Posted 07 November 2012 - 07:18 AM
I have been saying since the very first LRM buff/LRM trajectory enhancement patch that happened on the third major patch of closed beta, if there is any weapon that can break the game, it is LRMs. When your strongest weapon in the game does not require direct line of sight, that will be an issue for both game balance and the the overall experience of new players. no better way to introduce friends/family to the game that watch them get blown to pieces in open terrain from 3-5 missile boats just spamming away from 1000m out.
Add to the fact that the current LRM trajectory is: missiles fly over your head, then make a 80-90 degree turn, and drop vertically on your head - against all logical physics. Rome could have taken over the world in a day, if their trebuchets dropped directly on their enemies heads. France could have taken over the world in a day, if their cannon balls could drop directly on their opponents heads. The USA could have won the afgan and iraq wars in a day, if their tank shells and cruise missiles could drop directly on their enemies heads (smart bombs dont count, because for the most part they do when dropped from directly above).
On top of that, MWO has proven the magic bullet theory. Yes, a bullet can enter a body, take a 90 degree turn, go through a wrist, take another 90 degree turn, and go into someone's thigh, killing JFK... (Ok, I have have gone too far)
Lets focus. They were improved LRMs with the 2dmg/missile patch, which is already too much, and now improved on them again.
lasers and ballistics are completely broken and not used (i.e. ac/20s are junk, gauss rifle is supreme for doing nearly zero heat - which makes anything larger than a large laser and ac/5 useless) and have not been addressed at all except changing how much heat they do or ammo per ton. lrms have been getting revamped and buffed continuously - why?. it is obvious what direction they are taking this in, and i dont like it.
in CBT, LRMs require direct line of sight (except when fielding c3 master/slave) are quite useless until the 3070+ era when the game introduces multi-missile launchers and extended range, normal and explosive shells. the weapon of choice for most pre-3070 CBT games are Clan ER PPCs and Gauss rifles. Roll a hit, 15dmg, roll a hit, 15dmg. Now I know that is something the devs are trying to avoid, but at this point if you are using an 2+ ER PPCs, why are you? The gauss rifle is the most powerful, non LRM, weapon in the game. When used with perhaps one longer ranged laser, it can be effective. However, most players would rather load up a few more tons of ammo, and then load up on sinks and MLs or MPLs for a higher dps efficiency. Why use an AC/20 at all, use Gauss. Why use an AC/10, use gauss (expect in rare cases with lower tonnage mechs). Why use large lasers, use Gauss. Heat efficiency = dps in MWO.
this is currently a very one-dimensional game, and it is obvious a PTR or extensive in-house patch testing is required, along with a record of all stats and demographics currently used on the public client. I know community warfare is the focus at this point, but someone also needs to keep the current game balance within logical means. If 80% of players are using LRMs, maybe this should get looked into for balancing purposes. If 10% of capable-players are using AC/20s, maybe this should get looked into for balancing purposes.
For premades, bring back 8man drops. However, DO NOT LET THEM MATCH UP WITH PUGS. I think that clan Leaders and their members would agree, there is nothing satisfying about loading up an 8 man team and facing a pure pug. You get no benefit out of it, and learn nothing. It is a waste of time, especially when training for a competitive format. If after three attempts of trying to drop with an 8man team and the MM search comes up empty, perhaps it is safe to assume that there are currently no other 8man premades out there to go against. this could also promote players joining clans, creating new clans, and dropping together. All games are more successful with coop play.
it appears that the devs are chasing the game and letting it control them, rather than control it. much like pugs chasing light mechs, until their definite destruction.
2
dilluminati, on 07 November 2012 - 06:54 AM, said:
So ya, looks like Artemis may not be the issue.
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