299 replies to this topic

[Ptom]

I am rather new to the Mech Warrior series, and while I am having a blast playing it, this one topic irks me.

Why should we be forced to buy all variants of the same chassis just to upgrade one of our favorite mechs? Is there a lore reason for this, is it based on something like tabletop squads, or is it just a development route pgi decided to take?

From a personal perspective, It feels punishing to me to be forced to buy all variants of the catapult in order to upgrade my brawler k2 cat simply because... I hate using missiles! So using all those c-Bills to buy mechs that I will never use in order to upgrade one of my favorites seems wasteful to me.

This is even more painful for new players to go through, since they will not have the c-bill founders boost that many players get to enjoy and also have higher repair-costs since they most likely are not part of a coalition they can play with, so they are forced to join risky pugs.

It also harms diversity. Considering that you may only store up to 4 mechs, players will be pigeonholed into using only one type of mech rather than being allowed to free-roam with any mech of their choice. Some people like to switch it up a little now and then, but are prevented from doing that since he/she feels no progress in upgrading that mech since they would need 2 more of the same mech (lots of c-bills) to achieve any progression.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the xp system to unlock new rewards for your mech is a great route to take. But I'd rather see something like: "X amount of experience must be earned in this mech to unlock the elite tree" or something like that rather than being forced to buy mechs that a player doesn't want.

I think the overall design for the xp system is getting there. But it is incomplete and heading in the wrong direction.

Sorry this is so long winded, but I thank whoever takes the time to look at the current system with a non-biased eye and discuss any alternatives or objections to this post.

[Vassago Rain]

I don't think it really is, but I think we should be past making games do that to their players.

So I vote yes/no.

[Gorith]

It's not punishing players it's a way to keep people from maxing out mechs to quickly. Remeber for them for make money with players paying mainly for cosmetics and cbill/xp boosts the grind must be fairly substantial.

[The Herrick]

Gorith, on 18 November 2012 - 09:25 AM, said:

It's not punishing players it's a way to keep people from maxing out mechs to quickly. Remeber for them for make money with players paying mainly for cosmetics and cbill/xp boosts the grind must be fairly substantial.

Cosmetics have nothing to do with grind at all.

Besides if you have a rind generally it is considered wise to at least try to hide that fact. Most players only like one version of a mech, and hate being forced to play other configs that can often be vastly inferior. Hell the Jenner K has no reason to exist beyond unlocking elite certs. How is that not a flawed system?

[Taiji]

You can't call mechanics which encourage people to play more of the game a 'punishment' without making me laugh.

[Zyllos]

It puts a crimp in my style.

I think, they should just 3x the XP of each mech. But I am sure this was done to make people buy mechs, thus help push the need for MC.

[SilentSooYun]

I agree. They could have done this a different way than forcing us to diversify just so we can specialise. How does that even make sense? I'd rather spend saddle time in a Mech I like rather than the closest compromise.

On the other hand, it does make an excellent C-Bill sink, and encourages us to buy MC for a quick Mech purchase.
So... financial/economy reasons, as well as a lack of imagination.

[Enig]

I want to drive my 4x now until the end of oblivion. But even if I put in thousands of hours into my 4x I will never be a master?

How does that make sense?

[vettie]

I dont think it is, but that is my opinion (this is an opinion poll right?)

for one thing, it makes the 'grind' so that you dont max a mech out right away.
two - it forces you to try other variants, thus creating variety not only for the pilot, but on the battlefield.
three - it is a way for PGI to (hopefully) generate income. The idea is that you must complete at least the basics for at least 3 variants of a chassis. Now if you want to do a different chassis, you must either PURCHASE more mech bays (income for PGI) or sell the chassis you do not want to keep.

As time goes on and more things are added to the game, such as community warfare, those chassis variants you do not like as much as the 'one' may in fact, become very useful to you. I try to keep all my variants and just buy more mech bays.that is how I play and enjoy, but to each their own.

[Kdogg788]

It's just a way to balance and prolong the game progression so players don't max out in a couple days. I really don't mind it and don't understand how people can refer to actually playing as a grind. Back in MPBT we had no customization and a much less versatile and smaller mech selection.

-k

[Vassago Rain]

SilentSooYun, on 18 November 2012 - 09:40 AM, said:

I agree. They could have done this a different way than forcing us to diversify just so we can specialise. How does that even make sense? I'd rather spend saddle time in a Mech I like rather than the closest compromise. On the other hand, it does make an excellent C-Bill sink, and encourages us to buy MC for a quick Mech purchase. So... financial/economy reasons, as well as a lack of imagination.

Wasn't one of their first goals to make sure you wouldn't have to spend lots of time doing something you didn't want before you could do the thing you really wanted to?

Because that seems to have failed completely. You need to grind in cheap mechs, just to get the mech you want, and then you must grind with two more versions of that mech that you had no interest in getting.

[Sephlock]

I voted both no and yes. Its not "punishing" but its "inconvenient". I sort of see why they did it that way, though.

For one thing, some variants would almost never be used otherwise.

[Vassago Rain]

Kdogg788, on 18 November 2012 - 09:42 AM, said:

It's just a way to balance and prolong the game progression so players don't max out in a couple days. I really don't mind it and don't understand how people can refer to actually playing as a grind. Back in MPBT we had no customization and a much less versatile and smaller mech selection. -k

I already maxed out EVERY SINGLE MECH I HAVE AN INTEREST IN. Note, that means elite level, since master isn't gonna do anything for a very long time.

[JoeMojoJones]

If one were to grind out 3 mechs to get your favorite to elite status, and then dispose of the other two mechs...does one lose the elite status?

[Vlad Ward]

Enig, on 18 November 2012 - 09:41 AM, said:

I want to drive my 4x now until the end of oblivion. But even if I put in thousands of hours into my 4x I will never be a master? How does that make sense?

Well, driving the same mech for hours on end usually results in having a huge pileup of c-bills and mech EXP that you can spend all of $2-4 on to turn into enough GXP to max out the other 2 chassis.

[Gorith]

I never said cosmetics had anything to do with grind I said they were one of the main things they say they intend to sell for profit. That aside cosmetic sales do in fact slightly tie into the grind. Take myself for example I really really like purple and would likely purchase a purple skin for a mech that I was simply grinding out for getting to elite. If i only had to grind my favorite mech then well they would only get that 1 skin purchase from me as opposed to 3.

Also there's no need to hide that there's a grind ALL games have grinds of some form or another in them. Also while some of the yes seem inferior I have yet to find one so inferior to another that with some creative customization I couldn't bring it into a state where it performance was more or less on par with the others... Also having to accomplish the same performance with "inferior" equipment just makes you that much better overall.

[The Herrick]

JoeMojoJones, on 18 November 2012 - 09:46 AM, said:

If one were to grind out 3 mechs to get your favorite to elite status, and then dispose of the other two mechs...does one lose the elite status?

Thankfully no. However you get barely any money from selling your mechs because PGI loves to try and brute force players into spending money.

[BalzaSteel]

if it bothers ya the answer is very simple, just buy the mechs you want to play and only do the basic upgrades, nobody is forcing you to buy/play mechs you don't want to, thats your decision, but if you do decide to buy more mechs and play them till they're elite you may just find that you like them.

BalzOut

[Budor]

Solution: If you want to max with 1 variant you need 3x the xp.

I guess its implemented the way it is to "force" people into buying mechbays...

I voted NO because i kind of enjoy to grind stuff.

Edited by Budor, 18 November 2012 - 09:54 AM.

[vettie]

JoeMojoJones, on 18 November 2012 - 09:46 AM, said:

If one were to grind out 3 mechs to get your favorite to elite status, and then dispose of the other two mechs...does one lose the elite status?

No

Actually, all the unlocks you perform on ANY chassis stay with you even if you sell that chassis. If later, you buy it again, those unlocks are already there. At least that is how it currently works.