5 replies to this topic

[Foxtrot Uniform]

Currently Mech customization allows a lot of flexibility, and the only restriction is the hardpoints. The problem with this is that a lot of the mech's currently available all have more hardpoints then their default loadout(some to the extreme like the A1) and allows major changes to internals and engine types and sizes.

In my opinion this has created a few issues within the game, namely balance issues and a reduction in the usefulness between variants. In the future this will also start to cause many new mech's of the same or similar weight class to have no real purpose and players questioning why it was even released. Variants themselves are also losing the purpose of what they were even created for. In other words, we have too much flexibility(especially for a non omni mech).

Below are my two suggestions in changing the current customization system, one is a more hardcore TT version(sorry Garth, but mech's in TT were not giant bag's to pour weapons and ammo into for anyone other then house lords and special cases), and a modified version of the current system.

Hardcore version:

Basic breakdown

1. Remove the ability to modify internal structure(ie endo vs normal), engines(both type and size) for ALL mech types(including Clan and IS omni's)
2. Remove ability to modify overall weapon loadout(non omni only).
3. Allow only ammo, heatsinks, armor and special equipment(tag, ams, bap, etc)to be be modified freely(all mechs).
4. Non omni mech's(both clan or IS) will be allowed to upgrade weapons within the same weapon type or downgraded to a smaller version(up to one step lower)via field upgrade kits. In other words, a medium laser could be changed out for an ER medium or medium pulse or reduced to small laser versions, it could not however be upgraded to a large laser or PPC or a non energy weapon. An AC20 could be changed to an ultra or LBX 20, or downgraded to an AC10 and it's variants. However downgrading would not allow you to fit in extra weapons, only free up space for other things like armor, ammo, heatsinks. Number of weapons would still match exactly the number originally given to that variant and complete removal of a weapon would not be allowed.
5. Omni mech's can swap weapon types and classes freely(except hardwired weapons specific to that model)

So the version above keeps variants in line with their designed purpose while allowing minor tweaks and the ability to use newer advanced technology as it becomes available. As a result all variants and mech chassis have a strong purpose, and trial mech's as a result are no longer the red headed step childs of the game. This will enable more tactical depth, and make decisions made when it comes to what mech types your lance/company etc brings to a fight to have greater meaning. It would also essentially remove the current problems of boating and allow weapons to be more easily balance towards their TT values. Yes Omni's could still boat to an extent(they're still stuck with the same engine/internals), but they're Omni's, they're supposed to be OP compared to standard mechs.

Also, this would allow PGI to hold special events(once CW is released) where the winner of(or top 3, etc) these special events would be given special rewards, which could include the ability to design their own Variant of a mech chassis, they would then receive this variant for free once it's completed, and it would then become a special variant available for anyone else to purchase(MC only preferrably, but we'll leave that up to PGI).
Smaller, more common, events could include rewards like a single(or a few) piece of clan weapon/equipment for IS factions. Clans would have trials of position and other events to allow access to different Omni mech's(remember omni mech's are still a smaller percentage of their forces compared to the secondary mechs, they aren't cheap).

The reasoning behind this is that we're just mechwarriors, we aren't a great house leader or the wolf dragoons, we do NOT have access or the ability to use one of the very limited number of manufacturing facilities that exist to produce our own variant as we see fit, changing the engines, internal and weapon system would require a new variant to be built as it would be a major change in the mech and not something you could do in the field. Non omni mech's can't make major changes to weapons because their gyro's and other internals are designed specifically for that loadout, only Omni mech's have the systems and specialized gyro's in place to allow greater weapon flexibility(and it took the clan's a couple hundred years to design and perfect them)

This would also allow for greater meaning to be given to both mech xp, pilot xp and modules and these systems could be fleshed out more easily. This is of course is the system I would prefer to see over the next one.

Modified Current Version:

Basic Breakdown

1. Remove the ability to modify internal structure(ie endo vs normal), engines(both type and size) for ALL mech types(including Clan and IS omni's)
2. Allow only ammo, heatsinks, armor and special equipment(tag, ams, bap, etc)to be be modified freely(all mechs).
3. Non Omni mech weapon modification. Change the current hardpoint system to be more about the number of criticals then the number of hardpoints. The number of hardpoints would match exactly the number of weapons that variant has, and would still be restricted to the same class of weapon(IE energy, ballistic and missile), however how many weapons can fit in that hardpoint would vary based on what the original weapon was. For example if the orignal weapon was a PPC it would have 3 energy criticals in that specific hardpoint, this would allow the PPC to be swapped out for an ER PPC, or a large laser and medium laser, 3 medium laser, etc. An LRM 15 could be swapped out for 3 LRM 5's, or an SRM 6 and SRM 4. While an AC/2 slot could only be changed to machine gun or vice versa. Removal of weapons would be allowed.
4. Omni mech's can swap weapon types and classes freely(except hardwired weapons specific to that model)

While this version would not stop boating completely, it would reduce it, as you won't be able to modify the internals to free up more space or increase your speed with a bigger XL to get into close range quicker. It would however stop some of the completely rediculous loadouts like replacing 2 machine guns in a K2 with 2 AC20's or 2 gauss. This would still allow a decent amount of customization and still fall somewhat in line with one of the biggest limiting factors that should be in play, which is, these are field modifications not full on new variants being rolled off a production line. This would also still allow above mentioned special events run by PGI.

Variants roles would be diluted somewhat with this version, but not to the extent that is currently happening, as you would not be able to change out your engines and internals to free up more space. Different mech's would however have greater diversity themselves with this version.

[sC4r]

i am very skilled mechanic that can do these swaps no problem... no need for dedicated factory or sponsorship from house

btw for your info... there is no omni mech so far in the game though since you are one of those that think TT is sacred bible and anyone that touches it is an *insert insult here* you know that already
and i suggest you here... if you want to go so much TT go play dices with plastic mechfigures

the way PGI is doing this with mechs is in my opinion correct... do you think anyone in their right mind would pick up cat A1 over C4 or C1 if that poor thing would be able to mount only 2 missiles? or i dont know... 1D comm over 1B or 3A? very much doubt about it

so what if the future mechs will have the same loadout as the existing ones? what is also important is WHERE are the hardpoints on each part of mech... like lets say we have pracht 1x vs k2 cat -> they have very similiar hardpoints(4E+2B vs 5E+1B) yet they are far too different mechs even if you mount the same equipment to them

Edited by sC4r, 01 February 2013 - 02:29 PM.

[Matchstick]

lol no, this is a joke. why even bother with a mechlab then? mechlab is a part of MW and of BT. The last time i checked you could do all these things in BT as long as it was going by the rules.

long story short, no mech customization = not a true MW game, kind of like mechassault

Edited by Matchstick, 01 February 2013 - 02:31 PM.

[Craftyman]

Bad idea OP. If you want to play a tabletop sim I suggest you look at megamech or find some friends.

[MWHawke]

I will just stop playing MWO if all those happen.

[Antarius]

The first things i red about MWO, they said they want implement it this way. Now... it would be a hard cut. I could live with more restrictions. The problems with pult-A1 would be useless, can be fixed like they do it know, give it more hardpoints, but atm you can put theoreticly 6x lrm20 in, if you use a slot-count system you had only 4 missle slots per arm, this means, 8xlrm5 or 4xlrm10 or 2xlrm15/20.

Wouldnt be such bad.

the problem would be, you could chance a gaus or a AC20 with a lot of MGs, could creat a other problem