere were freedom exists. the other houses basically enslave their worlds and populations, you have few to no rights among them. freedom or death!

Except for Resolution 288, which gave the Captain-General complete control over the military, the right to hand-pick his own successor, and the right to nationalize any industry related to military production (which could be construed to be everything). Oh, and the Internal Emergency Act of 3030 that put all of the FWL under direct control of the Captain-General except the Duchy of Oriente and the Principality of Regulus. Then there was the Addendum to the Incorporation that removed the ability of Parliament to use finances as a way to check the Captain-General, and gave the Captain-General veto power over ANY law passed by Parliament. The FWL is little different from the rest of the Successor States, all power rests with one person, they just like to put on a show for everyone else.

[LordDeathStrike]

trycksh0t, on 17 March 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Except for Resolution 288, which gave the Captain-General complete control over the military, the right to hand-pick his own successor, and the right to nationalize any industry related to military production (which could be construed to be everything). Oh, and the Internal Emergency Act of 3030 that put all of the FWL under direct control of the Captain-General except the Duchy of Oriente and the Principality of Regulus. Then there was the Addendum to the Incorporation that removed the ability of Parliament to use finances as a way to check the Captain-General, and gave the Captain-General veto power over ANY law passed by Parliament. The FWL is little different from the rest of the Successor States, all power rests with one person, they just like to put on a show for everyone else.

except that the citizens are free. go over into steiner space and see how those folks are fareing, kentares IV would be a good place to stop by.

House Marik might have 1 man in charge of the armies, but the life of the simple man on any of the planets is a free one. you wont see an atlas breaking up a non violent protest in the league.

[trycksh0t]

LordDeathStrike, on 17 March 2012 - 09:56 PM, said:

except that the citizens are free. go over into steiner space and see how those folks are fareing, kentares IV would be a good place to stop by.

House Marik might have 1 man in charge of the armies, but the life of the simple man on any of the planets is a free one. you wont see an atlas breaking up a non violent protest in the league.

I would disagree that the 'life of the simple man of any of the planets is a free one.' If one lived in the Duchy of Oriente, a representative commonality, I would agree that they've probably got quite a bit of freedom. On the other hand, the Principality of Regulus is a civilian dictatorship. In a dictatorship, citizens only have as much freedom as they're given, and that could change at any time. The rest of the FWL (~70% of the systems) are at the whim of the Captain-General. He can do, pretty much, whatever he wants with them and their citizens. While there is the illusion of freedom, I would never call that situation to be 'living free'. That 1 man isn't just in-charge of the armies, he's in-charge of just about everything.

Edited by trycksh0t, 17 March 2012 - 11:04 PM.

[Hawkeye 72]

trycksh0t, on 17 March 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Except for Resolution 288, which gave the Captain-General complete control over the military, the right to hand-pick his own successor, and the right to nationalize any industry related to military production (which could be construed to be everything). Oh, and the Internal Emergency Act of 3030 that put all of the FWL under direct control of the Captain-General except the Duchy of Oriente and the Principality of Regulus. Then there was the Addendum to the Incorporation that removed the ability of Parliament to use finances as a way to check the Captain-General, and gave the Captain-General veto power over ANY law passed by Parliament. The FWL is little different from the rest of the Successor States, all power rests with one person, they just like to put on a show for everyone else.

Boom. Historied!

[AIecto]

Dras Black, on 17 March 2012 - 08:51 PM, said:

I don't know if I wana work with a house hopper, mainly because I prefer my Mercs to be true, hardcore, cold blooded mercs. People that have a similar credo to mine:

__Removed, See Signature__

If you see a problem with this you're crazy, were just contractors, we just "Craft" death.

I just read through the entire thread; I can understand the OPs concerns and don't have much to offer of an opinion at this point because there's just not enough facts available on this topic as the games still in very early days, but I would like to offer my feeling for how a merc should act in MWO and to be completely honest when I read your sig it matched that exact feeling I have so you have my approval (not that it's worth much lol).