Mechwarrior Online

[Ironwood]

Wait, weren't the Archers in the videos too ?

[angry.bob]

I would just like you to stop at this point and reflect on the notion of sending half the dudes your enemy has fielded with the expectation that your opponent is going to settle for one-on-one mecha duels.

I love giant robots, but nothing at all, in any way, at any time has made sense in anything Battletech/Mechwarrior. Games Workshop products aside it's the worst fucking game system in existence and has been coasting for 30 years on being the first in the genre. Just love the giant robots and ignore everything else.

It's too bad the Renegade Legion franchise died out, now there were some good games.

[Lantyssa]

Yes.  In canon the clan is overpowered by a few centuries of relatively unimpeded weapons development while the Inner Sphere hammered itself into the stone age.  The factions are evenly matched because strategic and tactical thinking in the Clans is about one step removed from building mecha horses so they can joust.

Unfortunately, human players ignore all that.  I've seen what happens in large scale multi-player games.

Clanners talk about all their constraints, but when it comes to a battle they want to win.  They won't purposefully handicap themselves.  That results in the ISers pulling every dirty trick imaginable.  Then both sides end up hating the other, and it only devolves from there.

Mixing the techs will never, ever, ever work in a game without a human referee to step in for every conceivable battle.  It gets UGLY.

[Evildrider]

Closed beta invites are going out.. nothing for me so far 

[Kitsune]

Of course the players themselves wouldn't go out of their way to have an actual fair fight.  That's why the servers would have to enforce a balancing mechanic to keep both sides on equal footing despite the vastly better clan tech; either more players or more tons for the IS side.

[Sheepherder]

Clanners talk about all their constraints, but when it comes to a battle they want to win.  They won't purposefully handicap themselves.  That results in the ISers pulling every dirty trick imaginable.  Then both sides end up hating the other, and it only devolves from there.

Which is why the Clan / IS tech difference is such a shitty game mechanic whether it be tabletop or computer.  Whoever dreamed it up doesn't know their audience.

[Lantyssa]

I think it was more they were clueless about balancing the systems.

The 2750 readout added powerful equipment, but almost all of it had a big trade-off.  (A properly fitted C3 unit being the prime exception.)  Clan gear added yet more power while reducing the penalties below that of base 3025 tech.  There were several synergies which made it worse, such as pulse weapons, targeting computers, and clan heat sinks.

[Simond]

http://mwomercs.com/news/2012/06/272-battlemech-12-stalker

Whump. Whump. Whump.

Missile Lock Achieved.

The enemy Catapult, far in the distance, has no idea. As it moves to gain a better target on another ’Mech - twin LRM-10’s disgorged their missiles; two Large Lasers follow, dragging a trench of molten metal around the right side of the enemy. A second volley of LRM’s, followed again by the large lasers, and the right missile pod explodes off the side of the Catapult. A second explosion indicated the right torso was breached. Stumbling forward, the ’Mech hides in an outcropping of rock.

Whump. Whump. Whump. The Stalker moves forward - towering high above the battlefield; swaying its massive torso left, then right, looking for more enemies. Grass, bushes, and small trees un-noticed, then suddenly an angry red triangle to the left as a Hunchback pokes out of cover. Two clouds of SRM-6s streak into it, followed by four medium lasers. The enemy ’Mech wheels to the right, missing its left arm and large amounts of torso armour. Clinkclinkclink as the SRMs reload and the Stalker continues forward.

“Support needed over here; I can’t hold this Atlas! Help me, Stalker!”

“On it.”

Turning towards the sound of distress: stop, lock on, and then fire. Fingers of LRMs streaked into the air, then slammed down right onto the enemy Atlas. Moving ponderously forward again, trying for a better angle, torso drift left, then right. Another volley of LRMs launched and still moving forward, peaking the hill in time to see the fight below.

The Dragon wheels behind a building as the Atlas lets loose twin large lasers, the azure beams scoring the building and nicking the right leg. Gauss rifle barking, the shot explodes just beside the Dragons head. Aiming down, the Stalker lets loose: Twelve SRM missile impact all across the enemy ’Mech, followed by twin large lasers drawing vicious grooves across the torso to the head, and then four medium lasers ended the massive barrage, collapsing the right torso inward as the right arm explodes off and crashes to the ground.

“I owe you all the beers ever!”

“You can pay us back by moving, don’t stand there.”

As the Atlas turns to look up at this new threat; the familiar clinkclinkclink of SRM’s reloading, the soft hiss of water evaporating off the lasers, feet crunched into the ground as the looming torso stares down. Again the twelve SRMs streak out and shatter metal and plastic, again twin azure beams focus on the head, and then the four emerald medium lasers add their hum and the Atlas’ cockpit explodes outward, the pilot dead. Falling backward gracelessly, the ’Mech hits the ground, smoking and hissing as the burned and scorched metal cools.

And then the Stalker turns, looking for its next victim.

“Get us out of here, Stalker.”

I love a dev team with a sense of humour. 

[Ironwood]

 

[Simond]

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/get-out-of-here-stalker

[Ironwood]

Thanks.

[Khaldun]

The lore discussion is an interesting one, though. I don't think anyone has ever figured out a mechanism for "cultural particularity" in a MMO that doesn't come off as an annoying artificial limitation that eventually creates some kind of balance issue. But this also relates to a basic problem in wargaming (computer or tabletop): most actual battles in human history aren't particularly fun to game, because very few could actually plausibly be won by either side AND make an overall difference in the general conflict. Most battles are either seriously asymmetrical in terms of the forces involved or in terms of intelligence & terrain giving one side a huge advantage. And sometimes 'culture' plays a role in there too, with one side having a possible advantage that it doesn't use because the leadership or combatants don't see or understand that advantage. In gaming, asymmetrical set-ups are not much fun, and no player will stay within a cultural 'handicap' if they're not forced to. If you know how Agincourt actually went, you're not going to send your mounted forces into a muddy muck and get shot to pieces by longbows.

[Evildrider]

 

[Ironwood]

?

[UnSub]

He's telling us that he can't tell us that he's betaing a massively multiplayer mech-based online title.

[Ironwood]

You utter cunt.

Score me a key, would you ?

[Falconeer]

I am annoyed that I still can't give them my money and earn a beta key that way. What are they thinking?

[Evildrider]

They are giving out 10k closed beta keys atm.  Buying one of the founder packages will get you a closed beta key as well from what I read.

http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/13874-official-developer-update/

[Kitsune]

The founder package gets you in on August 7th, not one of the more immediate beta spots.  So don't hold your breath waiting for that email to arrive.

[Falconeer]

But... let's pretend I want to buy a founder package. Where do I get it? I must be dumb (or lazy) but I can't find a purchase option anywhere on their site.

[Kitsune]

The option to purchase it isn't opening until Tuesday the 19th.

[Evildrider]

The founder package gets you in on August 7th, not one of the more immediate beta spots.  So don't hold your breath waiting for that email to arrive.

August 7th is the new Founder's early access.  Not the date you'll get into a closed beta. 

[Amaron]

Anyone want to summarize the founders package?  I read that link but it seemed to assume I knew what the founders package was already.

[Evildrider]

$60 ELITE Founder's Package Includes:

 Exclusive custom "Founder's BattleMech." This 'Mech includes a lifetime, per-match C-Bill booster.
 $80 value of in-game currency* for in-game item purchases.
 Two-month premium account to MechWarrior Online at launch: Earn XP & C-Bills faster.
 Founder's Tag - sets your status apart from the crowd & get noticed in-game and on the forums.
 Early access to the game along with Founder's assets availability starts July 17th.


$30 VETERAN Founder's Package Includes:

 $40 value of in-game currency* for in-game item purchases.
 One-month premium account to MechWarrior Online at launch: Earn XP & C-Bills faster.
 Founder's Tag - sets your status apart from the crowd & get noticed in-game and on the forums.
 Early access to the game along with Founder's assets availability starts July 17th.

[Kitsune]

Worth noting, the "Founder's Battlemech" is a Jenner, Hunchback, Catapult, or Atlas with an alternate paint job.  There is no indication that you can change your choice down the road, and it's unknown whether they have standard armament, and whether you can customize them.  So if you hate all four of those mech chassis, you're pretty much out of luck.  They may have stupid weapon loadouts, you may not be able to change them.

In short, don't put down $60 in the hopes that you're getting a badass mech for the cash.  At best you're getting a standard mech with a different skin that earns more money when you use it.  At worst you're getting a gimped mech that you can never customize.  That said, I wouldn't go tearing my clothes and wailing with ashes on my head if I got an Atlas with the default weapons and couldn't change them.  Its loadout is formidable enough that I would be fairly happy with the stock config.  But if they give me an Atlas with a Banshee's weapons, I would drive to their studio specifically to punch as many of them in the balls as possible before getting tasered.  Because seriously, fuck Banshees.

[Evildrider]

I am getting the elite package.. either way I'm getting $110 bucks worth of stuff before the Mech. 

[Merusk]

$110 bucks worth of stuff AND a permanent credit bonus.  Those credits will be very useful in the long-run if, like in WOT, the upper-tier mechs & ammo cost more to repair than you make in a match where you die w/o 3+ kills.   Even if it's only a 2% boost it adds up quite a bit.

[angry.bob]

Yeah, $110 of stuff and a Derpback. Hunchbacks gonna hunch.

[Ironwood]

 

[Falconeer]

I am totally going with the 60$ too. That said, I really hope this game doesn't suck. It would really break my heart.

[JWIV]

That really is tempting - though I can't see not just grabbing the Atlas. 

[Ironwood]

I can.  Being the big lumbering tub can be so fucking boring.  By the looks of the trailers, the other mechs have actual functions, so I suspect I'll be heading into something a little more medium and long rangey.

[JWIV]

I can.  Being the big lumbering tub can be so fucking boring.  By the looks of the trailers, the other mechs have actual functions, so I suspect I'll be heading into something a little more medium and long rangey.

There is that.  Though looking at the requirements, I may be dropping 60 bucks and then not doing anything with them for a bit since my computer's age apparently is finally showing and I'm just under the specs.  *sigh*

[Falconeer]

The only thing that annoys me is that seems like there will be about 15 'mechs out of the almost hundred we should be able to choose from. In World Of Tanks you might end up sticking to a handful, but you can still choose among a big lot. I'm afraid that will end up being disappointing in the long run.

[Ironwood]

In the long run, they'll put them in and you know it.  Shush.