24 replies to this topic

[Joe Mallad]

Maybe a Dev or 2 can chime in on this question too.

In the Developers vid for the light mech, it's clearly stated that you gain xp and what not for scouting and spotting the enemy for your team but... If I play a scout, is playing a scout a pilot skill or can you only be in the scout role if you are in a light mech? I mean can a play the scout and still be granted whatever scouting abilities (a scout has) if I decide to take a medium mech? Or are you only ever considered a scout if you are in a light mech? The reason I'm asking is because the word scout was only ever said in the light mech video.

Edited by Yoseful Mallad, 14 May 2012 - 07:21 AM.

[Aegis Kleais]

"...is throng a scout a pilot skill.." — huh?

Scouting is an action. Mechs don't play as specified roles. If you perform scouting actions, you receive XP for it. If that same Mech performs Command functionality, it receives XP for that.

You will be able to take a Medium, spec it in the lab so that it performs as needed for the scouting duties you want, use modules to assist you in those endeavours, and then earn XP by performing Scouting for the Chassis Variant. You can then use the XP towards one of the efficiency trees (like Scouting, Command, etc.) to gain efficiencies related to those types of tasks.

Don't get wrapped up in labels. A 100T can Scout (though chances are, not efficiently, because speed is usually a key asset to successful scouting)

[Atlai]

I believe that a Cicada also counts as a scout and thats a medium, so i think yes you can gain scout exp. even if your piloting a medium,

And we all know the Steiner guys are going to do there scouting in Atlases, just with maxed out engine speed

Aegis Kleais™, on 14 May 2012 - 07:22 AM, said:

"...is throng a scout a pilot skill.." — huh?

Scouting is an action. Mechs don't play as specified roles. If you perform scouting actions, you receive XP for it. If that same Mech performs Command functionality, it receives XP for that.

You will be able to take a Medium, spec it in the lab so that it performs as needed for the scouting duties you want, use modules to assist you in those endeavours, and then earn XP by performing Scouting for the Chassis Variant. You can then use the XP towards one of the efficiency trees (like Scouting, Command, etc.) to gain efficiencies related to those types of tasks.

Don't get wrapped up in labels. A 100T can Scout (though chances are, not efficiently, because speed is usually a key asset to successful scouting)

Looks like Aegis beat me to it

[Arikiel]

I don't think they've said yet. Scouting really comes down to having a Mech that's fast enough to get around the map quickly. Technically the 80 ton Charger (its so awful) is defined as a "scout".

[Vexgrave Lars]

An ATLAS is a recon mech, if your pilot is skilled in the role.. Don't know if that's a great choice, but there ya go.

Edited by Vexgrave Lars, 14 May 2012 - 07:26 AM.

[Redshift2k5]

Roles are net tied to weight categories, but the medium mech used for the medium overview was not a suitable scouting platform (and the Jenner is the only scout to be seen in any videos thus far). your weight class or mech chassis is not your role. roles are not a fixed 'class', either, you'll be picking and mixing skills from different trees to play how you want to play.

They have said that the information-transmitting effect(highlighting the position of the enemy units in the hud, visible through hills) seen in the Assault video, will eventually be tied to a module,that targeting data transmission will probably be one of the things that Scouts can do to earn money

[Joe Mallad]

Thanks... That's what I wanted to know. I wasent sure if the modual ability for tasks like scouting was going to be used. And sorry for the miss spelling I'm my first post... Was using my phone and it likes to spell stuff for me lol.

I was just a bit worried because I do want to be a scout player but not have to be tied to just light mech.

[Aegis Kleais]

Yoseful Mallad, on 14 May 2012 - 07:28 AM, said:

Thanks... That's what I wanted to know. I wasent sure if the modual ability for tasks like scouting was going to be used. And sorry for the miss spelling I'm my first post... Was using my phone and it likes to spell stuff for me lol.

I was just a bit worried because I do want to be a scout player but not have to be tied to just light mech.

I've spec'd out 86KPH Heavies and you can heave Mediums that (though with lowered weapon offense and armor) might reach 130KPH speeds. The name of the game here will be customization.

Though they have NOT confirmed this, some chassis might be capable of equipping the equipment you want, while others do not. So if you really want ECM, you MIGHT have to take certain chassis (again, not confirmed, but this is a possibility in order to make chassis of similar weight classes be different)

[Redshift2k5]

Equipment is another factor, yeah, and there may or may not be limits on which mechs can load which pieces of gear. What YOU plan to do as a scout may not be what the next guy plans to do, and what chassis/equipment/modules you use will reflect that.

Garth Erlam, on 08 May 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:

Equipment:
Standard and Endo-Steel Internal Structures
Standard and XL Fusion Engines
Jump Jets
Standard and Double Heat Sinks
Standard and Ferro-Fibrous Armour
CASE

Obviously not all of this will be stock, and some things will be harder to get than others. The equipment list is everything that I can guarantee for launch, though we’re likely to also have most, if not all, of the following ready to go:

Artemis IV
Anti-Missile System
Active Probe
ECM Suite
Narc Beacon
TAG

Hope you guys enjoyed this, and we'll run another one of these soon!

[Major Tom]

I think the real question is: How do you get xps for scouting?
Is it the first person to spot an enemy mech gets an xp reward?
Do you have to perform a 'scout skill' on an enemy mech (like foward targeting information)?
Do you have to be assigned (or select a role) before deployment, and only the pilot that gets the 'scout' role gets scout xps?

[Aegis Kleais]

Major Tom, on 14 May 2012 - 10:29 AM, said:

I think the real question is: How do you get xps for scouting?
Is it the first person to spot an enemy mech gets an xp reward?
Do you have to perform a 'scout skill' on an enemy mech (like foward targeting information)?
Do you have to be assigned (or select a role) before deployment, and only the pilot that gets the 'scout' role gets scout xps?

Not sure on all of that, but I don't think there will be "Scout Skill" actions. There will probably be a set of actions that result in XP. XP is then used in your Mech Efficiency Trees. At certain points, those trees unlock Pilot Points. And Pilot Points unlock additional module slots.

Also, you are not assigned roles of any type.

No matter the Mech. No matter the weight. You do what you want. Roles are for people who like to put labels and limitations on things.

[Aldinvor]

I think the real question is: Will they earn ... BADGES! .... here all week, folks.

[Garth Erlam]

There's no 'considered a scout 'Mech' classification. You either have the scout tools, or you don't - they aren't confined to just light/medium 'Mechs.

[wwiiogre]

Scout tools = Modules?

chris

[McSniffles]

I'm pretty sure (I'm half-way judging based off how they do it in WoT) that you get XP for being the guy that spots a mech for the initial visual, and then again for maybe putting scout modules to use like helping your team lock on with LRMs or whatever the case may be. The only thing I HOPE is that the maps are big enough to make scouting useful and annoying to the enemy team. If you want to give advantage to small fast mechs over large bohemoths, all you do is make the map bigger and make it hard for the big guys to react to base captures or constan't forward locks/scouts.

[Redshift2k5]

some equipment certainly would count as scout tools (BAP, TAG, NARC) and others would be modules or skill trees.

The role warfare dev blogs mention more detail on how scouting is rewarding, specifically mentioning "detecting an enemy unit" as rewarding XP

here are some fancy scout skills:

Scout Role Skills:

• • Radar Range Increase – Increases radar range by 2% up to 5 times
  
• • Ghost Signature – Increases length of time before a signal fades by 2% up to 3 times
  
• • Vision Mode 1 - Zoom Vision – Allows the pilot to zoom 7x
  
• • HUD Detail 1 – Enemy Damage Level – LOD detail in terms of damage
  
• • HUD Detail 2 – Enemy Component State – Overall component criticality
  
• • Null Signature System – Allows the pilot to appear shut down for 5 seconds
  
• • Multi-Targeting – Allows the pilot to target multiple enemies up to 4 at a time.
  
• • IDF Accuracy – Narrows the AOE of IDF fire.
  
• • Critical Shot Indicator – Shares with nearby friendly BattleMechs the critical components of an enemy BattleMech

Edited by Redshift2k5, 14 May 2012 - 11:05 AM.

[osito]

I think any mech can do scouting duties. Especially if you add equipment like ecm, bap. I am not a scout man myself, although i might do a heavy scout. Something like a modified cicada. I would down grade engine to 7/119 movement. Faster then most lights in game. 3 med lasers and ecm/bap added, and 8 tons of armor. This way it is fast enough, okay weaponry, good armor. Or have 4 med lasers and either ecm or bap. With near max armor.

[Major Tom]

Garth Erlam, on 14 May 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

There's no 'considered a scout 'Mech' classification. You either have the scout tools, or you don't - they aren't confined to just light/medium 'Mechs.

For example, an enemy Jenner sneaks up behind my Atlas (who happens to be at the back of the lance), and I am first person to spot the mech (after it plants an SRM in my back), am I awarded XP for successfully scouting it?
Does it matter if I have taken any scout skills (I would think not since no one will have any skills when the game launches)?

[Kasiagora]

More and more I think Garth Erlam puts cryptic little bonus words into everything he says just to throw us all off. Subtle troll is subtle.

[Saren21]

Major Tom, on 14 May 2012 - 10:29 AM, said:

I think the real question is: How do you get xps for scouting?
Is it the first person to spot an enemy mech gets an xp reward?
Do you have to perform a 'scout skill' on an enemy mech (like foward targeting information)?
Do you have to be assigned (or select a role) before deployment, and only the pilot that gets the 'scout' role gets scout xps?

Do you have to perform a 'scout skill' on an enemy mech (like foward targeting information)? This is were i think most Scouts will earn most of there EXP (that way is more then just charging in to the enemy to get some quick exp then die)

Do you have to be assigned (or select a role) before deployment, and only the pilot that gets the 'scout' role gets scout xps? Don't think that will happen i got the feeling that would limit the game play some.

Edited by Saren21, 14 May 2012 - 02:02 PM.