6 replies to this topic

[autogyro]

Here is my suggestion on what a potential Faction/merc company creation page may look like:



After the release about the inability to name your groups after existing canon units, I think in addition to the block on using those titles, there should be some sort of way to affiliate oneself with certain canon units.

It has been noted by Bryan that the devs are considering adding the major canon Merc units as selectable NPC factions, which does help alleviate the problem, but also adds to both their upkeep work as well as

I would like to propose the selection of merc/house units as follows:

Once you've created a pilot and profile within MWO, that you are brought to a page.

On this page, at the top you are given the option of creating the name and selecting/creating the insignia for your merc or Faction company.

Next is the Affiliation Selection section. This section allows you to align yourself with one of the major Faction Houses or major Merc units.

This provides a tiered drop down box which populates the next drop down box - if, say, you select House Kurita, all the canon affiliated House Kurita units are displayed. This allows players to be aligned with certain units within the various factions, e.g. Death Commandos within House Liao. This obviously also prevents people from aligning units with canonically incorrect or unavailable units and groups, such as the Clanners for the moment or Comstar, or whatever the developers so choose as being off limits.

It could be a nice touch if the background changed to reflect the allegiance you select.

The next section allows you to fill out the contact details and recruitment information for the company. For example, who to contact and who's in charge, maybe show an auto populated organisation structure.

Finally, the last section will have a blurb about the company itself. It could be nice to have an auto-populated section which is automated across every custom company, providing a quick overview of the company's history and maybe even battle performance. There should be a section which allows company commanders and recruitment leaders to write in some extra info about the company, such as what their previous company name was in MW4 or whatever.

Hence the options on the page as follows:

1) Lone Wolves: By skipping this page, you will be a lone wolf.

2) In order to join a pre-existing, you can select the 'search' button, which populates a list, not dissimilar to a server list, that lists the units, the player count, recruitment leader and webpage. Selecting one and hitting "apply" would automatically send a join request to the recruitment leader.

3) To create a faction or merc company, follow the drop down boxes and type in information as required.


Obviously this is a very rough draft, but the main points I wanted to hit on is as follows:

1) System for selecting names, also to prevent undermining regarding unit naming system and insignia.

2) Affiliation to existing canon units, given we are not technically allowed to name ourselves after them.

3) Easy, all-in-one page for updating and viewing information regarding the various and multitide of companies.

Edited by autogyro, 04 May 2012 - 04:40 PM.

[autogyro]

Some additional thoughts:

1) Speaking with Barantor, the question pops up whether this should be a browser based page or in-game. I am not prescriptive either way, as I don't want to see people reserving names outside of the game when they have possibly no intention of actually seriously playing it. By making it an ingame thing, it actually forces one to download and login to create the faction. Conversely, allowing the ability to hop right into the game, having everything set up, is also a nice thought. I'm undecided either way.

2) It's just an example page - hopefully what we really get will look at least a whole ton better than my MS Paint mockup.

[Jaroth Corbett]

Well done sir! I tip my hat to you. Do one for the Clans (Select Allegiance: e.g. Clan Wolf, Select Unit Affiliation: e.g. Alpha Galaxy, Select Sub-Unit Affiliation: e.g. 352nd Battle Cluster {The Silver Wolves} ) & I will dance at your wedding.

Edited by Jaroth Winson, 04 May 2012 - 04:52 PM.

[Bullwerk]

Interesting concept but I have a few issues with it that are more about the fuss over yesterdays news.

My first nitpick is that not all Merc Units will wantto be allied with a House, in fact I would wager that most of the Merc Units in canon show no true preference, maybe a house they WON'T work for but contracts are contracts and c-bills are c-bills.

This leads into my second nitpick, Unit Affiliation. I think it is completely uncalled for, the units of the professional militarys of the Great Houses don't run around with Mercs constantly attached at the hip. The ONLY affiliation I see possible is a Merc Unit being affiliated in some small way to a larger canon Merc Unit. But even that I think is more than they need to provide. Make an original Merc Unit, put whatever you want in the blurb, roleplay anything you want, and claim whatever you want out of game, but there needs to be no mechanic for the game to recognize this officially like your suggestions.

I know some of that might be a bit rambling and long winded and I apologize but this is a topic that i see no real need for and it is frustrating to see it brought up over and over again. My unit is based on a canon unit and we got that yanked from us, it sucks, but we expected it because we are realistic about the realities of the game. We have a mitigation plan that we have already but into effect and that is all that is to be done. The rest of the units that want to be canon units need to figure a similar situation out and stop looking for the game to support their desires to be recognized as canon units in any way.

/Rant Off

[autogyro]

I can understand your concerns. However, if one does not wish to be affiliated, then select a "None" option. Regarding affiliation to merc units, perhaps I was not clear, you can select your allegiance to be any of the major merc groups within the game, Wolf's Dragoons, Northwind Highlanders, etc not just House Factions.

However I do think most people do still want to be, at least in some amount, part of the canon units. This gives them that ability, if they so choose.

Edited by autogyro, 04 May 2012 - 05:02 PM.

[Dirk Le Daring]

Looks like a good idea. While I will not be affiliated with a house or major mercenary unit, I would like to have such a link available to other player controlled units. I see the potential for great alliances here.

Hope that makes sense

[Uhlume]

I'm actually hoping Clans are not going to be a faction you can join. I have no problem with them as a story or game element, but there will be plenty of factions with Mercs included to be able to join. The Spheroid choices are more than enough for starting characters, and if they do allow Clan factions you should never be allowed to start with Clan gear.

I'd really like to see Clan gear purchaseable only with a special currency, like clan salvage points, so if you haven't fought them you aren't going to get the salvage to build your own. Clan currency/gear should be difficult to get and non-tradeable.