805 replies to this topic

[Magnificent Bastard]

The Gray Death Legion was aware that this might happen. We were under the impression that what Garth Erlam told us was correct and, until now, saw no other commentary on this issue. I think there are going to be a lot of merc corps with canon names that get up in arms about this but my personal opinion is that this seems logical and I don't fault PGI for making this decision.

[Bryan Ekman]

Salesninja, on 03 May 2012 - 12:04 PM, said:

First, thank you for taking the time to spell this out to us. I am wondering if there will bra
Any structure for player groups as house units? Say if I was a me
Of a world of tanks clan that is coming over here but we wanted to stay as a unit here, and we're not wanting to be mercenaries...

Am I making sense?

Cause it sounds lik house units are for lone wolves, merc units are for clans/guilds whathaveyou

Merc Units are player run organizations. You determine your structure, ranks, and targets.

[StonedDead]

[Redacted] I apologise for my anger Bryan. It was just sudden and unexpected from my end. I overreacted and am sorry for being derogatory.

Edited by Zekester81, 06 May 2012 - 10:56 AM.

[Havoc2]

Hartsblade, on 03 May 2012 - 11:44 AM, said:

Just double checking

So at this time, no 12th Vegan Ranger's for players. Correct?

If The change is made for some Mrec Units to be treated the same as the Houses, would the Ranger's be "large" or "famous" enough to considered?

Dunno why you would want to fight with Vegans anyway. . . .


BDU loves a good BBQ.

[Firefly]

Bryan Ekman, on 03 May 2012 - 12:11 PM, said:

Both need to pass a set of naming criteria and filters.

I appreciate your input on this matter and your willingness to provide information. Is the criteria for both something that you can share?

I'm trying to figure out what I can do. I fully understand/agree with the decisions your team has made - I'm not keen on the idea of completely renaming my unit, though I'll do my best to adhere to them. What if we just went with "Black Widows"? Or, since we're part of an alliance, full-name "[WD] Black Widows" short tag "[WD] BWC" ?

Zekester81, on 03 May 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

Wow.....this has caused a massive amount of dissent to this project. So I guess mercs are now second class citizens here. Every one else can be what they want, except for mercs. Thanks.

How did you not see this coming? I mean, you're not in some random original-IP game. This is a game based on an established, well-known property that's been around for a LONG time. Try working with it, instead of getting angry.

Edited by Firefly, 03 May 2012 - 12:19 PM.

[Bryan Ekman]

omega5-9er, on 03 May 2012 - 12:10 PM, said:

Am I correct you are referring to Merc Company names as a whole and possibly not sub-groups of that company? Example: We figured this would be the case when it came to canon merc company names, so the Wolf's Dragoons groups made sure to take regimental and company names and stay away from the "Wolf's Dragoons". We should be able to just work as freelance merc companies, correct?

To use your example:

Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Orbital/Aerospace Operations Group Wolf's Dragoons Seventh Kommando Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Support Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Seventh Kommando Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Seventh Kommando Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Orbital/Aerospace Operations Group Wolf's Dragoons Seventh Kommando Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Support Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Orbital/Aerospace Operations Group Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Orbital/Aerospace Operations Group Wolf's Dragoons Seventh Kommando Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Special Recon Group Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Fire Support Group Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Kerensky's Company Wolf's Dragoons Orbital/Aerospace Operations Group Wolf's Dragoons Seventh Kommando Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Black Widow Company Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Alpha Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Zeta Battalion Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment

These are all reserved names. You would not be able to make a player run merc corp using these names.

Zylo, on 03 May 2012 - 11:56 AM, said:

So I'm curious about the possibilities of being a member of a player made merc unit while also for example gaining faction with a house unit. Would this even be possible and if so would players get multiple tags attached to their name such as:

"[House Faction Unit][Player run Merc Unit]Playername?"

You can't be part of a House Faction and a Merc Unit. A merc unit is A faction.

[Zylo]

Bryan Ekman, on 03 May 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

No. You need to pick your loyalty carefully, as switching factions (merc to house/house to merc) comes with LP penalties.

Merc Units are player run organizations. You determine your structure, ranks, and targets.

So if I understand the concepts correctly I'm guessing the systems might end up like this:

A formal player run group with their own VOIP server should probably choose the merc unit path to maintain that level of control over what they do in game, and who can join their group. They would get a merc group tag on their name like "[Merc group name] Player name". I suspect this system would function more like WoT clan battles or tank company battles?

A player looking for instant action without any ties to a specific player run group would probably do best choosing to fight for a house unit and might get a tag like "[House, unit] Playername" after building enough loyalty with the house but would not have access to a formal player run structure that limited who could join for example. I suspect this would still allow some form of informal grouping like forming a lance with a few house faction friends (like platoon option from WoT).

[Orzorn]

I'd like to thank you guys for being so upfront with us about this. I understand some players will be upset by this, but honestly, we saw it coming from a long way away. One of the earliest dev blogs mentioned a list of reserved units, so some people were just working themselves up for no real reason. We knew it was coming.

[wwiiogre]

So could we be the dyslexic unit?

chris

[Bryan Ekman]

Full Name: Black Diamond
Short Name: BD

Displayed as: [BD] Bryan Ekman

[Firefly]

Bryan Ekman, on 03 May 2012 - 12:28 PM, said:

Full Name: Black Diamond
Short Name: BD

Displayed as: [BD] Bryan Ekman

Okay. Thank you. So the short-name shows up on your in-game avatar, along with your character name, if I read that right. Are special characters allowed in the full name? Like punctuation and whatnot, or would it be limited to letters/numbers? Also, still seeking clarification on whether the term "Black Widows" would get us blackballed I mean renamed.

[Bryan Ekman]

Zekester81, on 03 May 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

Wow.....this has caused a massive amount of dissent to this project. So I guess mercs are now second class citizens here. Every one else can be what they want, except for mercs. Thanks.

I fully expect not everyone will be happy. But let's be honest here. There is no way to allow player run merc units to use canon names. It's just not logical or fair. Period.

I'm very open to the idea of including units such as WD and GDL in MWO as non-player run factions. This makes a lot of sense, and is fair.

[Morashtak]

Good to hear. Sounds like it should be possible to choose the 7th Donegal Guards at start and as I move up in rank with them have the opportunity to join more prestigious units in Steiner later as I amass kills and other awards for achievements in the field. Did I get that correct?

An "Earthquaker" today, tomorrow an "Archon's Own".

[Tronchaser]

This makes me a happy panda.

[Listless Nomad]

Orzorn, on 03 May 2012 - 12:27 PM, said:

I'd like to thank you guys for being so upfront with us about this. I understand some players will be upset by this, but honestly, we saw it coming from a long way away. One of the earliest dev blogs mentioned a list of reserved units, so some people were just working themselves up for no real reason. We knew it was coming.

The smart groups saw this coming. I think a lot of the angst is that it took this long for the devs to explicitly state that all canon unit names are banned. In the FAQ/Dev Blogs, they mentioned some units would be reserved - not all.

Regardless, we of the 1RR don't really mind. We are always the Rangers and will just have a nickname or something symbolic for our "merc co" name.

[Salesninja]

Bryan Ekman, on 03 May 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

Merc Units are player run organizations. You determine your structure, ranks, and targets.

Wow... bummer.

Really wanted to play for a house but I'm not gonna bail on my guild to do so...

[Bryan Ekman]

Firefly, on 03 May 2012 - 12:32 PM, said:

Okay. Thank you. So the short-name shows up on your in-game avatar, along with your character name, if I read that right. Are special characters allowed in the full name? Like punctuation and whatnot, or would it be limited to letters/numbers? Also, still seeking clarification on whether the term "Black Widows" would get us blackballed I mean renamed.

I would guess (don't hold me to it), it would clear. But if a GM looked at it, and determined the intent was to represent a canon unit, they might ask you to change it.

[Bryan Ekman]

Salesninja, on 03 May 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

Wow... bummer. Really wanted to play for a house but I'm not gonna bail on my guild to do so...

As the game rolls out, Merc Units can fight for Factions..

[Threat Doc]

I'm truly glad the Wolf Family Mercenary Units, LLC, is NOT a canon unit, now. Thank you, Randall Bills. Now, Armageddon Unlimited, third true iteration in the WFMU, which does have its own completely original story, background, ranks, awards, etc., which I've worked enormously hard since 1985, both off and on-line, to complete, has some amount of vindication for being fanon, instead.

Bryan, Paul, and crew, thank you for helping me to justify my work from these last 27 years.

To those of you who've run canon units since the beginning of the on-line games, I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope you'll be able to re-gear your units without too much disruption. If you need advice or any assistance I MAY be able to give, feel free to contact me and my people will do all we can to assist you.

[Rnadmo]

Bryan Ekman, on 03 May 2012 - 11:18 AM, said:

Alright... long overdue, much distraction in between.

Players will NOT be able to claim canon units as their own. When it comes to Mercenary Units/Corps/Companies, these names will not be available during MC creation. Trying to circumvent the naming system will result in the Merc Corp being renamed/denied.

Faction units are being handled slightly different. When a player aligns themselves with one of the major factions, say House Kurita, they will have the opportunity to join famous house units as the rank up by earning loyalty points. Some house units will require additional feats of excellence and challenges to achieve before membership is granted. Since these units are not run by the players, and we can reserve/restrict access to very active/famous units for sake of preserving the BattleTech timeline.

Our general stance on player run merc units is simple - create your own legacy! It's very unfair for players to stake ownership over a canon unit, and creates a host of politic and pr issues. So we're avoiding the complexities and edge cases associate with players assuming the role of these units by encouraging you to forge your own destiny.

This is our launch POV. As always, we listen to your feedback and ways to improve the system.

You are going to get some hate-mail over this, but I think it's perfectly reasonable and sane and I hope it sticks. People should be capable of making their own themes and history and stories.

Also thanks for clarifying the House/Merc divide. That is something I was unclear on, which will help as I put together my own Merc Group.