60 replies to this topic

[Broceratops]

So I'm thinking about how PGI can monetize the whole clan thing. You can argue that the appeal of hero mechs right now is they're slightly to moderately better in some area (engine size, hardpoints, turn characteristics, etc), and thus PGI figures people who like those chassis will fork over money. There is a Small Tier Difference.

However, clan mechs will clearly be OP compared to IS mechs simply because they are omnimechs capable of mounting whatever the hell you want. So there is a Big Tier Difference, and if they're trying to make money right now based off of a Small Tier Difference, then surely they will make clan mechs MC only. Otherwise who the hell is going to buy any of the current mechs, most of which will be regulated to industrial mech duty.

But they can't just make all clan stuff MC only because then clearly it's pay to win. So to me, the next best thing is if they made the weapons buyable for c-bills, but still restricted the chassis. So you can put that clan UAC/20 on your atlas and you can upgrade your hunchbacks with ER medium lasers, but as a space poor you'll still be driving atlas and hunchbacks whilst other go around in their 50 dollar Timber Wolfs. So technically the playing field is still even, but the COOL FACTOR will be with the people who payed cash for mechs.


WHAT SAY YE? Would you be okay with this? I honestly think this might be the way it goes down. They can't possibly be making sustainable amounts of money by releasing mediocre hero mechs and hoping people keep subscribing to premium time, which in itself is a nonsustainable concept when you can only drop with 1 mech anyway (which is why WoT's gold ammo is a better idea - you use it up regardless).

[CDLord HHGD]

PGI won't do this unless they shift dramatically away from their stance on P2W. Clan Hero mechs? Sure! But standard clan tech should be just like IS tech.

[Mazgazine1]

NO, on all counts.

Yes MC only weapons/non hero clan mechs would be clearly pay 2 win, soo why even start this thread???

Edited by Mazgazine1, 30 January 2013 - 10:02 AM.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Dunno, at the end of the day the actual mech is just a skin, the weapons are the important things that actually matter.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with it tbh, im not sure there is a happy medium to be obtained here either way.

[Cerlin]

I thought that if they did initial clan invasion as MC only but after a couple months everyone could buy it it would be ok. This would be a money injection and give the non mc players something to shoot and hate . I'd by clan mechs though.

[Chavette]

Me and everyone else who doesnt just play for the lols would buy, and deep down they know it.

[Broceratops]

cdlord, on 30 January 2013 - 10:01 AM, said:

PGI won't do this unless they shift dramatically away from their stance on P2W. Clan Hero mechs? Sure! But standard clan tech should be just like IS tech.

See, I dont think its that much of a shift. You already have mech you can't buy with Cbills. This isn't changing that at all. As long as equipment is cbills only, there's no change. Besides, the definition of a omnimech prevents having many variants from making a lot of sense. Each omnimech is basically a hero mech.

PGI is going to do something to monetize this clan thing because clan tech is the goldmine of MW. You and I and everyone else know that. I'm thinking this is kind of a balanced solution wherein they rake in a lot of money but things aren't totally unbalanced.

[CDLord HHGD]

Broceratops, on 30 January 2013 - 10:06 AM, said:

See, I dont think its that much of a shift. You already have mech you can't buy with Cbills. This isn't changing that at all. As long as equipment is cbills only, there's no change. Besides, the definition of a omnimech prevents having many variants from making a lot of sense. Each omnimech is basically a hero mech.

PGI is going to do something to monetize this clan thing because clan tech is the goldmine of MW. You and I and everyone else know that. I'm thinking this is kind of a balanced solution wherein they rake in a lot of money but things aren't totally unbalanced.

Can you absolutely not win without a Hero mech? I can, and do all the time. I collect Hero's, they are my pokemon. But do I need them, nope. I can kick *** in trials if I have to.

[Rotaugen]

I would pay $200 for a clan mech IF everyone had to pay $200 to get a clan mech.... PTW FTW!

[TheForce]

DV McKenna, on 30 January 2013 - 10:03 AM, said:

Dunno, at the end of the day the actual mech is just a skin, the weapons are the important things that actually matter.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with it tbh, im not sure there is a happy medium to be obtained here either way.

I agree. I have no problem with clan skins for MC only and clan equipment for c bills.

[Gulinborsti]

Superior Clan Mechs for real money == P2W. Even worse than 3rd person view ...

[Adrienne Vorton]

not voting since this "what if" will probably not happen... i think PGI already made a very clear statment on this...

as clear as a NO can be at least

Edited by Adrienne Vorton, 30 January 2013 - 10:32 AM.

[Steven Dixon]

PGI has already stated that they don't plan on doing this. Of course who knows what the future will hold, if they start hemorrhaging money and need an influx of capital anythings possible. This would pretty clearly fall under p2w though and the devs are trying real hard to not go that route. I think it would be bad for the game and the community.

[Adrienne Vorton]

addition to my post above...
it lies in the nature of clanmechs and equipment that they will be HORRIBLY expensive, so they will sell them for MC in large numbers anyway, they don´t need to make anything MC only (heroes aside)

[Rakashan]

Granted what you propose is an excellent way to monetize the Clan Invasion. It's also a great way to introduce Pay-To-Win given the expected functional differences.

I missed the opportunity to support PGI with a founders membership so I was willing to buy a Hero mech in a line that I was already enjoying. I'm not against the concept of MCs and monetizing some portions. I don't have a problem with the price-point of the hero mechs either. But I would certainly have a problem with saying to any aspiring Clan driver that in order to Elite your mech you're going to have to drop $150.

Clan tech is going to have to be balanced (I'm hoping for numerical balancing in the MM) but until we know what that balance is an how it is going to be handled all other speculation seems *really* premature to me.

[Vassago Rain]

Yes.

[TheJs]

The thing about PGI being able to charge for Hero Mechs is because of the novelty factor, but the basic versions are still able to be bought by C-bills. Plus the Hero Mech differences, for now at least, is not THAT much of an advantage.

But MC-only Clan tech whether mechs or equipment will open a huge gap between the free players and those who pay. This will very much create a Pay-to-Win situation. True F2P models, sometimes sacrfice free players greatly, but I do not think PGI is planning to disadvantage free players that much. Thus, I disagree with Clan Tech regardless if equipment or mech to be MC-only

[Five oh Five Squat]

Yes let the space poors suffer at the hands of Mech Romney!

Edited by Five oh Five Squat, 30 January 2013 - 10:52 AM.

[Kylere]

I keep trying to find someplace where PGI indicated they would charge MC for clan tech or mechs, and it appears that the only place it exists is in heads that lack tinfoil.

[Pando]

I would much rather have clan mechs cost clan currency. Play games in "clan trial mechs" to earn clan currency while representing a clan faction to eventually purchase and build your own clan custom mech. I am not sure how this ties into Clan Lore or the caste system. Not sure clan's even had a currency. Just my idea and personal preference.