23 replies to this topic

[Jack Gallows]

After reading some of the newer information presented by Bryan and a few others, I've got a few questions I'd hope the Dev's would answer to help clarify and help those who'd like to either play for a Mercenary unit or be a Faction Player.

Quick quote from Bryan Ekman;

Quote

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.

So, we've got that out of the way. You cannot start a canon unit or use the name of them, including their sub units/organizations. Now, many people have brought up the idea of some of the big Merc units being semi factions of their own, so you could get rep with them and "join" them like House players do with Canon House units. This is a good idea, even if my unit and I don't ever plan on actually doing this.

On to my actual questions, because I'd like to know what my unit needs to be focusing on instead of flailing blindly in the dark about how to orientate ourselves within MW:O.

1.) If you are a Faction player and decide to queue up for a match, can you queue with a group and what would be the max size of this group? If it's 12v12 battles, can I queue with 11 of my friends and get into the same battle, or is there a limit imposed upon the number of people in a match queue that might be "grouped."

2.) What is the air speed of an unladen swallow?

3.) If you begin the game as a Faction player but would like to go Mercenary and join an existing Merc corp...can you? Vice Versa?

4.) In the event of number 3, do you become dispossessed, or suffer some form of penalty for switching?

5.) Is there any possibility of having players create their own custom units within a Faction and having control over it much like how a Merc company will run?

I'll comment that I agree with how PGI has locked out the canon unit names, and is such the reason I went with creating a unit of my own. I remember reading the original Dev blog with them stating that certain key/important merc/faction names would be locked out, and I think it's only fair that no one gets the ability to control them, much as it is lamentable that some might have used such names over the years and are attached to them.

That said, I think this is a topic that should be fleshed out by the developers if they're able, as I think it's a big part of this community; making friends and forming "units" to have a sense of identity that we can take into game...and knowing what tools we have to accomplish this would go a long long way in improving the community.

*Bonus Question!*

6.) Is there any update on the situation with the Unseen/Reseen or if we'll ever be able to see those 'mechs in MW:O? And, are you open to community suggestion regarding them?

Edited by Jack Gallows, 09 May 2012 - 01:34 PM.

[Threat Doc]

<S> Colonel Gallows. Nicely written, and I am eager to hear these answers myself.

[Gun Bear]

More people should join Gun Special Squadrons! *shameless plug*

In question #2 you need to specify whether it was an African or European swallow that you are referring too.

Seriously though these are good questions.

[Jack Gallows]

Kay Wolf, on 09 May 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

<S> Colonel Gallows. Nicely written, and I am eager to hear these answers myself.

What does the <S> mean? And thank you, I'm hoping this will help everyone including those wishing to go Clan later on down the line, so everyone has an easier time getting their ducks in a row.

I also wouldn't mind seeing what people think on these subjects, or how they'd like to see it handled so the devs can see what some in the community would like. It might also help bring about new questions we wouldn't think to ask.

Also, I posted these questions in the "Ask the Devs" post as well, because I hadn't seen that thread before I made this one. It's my hope that I don't cause a problem with the mods (however minute,) due to kind of double posting. I maintain this thread is still needed as it's also a place for direct discussion about these questions and ideas, since the ones in the "Ask the Devs" may not get answered and shouldn't be discussed in depth in that thread to avoid cluttering it and driving it off topic.

Edited by Jack Gallows, 09 May 2012 - 03:45 PM.

[TheSteelRhino]

Great questions

So much emphasis has been on how do i "claim" a famous unit or faction. And not how to integrate into the universe and become the famous unit

But how do u play with your friends if u are a faction Player? This is a great question.

Or what if a group does create an all new unit and wants to be affiliated with a faction. Can u somehow work your way into a factions good graces by only working for them. Would there be greater rewards? Access to advanced tech for that unit possibly?

Eventuay become a "house" unit?

Thanks
Rhino

[Jack Gallows]

Kind of like how Bryan said, I'd like to have my own legacy in the Battletech universe that isn't tethered to an existing unit. I know it's not the same for others for various reasons (valid or not, and I'm not the judge of that,) but I don't care if it's never actually canon....because it's the fun and the great people you meet and the individuality that having your own custom unit brings.

[Yvraith]

Some damn fine questions there.

I totally understand why they have locked them out & Mercs forming their own legacies.
And I agree with the policy too.

However down the track, if a Merc unit gains a high enough "reputation" level, is it possible for your Merc unit to be offered a sub-contract or affiliation to one of the Canon units, as a similar type of reward for those playing as part of a faction?

It's just a thought, in order to reward successful & prestigious Merc Units for their efforts.

[FinnMcKool]

It seems that those who play as Mercs will have a completely diferent game than those who play for House or faction.

so how will these things work ?

and as far as the swallow , its the Bunny you have to look out for.(its got Teeth !)

[Jack Gallows]

I'd think they've got some stuff in mind for that. You'd get better contracts for getting more points with a faction by doing missions (and I'd say being successful with them,) and probably some other perks too, but too much is kind of the domain of the faction player. I think it's mostly the point you'd be able to start being able to affect the star map on behalf of that house instead of just picking your own targets.

We'll see, will be fun to see what perks you get for getting high loyalty with a specific faction.

[Threat Doc]

Jack Gallows, on 09 May 2012 - 03:39 PM, said:

What does the <S> mean?

That's meant to represent a virtual salute; one way to represent it, anyway. I've seen it as ~s~, <S>, [s], etc.

[Solis Obscuri]

Jack Gallows, on 09 May 2012 - 01:27 PM, said:

2.) What is the air speed of an unladen swallow?

Is it an African or a European swallow?

[Jack Gallows]

Solis Obscuri, on 09 May 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

Is it an African or a European swallow?

/flies off a bridge

[Randal Waide]

O7 salute.

[Alan Grant]

Also, what does being part of a canon house unit mean?

Other than bragging rights, and a badge to show off at the officers club does it have any bearing on how you'll experience the game once you make it into a prestigious unit. Will being in the Davion Heavy Guards restrict me to playing on worlds located around their deployment area, and will it furthur restrict me from playing with someone who joined the Kathil Uhlans, who maybe deployed completely on the other side of the Davion sphere? Or not?

I'm guessing there won't be any restrictions, and being in a canon unit is just superficial, but I'd like clarification on that.

Also, the air speed of an unladen "European" Swallow is on average approx. 24 miles per hour. I thought everyone knew that.

Edited by Alan Grant, 10 May 2012 - 02:05 AM.

[Jack Gallows]

Deployment zones would be interesting, but I think it'd restrict House players too much compared to Merc players. I'm personally going to assume that being in a famous canon unit probably gets you their paint scheme, insignia to put on the mech, probably specific bonuses (like maybe they shutdown/start up their 'mech faster, etc.,) or discount's maybe on some mech/parts. That's in addition to people pointing and going "WoW, that guy is a [insert canon unit name here]" because it took some sort of crazy achievement to get into the unit.

[Korbyn McColl]

A lot of us have been hoping to get an answer to these questions...particularly #1.

[Threat Doc]

Yes, I think a deployment zone for the attacker, within 2 inches of the edge of the boa... oh, wait, hehe. Honestly, I think a defender should almost have run of the map, placing wherever they're going to place, and then the attacker begins within a certain distance of the edge of the map, unaware -except for any paid-for intelligence received- of the defender's position(s), and on any side of the map.

[Dihm]

Jack Gallows, on 09 May 2012 - 01:27 PM, said:

3.) If you begin the game as a Faction player but would like to go Mercenary and join an existing Merc corp...can you? Vice Versa?

5.) Is there any possibility of having players create their own custom units within a Faction and having control over it much like how a Merc company will run?

We do have answers, at least partial ones, to these two question now, thankfully. The others we're still waiting on.

3) You CAN change your Faction/Merc status, but you lose Loyalty Points/rank/rewards. You will be restricted in how often you are allowed to make this kind of a defection, they haven't given the time period yet.

Quote

Is it possible to change status as a player from one to another. For example, Lone Wolf > Faction Player and back etc? –sadamle
[PAUL] Yes players can switch player types but it will be at a cost. A lot of the rewards associated with one player type will be lost during the transition. We don’t want players flip flopping back and forth between play types, hence there will be an amount of sacrifice you must agree to in order to switch.

So, from this we can gather that Lone Wolves switching won't lose anything, since they can't gain LP in the first place. A faction player changing would probably lose the most. I'm not positive how a Merc changing would be affected.

5) Not at launch, but potentially after.

Edited by Dihm, 10 May 2012 - 07:18 AM.

[PANZERBUNNY]

Have they stated what gaining these points entails?

The more I read about this game the more it feels like an arcade style game pushing quite a few of the game features which make battletech, battletech.

If there will be an innersphere map to fight over, will it be as sad and pathetic as the last mechwarrior game for xbox?

Will we have features for high ranking players in factions to "set goals and mission targets" so people who want to jump in matches have direction?

I've been digging. I can't seem to find any info regarding these play features or lack thereof.

Jack Gallows, on 10 May 2012 - 04:26 AM, said:

Deployment zones would be interesting, but I think it'd restrict House players too much compared to Merc players. I'm personally going to assume that being in a famous canon unit probably gets you their paint scheme, insignia to put on the mech, probably specific bonuses (like maybe they shutdown/start up their 'mech faster, etc.,) or discount's maybe on some mech/parts. That's in addition to people pointing and going "WoW, that guy is a [insert canon unit name here]" because it took some sort of crazy achievement to get into the unit.

And by crazy achievement I assume you mean grind. There isn't anything crazy or praise worthy for that action.

[Havoc2]

Jack Gallows, on 10 May 2012 - 04:26 AM, said:

Deployment zones would be interesting, but I think it'd restrict House players too much compared to Merc players. I'm personally going to assume that being in a famous canon unit probably gets you their paint scheme, insignia to put on the mech, probably specific bonuses (like maybe they shutdown/start up their 'mech faster, etc.,) or discount's maybe on some mech/parts. That's in addition to people pointing and going "WoW, that guy is a [insert canon unit name here]" because it took some sort of crazy achievement to get into the unit.

IMO the entire point of joining a house compared to forming a merc corp is the restrictions.

Mercs have the luxury of picking their contracts and choosing their fight with no real territory to worry about. Houses on the other hand go where their commanders tell them to go and need to worry about a loss costing them territory.
However the mercs are looking at lower tier 'Mechs and/or higher prices on 'Mechs and weapons for replacement while House backed players have the luxury of an empire behind them making 'Mechs and weapons more abundant/cheaper and repairs/replacements easier to come by.

This is what I see anyway. I hope that PGI takes the 2 further than simply choosing a recognizable insignia compared to a non-recognizable one.