16 replies to this topic

[Yeach]

Perhaps the previous mechwarrior games had the luxury to leave all these set before the game began but what would the game be if these were allowed to be random.

1. Map and Mission type
2. Time of Day and Weather
3. Mech

The question is would you play the game type if some of these were allowed to be random options.

1. Maps and Mission Type.
The previous mechwarrior games all had different types of maps and mission types and all these set out before the game started. But...

Imagine coming into the game with not knowing what map to expect (city or open plains, etc);
Do you bring a mech specced for short/long range or do your bring a mech with capable at various ranges?

Imagine coming into the game with not knowing what mission (whether destruction, capture base, etc)
Do you bring a mech built with speed or armor in-mind?

2. Time of day and weather.
A planet is big. Locations on the planet don't always have the same weather and you don't always get to choose when you fight.

Variables here include temperature (which would effect beam weapons) and may force you to want a balanced ballistic/beam loadout.
Other equipment such as BAP or Night vision? could help if vision was impaired.

3. Mechs.
Streetfighter and Marvel vs Capcom and other games always had this button where you allowed the computer to choose your character. It was sometimes alot more fun not knowing which character the computer would select for you.

It could be that you lost your mech recently and your house/merc unit is giving you their first available mech from their inventory.
For reference it can also be imagined as resorting to random TT tables choosing your mech for you.

In a way if some of these were random, team balance by BV or tonnage would play less of a factor.

[Kudzu]

Map (I would say that the time and weather should belong in this category too) and mission SHOULD be random. It makes generalist designs useful, while more specialized designs become more of a gamble. (Otherwise you only see Hunchbacks in cities, you only see Catapults on open maps, etc.) Picking your mech should be first, then comes the queue.

As far as randomizing mechs, I'd be fine if it were an optional thing (like your Street Fighter example) but I would really hate to always be forced to use it.

[UncleKulikov]

It depends. If there were "competitive" and "social" matches, then randomness in Social would be fine. Otherwise I want to know about the mission before selecting my mech.

[Randal Waide]

Yeach, on 15 May 2012 - 05:34 PM, said:

Perhaps the previous mechwarrior games had the luxury to leave all these set before the game began but what would the game be if these were allowed to be random.

1. Map and Mission type
2. Time of Day and Weather
3. Mech

The question is would you play the game type if some of these were allowed to be random options.

1. Maps and Mission Type.
The previous mechwarrior games all had different types of maps and mission types and all these set out before the game started. But...

Imagine coming into the game with not knowing what map to expect (city or open plains, etc);
Do you bring a mech specced for short/long range or do your bring a mech with capable at various ranges?

Imagine coming into the game with not knowing what mission (whether destruction, capture base, etc)
Do you bring a mech built with speed or armor in-mind?

2. Time of day and weather.
A planet is big. Locations on the planet don't always have the same weather and you don't always get to choose when you fight.

Variables here include temperature (which would effect beam weapons) and may force you to want a balanced ballistic/beam loadout.
Other equipment such as BAP or Night vision? could help if vision was impaired.

3. Mechs.
Streetfighter and Marvel vs Capcom and other games always had this button where you allowed the computer to choose your character. It was sometimes alot more fun not knowing which character the computer would select for you.

It could be that you lost your mech recently and your house/merc unit is giving you their first available mech from their inventory.
For reference it can also be imagined as resorting to random TT tables choosing your mech for you.

In a way if some of these were random, team balance by BV or tonnage would play less of a factor.

I'm wondering about your statement about house/ Merc units giving a mech.
I have never been a Merc/house/league member before. What are the benefits? It sounds cool, but how does it really work? Is it like corps in EVE? Also, I think I read there will be no trading between characters. (It could have been a post in the MWT forum though) how would the established units work other than having a good number of buds to field for matches? That part sounds awesome. To be able to play with known members. Just wondering though.

[Yeach]

Randal Waide, on 15 May 2012 - 07:23 PM, said:

I'm wondering about your statement about house/ Merc units giving a mech.
I have never been a Merc/house/league member before. What are the benefits? It sounds cool, but how does it really work? Is it like corps in EVE? Also, I think I read there will be no trading between characters. (It could have been a post in the MWT forum though) how would the established units work other than having a good number of buds to field for matches? That part sounds awesome. To be able to play with known members. Just wondering though.

The conjecture here is not actually MWO. In MWO you keep your own mech.
In my example was for a specific battle where you get loaned a mech from your house / merc unit for the battle.
After the battle you give the mech back.
It could be a good way to test a mech before actually buying it. Maybe.

As for the rest, the randomness are options and not all necessarily are present during the ready room prior to drop.
I am just wondering if people would like some randomness in mission battles rather than the bland know everything before battle situation.

You can think of it as accepting a contract with some things known and some things not.

[Siilk]

Random maps is pretty much a necessity to make the game more diverse and prevent gameplay from becoming a routine, which is so often seen in multiplayer games. Random ToD and weather is also a good idea. It's hardly that much more that a cosmetic touch yet it adds to the atmosphere of the game. But the random mech selection is a bit too much. Each team in pub games would already be randomly assembled, that's all the unpredictability we need for the team composition.

[Thaar]

I think random maps is a must and the weather can also be random.
If it's a defensive mission I think the time of day should be set by the attacking team, if not should be random.
But random mech selection never. I like to play my Mech.

[HeIIequin]

When queuing for a match, you'll probably get a list of options about what game type to play; "Dropship, TDM, or random?" as well as map type "A,B,C,D... or random?". The queue list might even go so far as to ask whether you want certain weather types, but I say leave that random, or we'll find NO ONE playing that one weather type because it interferes with their long range sniping or something.

[Banditman]

I don't understand the inclusion of a "random mech" feature. What if you don't have the mech? SOL? Honestly, there will be more than enough "randomness" in most drops because you'll have all the lone wolf players filling in gaps. Who the heck knows what those guys will be bringing to the party.

I like the idea of random maps and missions, but I think you should know immediately before drop what the map and mission is and be able to choose an appropriate mech from your garage. It would encourage players to have multiple mechs in their garage with different engagement envelopes and capabilities.

[HeIIequin]

My version of random mech : Wiggle my mouse around really fast. Whichever mech I end up pointing at is the one I'll use.

[Kudzu]

Banditman, on 16 May 2012 - 09:36 AM, said:

I like the idea of random maps and missions, but I think you should know immediately before drop what the map and mission is and be able to choose an appropriate mech from your garage. It would encourage players to have multiple mechs in their garage with different engagement envelopes and capabilities.

Actually, it would only encourage seeing specific mechs on specific maps.

[Gabriel Bekker]

I believe that there should be a random option. However, I do not believe that it should be an all-or-nothing choice as your poll suggests.

[Rjkk]

Well, since it was mentioned somewhere that we can "capture" certain planets, I would say that the maps should be somewhat random (planets are big places yanno?) but if you are going to a certain planet, you should have a general idea about the terrain and weather, especially if you have a lot of missions there. That's just my two C-bills though, maybe I'm wrong.

[Morashtak]

While I would play random maps and weather I'd like to think that as an attacker I could choose the time and as a defender I could choose the place.

[Yeach]

I was expecting more discussion on this.

In regards to random mech; it might be stretch based on what the developers want.
If mechs are on equal footing ie agility/speed of a light equals the armor/weapons of an assault; then it may be feasible to have this comparison.

Also the random mech selection may work better in a non-campaign/plot sensitive area map like on Solaris.

[Thaar]

totally agree with this. It is logical from a "reality" point of view. The attacker choosing when and how to attack.
The defender usually plays the waiting game.

[Yeach]

Morashtak, on 16 May 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

While I would play random maps and weather I'd like to think that as an attacker I could choose the time and as a defender I could choose the place.

Thats a good idea.

Defender chooses map.
Attacker choose time of day.
Weather can be made random.