107 replies to this topic

[Kraven Kor]

When I first got MegaMek, I was extremely excited about being able to finally, maybe, just maybe, getting to use some of the extremely cool non-mech stuff of the BT universe.

While Battlemechs are, for sure, the weapon of choice, I always wanted to somehow include the other cool stuff. I got to on a few occasions, running a campaign with each player controlling a lance and some mixed arms / infantry, but on paper, it was just too complex.

We know that tanks, VTOL's, hovercraft, emplaced turrets, and aerospace fighters are a "part of the BT universe." Yet, we won't be seeing them in MWO, by current accounts.

Now, I'm OK with that on some level, but had some thoughts on mixed arms, and it seems I am not alone.

I don't yet know if MWO online will be "PvP only" or if it will have "PvE" elements. I kind of hope for somewhere between the two.

My thoughts would be that some maps would have non-mech NPC attackers and or defenders, that are really just more scenery (that you can blow up) than they are a real threat to 'mechs.

Another thought was to have Commanders be able to summon one or more non-mech NPC 'pets' that attack your target or defend a given objective. Again, more something for your foe to be distracted by than doing massive damage (well, unless it's a Devastator or something...) Something like Call of Duty - either a reward for achieving certain objectives, or even as a balancing thing for your team when losing or something.

And, while I can't speak from experience regarding Aerospace so far as balance, I really want to see as much of the BT universe brought to life as possible. Those Technical Readouts were the stuff of epic dreams when I was a teenager.

Your thoughts?

[Hador]

My thought is that th search function is on this forum for a reason.

[Davoke]

I think it would make for a great commander ability, or have a factory in the bases churning out those cute little Scorpion tanks.

[Ricama]

I honestly would love to strap into a Saladin or some other hovercraft and zip down a river that mechs usually have to slow down for or something like that. I really hope we can eventually drive vehicles. Failing that I wouldn't mind some token ai defenders at the base, maybe a bulldog or something like that.

[Sept Wolfke]

vehicle base defenders would be a 5 star, two thumbs up add-on.

[Congzilla]

Why is there not just a "Hell yes!" option?

[CMDR Sunset Shimmer]

It's already been done, the game is called "Mechwarrior: Living Legends." If you want that, go play that. Combined Arms are a pain in the *** to balance. In MWLL you may as well just take a tank with dual AC20, sure it might not be able to get up those mountians, but it'll bring dual ac20 pain and has a low profile, and seems DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL.

Basically no, I do NOT want combined arms in MWO, and if you want it, there's already a game to cater to your desire.

[WardenWolf]

I voted for the "pets" option - but I think it could be wider than that. As a summonable ability for the commander role, I think this could be great - VTOLs for scouting (when an appropriate mech is nowhere to be had) or harassing, maybe tanks for defending the base or a specific choke-hold.

I could also see them as pre-existing NPC units on some maps / gameplay modes - and maybe turrets and such as well, especially for base defense situations or dropships (if you had a landed dropship on map, maybe as an objective to destroy).

I do not want to see them playable, though - too much time for the devs to put into that vs where the real gameplay should be. I also never want to seem them be something that is out of place: they should fit in the map / playstyle, not be tacked on for extra bling.

Jade Kitsune, on 09 July 2012 - 12:35 PM, said:

It's already been done, the game is called "Mechwarrior: Living Legends." If you want that, go play that. Combined Arms are a pain in the *** to balance. In MWLL you may as well just take a tank with dual AC20, sure it might not be able to get up those mountians, but it'll bring dual ac20 pain and has a low profile, and seems DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL.

Basically no, I do NOT want combined arms in MWO, and if you want it, there's already a game to cater to your desire.

I have not played MWLL, but in past MW titles (MW4 and MechCommander, specifically) they seemed to fit in really well. Balancing is tricky, I'm sure, but as long as they aren't playable then it should be less of an issue. They could also avoid some of the bigger and heavier units, if they make for particular balance problems.

[WrentheFaceless]

I think further on in the game a rich enough Company/merc unit, guild, w/e should at least be able to buy a dropship and use it.

Tanks and hovercrafts though never usually ever made much of an impact though, they always felt too weak

Edited by WrentheFaceless, 09 July 2012 - 12:40 PM.

[Knusern]

I would like to see Armoured infantry and tanks as playable units.
In Xwing vs Tiefighter the Tie fighters where under gunned and under armoured compared to the
Xwing. but you got a whole wing of them. If the one you piloted got destroyed you transfered to a different
tie in your wing.

Piloting elementals would get you a formation with 4 bots following you.
Tankers would get 1 bot folowing

[CMDR Sunset Shimmer]

WardenWolf, on 09 July 2012 - 12:39 PM, said:

I have not played MWLL, but in past MW titles (MW4 and MechCommander, specifically) they seemed to fit in really well. Balancing is tricky, I'm sure, but as long as they aren't playable then it should be less of an issue. They could also avoid some of the bigger and heavier units, if they make for particular balance problems.

In the past titles, they were simplly cannon fodder, they wern't MENT to really stand up to a mech, it was something for you to shoot in single player, it was a "Mook" target, went down in 1-2 shots generally, and was disctraction to the fact there were only 2-3 mechs on that perticular map, or they were there to add slightly additional firepower to existing mech forces.

We might see something similar to this, Air support,t hat kind of thing... I'd be ok with this, but not playable. Again that has been done.

As far as MW:LL goes, it's not a bad game at all, and very well done for a fan made thing.

[Karyudo ds]

They said they want this to be MECHwarrior and not TANKwarrior. Still, I've always found it sad that mechs were among many other types of vehicles in Battletech and yet, the ONLY vehicles of note you ever saw in Mechwarrior games. Sort of like the mech-Hollywood movies.

So I would still love to see AI fighters doing airstrikes and VTOLs/tanks providing support...even infantry! I mean the Elemental was a big part of what made the Clans weird and scary, they could shred you to pieces with mini-mechs you could barely see. Wait... What if they balanced Clans by having 5 mechs on their team and 7 Elementals? Seeing they were playable in MW2/3 That would actually be interesting and very MW-like!

Edited by Karyudo ds, 09 July 2012 - 01:02 PM.

[Deathz Jester]

Well you see the game is called:

Mechwarrior:Online

not

Battletech Combined Arms: Online

Edited by Iron Harlequin, 09 July 2012 - 01:11 PM.

[CCC Dober]

I'm all for it once the devs have figured out how to make the Clans work properly. I'd consider that a first milestone and necessity to expand the game further in the direction of combined arms (Elementals are the first logical step in that direction). I'm sure with Mechs being done properly there will be an established base line to balance additional content. Just a matter of time =)

[Kraven Kor]

Iron Harlequin, on 09 July 2012 - 01:10 PM, said:

Well you see the game is called:

Mechwarrior:Online

not

Battletech Combined Arms: Online

Yet even the Mechwarrior main rulebook mentioned and included rules for non-Mech vehicles.

I have no desire for non-Mechs to be pilotable - but I would love, again, to see as much of the Battletech universe in this game as is feasible.

[Dispiritor]

Wouldn't mind to see vehicles on a limited scale added to the game as NPC defenders perhaps... or maybe objectives.

Perhaps draw them from each lance members personal inventory of vehicles... just another thing to spend cbills on i suppose. But I don't think they should be customized, and making them expendable has some appeal. Hmm... salvage/award/loot to the match victors maybe?

[SquareSphere]

Jade Kitsune, on 09 July 2012 - 12:35 PM, said:

It's already been done, the game is called "Mechwarrior: Living Legends." If you want that, go play that. Combined Arms are a pain in the *** to balance. In MWLL you may as well just take a tank with dual AC20, sure it might not be able to get up those mountians, but it'll bring dual ac20 pain and has a low profile, and seems DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL. Basically no, I do NOT want combined arms in MWO, and if you want it, there's already a game to cater to your desire.

lol, Demo's aren't hard to kill (just shoot it in the tracks and circle, for the love of pete just don't walk up to it in a straight line!)compared to epona's ;-)

But yes MWLL is there for your combined arms pleaure. The balance isn't bad once you get over the MASSIVE learning curve of knowing how to pilot and therefore know the weaknesss of all the assets :3

[Saevus]

Keep them out. Thanks.

[Azzras]

TACOS!!!!

[Sidra]

Mmmm tacos