3 replies to this topic

[Korz]

The premise of the game is that you want to stay as close to TT (table top) as possible only make changes for play-ability.

Simple math formulas from table top rules.

weapon damage/10 * weapon cycle time

Weapon damage = the damage of the weapon as listed in the TT rules.

10 the number of seconds in a standard TT turn.

weapon cycle time = the time it takes for the weapon to be ready to shoot again.


heat dissipation = number of heat sinks/10

heat dissipation = heat dropped every second of time in the game modified by environmental factors.

number of heat sinks = the actual number of heat sinks in the mech chassis ( double heat sinks count as 2 not 1.4 ).

10 = stand time in a TT turn.

Doing the above will make for a more accurate feel for the game. And the only thing you will have to balance out will be recycle time but that will take very little time to get a good balance.

Then all damage from weapons except for missiles can become instant and you can get rid of having to lead targets and make PPC and Ballistic weapons sub-par choices.

Should also be able to reduce armor to BT values while still retaining the current pace of matches.

Following the above change you can then use BV ( Battletech value) in match making to make matches more fair and balanced. Providing all players with a better match experience. As well as having MM already for when clan tech shows up.

[Xandralkus]

TT weapon balance is not all that good. Just about everything sucks in comparison to the Medium Laser, for example.

Additionally, BV is a horrible idea, because the very idea of "X mech configuration has more combat utility than Y" will lead to more of design X. Assign a numerical value to that, and you destroy much of the game.

Balance weapons so that they do not require hardpoint limitations at all, and so that randomly selected and placed weapons on a mech will yield a competent design.

Balance battlemech agility so that the trade of agility vs. firepower in favor of agility is useful for designs other than just pure scouting mechs.

[Korz]

Xandralkus, on 03 November 2012 - 08:16 PM, said:

TT weapon balance is not all that good. Just about everything sucks in comparison to the Medium Laser, for example.

Additionally, BV is a horrible idea, because the very idea of "X mech configuration has more combat utility than Y" will lead to more of design X. Assign a numerical value to that, and you destroy much of the game.

The only reason "Just about everything sucks in comparison to the medium laser" is due to map ranges being small. Using different map sizes and you can make this the weapon it was intended to be. Plus with the the current hard point system few mechs can boat them. And balance via recycle time can be done to make some weapons actually better or as good as the medium laser.

And BV is a solid and balanced system for using with MM. It takes into account the weapons and the chassis. The current system takes into account only the weight. As assigning the numerical value it already exist and folks build to that now. Giving it a number does nothing but allowing for a balanced drop for both sides.

As for the rest of your post I proposed back in closed beta several systems with various layers on how to deal with boating and weapon balance. The developers show little interest as they have found what they like with the hard point system and so we are stuck with that system for the time being.

They can't even get joystick controls to work consistently or fix collision and fall damage. Now you want them to start messing with agility of mech?

The deve's have stated they want as close to TT as possible. Everything I suggest brings us back to that. I personally think they are just paying lip service to that mantra in an effort to win over devotees.

I personally wouldn't have much issue with starting from scratch with weapon systems and mech setups and designs. Using the universe as the back drop but change mech combat. But if they go that route then they need to say so and then move in a logical and rational direction with it.

Edited by Korz, 04 November 2012 - 03:00 AM.

[Naqel]

Korz, on 04 November 2012 - 02:58 AM, said:

I personally wouldn't have much issue with starting from scratch with weapon systems and mech setups and designs. Using the universe as the back drop but change mech combat. But if they go that route then they need to say so and then move in a logical and rational direction with it.

As much as I'd love to see this happen, I really doubt there will be any changes at this point, unless something impossible happened. Like 70% or more of the founders decide to make a petition for it, or something of that caliber.

Needless to say, we can't even aggree on how to handle the hardpoints in a better way.

Edited by Naqel, 04 November 2012 - 03:31 AM.