30 replies to this topic

[MossPigglet]

Now I understand that the clans "don't exist" yet but regarding the balance issues piranha games referenced to, if heat efficiency isn't enough, and less armour for more guns isn't enough, why not increase the reload rate a bit, in Mechwarrior mercenaries, the inner sphere mechs PPC fires faster then the clan PPC, why not apply that to more weapons? also Missiles, why not make clan missiles more susceptible to AMS? By firing a clan missile similar to the Mechwarrior 4 mercenaries way. what I mean is instead of firing all 20 missiles with an LRM, why not fire 20 missiles with 4 clusters of 5 missiles. Which can play nicely into the longer reload time for clan mechs. just an idea, I don't know if they read these forms or not.

[cmopatrick]

rather than let you think no one is reading this, i'll respond from my point of view:

clans are supposed to be incredibly better. if it were not for their culture (such as biding for the least number needed, aka., "cutdown"), the clans would always win, especially this early in the timeline. the best balancing is not to nerf the tech (especially since it will be both balanced and included in IS mechs in a few years), but to balance the numbers allowed to drop Clan vs IS. further, unless we are able to pilot for the Clans any time soon, when equipment becomes available it will be both limited and VERY expensive.

[General Taskeen]

Skill and tactics win. Not tech.

[Sean von Steinike]

Worry about it when it gets here.

[Mongoose Trueborn]

They will introduce the clan mechs as NPCs for co-op mode.

[dal10]

the heat issues will be more than enough to nerf the clans, yes they will e strong, but only the best pilots possible will be able to manage the heat on those beasties. most clanners will cook themselves off.

[qultar]

numbers and cost will keep it in line
if you in a clan mech you do clan drops aka 5 on 8 or 10 on 12and to that high upkeep costs will keep them less used

if you do not win you lose K-Bills in a mach and if you do not have a sub you will not make much on a win

PS they have all ready told us they will sell Madcats/Timberwolfs someday

[Thorn Hallis]

Mongoose Trueborn, on 16 November 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

They will introduce the clan mechs as NPCs for co-op mode.

Hahahaha. No.

[Strum Wealh]

Mongoose Trueborn, on 16 November 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

They will introduce the clan mechs as NPCs for co-op mode.

Thorn Hallis, on 17 November 2012 - 01:36 AM, said:

Hahahaha. No.

Well, timeline-wise, the Clans should be showing up in the IS next March.
On the other hand, the PC Gamer article (on page 39 of Issue #233) indicates that the Clans are "biding their time", "invading Summer 2013", and "certain to have an effect on Community Warfare when they do".

Summer 2013 runs from June 21 to September 21.

So, it's not wholly impossible that the Clans could be introduced as ISN News stories and "NPC units" (though, it's potentially more likely that such Clan 'Mechs would be driven by PGI/IGP staff than by AI) weeks or months before they're made available to common players.

[Ashla Mason]

Clan tech is powerful, but it isn't game breaking when you factor in the fact that they normally fight with a numbers disadvantage and are handicapped by Zellbrigen.

Frankly, a pair of mixed lances against a medium weight star is a serious uphill slog for the clanners if their battle values are comparable and they're working under honor level 1 rules (Basicly they won't violate Zellbrigen at all).

And Like dal10 said: Clan weapons are frikkin' hot, since they don't have any basic energy weapons (everything they have is either ER or Pulse based). Expect the morons who mash alpha strike in a warhawk on caustic valley to be a turret for all intents and purposes.

[fighttheman87]

General Taskeen, on 15 November 2012 - 10:37 PM, said:

Skill and tactics win. Not tech.

well if you get shot in the face and die there are is amount of skill and tactics that can save you. just saying.

[dal10]

Ashla Mason, on 27 November 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

Clan tech is powerful, but it isn't game breaking when you factor in the fact that they normally fight with a numbers disadvantage and are handicapped by Zellbrigen.

Frankly, a pair of mixed lances against a medium weight star is a serious uphill slog for the clanners if their battle values are comparable and they're working under honor level 1 rules (Basicly they won't violate Zellbrigen at all).

And Like dal10 said: Clan weapons are frikkin' hot, since they don't have any basic energy weapons (everything they have is either ER or Pulse based). Expect the morons who mash alpha strike in a warhawk on caustic valley to be a turret for all intents and purposes.

ERPPCs for example. without true double heat sinks, the clans are already massively nerfed, they are not going to be heat efficient enough to use all of their weapons. timber wolf for example, 2 er large lasers, 2 er mediums 1 medium pulse 2 lrm 20s. that alpha will nearly cook the thing to death, and it doesn't have anywhere it can save much weight, as it is already using tech 2 equipment.

[qultar]

also with how this game dose targeting the Clan range is nerffed a lot
unless we get bigger maps and better targeting
shooting at targets over 800 is rare as it is

[DSRT800]

I hope you guys realize that clan mechs have way more heat sinks, right? I would love to see the clan mechs but everyone would be spamming LRM boats and CERPPC boats.

Clan weapons also weigh less.
IS LRM20 = 2x CLRM20s.
IS Gauss 15 tons + ammo, 15 damage, 640m range = CERPPC 6 tons + Double heat sinks, 15 damage, 810m range.

The Clan mechs can mount 2 CERPPC for every 1 Gauss rifle on an IS mech.

[Caleb Lee]

Well, they need tonnage or a battle value system ASAP anyways for 8 man drops anyways. If one side goes Clan tech it should be a Star (5 Mechs) versus 2 IS Lances (8 Mechs) tops in the traditional 2v1 ratio that gave the IS parity.

The current maps and DHS nerf (1.4 vs 2 heat dissipation) will already seriously hamper the Clan advantages of range and heat management. Right now I'm not all that excited about the Clan invasion as there isn't a meta game, the current system's heat management is well, less than stellar and the maps are too small for any real long range warfare.

Until they implement some sort of balance management like BV or tonnage limits, I don't entertain hopes they'll get the clan vs IS right either. Most 8 man drops I've seen lately are 6 D-DC Atlases and 2 Ravens camping the base or similar tonnage anyways. Pretty lame if you run a mixed group (realistic).

[Dirus Nigh]

General Taskeen, on 15 November 2012 - 10:37 PM, said:

Skill and tactics win. Not tech.

Technology dictates tactics.

[Paula Fry]

Cant wait to get my Hands on a Nemesis or a Loki^^
Skilled Pilot in Med or Light Mech will allways give hell or Death to skilled Pilot in Assault Mech. End of Story. Even if Assault Mech is Clan he aint got Lasers in his back!

[Thorn Hallis]

Paula Fry, on 23 December 2012 - 02:26 AM, said:

Even if Assault Mech is Clan he aint got Lasers in his back!

Well, some do. Or Streak-SRM 6.

[Inappropriate1191]

DSRT800, on 15 December 2012 - 08:57 PM, said:

I hope you guys realize that clan mechs have way more heat sinks, right? I would love to see the clan mechs but everyone would be spamming LRM boats and CERPPC boats.

Clan weapons also weigh less.
IS LRM20 = 2x CLRM20s.
IS Gauss 15 tons + ammo, 15 damage, 640m range = CERPPC 6 tons + Double heat sinks, 15 damage, 810m range.

The Clan mechs can mount 2 CERPPC for every 1 Gauss rifle on an IS mech.

But, as pointed out, Clan energy weapons tend to run so hot, that you won't be alphastriking with most of them. As for ballistic and missile weapons... there is precisely zero reason to run IS ballistic and missile weapons if you can get Clan variants. None whatsoever.

[Dirkdaring]

qultar, on 11 December 2012 - 07:30 PM, said:

also with how this game dose targeting the Clan range is nerffed a lot
unless we get bigger maps and better targeting
shooting at targets over 800 is rare as it is

This is the single best response yet, you nailed it.