45 replies to this topic

[Fate 6]

FiveDigits, on 20 December 2012 - 07:40 AM, said:

An Atlas is a 100 tom mech and should count as such even if it only weighs 80 odd tons.
Anyways, I'd be more afraid of 4 RVN-3L, 2 COM-2D, 2 JR7-D teams when a tonnage limit were added.

This.

I don't want to run into an 8 man of all Assaults and Lights, or even just all Lights. Make it so it's class restriction not tonnage restriction.

I would propose 1 Assault, 3 Heavies, 3 Mediums, 1 Light (1-3-3-1). Mediums should be common. They are supposed to be that balance of speed, armor, and weapons.

[TheSteelRhino]

If you are going to do weight limits (which I favor)...why don't you do weight classes for the whole 8 man. You could go UP

For example

Light Team class: 350 tons
Medium team class: 480 tons...could give you 8 dragons or some other mix
Hvy Team class: 550 tons
OPEN CLASS: No restrictions


blah blah blah...You get the idea. That way you don't have to try and match exact mech weights, and there is room for variety. Much less constrictive than 2-2-2-2 but would add some sort of element of sanity

Thanks

[Daiichidoku]

Erik Jast, on 20 December 2012 - 11:10 AM, said:

victims

lol

[Yankee77]

I don't think weight class matching is the way to go. Tonnage is more appropriate, Battle Value even better (if they can make it work).

The problem with weight class is there is still potential for a mech to be made obsolete within its own weight class. For example, what if a 75 ton mech is introduced that can do everything a Dragon can do, only better? Bringing in a Dragon then just gimps your team since the other team might bring that newer 75-tonner.

Look at the Centurion vs the Dragon. Dragon is, for the most part, just plain better in every way (which is why you're better off bringing a Dragon in 8-mans). The only reason the Cent is still really valid is the arbitrary class weight boundary between the two. There's no reason a 70 or 75 tonner couldn't do the same to the Dragon... and in that case it'd be within the same weight class.

The fact is that there's a lot of mechs out there whose advantage over heavier mechs is NOT that they're faster or more maneuverable, but rather that they fill the same role as heavies or assault with less tonnage and cost. They're a cheaper, lighter alternative for certain roles. For example, that's what the stock Hunchback is for, or the Cataphract for that matter (look at the CTF-4X, it's basically a mini-assault mech). We make them into fast brawlers because the lack of limits forces us to do so in order to make them relevant.

In short, balancing has to be more advanced and specific than just weight classes. That way Mediums and Heavies become useful simply by virtue of their lower tonnage, rather than their potential to move faster.