16 replies to this topic

[Arcadian Xero]

So we are all aware of the problem with trail 'mechs right?

Well for those of you who aren't aware, trial 'mechs are... not optimized. They have poor heat management for very little offensive power, and it will often lead to a new user getting their teeth kicked in by veteran pilots with amazingly painted (or not) customized units with well balanced heat/damage ratio.

So I had a thought. What if those veteran players were able to share their wisdom?

What if those poor silly noobs could start up the game and they had MORE OPTIONS to choose from?

What if that tab on the bottom left of the screen had three buttons that said "Trial", "Owned" and "User Submitted"?

What if those veterans of a thousand matches, with their 5+ K/D ratio could submit their custom builds for those new players to use?

I sort of feel like this would be something really amazing for new players.

There would need to be some kind of a downfall to this of course, and it would have to be manageable in SOME way... I mean that user submitted list would likely contain A LOT of mechs to choose from and new pilots would get overwhelmed by the choices.

So I propose that they would be offered a RANDOM user submitted 'mech for each weight class. I also think that the player should be able to have a short 250 word write up of the unit so that that new player doesn't climb into a 6PPC stalker and start alpha striking someone at 40 meters and wondering "What the hell!! Why won't he die!"

Now we also don't want the stock 'mechs to feel left out so something must be done to ensure that they still get used. I think Trial mech earnings should increase a tad, and that user submitted earnings be ridiculously low. Like... barely-making-any-cash-at-all low.

This will do a variety of helpful things... For starters it will give new players a MUCH wider range of mechs to choose from. After every match they can get a new set of user submitted mechs to try out. That's GREAT!!! they get more variety! Which means that once they have enough cash saved up to buy their own, they can climb into the cockpit of a custom unit and see if they like the way it plays.

It will give new players a better understanding of the game and how each mech feels and performs. It will give them a MUCH better idea as to what they are good at, and what role they would like to play. It would also give them a good idea as to what kind of mech load outs are effective so they don't walk out the door, buy a new mech, and customize it to be COMPLETE GARBAGE then rage quit forever.


Thoughts? Opinions? Trolls?


EDIT: As a few posters suggested, players should be able to rent out user submitted 'mechs for a reasonable amount of c-bills, ~100-200k, and that way all players, from the lowly noob, to the seasoned veteran will be able to try out new builds, for little risk.

It would act as a new way for players to spend their c-bills, and it will enrich the new user experience a great deal. It would help those players who have been stomping around in trial mech sand getting frustrated with their poor performance see the "light at the end of the tunnel" in a way.

And with the new system of new players earning more cash for their earlier matches, the low cost of renting will be easily supplemented by the ridiculous amounts of money they will be making at the start.

Edited by Arcadian Xero, 09 February 2013 - 02:02 AM.

[Utilyan]

that actually sounds very fun. Im sure folks would even pay 200,000 cb or so to rent mechs for a single spin, if doing it for free was asking too much.

[Arcadian Xero]

Utilyan, on 09 February 2013 - 01:38 AM, said:

that actually sounds very fun. Im sure folks would even pay 200,000 cb or so to rent mechs for a single spin, if doing it for free was asking too much.

I'm iffy on the whole paying to rent 'mech idea. I think the people submitting the 'mechs should get nothing in return honestly, as well as lose nothing as well. If they start getting c-bills for it, it COULD become game breaking.

While it's a cool idea, I think it could be abused way too easily.

EDIT: Unless of course you mean you pay 200k c-bills to rent a user submitted mech, and the person who submits the mech doesn't see ANY of it, then sure by all means. That's actually a fantastic idea.

That would also be a really good money-sink for the game. That way those people who own every mech and mastered every mech and find themselves bored can always just try out other people's designs.

Edited by Arcadian Xero, 09 February 2013 - 01:43 AM.

[HurlockHolmes]

I just think they need to have two different 'mechs for each weight class available at all times for trials. Because the trial cicada is garbage. Would give more variety and show more than a few of the 'mechs off at one time. Also a problem with user submited builds is because most of the good ones almost always have some sort of catch. (XL or very range specific purpose) When most of the stock 'mechs have some sort of mishmash load outs, which I guess familiarizes new players with many things at one.

*(I also want to note that xl fitted stock mechs should never be a part the trial mech cycles because all the builds involving them are, to be blunt, very very bad IMO)*

Edit: Messed up editing post, oops

Edited by HurlockHolmes, 09 February 2013 - 01:47 AM.

[Brilig]

Community picked mechs for use as trail mechs sounds like a pretty cool idea.

[Arcadian Xero]

HurlockHolmes, on 09 February 2013 - 01:42 AM, said:

Also a problem with user submited builds is because most of the good ones almost always have some sort of catch. (XL or very range specific purpose) When most of the stock 'mechs have some sort of mishmash load outs, which I guess familiarizes new players with many things at one.

Exactly why I think the players submitting mechs should be able to write up a short summary of the unit so that they can breifly explain the draw backs, or quirks of the unit.

[HurlockHolmes]

Arcadian Xero, on 09 February 2013 - 01:44 AM, said:

Exactly why I think the players submitting mechs should be able to write up a short summary of the unit so that they can breifly explain the draw backs, or quirks of the unit.

I suppose, perhaps if the builds were viewed by PGI of course. Hell maybe they could even have the Nickname listed on it, assuming the name was appropriate.

Know what I take what I said back, this *could* be a good idea *if* they did it properly.

[mike29tw]

HurlockHolmes, on 09 February 2013 - 01:42 AM, said:

I just think they need to have two different 'mechs for each weight class available at all times for trials. Because the trial cicada is garbage. Would give more variety and show more than a few of the 'mechs off at one time. Also a problem with user submited builds is because most of the good ones almost always have some sort of catch. (XL or very range specific purpose) When most of the stock 'mechs have some sort of mishmash load outs, which I guess familiarizes new players with many things at one.

*(I also want to note that xl fitted stock mechs should never be a part the trial mech cycles because all the builds involving them are, to be blunt, very very bad IMO)*

Edit: Messed up editing post, oops

Trial mechs are mostly garbage in terms of competitiveness, so giving new players more garbage doesn't make them understand the game better.

Player submitted mechs for rent sounds like a decent idea. However I think the rent cost should be something like 100k to encourage new players trying out different roles.

[Arcadian Xero]

HurlockHolmes, on 09 February 2013 - 01:53 AM, said:

I suppose, perhaps if the builds were viewed by PGI of course. Hell maybe they could even have the Nickname listed on it, assuming the name was appropriate.

Know what I take what I said back, this *could* be a good idea *if* they did it properly.

Yeah they would have to implement it properly, but it could really improve the new user experience immensely.

mike29tw, on 09 February 2013 - 01:55 AM, said:

Trial mechs are mostly garbage in terms of competitiveness, so giving new players more garbage doesn't make them understand the game better.

Player submitted mechs for rent sounds like a decent idea. However I think the rent cost should be something like 100k to encourage new players trying out different roles.

Agreed. Renting user submitted 'mechs for X amount of cash is a better option than just trialing them for free and earning no cash. That way it will act as a way for ALL players (not just noobs) to burn c-bills.

[HurlockHolmes]

mike29tw, on 09 February 2013 - 01:55 AM, said:

Trial mechs are mostly garbage in terms of competitiveness, so giving new players more garbage doesn't make them understand the game better.

Player submitted mechs for rent sounds like a decent idea. However I think the rent cost should be something like 100k to encourage new players trying out different roles.

I am well aware that most of the builds are pretty bad, the thing that makes them so bad is probably the fact that all of them are built with low tech and are built with many different ranges in mind. Like the Atlas D for example, has a few different types of weapons on it, giving the player a chance to see what everything does.

As to paying rent for the mechs, how big is the cadet bonus? Because 100k -might- be a bit to steep.

[Arcadian Xero]

HurlockHolmes, on 09 February 2013 - 02:01 AM, said:

I am well aware that most of the builds are pretty bad, the thing that makes them so bad is probably the fact that all of them are built with low tech and are built with many different ranges in mind. Like the Atlas D for example, has a few different types of weapons on it, giving the player a chance to see what everything does.

As to paying rent for the mechs, how big is the cadet bonus? Because 100k -might- be a bit to steep.

Cadet bonus is pretty friggin huge actually. 100k would be reasonable for a cadet.

I would say that perhaps they would still earn SOME money for using a rented mech to soften the blow of having to shell out 100k just to use it.

[HurlockHolmes]

Well I would suggest that you thread in the suggestion forums if you even want them to take a passing glance at this idea, because as far as I am aware, they try to avoid the general forums.

Though I guess I can't really blame them.

And yes I agree that they should be allowed to earn money in the "Custom" 'Mechs, But I am worried that if they were to use it over and over again that it might impact the effectiveness of the cadet bonus.

If anything, instead of paying to rent the mech, they should just cap how many times you can use a custom mech in one day. So that it doesn't infringe on their starter earning. Probably around 3 times a day or something.

[axeman]

I think with bigger maps more versatile builds will have their time. Least I hope so.

[Arcadian Xero]

HurlockHolmes, on 09 February 2013 - 02:15 AM, said:

Well I would suggest that you thread in the suggestion forums if you even want them to take a passing glance at this idea, because as far as I am aware, they try to avoid the general forums.

Though I guess I can't really blame them.

And yes I agree that they should be allowed to earn money in the "Custom" 'Mechs, But I am worried that if they were to use it over and over again that it might impact the effectiveness of the cadet bonus.

If anything, instead of paying to rent the mech, they should just cap how many times you can use a custom mech in one day. So that it doesn't infringe on their starter earning. Probably around 3 times a day or something.

Limiting the number of times they could rent per day is also a good idea.

[PwnStars]

They just need to make trial mechs competitive, maybe even somewhat customizable (ie. only able to swap weapons and armor around, can't adjust engine or heatsinks). This would also serve to slowly guide a new pilot into fully outfitting a new mech when they do decide to buy one.

I remember when I was new, grinding to pilot an atlas as my first mech (~10mil) was not fun at all, and even then, I couldn't customize it until I earned another 5mil or so.

[Arcadian Xero]

PwnStars, on 09 February 2013 - 02:41 AM, said:

They just need to make trial mechs competitive, maybe even somewhat customizable (ie. only able to swap weapons and armor around, can't adjust engine or heatsinks). This would also serve to slowly guide a new pilot into fully outfitting a new mech when they do decide to buy one.

I remember when I was new, grinding to pilot an atlas as my first mech (~10mil) was not fun at all, and even then, I couldn't customize it until I earned another 5mil or so.

Wouldn't it have been nice to step out of those crappy trials and get into something balanced (or hilariously fun) to break up the monotony of using the trials, and simultaneously getting an idea of what works and what doesn't, and still making some cash?

[RedMercury]

I suggested this awhile back: add a random mech mode where you are given, using trial economics, a random customized mech that has been played recently.

This adds variety. It lets people see others' builds. And the popular ("OP") builds will happen more often because they are used more often, so new players using this option can get a chance to use a good build. Better yet, restrict the pool of candidate builds to those mechs which survived on a winning team or got >X kills.

Edited by RedMercury, 09 February 2013 - 08:52 AM.