103 replies to this topic

[Sug]

I just want to tee puddycats.

[Stormwolf]

I'd love to have the ability to create a character and hop around in various places, just imagine the possibilities:

- You could share a mechbay with your "regular" teammates and chat with them among the mechs.
- A dropship or base could be your default starting location, a inventory of sorts would be managed from your quarters.
- House players could visit their capital worlds and interact with other players from their faction there.
- Merc players could visit Outreach and perhaps get cheaper parts/weapons if you are well connected enough. This could also the place for getting new contracts.
- Invading Clan players could have the respective flagships of their factions as a base of operations. It would be fun to see a Focht NPC walk around the Dire Wolf (the flagship not the mech).
- Storyline elements could be played out here, news of let's say the Clan invasion could be seen on screens.
- Operation Scorpion would cause a blackout of communications, this would be reflected in the player environments.
- House and later Clan players would have a field uniform and a dress uniform
- Merc players could wear whatever they want
- There could be tons of NPC's, astechs, medtechs, civilians, traders and storyline characters (Hanse Davion, Morgan Kell, Natasha Kerensky, etc)

Just to name a couple of things, but it would primarily be a tool to get more involved in the universe and storyline that unfolds.

[FallguySoldier]

Stormwolf, on 19 March 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

I'd love to have the ability to create a character and hop around in various places, just imagine the possibilities:

- You could share a mechbay with your "regular" teammates and chat with them among the mechs.
- A dropship or base could be your default starting location, a inventory of sorts would be managed from your quarters.
- House players could visit their capital worlds and interact with other players from their faction there.
- Merc players could visit Outreach and perhaps get cheaper parts/weapons if you are well connected enough. This could also the place for getting new contracts.
- Invading Clan players could have the respective flagships of their factions as a base of operations. It would be fun to see a Focht NPC walk around the Dire Wolf (the flagship not the mech).
- Storyline elements could be played out here, news of let's say the Clan invasion could be seen on screens.
- Operation Scorpion would cause a blackout of communications, this would be reflected in the player environments.
- House and later Clan players would have a field uniform and a dress uniform
- Merc players could wear whatever they want
- There could be tons of NPC's, astechs, medtechs, civilians, traders and storyline characters (Hanse Davion, Morgan Kell, Natasha Kerensky, etc)

Just to name a couple of things, but it would primarily be a tool to get more involved in the universe and storyline that unfolds.

Thank you! Your ideas are great and I couldn't have said them better myself.

It's many of these reasons why I suggested that there be character customization. This game is obviously not EVE, but I'm just stating the fact that MechWarrior Online is built by a game engine that is more than capable of implementing a similar feature, plus it would help add storyline elements to make the game more interesting than a simple lobby-based deathmatch. (Unless this is what the developers were aiming for, which in that case there will be nothing else that makes MechWarrior Online stand out from the crowd. There's already HAWKEN that's a viable competitor to the genre, especially that it's also F2P.)

Like I said before, I'm not asking for heavy customization. This isn't WoW, this isn't an MMORPG. But let's not forget that the mechs are lifeless shells without their pilots.

EDIT: Also, I should point out that I, too, would like the devs to focus on their current goals first, such as the game mechanics and the mechs themselves. They already got enough in their hands as it is. But I'm hoping that character customization will be implemented post-launch.

Edited by FallguySoldier, 19 March 2012 - 01:32 PM.

[Jack Gammel]

I voted yes, but only because I expect some form of customizable portrait/avatar to go with my name. Personally, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if I never got to walk around outside my mech, but I would definently like to have some sort of unique face to go along with my name.

And in the future there's always the option of fleshing out a more in-depth character creation system. However, I would prefer the devs to spend their valuable time bringing aerospace fighters and armor into the game first.

[Whisky]

Customizable nose art, insignia and paint jobs should definitely come first, but I think this might be cool later on. Especially since there's already a focus on customizing your pilot avatar with pilot points and all that.

[mockingfox]

Hanse Sandoval, on 18 March 2012 - 05:34 PM, said:

I say go the EVE Online route and focus on my gameplay for now. Someday down the road, I'd love to walk/float around a dropship bay, but that isnt my concern now. For now, give me PPC or give me death.

this
right now all we need as far as character customization goes it a little box that says male/female
so that when my mech pilot screems in pain from a electronic backlash or a heatflare its acurate!

[bryt]

i am not against the idea... but i feel like there is a LOOONNNG ways to go before it will become feasible and/or necessary. Focus on bringing back the MW gaming we all know and love, make it the bread and butter of our daily lives. Then, we can discuss the process of offloading myself into a virtual counterpart, and we'll do it the right way when/if that moment comes.

Honestly though, I hold no hope that MWO will ever be that kind of game. MWO serves a greater purpose in my mind... it is paving the way for that kind of game. AKA: Battletech Online

[Solis Obscuri]

This strikes me as a completely extraneous feature, and not one I'd want to see dev time spent on over getting the 'mech combat and balance right.

If it's easy and there's plenty of spare time, sure, having little details to customize and play with can be fun, but overall, wasting time walking a little avatar around his little office/bedroom/hanger/dropship/whatever instead of just selecting actions from a menu isn't going to be a meaningful improvement to my gameplay experience.

Neither is having to watch a bunch of people jump up and down like the easter bunny of crack while trying to airhump an NPC Hanse Davion while I'm waiting for a match.

Advancement through character interaction should be right out. This is a PvP 'mech combat game, not an RPG of grinding NPC quests for XP.

[Tank]

I think they should make room for us to add some content (maybe later, game is priority after all), like skins and if other players wish to see pilot or skin let there be option that player will have to accept additional content from other person by default.
And nothing complicated needed, I think something simple as minecraft (blocky people) pilots will be fine.

Edited by Tank, 19 March 2012 - 04:00 PM.

[Der Kopfsammler]

verybad, on 19 March 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

It's a Mech Combat game. We don't need digital barbie dolls to dress up and give new outfits, "Oh look, she's almost digitally naked! SEKSEE!" .

The only people that see you are tired, dirty techs and winning enemies that see a bit of strawberry jam if they crush your cockpit. This has absolutely NO concern with playing a MECHWARRIOR game. It's about blowing **** up and driving a big arfing robot, not about what new skimpy suit you put on your mechwarrior (that you don't see during play in any case).

I'm not opposed to this being an option for other people in the fture, but it's so far down the list of what the game needs in order to be a good MECHWARRIOR game that it's not even a blip on the radar as far as I'm concerned. It's NOT an RPG, it's been stated multiple times...

If people want this, just pick up a copy of Poser and dress them up to your content. It has as much part of play as a character maker in the game would.

That would be downside of the implementation of Character Creation on it, but people aren't really bothering with it much.

I'm also aware of the vast community of battletech veterans that are now cleaning the rust of their mech fighting skills for this game, but lets not forget the new generations of mechwarriors that will be trying this out maybe for the first time as a choice between a Mech simmulator game that has its origins from years ago beyond the new generations, Mechwarrior Online, and a good old fashion arcade mech fighting FPS game known as Hawken, where you pick your mech and go.

And im centering now mostly to the new generations that probably never heard about Battletech, mechwarrior, etc., because they will simply turn down the idea of playing any of them since it will taste like too much from the same.

I know that your concern is that having a charater creation would be for nothing since inside the mech its all FPS inside a cockpit, but (for example) on EvE Online you drive a spacecraft without seeing your char inside it either, and still they added that feature in game just to give players some "Physical Identity" besides their portraits. And thats what im just mentioning about adding a character creation on this game - simply to give players more "identity".

[Der Kopfsammler]

Solis Obscuri, on 19 March 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

This strikes me as a completely extraneous feature, and not one I'd want to see dev time spent on over getting the 'mech combat and balance right.

If it's easy and there's plenty of spare time, sure, having little details to customize and play with can be fun, but overall, wasting time walking a little avatar around his little office/bedroom/hanger/dropship/whatever instead of just selecting actions from a menu isn't going to be a meaningful improvement to my gameplay experience.

Neither is having to watch a bunch of people jump up and down like the easter bunny of crack while trying to airhump an NPC Hanse Davion while I'm waiting for a match.

Advancement through character interaction should be right out. This is a PvP 'mech combat game, not an RPG of grinding NPC quests for XP.

I never said that it should be "right away". Maybe when Devs have their hands cleared over the most important gameplay features first, maybe after 4 or 5 major patches in the future. But adding further diversity to players to give them more identity wouldn't mean changing the game into some sort of RPG.

[Jake Valeck]

MMO's are social games. having a location for online chat is important for success imho.

[Togg Bott]

lets allow the devs to actually get the game out, make some money. and "WHEN" they can afford to hire a 3d artist for that project. maybe

[Der Kopfsammler]

Togg Bott, on 19 March 2012 - 06:22 PM, said:

lets allow the devs to actually get the game out, make some money. and "WHEN" they can afford to hire a 3d artist for that project. maybe

This is exactly what i expect. Couldn't agree more.

[cinco]

don't give a **** about social hubs or online chats. just want to see my damn pilot, brah.

[FallguySoldier]

Der Kopfsammler, on 19 March 2012 - 05:58 PM, said:

I know that your concern is that having a charater creation would be for nothing since inside the mech its all FPS inside a cockpit, but (for example) on EvE Online you drive a spacecraft without seeing your char inside it either, and still they added that feature in game just to give players some "Physical Identity" besides their portraits. And thats what im just mentioning about adding a character creation on this game - simply to give players more "identity".

Der Kopfsammler, on 19 March 2012 - 06:13 PM, said:

I never said that it should be "right away". Maybe when Devs have their hands cleared over the most important gameplay features first, maybe after 4 or 5 major patches in the future. But adding further diversity to players to give them more identity wouldn't mean changing the game into some sort of RPG.

Well-said and I definitely agree.

As for me, I never played the original tabletop games nor have I kept up with the Battletech series as religiously as some people here, but I do consider myself a big fan and coming from a fairly "old-school" generation. I've played MechWarrior 2, MechWarrior: Mercenaries, MechCommander, and have read several books from the series, such as "The Legend of the Jade Phoenix" trilogy, "The Blood of Kerensky" trilogy, and "I am Jade Falcon".

But even with that said, I'm willing to adapt to change and go with the times, and frankly, after many years of playing MMOs, there's something to be said about personal identity. As mentioned by other people, if I just wanted a straight-up mech deathmatch, I'd go play HAWKEN (whenever that comes out). But I have higher expectations for MechWarrior Online simply because I like the universe, its lore, and its characters. Being able to see the "warrior" that pilots the "mech" (hence, "MechWarrior") just gives me a good, complete feeling.

Others may disagree and form their own opinions, but I hope the game devs at least take this into serious consideration, even if it means implementing character customization in the future post-launch.

Jake Valeck, on 19 March 2012 - 06:16 PM, said:

MMO's are social games. having a location for online chat is important for success imho.

And what better way than to see it all happen in-game through some central hub, like in the Solaris City or even a base at some remote planet where your factions are stationed at. The possibilities are there, and I think it would help with player interaction (aside from just killing each other). But it's all up to the game devs, of course.

Edited by FallguySoldier, 19 March 2012 - 06:38 PM.

[Hardcover]

Actually, if they do it as they did it in EVE, I'll be happy - give me a face to stick next to my callsign, and it'll be enough. Actually being able to climb out of my 'Mech for social stuff is something that can come down the road.

[Hayashi]

I'd like some form of portrait creator to add in front of the faction symbol and all...

But yea, they should probably get the game out first and leave all decorations other than the Hula Girls till after launch.

One labour-cheap way to do this quick would be to simply allow people to upload custom images to use for their pilot face, of given dimensions.

And if they dare upload certain types of pictures...

*Cue hammer*

[EDMW CSN]

Hanse Sandoval, on 18 March 2012 - 05:34 PM, said:

I say go the EVE Online route and focus on my gameplay for now. Someday down the road, I'd love to walk/float around a dropship bay, but that isnt my concern now. For now, give me PPC or give me death.

Exactly. I am for one glad they put walking in stations on the back burner till further notice.
Walking in mech bays can wait, as in 4 to 5 years later

[Quicksand]

verybad, on 19 March 2012 - 12:17 PM, said:

It's a Mech Combat game. We don't need digital barbie dolls to dress up and give new outfits, "Oh look, she's almost digitally naked! SEKSEE!" .

The only people that see you are tired, dirty techs and winning enemies that see a bit of strawberry jam if they crush your cockpit. This has absolutely NO concern with playing a MECWARRIOR game. It's about blowing **** up and driving a big arfing robot, not about what new skimpy suit you put on your mechwarrior (that you don't see during play in any case).

I'm not opposed to this being an option for other people in the fture, but it's so far down the list of what the game needs in order to be a good MECHWARRIOR game that it's not even a blip on the radar as far as I'm concerned. It's NOT an RPG, it's been stated multiple times...

If people want this, just pick up a copy of Poser and dress them up to your content. It has as much part of play as a character maker in the game would.

The "extremely old" saying, "you can please some people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time." relates to every MMO, to every game in fact. As I write this 60% say "yes", you seem to be the minority with your childishly written opinion.

I hate it when people just write down what THEY want....

After awhile, many (not all) people will get bored with just "blowing **** up", games progress....apparently some people don't.