51 replies to this topic

[xRaeder]

We've already moved so far from TT rules (duh TT is a table top game... MWO is digital) that it doesn't make sense not to give different Mechs bonuses.

I started to think about this as I'm a medium Mech pilot... and other than the Cicada, the other two mediums; the Hunchback (all but one variant), and the Centurion, suffer from what I'd call protect a certain section of your butt.

See the Centurion and Hunchback both have most of their firepower located in one very vulnerable spot. For the Hunchback it is the HUGE right torso. For the Centurion it is the right arm. If either one loses their special spot you automatically lose 70% of your firepower unless you modded your Mech to house weapons in other areas... which defeats the purpose of the hardpoint system and TT variants.

I constantly have to play smarter than my opponents. I have to fire my AC20... turn my torso to the right so my left side takes all the damage from the return fire... otherwise I'd lose my AC/20 really quickly. Meanwhile only other Hunchbacks and to a lesser extent, Centurions, have to worry about this. So enemy Mechs continue to just... stare blankly at me while I have to worry about all this extra stuff.

So... what I propose is this. Mech's that have SINGULAR locations where most of their firepower is stored... like the Centurion and Hunchback and even the Cataphract should have higher possible armor values for those locations.

For example:

Currently the Hunchback 4G (and presumably the other variants as well) have a maximum of 48 points for both left and right torsos. What I propose is to increase the maximum possible armor of the Hunchback's right torso to say 58. It makes sense after all... I mean look at that gun... it is huge and in fact the front facing is actually also part of the back facing... realistically it would make sense to armor that more than the left torso which would remain at 48 points.

Mechs also need bonuses per variant. The Hunchbacks that have autocannons should have a %10 increase in ballistic firing rate. The Catapult C1. LRM lockon duration... etc etc.

[Merky Merc]

I don't like it.

I do want to be able to create my very own Merky Merc hero edition mech.

[kesmai]

No.
I drive mediums exclusively.
If you outfit them well they are fine. If you want Armour buy a heavy or assault. Thats the point of them being in there.

On behalf another topic: Increase heat output of simulaniously fired missile weapons a.k.a. 3 x streak, 2x 4 or 6 srm, Multiple lrm launchers. If fired simultaniously or within a very short time after one another.
kesmai

[QuantumButler]

This is a sorely needed sort of feature and anyone opposed to it is a wrongo.

[xRaeder]

I love everyone that posts this is a bad idea while not stating really why. So many people just want this lame game to stay the way it is until no one but them is playing.

Like 10 extra points of armor would turn a medium Mech into an Assault Mech or something...

[Joseph Mallan]

QuantumButler, on 31 December 2012 - 12:25 PM, said:

This is a sorely needed sort of feature and anyone opposed to it is a wrongo.

But nothing is stopping you from maxing the armor on your weapon arm and gimping yourself elsewhere.

One Mech in all of TT has more armor on one arm than the other. The Falconer.

[Merky Merc]

I love how everyone that posts this is a good idea while not stating really why.

I'll play your games you rogue.

[Bilbo]

The reason your armor addition is a bad idea is weight. I'd have no problem with redistributing armor to the hunch if you were forced to remove it from somewhere else, keeping the maximum possible armor the same and removing restrictions per section.

[bensphynx]

I think part of their design goals is that any mech buildable in mechwarrior online is still a valid mech in the tabletop. This means not changing fitting requirements for weapons, and probably not having an extra ton of armour in the hunch or in a centurians gun arm.
This is actually quite a useful design decision, as it means that one can use mech design tools that are not mechwarrior online specific when planning ones mechs (provided one pays attention to the hardpoint system).

That said, they might allow bonuses such as 'all damage to the right torso (hunch) is reduced by 10%'. They have something like that for components with closed weapons bay doors, I think.

[QuantumButler]

Bilbo, on 31 December 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

The reason your armor addition is a bad idea is weight. I'd have no problem with redistributing armor to the hunch if you were forced to remove it from somewhere else, keeping the maximum possible armor the same and removing restrictions per section.

Just keep the current defaults on the stock and raise the max amount on one side who cares if it's not exactly twice the armor value of a tabletop mech anymore at max.

[BlackSquirrel]

I figured mechs should have bonuses similar to eve ships... So cent has a faster % torso twist, and acceleration, Hunchback that much more armor. Awesome a cooling bonus with PPCs

If you think about it certain mechs and engine sizes already do this...and say the spider will as well. (Allow for more) That way it's easier to understand what they're designed for. Skirmisher, anti light, etc etc.

[xRaeder]

Merky Merc, on 31 December 2012 - 12:32 PM, said:

I love how everyone that posts this is a good idea while not stating really why.

I'll play your games you rogue.

I've already posted why its a good idea. If you want to post here it is in your court to tell me why I'm wrong. Stop trolling my thread or I will report it as such.

[Ozric]

Actually this isn't a terrible idea, but I think this is how the pilot trees are going to work eventually anyway. Not chassis bonuses exactly, but pilot skills that amount to the same thing.

For example, the C1/C4/A1 catapults could loose the Arm Reflex skill and get a Quick Lock skill instead.

[xRaeder]

Bilbo, on 31 December 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

The reason your armor addition is a bad idea is weight. I'd have no problem with redistributing armor to the hunch if you were forced to remove it from somewhere else, keeping the maximum possible armor the same and removing restrictions per section.

Considering most Atlas pilots strip two tons of armor off their legs I'd have to say it would be a good idea for PGI to throw Medium Mechs a bone here. I mean no one shoots an Assault Mech's legs on purpose because even with 2 tons stripped off they have as much armor as a medium Mechs torso.

It would be easy to stripe 3 points off of each arm and 2 off of each leg to make up the difference on a Hunchback.

[Bilbo]

xRaeder, on 31 December 2012 - 12:44 PM, said:

Considering most Atlas pilots strip two tons of armor off their legs I'd have to say it would be a good idea for PGI to throw Medium Mechs a bone here. I mean no one shoots an Assault Mech's legs on purpose because even with 2 tons stripped off they have as much armor as a medium Mechs torso.

It would be easy to stripe 3 points off of each arm and 2 off of each leg to make up the difference on a Hunchback.

The Atlas pilots who strip 2 tons of armor off their legs have lowered their total armor. I'm saying if you want to put more armor on the hunch, you have to take it from somewhere. Just saying you shouldn't get something for nothing. Eliminating the per section values would do it. It would be interesting to see what people try to do with it.

Incidentally, I'd never pull 2 tons of armor from an Atlas' legs. I've walked around at 12kph after being legged in an Atlas. It ain't fun.

[xRaeder]

Bilbo, on 31 December 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

The Atlas pilots who strip 2 tons of armor off their legs have lowered their total armor. I'm saying if you want to put more armor on the hunch, you have to take it from somewhere. Just saying you shouldn't get something for nothing. Eliminating the per section values would do it. It would be interesting to see what people try to do with it.

Incidentally, I'd never pull 2 tons of armor from an Atlas' legs. I've walked around at 12kph after being legged in an Atlas. It ain't fun.

Back in CB I played an Atlas a lot of the time. Out of the 100 or so games I played as an Atlas I had that happen to me once. I've only seen an Atlas legged in game since then once as well... so twice in 6 months.

[QuantumButler]

Bilbo, on 31 December 2012 - 12:50 PM, said:

The Atlas pilots who strip 2 tons of armor off their legs have lowered their total armor. I'm saying if you want to put more armor on the hunch, you have to take it from somewhere. Just saying you shouldn't get something for nothing. Eliminating the per section values would do it. It would be interesting to see what people try to do with it.

Incidentally, I'd never pull 2 tons of armor from an Atlas' legs. I've walked around at 12kph after being legged in an Atlas. It ain't fun.

And we don't want something for nothing, we want the hunch to have about 10 points higher MAX armor rating than the non-hunch side, the difference in total armor points can be deducted from other hit locations.

I'd gladly sacrifice a couple points from every hitlocation [even the head] to have my AC20 hunch not explode quite as fast, or my Cent gun arm to not fall off after the first 10 seconds of fighting.

The Hunchback 4SP would keep the current max armor values.

Edited by QuantumButler, 31 December 2012 - 12:56 PM.

[Bilbo]

QuantumButler, on 31 December 2012 - 12:55 PM, said:

And we don't want something for nothing, we want the hunch to have about 10 points higher MAX armor rating than the non-hunch side, the difference in total armor points can be deducted from other hit locations.

I'd gladly sacrifice a couple points from every hitlocation [even the head] to have my AC20 hunch not explode quite as fast, or my Cent gun arm to not fall off after the first 10 seconds of fighting.

The Hunchback 4SP would keep the current max armor values.

Well then we are on the same page. xReader was originally speaking of bonuses, however.

[o0Marduk0o]

10 armor more or less, where is the difference? They target that location and destroy it first, no matter how much armor you add.
It's the same with the Atlas ballistic shoulder or the right arm of a Dragon.

Edited by o0Marduk0o, 31 December 2012 - 01:01 PM.

[QuantumButler]

o0Marduk0o, on 31 December 2012 - 12:58 PM, said:

10 armor more or less, where is the difference? They target that location and destroy it first, no matter how much armor you add.
It's the same with the Atlas ballistic shoulder.

10 points can easily make the difference between instantly losing your main guns to a single lrm volley or keeping them long enough to return fire with them.